In a world with aliens, Mormons and treasure, three sisters have to find a way to deal with each others’ personalities.
Theatre MSU will have its first play, The Sugar Bean Sisters, on Oct. 16, 17 and 18.
“It’s a farce with a unique twist about being yourself and paying for the consequences of your actions,” Sugar Bean Sisters director Jo Durst said.
The actors in the play include Casey Heflin, Amanda Bobo, Lindsey Cacamo, Matt Green and Chase Neal.
Durst said in production 30 or more students work on the set until the week of the play and then only about 10 students remain during the show in front and backstage.
“The sets are actually built here at Mississippi State. They are not rented. Costumes are built or found,” Durst said.
The lobby of the main stage in McComas Hall has been redone since the flooding last year, she said.
“The Sugar Bean Sisters were chosen because it’s a fun show, a good way to start the season and a good way to celebrate the theater’s refurbishing,” Durst said.
Many theatre students take part in the Theatre MSU shows.
Former chemical engineering major, Bobo, switched to Theatre because she loves it, she said.
“Theatre’s amazing. It’s probably the biggest passion in my life,” Bobo said.
Previously Bobo was an actor in four Theatre MSU plays and she now has more time to devote to the theater, she said.
“It give me an outlet. It lets me be creative and get to do something I love,” Bobo said.
She said Theatre MSU opens her eyes and can open the eyes of people on campus and in the community.
“I’m going to be working on the set whether I’m in the play or not,” junior theatre major Britt Gardner said.
He said he was formerly a psychology major, but he didn’t like it. Since the move to theatre he’s enjoyed every minute of it, he said.
“[Theatre MSU] gives me the education to do what I want to do,” Gardner said.
The ability of theatre majors to constantly connect ideas is what draws Gardner to the major, he said.
“I think we give people more to do than go to the bar and the movies,” Gardner said.
Theatre MSU has done $1,000 plays on $100 budgets in the past, he said.
“You would be amazed the amount we can do with next to nothing,” Gardner said.
He said theatre is different from the movies because the actors have to keep moving.
“If Romeo throws up in the love scene, he’s got to come up with a reason he’s vomiting,” Gardner said.
Durst said that live theater and the movies are different because with theatre you get to experience the show on and individual level.
“Most kids are not exposed to live theater and [Theatre MSU] gives them an opportunity to expand their horizons. It is part of the educational process similar to going to the music recitals that are offered on campus,” she said. Durst said any students interested in participating in Theatre MSU should contact the theatre department, even if it’s not their major.
“Any student can be actively involved in theatre and not be theatre students,” Durst said.
The children’s production of Cinderella Around the World will be the next performance in November, Durst said.
In the spring Theatre MSU will perform The Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Anything to Declare and the student written-and-directed one act plays, she said.
“All of the time the plays are picked to challenge the students in their thinking and then also to have great fun at an inexpensive price,” Durst said.
The Sugar Bean Sisters will take place Oct. 16-18 on the McComas Main Stage at 7:30 p.m.
The cost is $5 for students with a valid MSU ID and $10 for general admission.
Two MSU students audition for roles in the upcoming Theatre MSU feature The Sugar Bean Sisters opening later this fall.