From April 5 to April 13, UCA Theatre presented “Head Over Heels,” a musical retelling of Philip Sidney’s “The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia.”
Professor Lauren Carlton acted as the director of this production. Carlton gave the cast all of the tools needed to make Head Over Heels successful.
From April 5 to April 13, UCA Theatre presented “Head Over Heels,” a musical retelling of Philip Sidney’s “The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia.”
Professor Lauren Carlton acted as the director of this production. Carlton gave the cast all of the tools needed to make Head Over Heels successful.
The cast featured Takashi Ito as Bascilius, Echo Mitchell as Gynecia, Bri Wallace as Pamela, Kaitlin Kelley as Mopsa, Ana Brandon as Philoclea, Ethan Perry as Musidorus, Zane Holloway as Pythio and Kieran Minter as Dametas.
The ensemble included Kathryn Bale, Lucy Speer, Shiloh Seward, Rylee House, Jimmy Bowler, Michael Moreton and Jameson Watkins.
This musical features couples of different genders and sexualities. Pythio is gender-fluid and represented in drag, Musidorus realizes his affinity for dressing as a woman and Mopsa and Pamela accept their desire to become a lesbian couple.
Holloway said his character, Pythio, creates a better appreciation for gender-fluidity and that this production has brought so much joy to his life.
Kelley said, “I loved being a part of a show that emphasizes acceptance. This theme has channeled through our cast into our real-world interactions. I hope that the audience took this message home with them as well.”
This jukebox musical follows the royal court of Arcadia. Their livelihoods have been threatened by the Oracle of Delphi, given by Pythio, represented in drag. The King hides this peril from his family and court but this fails, as the Oracle cannot be escaped.
The gang travels to Bohemia to escape their doom, which entraps them to come to terms with who they truly are. As the show goes on, even with the ignorance and avoidance led by the King, each aspect of the Oracle comes true, fulfilling Pythio’s prophecy. With Basilius’ title as the King at stake, Arcadia could lose its “Beat,” the musical life force of the kingdom.
The cast began rehearsing in February 2024. The cast and crew began doing tech and dress rehearsals in April.
The show offers these words from Queen Gynecia, played by Echo Mitchell: “We must craft a beat anew from our hearts within, and let a new Arcadia commence — one more tolerant and generous. Let us pray that the heavens will steer us from suffering and injustice, and guide us to a better, nay, to our best selves.”
Carlton said these words inspire her and serve as the heartbeat of this production.
As stated in the program of this production, “Head Over Heels” is a story of journeys. Not just the journey that the characters took within the show, but the journey within themselves, to reveal their true selves.
The wardrobe department brought an other-worldly aspect to Arcadia, bringing a modern approach to Renaissance fashions. Corsets and tights were heavily used along with fishnets and miniskirts.
The tech department also brought Arcadia to life, from the set design to the lightning. Lighting technicians used a turntable to change settings during the show and used different lighting to depict specific moods. The prop department also hand-crafted a heart-shaped mirror ball to spin during the musical.