Jenna Bacon, Campus Carrier arts and living editor

Berry College Theatre Company (BCTC) will begin its production of “Pajama Game” next Wednesday. “Pajama Game” is a musical comedy written by Richard Bissell and George Abbot with music by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The play was first performed in 1954 and featured choreography by legendary dancer Bob Fosse. The plot of the musical follows a labor dispute at the Sleep Tite Pajama Factory, where sparks fly between a stubborn superintendent and a determined union leader. Berry’s production is directed by Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre Jennifer Bradford, with choreography by Director of Dance Sara Pecina and musical direction by Christopher Nguyen. 

Auditions for the show were held on Feb. 3, with callbacks taking place the next day. Candidates were asked to prepare a 30 – 45 second excerpt of a song from a musical of their choice to showcase their vocal abilities. Auditionees who received call backs were asked to come prepared to sing and dance. Freshman Kristen Stryker, who plays Brenda in the show, shared what part of the audition process she found the most challenging. After Freshman biology major Kiersten Stryker performed a song at her initial audition, she received a call back. 

“The dancing was the scariest part,” Stryker said. “I was asked to learn a pretty intense dance that will appear in the show. I had two attempts to learn it before everyone was asked to run it while being observed.” 

While the audition process can certainly seem intimidating, it shouldn’t discourage people from trying anyway. Freshman Emma Loeslein plays the role of Charlie in the show. She has never been exceedingly confident in her dancing abilities, however, she pushed past the fear and  auditioned anyway.   

“I think if you have the motivation and the energy to actually try, you’re going to be just fine,” Loeslein said. “The cool thing is they cast people knowing what their strengths are. If you’re a really good singer, you’re probably going to get a role that’s heavier on the singing.” 

There is always value in being able to play to one’s strengths. It’s important to show up and put forth a valiant effort even when the task is daunting.  

Dance is such a huge part of “Pajama Game,” with Bob Fosse’s iconic dance style acting as an important aspect of the show. Bob Fosse was a very well-respected choreographer who worked on multiple Broadway shows during the 1950s, 60s and 70s. His dance style incorporates small, controlled gestures such as the jazz hands, hip rolls and hat tips.  

Senior Jenna Jones has abundant experience with the Fosse dance style. According to Jones, she began learning the Fosse dance style in 6th grade. She went on to learn the original choreography to “Steam Heat” and “Hernando’s Hideaway,” two dance numbers that appear in the show. Jones’s knowledge of the Fosse dance style has significantly contributed to the production’s success so far. 

While Pecina is the lead choreographer, Jones has assisted in that process, utilizing her expertise when it comes to the technical aspects of the Fosse dance style. 

“For ‘Steam Heat,’ the cast uses bowler hats, and I help them work their hats,” Jones said. “The Fosse style of dance is so intricate, and there are so many little details. It can be nice having an extra set of eyes; that’s where I come in.” 

There is so much love and work that goes into each and every BCTC performance. The different components of any performance include set building, costume design, lighting, sound and prop management. It’s the stage manager’s job to keep things organized and running smoothly, ensuring that all technical and creative elements come together seamlessly. They coordinate rehearsals, communicate between directors and crew members and oversee every detail during performances to guarantee a polished production.  

One of the biggest responsibilities of a stage manager is being responsible for cueing all technical elements of the show. Freshman Rebecca Duncan is the stage manager for the production. Duncan explains what she will be doing during showtime. 

“When I am at the top of the show, I’ll be up in the booth with the sound and light board operators,” Duncan said. Every sound and light that you see on stage, that’s a cue that’s called by me. The house lights coming up is a cue. The house lights going down is a cue. The first music you hear will be me sending a cue to the orchestra that’ll be backstage right.”  

BCTC’s production of “Pajama Game” is set to be an incredible performance with lots of talented students and faculty dedicating time to the project. To purchase tickets and view all available the showtimes, visit https://berryonstage.ludus.com/index.php.