CAMtastic Newsletter November 2023
School of Theatre and Dance delivers eerie, hilarious take on viral sensation “Ride the Cyclone”
Life. Death. Love. And a second chance.
‘Ride the Cyclone,’ a comedic yet profound musical with Canadian roots, made its Southern Illinois University premiere at the McLeod Theatre in front of a roaring crowd on Thursday, Oct. 12. Each number was met with cheers, whistles and thunderous applause.
“The cast was uber talented,” theater-goer Lyn Sargent said. “Each one of the performers are clearly triple threats.”
Brooke Maxwell and Jacob Richmond’s tale of life, death and regrets was first brought to life fifteen years ago at a theater in Victoria, British Columbia. Thanks to virality on TikTok, it has recently become popular among Gen Z audiences, including the SIU student body.
“It contributed to the enthusiasm that our students here have…for the piece,” director Darryl Clark said. “And not just the ones who are in the cast. I think the entire School of Theatre and Dance…[was] excited about this work.”
The theater was almost full for the opening night performance, but Clark noted beforehand that it is becoming increasingly difficult to compete with digital forms of entertainment.
“It’s hard to get people to come see theater, especially now that we’re coming out of a world health crisis,” he said. “It’s very easy to still watch things on YouTube…and so it’s becoming more and more of a challenge to get people to pay to see live theater. But live theater is the essence of what you see distilled in internet or movie form…It helps to be inside of a space, and looking and focusing and enjoying [it] with a whole bunch of other people. It’s just a great thing to do live as opposed to [watching] it at home.”
The musical follows a chamber choir composed of six high school seniors from the Canadian town of Uranium City, Saskatchewan. The group takes a field trip to an amusement park and boards a rollercoaster known as ‘The Cyclone.’ When the ride breaks and the teens go plummeting to their deaths, they find themselves in a game show-esque afterlife. Run by a fortune-telling machine named Karnak (senior James Medwedeff), the six teens now have the opportunity to compete for one grand prize of coming back to life.
At first glance, ‘Ride the Cyclone’ is a ghostly take on character archetypes one may see in a John Hughes movie like “The Breakfast Club,” or early 2000s flicks. But as the story unfolds, each character reveals something new about their personalities and ambitions through a series of musical solos.
The first contestant is Ocean O’Connell Rosenberg, portrayed by junior Malia Jones. Brainiac of the group, Ocean is labeled “the most successful girl in town” and believes her life is the only one worth saving.
Noel Gruber, played by junior Hayden Hotchkiss, disagrees. Known as “the most romantic boy in town,” Noel longs for a life of despair and fantasizes about becoming a tragic hooker. Hotchkiss’ comedic timing was near-perfect, earning loud laughter from the opening night audience.
The outcast of the group is Jane Doe, brought to life by junior Abby Ohlau. Jane was a last-minute addition to the choir and did not have the chance to meet the other students before her demise. Because her head was severed in the accident, she can not remember her identity, hence the name; her body was never identified.
The remaining characters include:
Constance Blackwood, Ocean’s best friend and “nicest girl in town,” played by sophomore Sydney Ryan.
- Mischa Bachinski, a Ukrainian adoptee with a love for autotune, played by freshman Seth Worthington. Mischa is labeled “the angriest boy in town” but his hard exterior is merely a mask for his sweet personality.
- Ricky Potts, “the most imaginative boy in town,” played by junior Lucas Reilly. After an unnamed degenerative disease left him unable to speak, Ricky is finally able to share his story in the afterlife.
Audiences were instantly transported to a warehouse containing debris from the amusement park, which ultimately shut down after the accident. The iron girders that occupied the majority of the set resembled the tracks of a coaster, and its lights were similar to those of an arcade game. The ride’s sign was rusted, as were the broken-down bench and trash can on stage left.
Projections were used to contribute to each character’s backstory. While Karnak introduced the characters to the audience, photos of their younger selves were reflected onto a screen that sits upstage center.
Clark saw the scripted projections as an opportunity to collaborate with “somebody in media.” He was connected with College of Arts and Media student Day Starr-Fleming (a designer for the Daily Egyptian) and praised them for their contributions to the musical.
“Day Starr-Fleming has been really imaginative, fun and easy to work with,” he said. “They have brought a great deal of commitment to this.”
Starr-Fleming made the film sequences. Getting the sequences projected on stage was then a task for lighting designer Jaimen Park. Additionally, a guest set designer was able to join the crew for the first time since the pandemic. Students on the artistic team had the opportunity to work alongside renowned designer David Goldstein of New York City.
Costumes were another element that audiences could enjoy. Designed by Aleka Fischer, each costume was virtually identical but is worn differently by every character, highlighting their conflicting personalities. For example, Ocean’s uniform is neatly pressed and paired with flats. Constance wears her hair back until she completes her arc with a showstopping performance toward the end of the play. A backwards hat is added to Mischa’s attire.
Much like a roller coaster, the musical was exhilarating. The show was fast paced and full of many twists and turns, but everyone got their chance to shine. Unlike most musical productions, this show featured an ensemble cast. Rather than having lead and supporting roles, all characters were principal actors. The cast agreed that this made the production much more enjoyable.
“It’s really fun, because I feel like it’s more of a collaborative effort than any other show will be,” Ohlau said. “Every single person has their own moment, but every single person has to show up for the ensemble moment too.”
With their lives on the line, it’s no surprise that the characters struggle to get along. Nonetheless, they come together to support a soloist in every performance, even if it is someone they do not particularly care for. While this would typically seem insincere, the actors’ ability to maintain their character’s individual mannerisms and traits throughout each number highlighted the juxtaposition of harmony and cacophony within the group. When the actors stepped into their roles for the night, they never stepped out.
In a playbill review, journalist Meg Masseron described ‘Ride the Cyclone’ as “a gritty, screwed up comedy that has the potential to be either unsettling or thrilling.” SIU managed to accomplish both. The finale (as well as several eerie Jane Doe scenes) left audiences feeling spooked yet inspired. The musical numbers were captivating, and each one featured a different genre of music. From pop to ballad opera to rap, this production had something for everyone.
‘Space Age Bachelor Man,’ performed by Reilly, was the number the cast was most excited for audiences to see. It allows Ricky to finally communicate his imaginations. In this case, he believes he is a prophet for a planet filled with cats.
“Personally, I [was] excited for them to see my song just because it’s so ridiculous,” Reilly said, followed by nods of agreement from his castmates.
Hotchkiss added that he was most excited for viewers to experience the overall zaniness of the show.
“Everyone’s unique songs are really cool,” he said. “Because they’re all completely different. For people who don’t know the stuff…it’s gonna be crazy.”
Ohlau delivered a standout performance with her solo ‘The Ballad of Jane Doe.’ She hit every note with ease and sang with unwavering emotion, while the ensemble provided backup vocals and a dance with black umbrellas, resembling a funeral to an extent. The choreography, vocals and props all blended together to create an ominous yet sorrowful rendition.
The message Clark wanted audiences to take away from this performance was one of finding common ground.
“I think one of the themes that you can take away is seeing a community of people who really don’t have much in common, reshape itself and bond, [creating] something whimsical and funny,” he said.
The musical also explores the circle of life.
“There are a ton of [messages] to grab onto in the lyrics,” Clark said. “It starts off saying something about how life is a circle, goes round and round and never really ends.”
‘Ride the Cyclone’ was a hilarious and heartfelt journey that ultimately explored the preconceived notion that life is too short for regrets.
The remaining season can be found on the School of Theatre and Dance’s webpage. Up next is “The Wedding Band,” which runs from Nov. 30-Dec. 10. Rounding out the season is “She Loves Me,” Feb. 29-March 3 and “Criminal Genius,” May 2-5.
School of Architecture alum Thad Heckman giving Carbondale and the University a facelift
Call Thad Heckman a Renaissance man and he gets embarrassed. Sure, he’s an architect who has designed many buildings around Carbondale; he’s a car collector, a 3-cushion billiards player, a supporter ofcoral reefs and an amateur astronomer who happens to write some pretty nifty stories, but the word “Renaissance” makes him uncomfortable.
