NECC theater team has been working on a spring musical called Taxi Taberna. Due to Covid-19 last spring, this musical was cancelled. Luckily, the team regained all but two actors for the characters. These characters have now been replaced.
Adam Peterson, theater instructor mentioned the cast just started working on stage just this last week. “There’s six actors in the production” Peterson said, “beyond the actors there’s more work that goes into the performance. I think we have ten or a dozen people working on the show once we start looking behind the scenes.” As the production comes closer to performance time, they will bring more people on for stagehands and things of that nature.
Peterson said “what’s cool about this show is that it’s a college show, meaning its produced through my play production course, so the design from the show actually comes directly from that course. There’s a student who designs sound, one who designs lights, and another will design costumes.” The students are responsible for making their designs come to life. Students produce the show from the play production class.
If you’re interested in seeing the musical, it will be held live at the Cox Activities Center on the Northeast Community College’s campus on April 29th, and April 30th at 7:30 p.m., also May 1st, and May 2nd at 2 p.m. $10 for adults, $5 students, and all NECC students and employees get in free. Masks will be required, and social distancing will be practiced.
“This year were doing things a little bit differently because of Covid-19. In previous years we do about four different play productions a year.” Peterson said. Northeast combines with the Norfolk Community Theater for the first three shows of the year. For the final production, this year being Taxi Taberna, is produced just from Northeast Community College students. Peterson wants to start preforming musicals every other year.
If you’re interested in joining theater, Peterson, and the cast are very welcoming to new members. “We have this thing in theater called the “red initiative,” which is R.E.D, standing for representation, equity, and diversity.” Peterson said. “If you notice inclusion wasn’t included in there because we don’t like the term inclusion.” He explained that inclusion feels as if were letting someone in, whereas we want if it’s just representation, equity, and diversity, then everyone gets to tell their story equally. He would like for everyone to have equal access.
“We try to represent those themes in theater, representation, equity, and diversity. All very important.” Peterson said.