Willamette University Theatre Finds Heart, Humor, and Humanity in Ride the Cyclone
There’s a reason Ride the Cyclone has developed something of a cult reputation.
“On the surface, Ride the Cyclone is a wacky, joyful romp, full of humor and play; but watch out, it may sucker punch you with a deeper message,” said director Hannah Penn.
That deeper message is exactly what drew her to direct the musical with Willamette University Theatre students.
“The script is so rich,” Hannah said. “We get to see these beautiful souls struggle to discover who they are, what they value, and how they ‘fit’ with each other in community.” Working with student actors, she saw a chance to highlight “their wisdom, sincerity, and depth of feeling.”
Hannah credits her student-faculty production team for crafting an environment that supports the emotional core of the show. “Every element is essential,” she said. Choreographer Megan Swanson uses “a huge range of dance styles to delineate character and advance the story,” while lights, sound, and set design combine to create “an immersive, atmospheric place in which to play.” Costumes and makeup provide “subtle—and not-so-subtle—clues about our characters’ secret inner lives.”
She also layered in symbolic visual cues: circles, doorways, tunnels, and signs of decay. These elements help evoke what she calls “a general feeling of liminal space,” a world where the characters find “freedom and joy within the limits of an unwelcoming space.”
Ride the Cyclone is known for its musical numbers, and with so much of the storytelling embedded in the songs, Hannah faced a challenge: how to build rich, dimensional characters with limited spoken dialogue.
The solution came through collaboration. “This show wouldn’t have worked without the seamless integration of all production elements to support the narrative,” she said.
At its core, Ride the Cyclone asks how we make meaning in a world that can feel arbitrary, or even cruel. That’s part of why Hannah believes this is the right show for this moment and this community.
“I think many of us will connect with the idea that life can be bleak, that circumstances can be limiting and unjust, that ‘god’ may seem distant or cruel,” she said. “Our characters experience all of these things, but they find joy in creativity and community. They find a way to ‘enjoy the ride.’ We hope our show will help you do the same.”
Ride the Cyclone
7:30 p.m. Nov 14 & 15; 2 p.m. Nov 15 & 16 at Willamette University.
Tickets are sold out online but, according to the theater website: You may arrive at the Theatre a half-hour before the performance if you would like to be placed on the waiting list. We do have "no-shows," so there is a good chance you may still be able to see the performance. (link)
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