What occurs when a bunch of scholars used to ingesting from a firehose determine to channel their vitality into musical theater? If what you’re picturing is a bit chaotic, you’re heading in the right direction.
For greater than 50 years, the MIT Music Theater Guild (MTG) has placed on epic performances which can be equal components formidable, spectacular, and artistic. From “Rocky Horror Image Present” to authentic remakes of superhero blockbusters and every part in between, the productions are, above all else, entertaining.
“At its core, it’s simply college students being passionate concerning the artwork they’re creating and giving again to their neighborhood,” says senior Michaela Purvis, who has served as a president, choreographer, solid member, and extra with MTG. “One thing about that’s actually particular for me.”
Members of the group are fast to level out that MTG is totally student-run, which makes for a unusual, scrappy tradition by which members step as much as serve in no matter roles are wanted for every present.
Which will sound like a tough strategy to keep the group’s 4 annual performances, however because it was fashioned in 1971, MTG college students have persistently dedicated themselves to advanced reveals with an enthusiasm that not even a worldwide pandemic may cease.
“The truth that we’ve existed regularly for thus lengthy speaks volumes,” Purvis says. “I believe it reveals the persistence and spirit of scholars normally. Once we’re in pursuit of a venture, we’re capable of carry it via.”
In some ways, present and former members say MTG’s spirit is an extension of MIT’s ethos.
“MIT college students have this perspective that something that’s technically attainable might be completed,” says Matt Putnam ’09, who has stayed concerned with MTG since graduating. “It’s just like the hacks. … Musical theater is equally bonkers. If musical theater didn’t exist, and I mentioned, ‘We’re going to placed on a present that’s like a film, however it’s going to be dwell and everybody’s going to need to memorize two hours-worth of traces, and we’re going so as to add songs and dances folks might want to study, and we’re going to wish units and lights and choreography and props.’ You’d say that’s loopy. However it’s technically attainable, so I believe college students dive into it with this perspective of ‘Let’s make it occur.’”
MTG’s members normally wait till a few months earlier than their subsequent efficiency to select what present they’ll do, which makes for a busy preparation however ensures college students like what they’re performing.
Some MTG positions, like president and treasurer, are selected a biannual foundation. However many positions are stuffed after a present is chosen. Along with the actors and musicians, there are carpenters, lighting and sound engineers, costume, hair, and make-up managers, and even a webmaster and documentarian.
“The most important false impression is you want to have the ability to sing, act, and dance to be part of the Music Theater Guild,” junior Eleanor Jaffe says. “You don’t want to have the ability to do something. You simply have to wish to do one thing. That may be portray, it may be appearing, dancing, stitching — actually something. We now have a job for anybody.”
A few week earlier than showtime, everybody comes collectively to assemble the set. Then the group is in manufacturing week. Mondays are spent organising the technical parts of the stage and conducting a full run-of-show. Tuesday evening is orchestra evening. There are gown rehearsals Wednesday and Thursday the place members attempt to get via every part with out stopping. Friday is showtime.
“Opening evening, even in one of the best of instances, feels sudden and rushed and never fairly prepared,” Putnam says. “You need to settle for it’s by no means going to be good. Some persons are fairly nervous.”
It shouldn’t be a shock that issues don’t at all times go based on plan. Luckily, overcoming adversity is certainly one of MTG’s specialties. One 12 months, a blizzard closed campus throughout two of MTG’s sold-out reveals. Kresge Auditorium was already booked for the make-up dates, so MTG carried out in a lecture corridor (the set and lightweight groups improvised). One other 12 months, on the primary day of “Jesus Christ: Famous person,” the actress taking part in Mary Magdalene walked in sick and unable to sing. With two hours till showtime, the organizers known as one other member who hadn’t been concerned within the present. That member agreed to take a seat within the orchestra pit and carry out each music right into a microphone whereas the unique actress lip-synced. Even in the course of the pandemic, the group revealed digital reveals.
“There’s a really customary manner we do every part, and generally issues get wobbly and we’ve got to determine them out, however there’s such a big historical past that we all know methods to get issues completed,” Jaffe says.
A present that also holds a outstanding position in MTG lore is a 2003 efficiency that lumped the primary three “Star Wars” films into one epic musical parody. That’s the present that hooked Putnam, who remembers one costume designer utilizing a vacuum kind machine to create storm trooper armor. Legend holds that the present featured greater than 200 costumes. MTG ultimately carried out the present on the opening of a “Star Wars” exhibit on the Museum of Science in entrance of George Lucas himself.
“I believed it was probably the most unbelievable factor I’d ever seen,” Putnam recollects. “It pulled in so many alternative sources from the neighborhood.”
Present and former MTG members say it’s fulfilling to be part of one thing that requires folks from so many alternative backgrounds. There’s really one thing for everybody in MTG, whether or not college students need to apply their engineering and design expertise, discover an outlet for his or her facet hobbies, or they similar to to sing.
“Placing collectively a present is sort of like being on an engineering group or working for a corporation with a variety of totally different departments,” says Putnam who at the moment works as a software program engineer. “That’s what’s so thrilling about musical theater for me: what number of totally different folks and skillsets come collectively to make the completed product.”
