University Theatre at Kearney’s season-opening production of “Orphan Train: The Musical” is at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Miriam Drake Theatre inside UNK’s Fine Arts Building.
The University of Nebraska at Kearney show dramatizes the Orphan Train Movement that relocated an estimated 250,000 orphaned and homeless children during a 75-year period from 1854 to 1929.
“Orphan Train: The Musical” features a 22-member cast playing 37 roles. About half the cast members are UNK students and the other performers are community members, including several young children.
“Orphan Train: The Musical” also features a five-person, seven-piece band.
TICKET INFORMATION
Public performances of “Orphan Train: The Musical” will be held 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3, 4 and 6 and 2 p.m. Oct. 7.
Cost is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and UNK faculty/staff members, $5 for youths in fifth through 12th grades and $3 for UNK students. Tickets are available through the UNK Theatre Box Office in the Fine Arts Building or by calling 308-865-8417.
Cast – UNK Students
David City – Bethany Tebbe, mayor’s wife / townsperson / jury Member
Gibbon – Logan Giddings, Rev. Brace
Lincoln – Megan Coffin, Abigail Pritchart
Lincoln – Ally Fricke, Jenny TenBrook
Lincoln – Trisha Miller, Miss Pemberton
Lincoln – Brenden Zwiebel, reporter
Natoma, Kansas – Terran Homburg, Rachel Pierce
Riverdale – Steven Boldt, photographer / jury member / donor
Scottsbluff – Dakota Empfield, conductor / judge / donor
Scottsbluff – Hunter Scow, Barney Collins
Wilcox – Laura Lyons, seamstress / jury member / town kid
Cast – Kearney Youth
Kearney High School – Jacob Martin, town kid / church kid
Horizon Middle School – Kaylee Anderson, seamstress / news girl / town kid / church kid
Horizon Middle School – Zane Holoubeck, Jacob Larsen
Horizon Middle School – Denelle Nebesniak, seamstress / town kid / church kid
Sunrise Middle School – Evan Fidler, James Henry / town kid / church kid
Sunrise Middle School – Calla Ripp, Bridget Flynn
Park Elementary – Jack Tacha, Peter TenBrook
Park Elementary – Lauren Tacha, Emma Taylor
Cast – Community Members
Dillon Nelson – Amos Pritchart / Sawbuck Shorty / donor
Katherine Ridder – Widow Townsend
Bill Wood – Ben Larsen / Dakota Red / jury foreman
UNK Student Artistic & Production Staff
Blair – Gail Jones Nicholson, assistant stage manager
Elm Creek – Joshua Fitch, stage manager
Grand Island – Grace Bartling, assistant stage manager
Humboldt – Anthony Knudson, properties master
UNK Faculty / Staff / Guest Artistic Team
Patricia Birch, director
Janice Fronczak, associate director
Anne Foradori, musical director
Darin Himmerich, scenic designer
Del DeLorm, lighting designer
Ron Altman, costume designer
Aaron Hynds, sound designer
