Dana Hills Grad Appears In 'Brigadoon' College Production

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA — Dana Hills High School Graduate and now student at Muhlenberg College Emily Forster, will appear in the fall showing of "Brigadoon" in the College Theater this fall. Forster, who has appeared locally in Laguna Niguel's Community Theater performances of "Fiddler on the Roof," "The Wizard of Oz" and "Into the Woods" is among 45 students performing and dancing in the show.

"The show is unabashed romanticism," says Muhlenberg theater professor Charles Richter, who directs the show. "It's a grand, moving tale of lost love. It's musical theatre on the grandest scale."

In Lerner and Loewe's 1947 breakout hit musical, two American tourists happen upon a Scottish village that is only visible once every hundred years. Brigadoon, the town, is beautiful, welcoming and just a little bit magical.

"Brigadoon blends music and dance in a very unique way," Richter says. "People are going to be stunned by the quality of the talent, by how well this cast can serve that unique blend."

"It's gorgeous," says Julian Mone '19, who plays American adventurer Tommy Albright. "From the ten-part harmonies of a gigantic, beautiful score, to the full-scale ballets and big sung numbers, it's just gorgeous.
"Shows like this aren't made anymore, and to get to see such a huge production from a dance, vocal and acting perspective is a rare opportunity," he says.

The cast of Muhlenberg students has been working hard to create the dreamlike, magical town of Brigadoon, Richter says. Theater professor Troy Dwyer serves as dialect designer, ensuring that the cast's accents are authentically Scottish.

"Scenic designer Curtis Dretsch has come up with an ingenious design that really accentuates the dreamlike quality of the piece," he says. "We also have a 21-piece professional orchestra, which you need because of the lushness of the musical arrangements."

Magically suspended in time, the town of Brigadoon offers a sanctuary from the pressures of modern living. When the Americans stumble upon it, they become infatuated with the town and its inhabitants-and they must decide before it's too late whether to stay or bid Brigadoon farewell forever. Brigadoon is the escapist fantasy we all need right now, says Cheyanne Leid '20, who plays Fiona MacLaren, the show's romantic lead.
"The town elder, Mr. Lundie, says that a lot of folks would like a Brigadoon of their own," Leid says. "And I think that, you know, a lot of people would. 'Brigadoon' is so family-oriented. It's full of so many different kinds of love, and I think we could all use some of that."

Learn more about Muhlenberg's Brigadoon.

Brigadoon plays Oct. 26 - Nov. 4. Showtimes are Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m, with an additional 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, Nov. 3.

Tickets can be purchased online at muhlenberg.edu/theatre or by phone at 484-664-3333. Performances are in the Empie Theatre in the Baker Center for the Arts, Muhlenberg College, 2400 West Chew St., Allentown.

College news release, with Patch Editor, Ashley Ludwig

Photo, courtesy Muhlenberg College