Capitol News

A unique collaboration between Michigan State University's Department of Theatre and the Flint Repertory Theatre recently took place, marking a significant opportunity for students and alumni. The partnership involved a reading of "These Familiar Spirits," a new musical by Gordon Leary and Julia Meinwald. This initiative allowed participants to work alongside professionals from New York City and the Flint Rep, gaining valuable experience in the process.

Chloe Kirchmeier, an MSU alumna, expressed her enthusiasm about the project: “To be able to see the writer’s and composer’s faces as we brought their work to life was such a cool experience.” She added that she would have participated even without compensation due to the unique opportunity it presented.

The musical imagines a reunion of Salem Witch Trial accusers 23 years after the trials ended. Colette Robert, a director based in New York and currently working on "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" in Chicago, directed the reading at Flint Rep.

Adam Yankowy, Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre at MSU, highlighted the importance of this experience: “Our students and alums had a tremendous opportunity to work with these other performers, these New York-based writers, this accredited working director, and also professional theatre in our area.”

Yankowy is also Program Director of MSU's New Musical Laboratory. He noted that while this project was similar to their regular workshops, it operated at a much faster pace. The team had limited time to learn 20 out of 31 new songs before heading to Flint.

Audrey Allen, an MSU senior involved in the project, acknowledged its challenges: “I won’t lie, it was the hardest music I’ve ever had to learn.” Olivia Bath echoed these sentiments but appreciated the learning experience despite her busy schedule.

Leslie Hull, another participant who graduated from MSU with an MFA in Acting in 2012, emphasized how demanding yet rewarding such projects can be. She remarked on the importance of networking within theatre work.

The creative team behind "These Familiar Spirits" will continue refining their work following this initial reading. According to Yankowy, developing a new musical is often a lengthy process involving multiple iterations.

MSU's Department of Theatre aims to expand partnerships with regional theatres beyond their existing relationship with Williamston Theatre. Future collaborations may include productions like "Carrie: The Musical" at Flint Rep next summer.

“What helps us students in future careers is getting to work in professional spaces,” said Bath regarding these opportunities. Yankowy concluded by expressing his hopes for continued development: “We can make a contributing effort to the field of musical theatre in Michigan.”