There’s a smell of new paint that hangs in the air. Construction paper and cables line the floors of the Russell Miller Theatre in the fine arts center. People with headsets and costumes rush on and offstage while actors mouth lines to themselves.
By tonight, the words won’t be pained over. The paper and cables will be gone and the paint will be dry.
Tonight, “Violet” will be performed at Western for the first time.
“Violet” tells the story of a girl scarred as a child. Set in 1964, the titular character decides to travel from North Carolina to Oklahoma to be healed by an evangelical preacher.
Along the way she meets two soldiers, one white and one black, who befriend and accompany her.
“I believe in the story a lot,” Louisville senior Emily Althaus said. “This isn’t like a tap-dancy, glittery show. There are so many things to connect with.”
Althaus, who is playing the part of Violet, has performed in plays for Western since she was a freshman. This is her second musical.
“This is a really different project for us,” she said. “This piece says a lot about what people believe, about how we sometimes judge too quickly.”
“Violet” blossomed into an off-Broadway hit in 1997, just a year after the play was written by Jeanine Tesori and Brian Crawley. Tracey Moore, an assistant theatre and dance professor, decided to make her Western directorial debut with the play.
“I thought the story had relevant issues for our world,” Moore said. “Racial issues, the power of faith, judging people on appearances – these are all things that continue to shape our worldview.”
“The story shows that, no matter the time period, often the problems that Americans face every day stay the same.”
There is an emphasis on faith in the play and Western’s gospel choir, Amazing Tones of Joy, performs several songs. But, no one seems to consider “Violet” a gospel play or even a normal Broadway musical.
“It’s not your typical Broadway-type dance show,” Moore said. “We have rock music, gospel and even country music.”
Nearly 75 students are working on the production of “Violet,” but Moore has a substantial amount of experience in the world of theatre.
“It’s a new working relationship for everyone involved,” Althaus said. “It’s easy to get to know your professors and get comfortable working with them. But this has been a really great experience with a different perspective.”
Theater majors, music education majors, interior design, physical education and even broadcast majors have taken part in the effort to bring this show to life.
Moore said a big turnout is expected for the play which will be performed daily from Nov. 6 to Nov. 11.
On Sunday the show starts at 3 p.m. All other performances will begin at 8 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door.
Reach Aaron Burch at diversions@chherald.com.
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