Home / News and Information /

BPC’s Man of La Mancha well received by community

BPC musical cast, from left, Alex Suastegui, Kolby DePratter, Callie Bynum, Chip Jones (director’s husband), perform in STC’s Toombs Auditorium April 19. (Photo by Juanita Kissell)

By Kelley M. Arnold

Director of News and Public Information

MOUNT VERNON—The opening night of Brewton-Parker College’s spring musical, Man of La Mancha, closed in standing ovation. The cast and crew received the same audience response each night of the musical’s three-day run at Southeastern Technical College’s Toombs Aruditorium Thursday, April 19 through Saturday, April 21.

According to audience member Bob Randall opening night, the musical was worth seeing a second time.

“It was really great,” he said. “I’d like to come back tomorrow night and see it again!”

Senior BPC student Nathan Hodges said, “Good play, great singing. Pedro (Caleb Smallwood of BPC) was the funniest actor I’ve ever seen. And Dulcinea (Callie Bynum) is gorgeous.”

The cast and crew, led by first-time director and BPC graduate, Rachel Jones, overcame a few “lighting glitches” to create an enjoyable experience for both BPC and community members.

“I’m very proud of my cast,” said Jones, also a teacher at Montgomery County High School. “All their hard work has paid off.”

Hayley Boisseau, BPC junior communications major and assistant director of the musical, agrees.

“I was very pleased at how everyone pulled together to make this show a success.”

The combined college and high school-age cast produced a professional-level performance, according to Juanita Kissell, BPC staff member and public relations promoter for the musical.

“The energy, excitement and emotion the cast was able to share with the audience were incredible,” said Kissell. “I laughed at the antics of Sancho (Alex Suasetgui of Montgomery County High School), and Pedro, fought tears at the anguish of Aldonza (Callie Bynum of BPC), and felt my heart soar at the hope of Don Quixote (Kolby Depratter of BPC). I was also very impressed at the cast’s instant recovery from costume and lighting glitches, sometimes even incorporating the glitches into the play – the sign of true professionals.”

To learn more about the four-year, liberal arts Christian college and its drama program, contact the Division of Arts & Letters at 912-583-3106 or look online at www.bpc.edu/artsletters/index.htm.

Note: In previous releases, BPC has incorrectly identified Alex Suasetgui as a Vidalia High School senior. He is a senior at Montgomery County High School in Mount Vernon. We regret the error and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

-BPC-