By Vanessa Calhoun
Campus Eye Staff
How do you perform a musical based on a silent movie? That’s one of the challenges of Anoka-Ramsey’s spring production of “The It Girl.”
The play is based on a silent movie about a woman working in a department store who catches the eye of the son who inherited the store.
“The woman, Betty Lou Spence, is a simple lady and Jonathan is supposed to be marrying a rich girl,” director Scott Ford said. “Betty is a go-getter and tomboyish. Betty is the ‘It Girl.’”
Jarrod Dukowitz plays Monty Montgomery, the sidekick of the rich-boy main character. Dukowitz described himself personally as a “huge goofball,” which he used for the character. “Monty is very comedic.”
Maddison Benberg who plays Adela, Monty’s girlfriend, who has her eye on Jonathan. “Adela is more of a villain role and is outside of her element.”
“I don’t see myself as a meanie,” she laughs.
Dukowitz said, “ The cast is what makes the whole musical.”
“The It Girl” was created back in the 1920s when everything was supposed to be shown in black and white, not to mention it being a silent production.
Ford said the theater faculty picked the musical because they liked the style of music, because it was the right size play for the number of students and because there are some unique challenges in the play.
“The It Girl” has a cast of 15 and is still adding to the crew. Ford said the faculty decided to work with a choreographer and costume designer off campus to make sure everything was well prepared for the opening day.
The most challenging part of the musical was, “Having everybody involved doing different things and the production being a silent musical,” Ford said.
Music will be provided by the ARCC Music Department.
“The It Girl” will be performed April 18-19 and 24-26. Students can request two free tickets through the web link sent to their campus e-mail or pay $8 for tickets at the door.
