A rollercoaster of a musical is set to crash into the University of Wisconsin Superior’s Manion Theatre for six showings.
Members of the St. Cassian High School chamber choir have all perished after an accident on the faulty roller coaster called “The Cyclone.” The musical explores what happens in the afterlife, as each of the six choir students have to tell a story to a mechanical fortune teller, the Amazing Karnak performed by Ava Bersie, with one student given the chance to return to life.
A mysterious student referred to as Jane Doe joined the Cassian High School choir moments before the groups unplanned rollercoaster of demise. | Photo by Drew Kerner.
“This is such a unique and exciting story to tell as a musical,” said UWS Assistant Professor of Theatre Sean Naughton in a UWS News press release. “It’s a story that is a little sci-fi and a little silly but is really balanced out by the way it’s asking big questions about life and death, and grieving a life cut short before the big dreams you have for yourself can be fulfilled.”
From transforming the Manion from a Dungeon and Dragon’s gameboard to a haunting amusement park, a technical feat the show’s Set Director Sue Wedan had to overcome making a set around a revolve. The outlandish story is paired with an
up-tempo, off-beat, contemporary rock/pop musical and will be performed live by the UWS Music Department.
“‘Ride the Cyclone’ has been such a popular musical among young people over the past few years,” said Naughton. “The story is wild, and it is genuinely hilarious script. I think the audiences will also appreciate the diversity of musical styles represented in the play… I think it will be unlike anything they’ve ever seen on the UWS stage.”
Opening night is April 12 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors age 60+ and students, and only $5 for UWS students with a valid student ID. Ride the Cyclone will also show Sat. April 13, Wed. April 17, and Sat. April 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Sun. April 14 & 21 at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online or in-person at the box office.
