Shiny, new, and modern... this is the 1922 Manhattan that Millie Dillmount aims to conquer; and conquer it she does. Based on the 1967 film with Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore, and Carol Channing, Thoroughly Modern Millie danced its way onto Broadway in 2002 and went on to win six Tony awards, including Best Musical.
I vividly remember sitting in New York’s Marquis Theatre watching, spellbound, as a young, unknown actress sang and danced her way into the hearts of Broadway audiences. Tapping my toes along to the music with a huge smile on my face, I could physically feel this actor’s talent wash over me up in the mezzanine. From that performance, a star was born, and Sutton Foster went on to become the darling of Broadway. We have our own special transformations happening right here on the MVA stage.
Millie's journey is one of self-discovery. She moves to New York with a plan "almost too bold, too daring, too new woman." Millie's goal is to be utterly unique, completely modern. The problem is, she takes her cues from what every other "unique" woman is doing. With tips fresh from the latest issue of Vogue, Millie becomes a daring individual, just like everybody else. However, Millie's personal growth, gained from experience, cannot be found in any glamour magazine. She ultimately learns that love and friendship are much more important than money or image.
Another important lesson is delivered by Mrs. Meers, the comic villainess. The character of Meers embodies an ignorant and bigoted stereotype while missing all of the humanity and compassion of the true Asian-American characters in this show. Ching Ho and Bun Foo have a greater capacity for love than perhaps anyone else in this musical. They subject themselves to a life of hard work and go to extremes in order to help their ailing mother, and Ching Ho certainly understands "love at first sight" much more deeply than Trevor or Dorothy could ever hope to. The theatre has always been a place where society can examine human flaw and social issues in a safe environment. The character of Mrs. Meers was written in such a way as to comment on the nature of prejudice, which I hope will be clarified by the story's end.
This production is dedicated to our amazing cast. On a daily basis, they have shared their talents, their dreams, their goals, their celebrations, their frustrations, their sweat, and their tears. This brings to mind one of my favorite Stella Adler quotes: "Growth as an actor and as a human being are synonymous." And for students, what better way to learn than while examining their own personal growth as a participant in theatre. Through their hard work and continued dedication to the process, they have managed to inspire me in ways they will never know.