“I will leave that use up to your tactful discretion,” he said during a recent interview.
We chose Heckman for this CAM highlight because he is the designer of the $23 million Southern Illinois Multimodel Station (SIMMS), a multi-use transit hub set to open in early 2025. But, what we discovered in the process is that he is also the designer of the just-announced Tedrick Welcome Center at SIU. Plus, he’s doing a new 3-D printed building that will house a new Visitor’s Center adjacent to the R. Buckminster Fuller Dome Homehere in Carbondale.
With SIMMS, there’s a lot to coordinate. The station will house the following:
Transportation related opportunities:
- Amtrak train service
- 5 area local transit services that will serve 28 counties
- Southern Illinois University’s Saluki Express transit service
- Greyhound
- Electric Scooters
- Long and short-term bike storage
- Non-Transportation Services:
- Southern Illinois University Welcome Center
- Carbondale Tourism Office
- Co-Working Spaces
- Man-Tra-Con Workforce Program Office
SIMMS project manager Mark Bollmann said, “The Floor Plan consists primarily of the transportation related functions – namely, Amtrak, the local transit providers, various Ride-Share programs, as well as a Greyhound bus service office. Additional space off the main concourse will accommodate multi-purpose spaces that can serve future retail, commercial, or community needs. Public use facilities as well as mechanical and support spaces are included in the design.”
Heckman considered going with a contemporary design for SIMMS but realized a more historical approach seemed more fitting.
“The traditional stations still look great no matter what century they're in,” he said. …and that meant SIMMS needed to have a tower.
“So, I did the tower. [It] is lined up on the centerline of Elm Street. We don't know how Elm Street is going to evolve 30 to 60 years from now and to just glance down the street at the tower beyond for the duration will place-mark the new SIMMS for years to come.
For that reason, Heckman considers the station a 100-year building, meaning it has to be functional and aesthetically pleasing for a century or more.
“When I design, I want to try to be 5000 feet up looking at the broad picture and ‘how's this going to pass down through the years, while still also satisfying ridership and the usual day-to-day activities. It's a lot of fun and challenging,” he said, involving the city, Amtrak and allied partners with the entire design team to determine the design solutions.
Heckman thinks a lot about the broad picture even in his free time. When he was a pre-schooler, he wanted to be an architect or a marine biologist. His studio has a 400-gallon coral reef aquarium and a large shell collection started when he was five years old - and he gives a lot of thought to how the world’s wild reefs can be protected.
“The coral reefs are certainly in trouble, and I even thought of an organization I call Inland Seas, in which we band together, all the advanced reef keepers like myself, organized to cultivate corals for restocking the wild,” he said.
For fun, Heckman plays billiards. But don’t confuse that with pool.
“Billiards has no pockets and you play with three balls and it's an old game, much older than pool,” he said. For relaxation, I play in my studio on the table that I learned on and purchased from Gatsby’s Billiards way back when it closed down.
Heckman said he’d like more time to devote to collecting heirloom cars. He’s particularly a fan of his first car – a ’67 Oldsmobile Toronado, and the car it emulates, the old Cord from his stepfather. Made in Auburn, Indiana, his ’36 Cord 810 has one very specific part that may make it one of only three produced, but he hasn’t had a chance to research it thoroughly yet.
“So, I have a little mystery, a little bit of automotive historical mystery,” he said.
Heckman said talking about one of his old jobs can make car collectors cry; “I used to crush cars”.
“Some folks, upon graduating high school, will perhaps go to Europe, or the military or the Peace Corps as their internship on life,” he said. “However, I consider my internship in life was working through college and for the two years after graduating college as the Crushing Foreman in a salvage company (aka: junk yard). I learned about heavy machinery as the operator of an articulating loader, a very valuable experience that I would prefer not to do again.”
