Featured Image: (Pacer Graphic / Darby Self)
Viewers, young and old, are encouraged by UT Martin’s Vanguard Theatre to watch their fun and whimsical production of Go, Dog. Go! on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 3 p.m. in the Harriet Fulton Theatre.
Based on the beloved children’s picture book by P.D. Eastman, this play is set to be a delightful retelling of the kids’ story with fun choreography paired with a jazzy tempo.
This production will include an energetic cast from the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Alpha Psi Omega honor society chapter, who will portray big dogs, little dogs and black and white dogs. After their larger-scale production of The Importance of Being Earnest, this cast is quickly preparing to impress an audience with this fun, youthful play written by Allison Gregory and Steven Dietz.
One of Vanguard Theatre’s returning actors, Mark Mathis, a junior Theatre and Psychology major from Selmer, who will portray Spotted Dog, enjoys how simple yet active and unique the play is as a production.
“I think the physicality of it is the strongest point and the point that I’m most excited about because this is a show for kids to enjoy, to come and to…move along with us. We want to do a lot of physical bits, a lot of comedy,” he said.
One of the newest actors, Triniti Murphy, a freshman Theatre major from Union City, was inspired to join the production as she wanted to see how the audience would respond to her portrayal as Yellow Dog.
“[I love] the audience that it’s focusing on, which are kids. I enjoy seeing smiles on their faces. And I think Go, Dog. Go! will make them laugh and have a good experience,” she said.
Other actors, such as Duncan Hollis, Madalene Sisemore, Carlin Cochran Thomasson, Maggie Moffett and Director and theatre professor Melanie Hollis, hope that this play will attract plenty of family audiences since there are very few opportunities to view shows such as this one in the region.
“We should serve the public. We don’t have a lot of children’s theater in the area, so I hope that we can build on this, and I hope the kids will be excited about it and want to come back and see more shows,” she said.
