WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., June 11, 2015 — West Liberty University music and theater majors presented a staged reading of Ramayana, an Indian epic turned modern-day musical recently at Towngate Theater in Wheeling. The reading offered the students a chance to explore the age-old classic in Eastern Literature in a modern way, according to WLU student J.H. Sherwood, who coordinated the effort.
Soprano Kacie Craig and tenor John Heiserman took on the lead roles of Princess Sita and Prince Ram.
The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of Hinduism, the other being the Mahabharata. It depicts the duties of relationships, portraying ideal characters like the ideal father, the ideal servant, the ideal brother, the ideal wife and the ideal king, Sherwood explained.
“’The Ramayana: Past in Present’ is an attempt to introduce this epic to a modern, western audience in the familiar form of an American musical,” he said. “This production focuses on the world and life of Prince Ram, after he goes into exile, and his battle with the King of the demons, Ravana.” It was open to the public.
From left cast included, Isa Campbell, Rob DeSantis, Kacie Craig,
John Heiserman, Geena Diomedi, Alex Franke, Michael Aulick and Jessica Gulisek.
This event was actually the second staged reading of this Sanskrit poetry-based musical. (Sanskrit is the classical language of Indian and the liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.)
“This reading was a way anyone interested could be part of this production simply by giving feedback. Following the reading there was a round table discussion between audience members and our production team. It really helps the music and theater program develop the musical.”
WLU faculty taking part in the production included professors: Dr. Linda Cowan, Dr. Scott Glysson. WLU Theatre Director, Professor Michael Aulick directed the performance.
WLU students taking part in the reading included: Kacie Craig, Geena Diomedi, Alex Franke, Jessica Gulisek and John Heiserman. WLU student Alex Gordon was the piano accompanist.
Towngate Theatre actors also took part in the reading, including Isa Campbell, Rob DeSantis and Autumn Radil.
For more info on the production, please contact Sherwood at 304.843.1778.
The WLU Theatre Program is part of the university’s College of Arts and Communication and offers a Bachelor of Science in Communication: Theatre degree. For complete information, please visit westliberty.edu/theater or contact Aulick at 304.336.8103.
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