College students play big role in Star’s ‘Titanic’

Rebecca Gierhart (left) and Heath Hawkins are two of the college students taking part in the Star Players production of “Titanic.” The show opens next weekend at the Star Theatre.

Eight area college students are in the Star Players’ upcoming summer musical, “Titanic, the Musical.”
Performances will be 2:30 p.m. July 27-28 and Aug. 3-4 at 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. July 29 and Aug. 5.
Upper Sandusky’s Colin Bather, a musical theatre major at Baldwin-Wallace University located in Berea, will be portraying Frederick Barrett. He played the part of Lightaller in Baldwin-Wallace’s recent production of “Titanic.”
“I really like doing this show,” Bather said. “There can be so many great interpretations.”
Bather already has more than 20 credits to his name, including Lt. Cioff in “Curtains,” Linus in “Charlie Brown” and Able in “Children of Eden.”
Hannah Berry, who plays Kate McGowan, drives from Powell each night for rehearsal. She found out about this production online and said, “I love it here. I like meeting new people.”
Berry attends Bowling Green State University, where she is majoring in musical theatre. Previous theatre experiences include “Seussical,” “Grease,” “The Arabian Nights,” “The Skin of Our Teeth” and “The Winter’s Tale.”
Ohio University is well-represented in this summer’s anniversary production as Rebecca Gierhart, Heath Hawkins and James Massara are all students at the Athens school participating in the show.

Colin Bather, a student at Baldwin Wallace College, is one of eight college students playing roles in “Titanic.”

“I’m not able to be in any shows at school, so I’m glad to be back on stage this summer at the Star,” said Gierhart, who plays Eleanor Widener.
She is the assistant director of the Athens Children’s Chorus, part of “New Chords on the Block” and a member of Kappa Kappa Psi. She also is in the popular YouTube video featuring Ohio University’s band, the Marching 110.
Hawkins, who plays Mr. Widener, is majoring in accounting at OU. Area residents may recognize him from Upper Sandusky High School productions.
Massara is another active Bobcat who appears as Lightaller At school, he is also part of the a capella group “New Chords on the Block” and president of the Men’s Track and Field club team.
Several of the cast members are attending college a bit closer to home.
Brandon Hall is a student at Marion Technical College while working at M-Tek. He plays Quartermaster Hitchensin Titanic. Hall said he enjoyed being in the Upper Sandusky High School productions of “Lucky Stiff” and “Curtains.”
Lauren Miller, who recently directed the Star Players’ teenage group, Alley Cats, in “How to Succeed in High School Without Even Trying,” is a senior history major at OSU-Marion. Theatre-goers saw her as a maiden in the Star’s spring musical, “Pirates of Penzance.” Miller will be portraying Kate Mullins.
Dylan Lohr is a sophomore at Heidelberg University. He has been performing at the Star for many years, beginning with Star Kids.
During a break in rehearsals, Lohr said, “I’ve really missed this. It’s fun to be back.” While in high school he was in “Lil’ Abner,” “Once Upon a Mattress,” “Lucky Stiff” and “Big.”
Tickets are $8 for members and $10 for non-members and are on sale. For tickets or more information, call 419-294-1411.

Posted by Daily Chief on July 19, 2012. Filed under Arts Entertainment,Recent Pictures. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry