For some people, being a triple threat just isn’t enough anymore. While singing, dancing and acting is impressive in itself, Adam LaPorte, music theater/composition senior also writes, composes and directs. Does that make him a sextuple threat? I don’t know, but whatever he is, he’s impressive!
OCU Stripped, a student-run organization, recently produced LaPorte’s third original musical, “June by the Sea.” LaPorte wrote his first musical in high school, and you may have seen his second work, “The Baseball Play,” when it was performed through another student-run theater organization, Out of the Box. “The Baseball Play” was performed as a staged reading and, later, as a fully produced play last year at the Oklahoma Contemporary. I was lucky enough to see both and got to see the progression and changes that were made between the reading and the staged show.
“June by the Sea” is about writer and hopeful journalist, “Charlie Bennett,” trying to uncover the mystery of the quiet and secretive Klepper sisters whose father passed away without explanation. “Sarah Klepper” is very protective of her little sister “June Klepper” and doesn’t let her interact with anyone. Charlie and his friend “Janie Pink” become friends with the Kleppers with the intention of obtaining information, only to both fall in love with them. June’s hidden talent, seeing how people die upon eye contact, leads to chaos as the seaside scrambles for explanations. The music is beautifully written to capture the atmosphere of the seascape and the internal conflicts of the characters. It’s unique while still perfectly fitting into the landscape of music theater today.
There’s a certain sense of excitement and respect in seeing a show you don’t know anything about. “June by the Sea” was the first original musical OCU Stripped has produced, and it drew just as large an audience as previous, well-known titles like “Pippin.” Nobody sees a new show because it’s their favorite (although they may leave with this thought). The packed audience that sat in Petree Hall can only mean the people present are passionate about theater and want to support their friends and the new work they’ve collaborated on.
Producing a new work within our music department is a huge step toward mirroring the theatrical climate today. Many music theater programs fall short in this area and don’t have nearly as many opportunities to tackle new works. When they do, they’re often viewed as second-tier to other mainstage shows. There should be a balance between the musical canon of classic works and new pieces to make performers well-rounded and prepare them for the real world. Making a character your own is one thing, but it’s a whole different story to build one from scratch. Additionally, new works are often still revised during the rehearsal process, and being able to adapt to changes and cuts made on the fly is a valuable skill as well.
Though “June by the Sea” was the first original work produced by OCU Stripped, there are many other opportunities on campus to support creative peers. Out of the Box hosts a playwright-in-residence every year to premiere a new work. The Shadow Collective is a student organization dedicated solely to new works that produces three student-written plays every spring. The theatre and performance class of 2020 is hosting a festival of new works open to submissions in film, visual art, literary works, one-act plays, comedy and music. Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society, accepts year-round submissions of writing, photos, and art to their online publication and is currently accepting submissions for their annual print publication as well. And if all those weren’t enough? Project 21 has year-round concerts full of student-written musical compositions that often collaborate with dancers.
The point of all of this? Support new works! Support your friends! Fill your brain with new stories and new ideas! In an artistic environment where we all want our art to be seen or heard, it’s important to take a step back and make sure we listen to others as well.
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