The Piedmont College Drama Theater Department will finish it’s run of Ken Kesey’s daring play, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest on April 2nd at 2:00PM. The show is directed by professional theatre actor , Department Chair and Piedmont Theater Professor, Bill Gabelhausen. Other production team members include Kallie Robinson (Asssistant Director), Brittany Sharrer (Stage Manager), Kierra Swallows, Cheyanne Osoria & Charles Bedell (Assistant Stage Managers), Melanie Cassiday (Technical Director/Set Design) and Henry Johnson (Assitant Technical Director).
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest cast members include the talents of: Monique Leaphart, Kayla Buice, Kathryn May, Michael Cox, Jacob Passmore, Gabe Slusser, Kordai Harris, Brecken Watts, Hannah Ritter, Ryan Robinson, Jacob McKee, Tom Gerrell, Brandon Deen, Zach Grizzle, Zack Turner, Tyler Dale, Terrance Ogden, Caleb Smith, Ben Fox, Pearl Oppenheimer and Chelsea Gittens.
The show centers around McMurphy (Tyler Dale) who believes he has been placed in the asylum unjustly. McMurphy has a likeable persona and makes friends easily but he is also a firm believer in personal opinion and gambling which can sometimes lead to disturbances with Nurse Ratched (Monique Leaphart). McMurphy meets many new accomplices during his stay at the ward and soon learns the cold facts about why the ward functions as it does. Cuckoo’s Nest, as a whole is a wonderful play that will make you cheer for certain cast members but will also make you stop and think about the big scheme of things too.
An Evening of Memorable Performers
The evening consisted of a tale that would make many feel uncomfortable due to the fact that it takes place in a mental asylum in the 1960’s. Audience members will witness an outstanding performance as a whole and will walk away entertained and historically informed about the way things were once upon a time. Noteworthy performers include Tyler Dale (McMurphy) , who carried the weight of the show with such energy and great comedic timing and broke audiences hearts when his personality and life in general was stolen from him. Tom Gerrell, who will most likely be a Tony Award or Oscar Winning Actor one day who portrayed Billy Bibbit. Jacob McKee (Dale Harding) is obviously no stranger to live theatre and makes it look so easy when it is not, especially in a show like this. Overall, I enjoyed the entire evening and I look forward to returning to Piedmont College for future productions.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest will finish out the Piedmont College Department of Theatre series and will soon make way for the annual North Georgia Theatre Season. Shows coming soon by North Georgia Theatre include: Androcles and the Lion (A Theater Youth Presentation) May 7, 8, 9 at 11am & May 9 at 2pm at the Arrendale Ampitheatre; Twelfth Night; Or, What You Will by Shakespeare (June 18, 20, 25 and 27 at the Arrendale Ampitheatre on the Piedmont College Campus (next to the Swanson Center) at 7:30PM; All Shook Up on June 19 & 26 at 7:30pm and June 21 & 28 at 2pm at the Swanson Center. Visit piedmont.edu/fa for more details.
