“Wild Party” set in 1920s tells tale of courage and strength that is still relevant today

By Madison Ridge Penn State Centre Stage’s recent production of Andrew Lippa’s prohibition-era musical, “The Wild Party,” told a tale of courage and strength that still resonates with audiences today. Director Alison Morooney, third-year M.F.A. candidate in Directing for Musical Theatre at Penn State, found a way to take this seedy story from the roaring 1920s and revive it 100 years later. While this musical could be enjoyed from numerous angles, from the incredible score to the intricate costuming, the real story is found in the female lead, named Queenie, and her relevance to our modern world. “This play is many things, but what drew me into it was the fact that it’s the story of a survivor,” Morooney said. “It honors the full and true story of a person who experiences intimate partner violence in their life.” According to Morooney, this piece is not just the story of a woman who lived 100 years ago, but the story of every woman who after years of abuse, finds the courage to stand up to her abuser to end the cycle. By blending the original storyline with contemporary music to keep the audience enthralled, the production was modernized without taking away from the original plot. “The score of this play is what I like to call jazz-flavored contemporary, and I think what I love about it is that it speaks to the fact that it was as relevant a story at the time as it is now,” Morooney said. “We need that contemporary music to connect the dots between what surely happened in the 1920s and what is still happening to women now.” Although musical modernity was important to bringing this play to current audiences, Morooney also found it important to maintain authenticity to the original story, something that was emphasized behind the scenes during media day. Penn State School of Visual Arts student Avery Belser, one of the leading photographers working with Morooney and her cast, perfectly captured the essence of the underground, with all its seedy darkness, as well as the beauty and light found in Queenie’s inner strength. “During media day, typically everything is in a fast-paced setting where the actors act out certain scenes for picture opportunities,” Belser said. “I had to capture the actors in a way that was true to the times. The music may be modern, but the visuals are straight out of the roaring 20s.” Maryrose Brendel plays Queenie. A fourth-year B.F.A. Musical Theatre major, she fully immerses herself in the portrayal of the lead character, bringing her audience along for the ride as she discovers self-empowerment in a time where women had little to no agency over their own lives. Brendel’s performance in this musical is completely sung-through, meaning there is no dialogue. “When you sing in musical theatre, it’s typically a very high-stakes moment, so the fact that every scene is sung-through really shows just how passionate and intense the play really is,” Brendel said. The musical addresses many issues that are relevant today, including intimate partner violence, with the assistance of an intimacy coaching team. During rehearsals, the team offered constant boundary checks, took numerous safety measures and precautions, and did all they could to ensure the cast felt completely safe. “The intimacy coaches and directors we had on hand made this process so much easier as a performer,” Brendel said. “The rest of the cast and I felt so safe every step of the way. It really made this an even more valuable experience for us.” Photos by Avery Belser