The cast joins together at the finale of The Beggar’s Opera during dress rehearsal. The play will run for three nights: March 7th, 8th and 9th. — Shauna Bittle photo

This quarter has seen an amazing transformation in the students of Musical Theater in Cultural Context. In the fall they were scholars of historical theater, as they studied musicals from a range of both eras and cultures. Then, in the winter quarter, they transformed themselves into singers, actors and actresses to stage the 18th century musical The Beggar’s Opera. In just a few short months, they auditioned for roles, learned dozens of songs, and physically transformed their rehearsal space into a theater (while the COM undergoes renovations). Tonight, they will stage the first of three performances.

We’ve had the honor over the quarter to witness their work and its results, and we’ve documented every step of the way in one of our most ambitious video projects to date. We captured some beautiful moments as the students traveled back in time to connect with their inner scoundrels and wenches. Faculty Rose Jang and Marla Elliott also sat with us to talk about how the Evergreen approach enriches theatrical studies, and how the opera itself relates to contemporary life. We’re so excited to present this video, and we hope it will make you excited about catching this amazing production.

Additional images are available in the new Academic Projects gallery.
Originally posted by Inside Evergreen