The Cradle Will Rock- VUT’s Production
I really really like Vanderbilt University Theater. I only started going to their productions last year, and I regret not going sooner. Vanderbilt students are so talented and creative! Also, the all VUT productions are FREE for Vanderbilt undergraduates. That was all the convincing I needed. Last night, I attending The Cradle Will Rock with a friend from class. It is a depression-era musical and I enjoyed it.
My friend and I walked into the play and actually ran into our professor. We were not required to see the play for class, but our professor is a huge VUT supporter and I think that he appreciated us going regardless. If you remember, my professor encouraged our class to see Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead because we are reading it in class later this semester. I don’t think he expected to see us at this play, though, and to be honest, I didn’t expect to see him either. I especially did not expect for him to sit right next to us, but it enriched my experience because he was able to explain a few of the references to me.
Before the play even started, my night was made. Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt football’s star wide receiver, was the usher at the play. He ripped my ticket stub and showed me to my seat. I almost asked him to sign my ticket, but I thought that would have been weird. I learned that Matthews, along with some other football players, are currently enrolled in Theater 101, and they are required to usher some of the VUT productions. I doubt the football players will be ushering tonight’s show, as they are headed to Gainesville to take on the Gators tomorrow morning.
The play itself was fantastic. It was about Steeltown, U.S.A. and the fight between unions and the corporation. There was not really a main character, so many of the student actors shared the spotlight.
It was such a great Thursday night and a cultural start to the weekend!
