Dancing With Eyes Half Closed

Left to Right, Nate Smith, Jane Wright and
Nik Mikkelsen. 

Dancing at Lughnasa is a play about longing; a play about things changing. It is a play about the importance of love and loss and desire. But mostly it is a play about people. Dancing is a character study and it is centered on the Mundy family: Jack, the eldest brother, and his five younger sisters, Kate, Maggie, Agnes, Rose, and Christina. It is beautifully told through the youngest member of the little family, Michael, the son of Chris and her lover Gerry Evans. Dancing is about ordinary people trying to figure out who they are and what they each want out of life. It explores the highs and lows of family life and relationships. Dancing is in the midst of rehearsals currently and it is truly a wonder to behold and be a part of. It will touch people with it's many messages of love and tradition and change. It is filled with humor and thoughtful poetic language. Dancing at Lughnasa is a work of art that everyone should see because it is incredibly relatable and thought provoking.

Dancing with Josh Hopkins

Image taken by Katie Christensen

Josh Hopkins, a Musical Theatre Major at Southern Utah University, is an amazing talent. We took a few minutes to sit down and ask him some questions about his latest production as Michael Evans in Dancing at Lughnasa, school, and everything else.

H: What is your favorite part of playing Michael?
J: The fluidity. Michael's thoughts are very to the point. He's logical and stresses the point that everything that happens on stage are his memories.

H: What makes this role challenging?
J: This is my second non-musical show that I've ever done. It is also hard to be present in the show when I don't directly interact with anyone.

H: What do you like about the show?
J: I love how the show highlights every type of family member you could possibly find in a family unit.

H: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
J: This is my Senior year at SUU, I am originally from Logan Utah, and I enjoy everything theatre. I love musicals, dancing, and sarcasm.

H: What has been your favorite shows that you've done here at SUU?
J: Chicago was a blast and I loved being in Bat Boy.

H: Is there anything you would say to any of the Freshmen in regards to doing theatre as your major?
J: DO THE WORK! Don't assume you can just feel it when you get out there. It's important to do the work.

This past summer Josh was one of the first members of the new program at SUU known as the Fellowship for the Utah Shakespeare Festival. We asked him if he had any advice for the next years Fellows. He advised that anyone who is accepted into the Fellowship program next year needs to make themselves known to the other members of the company. To put yourself out there in a good light.

Josh was last seen on stage as El Gallo in the Main Stage production of The Fantasticks. Dancing at Lughnasa will run November 5-8 and the 10th. Be sure to catch this amazing production.

Cast members sit around the conference table and enjoy
the designer presentations. 

Designs for Dancing.

On Friday, the design team for Dancing at Lughnasa presented their designs to the cast before their read through. Lughnasa is being directed by Malinda Vaughn, who teaches theatre at Souther Utah University, in collaboration with her designers, really want to  drive the point that the play is a memory. The set is design by Alana Pichot and lighting by Andie Szekely, presents the theme elegantly. The play is set in 1936, which will be reflected in the beautiful costume designs done by Andrew Haueter. As well as having amazing sound by Brand Gowers. Gowers has chosen a few musical instruments that reflect each of the characters. With this he plans to create music for the show that will set the tone for the audience. Lughnasa is set the fictional town of Ballybeg Ireland, which of course none of the cast members are from. To make their accents believable, they will be assisted by Peter Sham, who is also a an Associate Professor at SUU, as the voice and dialect coach. Dancing at Lughnasa opens November 5th. We are so excited.