KEARNEY – University Theatre at Kearney is presenting “Mirette,” a charming musical based on the award-winning children’s book by Emily Arnold McCully.
“Mirette” tells the enchanting tale of a most unusual friendship between a gutsy 10-year-old girl and a brooding tightrope walker. Set in a boarding house for circus performers in 1890s Paris, young Mirette is delighted when she discovers her mother’s grumpy new boarder is none other than The Great Bellini, whose glorious tightrope-walking days were cut short when he lost his nerve. Demonstrating an innate talent for balancing, she convinces the reluctant Bellini to teach her his craft. But when Bellini, determined not to disappoint the girl, stages a comeback performance, he finds himself paralyzed with fear, and it is Mirette who reveals the true meaning of courage.
Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Miriam Drake Theatre on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus. The show runs approximately two hours, including an intermission.
The UNK production is directed by theater professor Janice Fronczak, with musical direction by vocal music professor Anne Foradori and choreography by associate professor and dance program director Noelle Bohaty. The cast includes UNK students Zane Blomenkamp, Chloe Bohaty, Daniel Con, Emma Jahn, Stephen Johnson, Isabelle Kathol, Bri Linden, Victoria Nimneh and Tetsuhito Tsutsumi, as well as December graduate Chris Terry.
General admission tickets are $15 for adults; $10 for seniors and youths ages 13-18; $9 per person for groups of 10 or more; $5 for youths ages 5-12; and $3 for UNK students with a valid ID. The UNK Theatre Box Office is open 1:30 to 5 p.m. weekdays and one hour prior to each performance. All ticket purchases are payable by cash or check only. For reservations, call 308-865-8417 or email boxoffice@unk.edu.
Cast (listed by hometown)
Cairo – Bri Linden (Madame Gateau)
Grant – Chris Terry (Bellini)
Imperial – Stephen Johnson (Clouk)
Kearney – Isabelle Kathol (Mirette)
Kearney – Emma Jahn (Gaby)
Lexington – Daniel Con (Camembert)
Lincoln – Chloe Bohaty (Claire)
Mitchell – Zane Blomenkamp (Max)
Omaha – Victoria Nimneh (Mme. Rouspenskaya)
Tokyo, Japan – Tetsuhito Tsutsumi (Tabac)
Student Artistic and Production Staff
Alliance – Donna LeMunyan (assistant stage manager)
Aurora, Colorado – Nathaniel York (stage manager)
Kearney – Aspen (AJ) Girard (assistant stage manager)
Kearney – Jason Robertson (accompanist)
Kearney – Lainey Schmeits (properties master)
Mitchell – Zane Blomenkamp (dramaturg)
North Platte – Bea Webster (scenic designer)
Faculty/Staff/Guest Artistic Team
Janice Fronczak, director
Anne Foradori, music director
Noelle Bohaty, choreographer
Andrew Brackett, lighting designer
Giovanni Flores, sound designer
Darin Himmerich, technical director
AP Pikiben, guest costume designer (Truman State University)
PHOTOS BY ERIKA PRITCHARD, UNK COMMUNICATIONS
