From October 11th to the 12th, the NTC (Norwin Theatre Company) put on a Fall Showcase, consisting of group musical numbers from Mamma Mia!, La La Land, Anything Goes, and Hamilton, two original play segments and one play segment based on an already existing work (Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery), as well as another segment based on the musical Hairspray, and several musical solos from individual members of the cast, most of which were from musical theatre history. The skilled cast and crew were excited to put on a production so different than fall productions from the past.
NTC student co-president Abby Syzmanski was very fond of the new feeling of the Fall Showcase. Syzmanski has been with the NTC for four years and this was her eighth production with the company. She was a featured singer and dancer throughout the different segments of the Fall Showcase and was prominently featured in the Hamilton segment of the show.
The cast and crew felt that the audience enjoyed the variety that could be found in the Fall Showcase, as well as the familiarity the audience had with the songs performed and the musicals they had been pulled from.
“I think our audiences loved our group numbers!” said Syzmanski. “It was so much fun to see them dance and sing along with us onstage to hits that they knew.”
“Based off the feedback that I received from audience members, most shared that they enjoyed the variety and pace of the show,” said NTC producer, sponsor, and director Lauren Scheirer. “They also appreciated that each student was showcased and got a chance to perform a solo or scene if they were interested.”
The NTC was proud of the showcase overall because of the performance of the cast and crew, and what they were able to pull off in a short period of time.
“The thing that I am most proud of is watching the returning upperclassmen stepping up and embracing more important roles in the production while helping the new members learn the ropes,” said technical director of the NTC, Todd Leighty. “Especially with only about a month and a half to put it all together.”
“My favorite segment of the showcase was probably the acting scene named “Improv-ing!” It was one of the acting scenes I was in where I played the main character of the name Quinn,” said NTC student co-president Alex Sweitzer. “As Quinn, I was the leader of this improv acting group and we played some short improv games for the audience. It was my favorite segment because I was able to make the character my own! One of our directors, Jay Westwood, wrote this short scene and specifically wanted me to portray Quinn. It was such an honor to be thought of, and I really enjoyed playing Quinn, acting with my friends, and making the audience laugh hysterically each night!”
There were some elements of the production the company hopes to improve on in the future.
“I think in future productions we can improve on being aware of our surroundings more,” said Sweitzer. “Sometimes it is hard to balance doing your own thing during a show and then also worrying about the people around you, whether it be a cast member or crew member. But remaining diligent and understanding your surroundings will better enhance our performances in the future.”
“We are going to try to improve scheduling for next year,” said Scheirer. “Specifically, our Friday performance was on the senior night at our knight’s stadium. We lost a few audience members and parking was a challenge for our patrons that evening.”
The NTC’s next production will take place from March 20th to the 23rd, 2025, and will be Disney’s High School Musical. The company hopes you will attend their spring musical!
