‘A Funny Thing’ happened during rehearsals
Cast members hope fun carries into performance
By Nyshicka Jordan
Staff Reporter

Sure a funny thing could happen on the way to a forum, but even funnier things can happen in a rehearsal.

Cast members of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” said the fun they have been having in play rehearsals will carry over to their performances and give the audience a good time.

The play will be performed at 8 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, with matinee shows at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the University Theatre.

Travis Willingham, a senior theater performance major, plays Miles Gloriosus, who Willingham said is “God’s gift to women.” He said the cast has worked hard in rehearsals, but the work did not come without laughter each night.

“It’s so much fun,” Willingham said. “You look forward to coming to rehearsal.”

Director Craig Lee said the play is a musical farce about a Roman slave who will be granted his freedom if he finds a woman for his master.

Willingham said the entire cast is giving their all in their performances and that will benefit the audience’s experience come show time.

“If you hold back, you limit the character’s power,” he said.

During a practice, Willingham made sure that Miles Gloriosus’ provocative personality traits came to life when, he said, he pulled a prank by wearing a bed sheet toga-style, without a shirt underneath, and cast it off. He said he did it to keep things interesting.

“In rehearsal, anything goes,” Willingham said.

Ben Thompson, a senior musical theater major, plays the lead role, Pseudolus and said this is his first lead role at TCU. He said being in a comedy is more draining than being in a drama.

“It’s harder to do because you have to be quick, but it is more fun,” Thompson said.

He said the script is good because all the rhythm needed to put on the show is already present and all the cast has to do is create timing, trust the script and feed off of each other.

Lee said the entertainment at rehearsals gives him confidence the show will run successfully.

“I know that when I am genuinely laughing, things are going well,” Lee said. “I feel very confident going into the opening that the audience will have a good time.”

Kymberli McKanna, a sophomore musical theater major, plays Gymnasia, a buxom courtesan.

She said her role is small, but it is still great to play because she gets to create more of Gymnasia’s character because personality quirks are not written in the script for small roles.

McKanna said she is “pumped” for the opening.

“Opening night is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,” she said.

n.d.jordan@tcu.edu