MISHAWAKA– From March 30 to April 1, Bethel University’s Theatre Department will be showing “Plain and Fancy.” Admission is $18 dollars for students and seniors, $21 for the general public and $13 dollars for children 12 and under. Students can also attend for free and watch the whole show if they sign up to be an usher for the performance. There is a 7:30 p.m. performance each evening and a 1:30 p.m. matinee on April 1. All performances will take place in the Everest-Rohrer Auditorium.
“Plain and Fancy” is a popular Midwest production that captures the clash of socialite urban culture and rural Amish culture. The play is expected to be well-attended by significant numbers of people from campus and from the Michiana community. Abigail Hadley is one of the assistant stage managers and said the play’s genre is part of what is creating the high expectations.
“Especially, since it’s a musical, we’ll fill the whole auditorium,” Hadley said.
According to Hadley, audience members can expect at least twenty songs. The play will run for around two hours, with an intermission time of 15 minutes.
The cast has dedicated a lot of time and effort into the show. Over the past two months, students put in around twenty hours a week of practice. The scale of the production has been a new experience for Emily Thomas, who plays the lead role of Katie Yoder.
“This is the biggest production I’ve ever been a part of,” Thomas said. “It was a little intimidating first coming into it, but Deb is an amazing director, and they were able to get people for me to work with in the music department to help with my singing, and all that, and it’s just amazing. Everyone is so encouraging.”
To purchase tickets, visit the ticket office in the Everest-Rohrer building or purchase them online at tickets.betheluniversity.edu.