AC theatre presents musical inspired by America’s first women soldiers
A patriotic musical about America’s first female soldiers – The Hello Girls – the unsung bilingual women who operated telephones and helped turn the tide of World War I – will cap Amarillo College’s Theatre Arts Program season.
The Hello Girls will enjoy a six-day run over a couple of weeks at the Experimental Theatre on the Washington Street Campus. Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. on April 26-27 and May 2-4, and the run will be capped with a matinee beginning at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 5.
The Hello Girls, written by Cara Reichel and Peter Mills, debuted in 2018 in New York City. The show, which sheds light on the little-known history of the first women to serve in the U.S. Army, also doubles as a lesson in feminism.
It was in 1918 when the U.S. Army Signal Corps sent 223 bilingual telephone operators to France to help improve communications. They swore Army oaths, wore uniforms, held rank, and were subject to military justice, yet when they returned home the government denied their soldier status. They fought for decades for recognition, and in 1977 when they finally received it, only a handful remained alive.
“When I came across this musical, which is relatively new, it was a piece of American history that I had never heard about, an important story that I thought we should all know about, and that’s why I selected it,” Monty Downs, instructor of theatre and the show’s director, said.
“We like to stretch our students, those on the stage and those behind the scenes, not only their abilities but their knowledge, and this is a great opportunity to do just that.”
Downs says his 10-member cast has been hard at work mastering the French accents built into their roles.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students (college or high school), senior citizens, and AC employees. They can be purchased at the door or online. Additionally, groups of 10 or more are entitled to $6 seats if purchased at least 24 hours in advance.
Cast members are:
Grace Banker - Emily Garcia
Suzanne Prevot - Gracie Richardson
Helen Hill - Emmy Errington
Bertha Hunt - Sarah Dunn
Louise Lebreton - Zoey Cain
Cpt. Joseph Riser - Carlos Williams
Lt. Ernest Wessen (Man 1) - Ashton Flores
Pvt. Eugene Matterson (Man 2) - Kyle Roberson
Pvt. Robert Dempsey (Man 3) - Connor Frausto
Gen. John Pershing - Steve Parker
Designers are:
Stage Manager - Sarah Hope
Set Designer - Brionna Todd
Costume Designer - Maggie Hall
Lighting/Video Designer - Blaiselynn Wedgeworth
Assistant Lighting/Video Designer - AnneMarie Pulliam
Properties Designer - Jaylin Hendrix
Sound Designer - Anessa Molina
Front of House - Josh Hodge