"So Long Dearie"

    This weekend we officially wrapped “Hello, Dolly!” and I couldn’t be more grateful for the experience. I never imagined I would make my Ohio Northern musical debut in my freshman year, but I’m so thankful for the opportunity. While I’ve had my own tumultuous history with “Hello, Dolly!” as I mentioned in my last post, this show was nothing but a joy. Here are some highlights from tech week, the performances and strike.

Corsets and Hair Galore

    If you’ve watched Dance Moms, you might know about the famous rat and snood from one of their dances. Fun fact: for those of us who didn’t wear wigs, we had to use rats to shape our hair into period-accurate styles. I’ll admit, without the hats and dresses the hairstyle looked a bit like Preminger from Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper (as seen in the recent TikTok trends), but once you’re in full costume, it fits. Another thing you might not know from the audience is that underneath the layers of costumes were corsets. To be period accurate, every female-identifying character in the show wore a traditional corset in rehearsals and performances. It was an adjustment to sing and dance in such a restricting piece, but over time, I grew somewhat fond of mine.

Stunning Costumes

    Can we take a moment to appreciate these gorgeous costumes? Both of the costumes I wore were designed by an ONU student, Mikayla Kirr. She carefully designed and crafted each piece from scratch. The attention to detail was clear in the clean seams and even buttons. I loved coming in for fittings and trying on the pattern piece by piece. It was a peek behind the curtain where I saw the vision come to life. I can’t say enough incredible things about these costumes except that our student designers are truly amazing.

A Surprise Performance

    A surprising fact about me: I used to be a competitive baton twirler for nine years. I was never a majorette in high school because they wouldn’t let me twirl and cheer, but I still traveled around the state and competed during my first two years of high school. If I hadn’t cheered in college, I had considered twirling instead. I don’t twirl regularly anymore, but it’s become a fun talent I’ve pulled out for a handful of shows over the years. I was the understudy for the majorette in Hello, Dolly! but was never intended to perform. When the majorette had a family emergency and couldn’t perform in three shows, I had to step in and twirl. I had fun pulling out my batons and deciding what tricks to include. The toss at the front of the stage was a little nerve-wracking since the spotlights reflected off the baton and made it nearly invisible, but the toss-turn-catch at the back of the stage was perfectly lit.

    The best part? I had already bought tickets for my old baton teacher, Marylyn, and her husband before I knew I’d be twirling. I didn’t tell her I’d be performing during the show she attended in case plans changed, but the joy and surprise on her face at the end of the show were priceless.

Bob the Builder Who?

    One thing about performing at ONU is that every cast and crew member helps with strike. We don’t just move the costumes and props—we take down every single light, all the sound equipment and the entire set. While the process is time-consuming, you have to find joy in the small moments. We all sported our Freed Center hard hats as we tackled our assignments. Whether we were up in the catwalks removing lights or carrying wood offstage, we definitely felt a little like Bob the Builder.

    Not only did I experience personal growth through this show, but I built stronger connections with so many people throughout the rehearsal process. One of the things I’ve always adored about theater is the way it brings people together onstage and off.

    The cast, crew and creative team made this process positive and full of laughs. I’m walking away from Hello, Dolly! with a full heart and memories to last a lifetime.