Story: Phillip Tutor | Photos: Betsy Compton
Freshman McKinley enjoys the spotlight of play’s leading role
Though only a freshman, Caroline McKinley鈥檚 adoration of the arts is already blossoming at the . Last fall, she worked behind the scenes with the UWA Theatre and performed as a member of the marching band鈥檚 color guard.
But her upcoming campus stage debut in a production of 鈥淎lice in Wonderland鈥� is a significant step up for the 18-year-old from Thomasville High School. She鈥檚 starring in the lead role as Alice.
The responsibility has required a unique skill.
鈥淚鈥檝e had to re-learn how to be a 7-year-old,鈥� said McKinley, an elementary education major who has tried to incorporate how other actors have played Alice on film and stage. 鈥淚 just remembered how I was when I was 7 and added that to her a little bit.鈥�
Opening night is March 22 at 7 p.m. at the UWA Auditorium in the Math and Science Building, with performances running nightly through March 25. A 9:30 a.m. student matinee is also set for March 23. Tickets are free for UWA students, faculty and staff, but are $10 for the public. Reservations are required by calling (205) 652-3849.
Instead of a traditional take of 鈥淎lice in Wonderland,鈥� the UWA Theatre is performing the popular developed by director Andre Gregory at the in the early 1970s.
鈥淭hey decided to take 鈥楢lice in Wonderland鈥� and explore it, for a lack of a better phrase, as dark humor,鈥� said Rhonda Wooley, an assistant professor of theater at UWA. 鈥淭here’s a lot of Kafkaesque sort of material in it because it’s absolutely absurd, but everyone involved outside of Alice thinks nothing is absurd. This is just a way of life. So it’s social commentary, as well.鈥�
The play, which features 12 UWA students in its cast, is being directed by Suzanne McGahey, artistic director of the Sumter Theatre Workshop. 鈥淪he chose this piece because it’s close to her heart,鈥� Wooley said. 鈥淪he really enjoys it.鈥�
The casting flexibility in the Manhattan Projection version was particularly attractive, Wooley said. McKinley is the only student actor who is playing a single character. All others are cast in multiple roles.
鈥淭he real selling point for me was that it gave so many different students opportunities,鈥� Wooley said. 鈥淲e were not set like 鈥楽teel Magnolias,鈥� where there are six characters. You can’t be flexible with that. I liked that (McGahey) chose something where students who have never done theater could come in, have a role, experience it and be done, and then they can decide, 鈥楬ave I been bitten by the bug, or have I not?鈥欌��
McGahey isn鈥檛 the only Sumter County community member assisting with the production. Meghanne Helms, who teaches at Sumter Central High School, is the play鈥檚 costume designer. Helms鈥� participation is giving UWA students exposure to that part of theater production, Wooley said.
鈥淭his is a different situation, and it’s hopefully going to be beneficial to our students,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 hope the actual production will reflect that it was more of a voluminous collaboration rather than two people working with students trying to make sure that it was as professionally polished as possible.鈥�
McKinley performed in numerous theater productions at Thomasville High and says 鈥淎lice in Wonderland鈥� remains one of her favorite stories, but this is her first appearance in a stage adaptation of the classic Lewis Carroll novel. McKinley earned the lead role for a multitude of reasons, Wooley said, chief among them talent and maturity. She鈥檚 also one of three McKinleys at UWA, along with her older siblings, Victoria McKinley and Daniel McKinley.
鈥淪he was a very committed backstage crew worker for our last show in the fall, so we knew that once she committed, she would be true to her word,鈥� Wooley said. 鈥淪he had done high school theater and was both talented and skilled. You put all that together and she was your Alice.鈥�
The cast includes 12 current and former UWA students: Alex Davis, Abby Hadaway, Cameron Jones, Lindsey Lancaster, Trey Lang, Makayla Lawrence, Payton McLean, Brianna McClure, Kaylee Owens, Cole Todd, Alaisha Perry and McKinley.
Wooley is serving as the play鈥檚 artistic producer alongside McGahey and Helms. Dusty Prine is the technical director, and student Annsley Johnsey is the stage manager.