By Montreal Spencer/south news editor
Students looking for a night filled with jazzy music and sensual dancing can attend the production of Nine on South Campus Nov. 19-21.
Derived from Federico Fellini’s classic film 8½, the musical tells the story of Guido Contini, acclaimed film director, and his attempts to find his next plot after his last few films failed. He decides to turn his life story into a film.
Contini, a magnet to beautiful women, is pursued by countless women and becomes the object of their affection. However, his wife and mistress compete for his time, love and affection.
Gypsy Ingram, associate professor of dance on South Campus for five years, serves as director. In the past, Ingram has choreographed South productions And the World Goes Around, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Grand Night for Singing.
“I’m having a blast. This is a lot of fun,” she said. “This is my first time directing a musical here.”
Ingram said this is the first time in three years South Campus has had a full-fledged musical. The show is a collaboration among the South jazz band, both Velocity 1 and 2 dance companies and theater students. More than 20 students participate in this production.
Veteran South actress Heather Dyer plays Contini’s wife. She said it is a great show and she is pleased with the collaboration.
“This is one of my favorite musicals. I told Gypsy about it this summer,” she said. “We wanted to finally be able to collaborate.”
The cast has been rehearsing for almost two months and had several humorous moments.
“I remember during rehearsal I was sitting on the edge of a box, and I moved back and fell completely in the box,” cast member Jasmine Lovings said. “All you could see was my yellow socks in the air. It was priceless.”
Lovings said people should see the play because it is sexy and fun. Teran Jones, who plays the mistress Carla, agrees the musical offers a lot to the audience.
“People should come see Nine because it’s an amazing show. You will definitely leave the theater wanting more,” she said. “It has everything: love, hate, sex, dancing, singing, anything you would want. And we also have an incredibly talented cast.”
Matt Aldini, one of only four men in the cast of 20, plays both a reporter and a childhood friend. He said he has enjoyed making the show.
“Musicals are always fun. They give me a feeling like creating built-up energy every time I get on stage for a performance, that maybe one day I will be a star,” he said. “I know that sounds silly, but being on stage really gets me excited about standing in the spotlight. I always like the light shining above my eyes in the distance.”
Michael Kreitzinger, who plays Contini, has been in more than 25 plays. He came in a couple of weeks after rehearsals began because the original actor could not continue.
“I absolutely love performing in Nine because it’s such a challenging and rewarding experience,” Kreitzinger said.
“Rehearsals are probably my favorite part of the whole process because that’s where you get to explore and have fun with things.”
Kreitzinger has to kiss different girls several times on stage, which he said he does not mind.
“I’ve never really been weirded out about kissing on stage,” he said. “I’d actually probably be more nervous kissing off stage.”
For mature audiences only, performances are 2 p.m. Thursday and 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday in the SPAC Carillon Theatre. Available at the door, tickets are free for TCC students, faculty and staff and $5 for others.