Heckman is also a published author. He has written everything from short tales of his high school senior trip escapade sneaking into the inner sanctum of the Chicago Playboy Building’s private club (and promptly being kicked out) to attending a ‘run’ with professional astronomers at the Mt. Palomar Observatory, to a serious work on the history of the Dome Home. Titled “Bucky’s Dome” with co-author Cary O’Dell, Mr. Heckman less formally calls it the “dome tome.”
His love affair with the geometry of the dome also factored into his SIMMS design.
Bollman said, “Thad brought a traditional train station design which fits in with the historic look of the downtown area. He also incorporated some of the SIU and R. Buckminster Fuller influences.”
Bollman has been very pleased with Heckman’s work on SIMMS.
“He is 100% vested in the project and is in constant contact with me during the construction phase. Thad, and the entiredesign team, takes a very personal hands-on approach,” he said.
Heckman, who just turned 67, is certainly leaving his mark on the Carbondale community and at SIU. He is a class of ’79 alum of the Design Department and has taught Architecture at the university for more than two decades. Though he retired in 2017, it “didn’t stick” and he’s once again in the classroom as a Senior Lecturer.
“I tell my students…that the architect is also sometimes somewhat like the orchestra leader, that you're listening to all the instruments. In this case, you've got Amtrak and you've got mechanical concerns, and you've got all this stuffaround you going on, and somebody's got to, you know, ask the violin section to pull up,.…and get all of this in concert on where we're heading with the design.” In the end, you hope for a successful composition.
Best and Most Popular Food Joints in Carbondale
As it gets closer to Thanksgiving break, I know we are all dreaming about going home to that home-cooked meal: some potatoes with gravy and turkey and a little slice of pumpkin pie.
We are already twelve weeks into school but for some of you that means we are twelve weeks into dining hall food as well. I know there are only so many times you can handle chicken tenders and crusty lasagna.
Food is an important part of living anywhere. Think about some of your favorite restaurants back home and how easily they can lift your mood. You never even need to see the menu before knowing what you want to order.
One of my favorite parts of visiting home is going back to my favorite bar and getting the perfect burger made by the best bartender around. But coming back to town after break strikes up the same exciting craving for some Quatros pizza. As I drive back, I can almost smell the cheesy bread while I think about the Bianca pizza waiting for me.
Carbondale has places unlike any as I'm sure you might know by now. Some include Quatros and Pagliai’s and their ever-long battle for who has the best pizza in Carbondale.
Of course, there is also Sam's Cafe, which is open till 3am - perfect for that walk back home after hitting the strip and getting to know your fellow Carbondalians while waiting for your order to be called.
And don’t forget Changos, which has been rumored to be re-opening sometime soon, getting everyone riled up and ready to line the street on opening day just for that perfect burrito we’ve been craving since they last closed their doors.
While Carbondale is slowly having its population increase, we are seeing a resurgence in bars and restaurants from its hay day being brought back, like Booby’s bar and sandwich shop making its return, bringing back a little history from some illustrious party days.
But if you’re more into the idea of going out to a nice breakfast with some friends than staying out late there are plenty of options as well. My personal favorite is Sunny Street Cafe and its cinnamon roll pancakes or homemade hot sauce. Some others I’d recommend are Harbaugh’s and Mary Lou’s too.
So, if you haven’t yet gone out to try something new, bring a friend to treat yourself to some good home-cooked Carbondale memories.
Upcoming Events
The Southern Illinois University Student Holiday Prints & Pottery Sale
Wednesday, November 29th, 5-8:00 pm
Ceramics Studio Pulliam Industrial Wing, Room 102
580 West Grand Avenue, Carbondale, IL 62901
Handmade Prints & Pots
by SIU Student Printmakers & Ceramicists
Funds raised support Student Creative Research & Travel
SIU Printmaking and Ceramic students are hosting a holiday sale to help fund student creative research and Travel on Wednesday November 29th from 5-8:00 PM in the Ceramic Studio, RM 102 Pulliam Industrial Wing.
The sale is a showcase of some of the outstanding work created by our talented students. Join us and give local artwork for gifts to others and yourself!