Not many UA students would consider singing the Biblical book of Matthew a promising summer past-time, but those theatre students selected for the Theatre department’s “Summertide” program are more than happy to do so. Every year, a select group of UA students head to the coast, but not to soak in the sun and sand; instead, they begin rehearsals on the annual “Summertide” draw. This year the selected show is Godspell, an unconventionally constructed show drawn mainly from the parables detailed in the ‘Gospel of Matthew.

This intriguing summer task stems from a program that has been established in the UA theatre department for some time. Summertide takes a full cast and crew to Gulf Shores, Al during the summer term of every year to present a complete musical production. This group, considered a professional performance company, has presented a wide range of shows in the past, including Little Shop of Horrors, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, and Grease. This year, the cast brings yet another level of the American musical to the stage with the Stephen Schwartz (of Wicked fame) adaptation of the New Testament’s first gospel. The story and message of Jesus as told in ‘Matthew,’ is relayed through sermons and presentations of the parables of the Christ and his disciples.

Elliot Herrin, a junior majoring in technical theatre, is a drummer in the accompanying band. Though he is not acting in the show, he still found the messages here especially meaningful.

“This show is about a community, and how that community slowly grows stronger [with] one another along their journey with Christ," said Herrin. "I really feel like the same thing is true of the cast and crew.”

Perhaps that close-knit family is proving useful, considering the eight hours of rehearsal required by the cast on most nights. “The cast and crew make it a fun and enjoyable eight hours,” said Erica Hansen, a rising senior musical theatre major.

Hansen was also quick to point to how quickly this process moved, explaining that the entire show was choreographed with lines and music memorized within five days. Perhaps that ‘whirlwind’ is part of the draw for many of the acting students who decide to take on such an intense summer.

The intensity of the cast does not end on the stage either; throughout the summer, they will live together in a condominium, setting the stage for that closeness that must be represented on stage. “Living and working together has forged a bonding process that is like no other, ” said Herrin.

However, even beyond the show and the newly minted friendships, the conscious cast is making sure to leave its mark on the community—and not just with a beautiful show! As summer continues, in addition to presenting the six shows a week, the cast and crew will be manning a variety of creative theatre arts workshops that the community may attend. These workshops not only allow the UA actors to interact with people who have seen the show or spark an interest in theatre with the coast’s children, but also to take away something more lingering than a standard musical would—a sense of fulfillment.

Many students would imagine working in such high quantity and demand during the summer months to be miserable, but Hansen felt that to be quite the contrary. “This has been one of the best experiences of my life,” said Hansen. So maybe any Tuscaloosa residents spending part of their summer on the Gulf can take the time to enjoy a night of theatre and what members of the cast have called, “a wonderful show with a beautiful message.”

For more information, please visit: www.SummerTide.org

When to Go:
Summertide’s Godspell
June 5th to July 3rd, 2009
Tuesday—Sunday @ 8:00 pm
Tickets available online at www.summertide.org

by Colin Whitworth