By Onika Davis, Aquinas reporter
Aquinas College performed the musical Ride the Cyclone at the Aquinas College Performing Arts Center from Nov. 20-23.
The musical was originally written by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell, and had been produced by Kevin McCollum and Morris Berchard. The show was adapted to the Aquinas College Performing Arts Center stage under the direction of Annelise Dickinson and musical direction of Matty Owen, along with the help of the lead choreographer Hailie MacKay.
Scene from Ride the Cyclone during Mischa’s rap – Photo by Scott Harman
With costumes by Jess Luiz and Ashlyn Armock and wig designs by Gabrielle Lee, each character was given life through the details of their appearance. They also proved their talent through the numerous on and off stage costume quick changes.
The cast of the show consists of Aquinas College students, students from Grand Rapids Community College, coming together to deliver a performance of one fortune teller and six teenagers who must decide which member of their recently deceased choir will return to the living.
The event that had caused their demise had been riding the carnival ride The Cyclone, in which a malfunction had occurred at the peak of the loop de loop, “hurtling the children to their deaths” said Karnak who was played by CJ Guillermo, the mechanical fortune teller that had given a reading of the choir members and had even suggested that they ride The Cyclone.
Cast of Ride the Cyclone (left to right): CJ Guillermo (Karnak), Kai Bueker (Ocean), Josh Hamilton (Noel), Cristiana Worthams (Constance), Xavier Memije (Mischa), Jonas Grummet (Ricky) – Photo by Scott Harman
With a diverse cast of wacky characters, the audience is given insight into the lives of the members of the St. Cassian High School Chamber Choir. Multiple moments throughout the musical had the audience laughing and cheering at the zany mannerisms of each member.
Michaela Faith as Jane Doe – Photo by Scott Harman
One particular character under the name Jane Doe, played by Michaela Faith, is a complete mystery to the other choir members, to herself and to the audience due to losing her head in the tragic accident of their deaths. When asking audience members, many admitted to hoping she could be the character to return to the living.
“Her story was just so sad,” said one viewer after the opening night show. “It was hard to root for others after hearing it.”
After the show, when Guillermo was asked how he would describe the show he said, “Great from head to toe.”
More information about AQ theatre productions and upcoming shows can be found through the link below:
https://www.aquinas.edu/arts-at-aq/aquinas-college-theatre-tickets.html
The Saint 