Fall Play Nickel and Dimed offers stark look at minimum wage
” A rare example of theater that tries to open people’s eyes to the way life is lived in the real world—and maybe even rouse them to action.” – Time Magazine
Earlier this September, students filled the Performing Arts Center with stories of their lives as they auditioned for the latest round of fall plays.
Each year Glenn Morehouse Olson directs a different full-length fall play and a few years ago added a fall one act in order to allow more students a chance to perform.
This year’s main play, Nickel and Dimed, will be performed November 5-7 and is a documentary style piece, which hasn’t been done before. The one act is called All the Bases and will be performed at the end of first trimester on November 23.
“I like to give my students lots of experiences, so a documentary style isn’t something they’ve done before,” said Morehouse Olson. “Last year we performed a classic comedy from the 1930s and the year before that, students performed in a murder mystery.”
Over 50 students auditioned and many other signed up to participate on technical crews.
“There were lots of newcomers this year,” said Morehouse Olson.
Morehouse Olson will be directing Nickel and Dimed and she’s bringing Barb Hynes-Tomczyk in to direct All the Bases.
“I consider her a great mentor. She ran the theatre program here before I did and she still directs in local theatres,” said Morehouse Olson. “The students who work with her are in for a really great experience.”
After casting the shows, there are lots of other things that go into making a play happen.
Maija Luckow, who won a Spotlight Award for costuming in Footloose, heads up the costume crew.
“The one act show All the Bases has lots of colorful t-shirts and hard hats,” said Luckow.
Nickel and Dimed is about people trying to make a living in minimum wage jobs, so expect to see waitresses, busboys, cleaning ladies, and the all-famous “Mall Mart” blue vests.
Luckow attends most rehearsals, even though she never appears on stage.
“Maija and the other crew members make everything you see on stage possible,” said Morehouse Olson.
Senior Clayton baker is in the play Nickel and Dimed
“I like the idea of this play, I feel like it will speak to the audience because so many people are working minimum wage jobs,” said Baker, “I’m excited to bring a piece like this to the audience and to just have fun with this play.”
