Stormy battle...
‘Mildred’ centers on mother-daughter relationship
By Marci King
Staff Reporter

A longtime fan of Broadway musicals, Richard Allen, jumped at the chance when the opportunity to direct a musical presented itself.Allen, an associate professor in radio-TV-film, chose to adapt the novel and movie “Mildred Pierce” into a musical.

David Dunai/STAFF REPORTER Members of the cast of “Mildred” practice a musical number. “Mildred,” an adapted murder mystery that focuses on a mother and daughter’s tumultuous relationship, runs April 15 to17 and 22 to 24 8 p.m. at Stage West.

“Mildred,” an adapted murder mystery that focuses on a mother and daughter’s tumultuous relationship, runs April 15 to17 and 22 to 24 8 p.m. at Stage West.

“Having such a great story and a strong script helps make a wonderful musical,” Allen said.

“Mildred” is based on a novel by James M. Cain and the 1945 film that earned Joan Crawford a best actress Oscar.

“This play encompasses so many emotions,” Allen said. “There is everything from a comedic happiness to dramatic sadness.”

Mildred, the mother, would do anything for her daughter, Allen said.

However, Mildred’s daughter is extremely manipulative and in constant competition with her mother, he said.

Kymberli McKanna, a freshman theater and education major, plays Ida, a character who gives Mildred her first job as a waitress.

Ida is electrifying and sarcastic, and it is impossible to hate her, McKanna said.

“I knew I wanted to do this musical from the beginning,” she said. “It is such a heartwarming story because Mildred gets what she wants in the end after all her hard work.”

Allen said the whole project was made possible through a creative activity grant.

“Professors on a tenure track have to either do a creative activity or a research project,” he said.

The $3,000 grant went to pay for producers, costumes and props, Allen said.

Ashley Hungerford, a TCU alumna and producer for the musical, said her job has many responsibilities that take place behind the scenes.

“A lot of what I do takes place before the show debuts,” she said. “I arrange for rehearsal space and time, I do a lot of public relations to promote the show and help to recruit cast and crew for the production.”

The musical “Mildred” does have differences from the novel and movie that preceded it, Hungerford said.

David Dunai/STAFF REPORTER Ben Thompson, a junior musical theater major, and Katie Kintigh, a junior theater major, in “Mildred.”

“The basic story line and dialogue are the same,” she said. “The movie and novel were much more dramatic, our version has its dramatic moments but is more of a lighthearted comedy.”

The cast and crew rehearse five nights a week from 7 p.m. until about midnight, Hungerford said.

“We have been on this schedule for two months now,” she said.

“Rehearsal time has to be this long because the play runs three hours on its own.”

The production has overcome many obstacles, Allen said.

“It has been so hard to find rehearsal time and space,” he said. “It is also hard to get the type of commitment a production like this requires from students.”

Despite all of the obstacles, the musical has come together wonderfully, Allen said.

“One of the best parts to this production is the score,” he said. “It is so great, you just can’t get it out of your head.”

Tim Goergeff, a TCU alumnus, wrote the score for Mildred.

“I wrote the story and lyrics,” Allen said. “I gave them to Tim and he turned them into magic.”

Hungerford said that Goergeff is a fantastic pianist who created a musical with variety.

“We have everything from the tango to romantic love tunes,” Hungerford said. “There is such a good mixture throughout the production.”

Allen said the main appeals of the production are the cast and crew and the great story.

“We have such a talented cast,” he said. “There are no weak links.”

Marci King
m.l.king@student.tcu.edu

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