WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., March 19, 2018 — West Liberty University Musical Theatre Ensemble performs a springtime show at 7 p.m., Saturday, March 31 in College Hall. The performance also is the senior capstone project of musical theatre major Chad Grubb.
“Our performance will have a live orchestra and includes many great songs from American musicals like Footloose, Jekyll & Hyde and West Side Story. We invite everyone to join us for this free performance,” Grubb said. Adjunct Professor of Dance Jill Warren is choreographer for the production, which includes song and dance scenes from musicals performed by 17 students.
An Interdisciplinary Studies major from Martinsburg, W.Va., Grubb is the overall director for the ensemble and is an undergraduate teaching assistant for the College of Arts and Communications in the Department of Music and Theatre. The performance is a result of the two-hour class he taught in musical theatre.
Grubb’s class includes students from many different majors, from music to psychology, business and education. The course is not offered on a regular rotation but is offered when student interest is high, according to Grubb.
“It is both for fun but can also fulfill small ensemble requirements for vocal music majors,” he explained.
Professor of Music Dr. Linda Cowan is his supervising faculty member. Cowan also is the chairwoman of the department and a well-known instructor of voice. Professor Michael Aulick is theatre advisor to the ensemble.
Grubb graduates in May and already has a job line-up with professional theatre company, “Theatre West Virginia,” where he will resume a position he held last summer as musical director.
“We will be working on a world premiere of Paradise Park, a new musical,” he said. He also will direct the ongoing popular summer musical, “The Hatfields and McCoys.”
“Last summer, I worked along side professional directors, choreographers, and performers from all across the United States. I directed all vocal music rehearsals and assisted the director and choreographer by playing piano for rehearsals for the production of “Footloose.”
At WLU, Grubb received many opportunities to build his resume. As a first semester freshman back in 2013, he served as the music director and assistant voice director and rehearsal pianist for the WLU 2013 production of “Spring Awakening.”
He also served as the staff musical theatre pianist for the National Association for Teachers of Singing Eastern Region conference where he accompanied undergraduate students from all across the tri-state area and has participated in the Opera Scenes Program, Musical Theatre Workshop, Chamber Choir, WLU Singers, and College Community Chorus while at WLU.
Over his college career, he also was part of the WLU international choir tours to the Republic of Ireland, Canada, and Bulgaria.
Grubb’s on stage experience at WLU includes: “Godspell, 2012” as Nick (2016), the world-staged premiere of “Ramayana: Past in Present” as Indrajit (2016), “Die Fledermaus” as Ivin (2017), “Seussical, the Musical” as Wickersham #1 (2017), and “Speed Dating Tonight!” as the Busboy (2018).
In the summer of 2012, he received his first contract with a professional theatre company, West Virginia Public Theatre in Morgantown, W.Va. where he served as the first performance intern with a music direction emphasis, where he was a member of the ensemble as well as rehearsal pianist and assistant music director.
Student performers and major include:
- Junior Callie Carroll, theatre
- Freshman Autumn Carver, theatre
- Freshman Glory Dami, music education
- Junior Brody Eggert, Communication:Broadcasting
- Freshman Alexandria Glover, theatre
- Freshman Hayden Heiserman, theatre/vocal performance
- Senior John Heiserman, vocal performance
- Sophomore Josephine Jarrett, theatre
- Sophomore Madeleine LaFollette, vocal performance
- Junior Sarah Lemley, musical theatre
- Senior Amy Marosz, elementary education
- Junior Christopher Rees, theatre
- Sophomore Kristian Slavik, psychology
- Junior Amanda Tamplen, theatre
- Sophomore Grant VanCamp, theatre
- Senior Emily Wade, general business
- Freshman Zachary Ziolkowski, vocal performance
Pit Orchestra includes the following students or staff and their majors:
- Piano – Junior Haley Sessums, music education
- Violin/Viola, Michelle Stack, director of the College Union
- Clarinet/Bassoon, Sophomore Abigail Hart, music education
- Saxophones – Junior Tyler Funk, music education
- Bass – Senior Rachel Krems, music education
- Percussion – Senior Shane Powell, music technology/percussion performance
Sound design technician is Caleb Hedrick, a senior music technology major. Program and poster design is by Meggie Warner, a bachelor of science in digital media design graduate.