This fall the MVAllstars put on the production of Terry Pratchett’s Mort. Our theater director, Mr. Taylor, commented that this was the biggest production that the Allstars have put on since he started at MVPS 5 years ago, and it went splendidly! The Allstars only had about two months to put on this elaborate show complete with moving lights, quick costume changes, and pre recorded lines accompanied with puppets. The Allstars even got some professional help for the character of Death who was puppeted by Lee Bryan (That Puppet Guy). Lee graciously took time away from his work at The Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta to join the cast on this adventure in the Discworld.
Besides Lee, the cast included actors: Savannah Rettig, Stacey She, Timmy DeShay, Akim Abdivyeh, Anya Smith-Roman, Sam Lovejoy, Michael McConnell, Solomon Simmons and Anna Jarrell; student tech and crew: Makenzie Cartwright, Jackson Dalton and Joshua Eastwood; and two faculty appearances by Dr. Tom Rounds and Zach Strother. As newcomers to the MVPS theater team, both faculty members found a new appreciation for the hard and dedicated work done by these students.
After the show, some of the cast members commented on their personal experience in Mort. Sophomore Sam Lovejoy said, “Although it looked bleak at first, the show became a masterpiece that we were all proud of in the end,” and senior Savannah Rettig added, “It was a really challenging play, and much different than anything we’ve ever done before, but I also had a lot more fun with it than anything else we’ve done.”
Mr. Taylor also gave his own final thoughts on the production: “I was so happy with the entire process, watching it take shape and then take stage! It was a wonderfully realized production and I loved watching the cast and crew discovering Sir Terry Pratchett’s multiverse for the first time. Looking back, the word, epic, got tossed around a bit as a response to the curiousness about it and I think it was quite an apt answer. The only thing we left out was a stroll across the stage with a kitchen sink! It was a great pleasure and honor to work with faculty members Dr. Rounds and Mr. Strother, plus the creative, collaborative skills of my dear friend and fellow actor/artist, Lee Bryan. I would stack that right up against a number of collegiate and community groups. The MVAllstars brought big game last week!”
Mort got a great response from everyone at MVPS, and I can’t wait for the next production. Everyone had a wonderful time and did a fantastic job on and off stage. Great job Allstars!
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