Rockford University students present a preview Friday night in the school’s Maddox Theatre of the musical revue they’ll perform in early August at Edinburgh, Scotland’s Fringe Festival.
On a recent afternoon in Rockford University’s Clark Arts Center, students rehearsed dance moves for the number “He Had It Coming” from the Kander & Ebb musical “Chicago.” It’s part of “2 By 5,” a musical revue featuring excerpts from several of the Broadway songwriting duo of John Kander and Fred Ebb's hit musicals, including “Cabaret.” And it’s the show they’ll be taking to Edinburgh.
Deborah Mogford chairs Rockford University’s performing arts department. She says the Fringe Festival is one of the largest and most prestigious theater festivals in the world. The invitation to participate in it came out of the blue in December 2014 as she wrapping Christmas presents.
“And I was taken aback. And I said Rockford University? They said, ‘absolutely.’ I asked them why they were looking at us. And they said because our program had grown. And we had indeed grown a great deal,” she says.
Mogford says they were also impressed by the reinstatement and growth of the dance program and the number of the school’s recent performing arts graduates working in their field.
Mogford says her only hesitation was the cost of taking 20 students and three faculty to Scotland. But she says the administration promised substantial support for the enterprise, which gave her confidence to move ahead. Add a strong response from the community, and several fundraisers, and the trip was a go.
Mogford says she and her fellow faculty members came up with the revue to showcase the varied talents of the students in drama, song and dance. She says she picked Kander & Ebb’s work because of its depth.
“It’s music that you know. It’s also a little edgy, a little poignant. They really talk about, sometimes, a little darker side of life, but always a little ray of hope somewhere in it,” she says.
Mogford says the students have been working hard to polish the show for its Fringe performances. But they still have time to get excited about what they’re about to do.
Ana Weickert is a junior acting/directing and dance double major. To say she was enthusiastic when told about the trip might be an understatement.
“I kind of exploded into a billion butterflies. It was being able to take our craft and what we try so hard to accomplish here and show the world. It’s a supreme honor and delight,” she says.
Recent graduate Zachary Pletcher is also excited about going to Scotland. He says the festival appearance offers a chance to boost the image of Rockford University and the city. It also affords a chance to further his own craft and career.
“The fact that I get to meet other people and network, and see if there’s any future potential jobs across seas, or in America, or just to see all the art, and bring that back here in America, is amazing,” he says.
Undergraduate Tien Misler agrees with what the others say. She’s also excited about the chance to meet people from across the globe.
“And we all get to share in art. And I think that’s something that needs to be recognized. Because you hear a lot about people who don’t think that art matters, and it really does. And this festival is a huge example of that,” she says.
And soon, as Rockford University’s show takes its place among thousands of others in Edinburgh, the students will get to experience that for themselves.
The preview performance of "2 by 5" takes place on Friday, July 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the Clark Arts Center's Maddox Theatre. The performance is free and open to the public. Freewill donations will be accepted at the door. A reception will follow the 80-minute show.
