Freed-Hardeman University Theatre will offer two productions this month with “Wait Until Dark” and “Working for Crumbs” beginning Thursday Feb. 23 and continuing through Saturday Feb. 25, 2023.
General admission tickets are $12.00 and can be purchased at http://www.fhutickets.com
Performances of the student-directed “Wait Until Dark ” will take place in the Black Box Theatre, and “Working for Crumbs” will be presented in Loyd Auditorium. The shows will run simultaneously with eight total performances beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday.
FHU Director of Theatre Cliff Thompson describes “Working for Crumbs” as “9 to 5” meets “Weekend At Bernies.” Thompson is directing “Working for Crumbs,” while FHU senior theatre major Dailey Reitmair is directing “Wait Until Dark” as part of her senior capstone project. Reitmair said preparation for her full show directorial debut began roughly eight months ago and started with the selection of the production, auditions and blocking. “This may not have been the easiest directing choice, but I wanted a challenge,” Reitmair said. Portions of the play are in the dark or with limited lighting. Reitmair’s states that the story will have audiences on the edge of their seats. Without revealing too much about the plot, Reitmair teases the audience with a question — “Will one blind woman be able to see through the lies of those around her? They will have to wait to find out,” she said.
The cast members of “Wait Until Dark” include Ashlyn Chandler, Nate Cass, Jack Terry, Charlie Stone, Jordan Deck and Hannah Sherwin. The “Working for Crumbs” cast features Madalyn Spicer, Anslee Hulen, Haley Heenan, Hannah Grace Robinson, Kaylee Sexson and Seth Wilson.
Working alongside her fellow theatre majors has been a meaningful experience for Reitmair, who has acted in several productions including “Doubt: A Parable,” “Tartuffe,” “Check Please” and “Matilda.”
“We’re two weeks from opening night, and I’m making sure to enjoy and take in every moment now that my time here is coming to end,” Reitmair said. “It’s bittersweet, and I’m going to miss it. These people mean everything to me.”
This is the first time FHU theatre has offered two productions simultaneously, Thompson said. “This is quite an undertaking, but the students have worked very hard and have been diligent with rehearsals and scheduling,” he said. “The shows have been organized so that audiences will have the opportunity to view them multiple times, which I hope they do because the shows offer comedy and thrills.”