NEW ULM — After seeing him all over Minnesota State University productions last year — including both Highland Summer Theatre shows and as a director of the children’s theater play during the school year — Landon Hudson has traveled to New Ulm, most likely aboard a symbolic train, to direct the State Street Theater Company’s production of “The Music Man.”
And, it seems, the garrulous musical theater senior and multiple award-winning performer has taken many friends with him on the ride.
River City is the temporary theatrical home for Hudson and a collection of current MSU students and graduates: stage manager Alex Vigil, costumer Ruby Wilmes, scenic designer/builder and props master AB Borjon, lighting designer Glo Toupence and scenic painter Aria Smith.
Others from Mankato making their SSTC stage debuts include Jacob Huttner, Lizzie Rossow, Zachary Leasman, Sarah Kottke, Andy Muske, Ally Schultz, Jonathan Brandt, Jacynda Santiago and Callie McConnell. This is a mix of MSU students and other theater folks.
Although they applied individually, when Hudson was hired he brought Vigil and the others along on the tracks. And that’s just fine with the folks at SSTC, who went about seeking a director through usual methods: their website, news releases, email blasts to patrons, community access TV and social media.
“Out of a large group of applicants, Landon had the qualities we were looking for to direct the show,” said Lorie Jewell, executive director of SSTC. She considers getting the talented group of production team members a bonus.
“Our last play and last summer’s musical both had first-time directors at the helm,” she said. “I think it is essential to offer opportunities for people to step into new roles. Landon is a first-time director with SSTC, but his resume is filled with theater experiences as an actor and director.”
Ironically, Hudson, who is studying musical theater at MSU, was unfamiliar with the story of “The Music Man,” where grifter Harold Hill accepts the challenge of coming to Iowa where he promises citizens he will create a children’s band. During spring break in March, he set about wiping out his ignorance of the show, he said.
“On my way to KCACTF Nationals in Washington, both my flights, I just had my book and was learning everything I could. I made a big dramaturgy Powerpoint, more for myself, because all of the (vocabulary) in there I didn’t know,” said the Missouri native.
The trip to Washington was earned when Hudson took first place in Musical Theatre Intensives and second place in Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship competition at the KCACTF Region V competition in Des Moines in January. He then traveled to Philadelphia in June, where he earned first place in the nation in the Upper College Musical Theatre division at the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
Perhaps because he hadn’t seen previous productions, his approach is uniquely his and, in many ways, different than the norm.
“We want to make it almost an interactive experience,” he said of his show. “People will be everywhere. And so I really feel like we got the cast for it. I want to it to feel rather than they’re talking at you or singing at you you’re a part of this cast.”
The cast includes many who have been in past summer musicals at State Street Theatre and others familiar with their roles. That includes Michael Koester, who is reprising the man at the center of everything, Harold Hill, that he first played in 2014 at Martin Luther College in New Ulm.
“Most of the older men and women (in the cast) do every summer show,” Hudson said. “A lot of these kids are brand new to us, which is great, but a lot of the adults, this is how they spend their summers with us.
“So, I think our goal going in, and I told them on day one, was that if they get done with this show and they want to come back and do another State Street summer show, we did our job,” he said.
Hudson greets cast and crew as they come in for an evening rehearsal. He is working to create the feeling that they all live in River City.
Vigil, while branching out from acting to stage management, is making a return of sorts as well.
“Working on ‘The Music Man’ has been so much fun. I grew up in New Ulm, so it’s been really great to be back in their theater scene,” she said. “I’ve been on stage previously at State Street, so it’s been interesting to take a behind-the-scenes approach.”
During an early full run of the first act, Hudson — perched in the front row taking notes on his laptop with Vigil next to him running music on her cellphone — he was calling out compliments to cast members when they executed actions, reactions and interactions they had talked about before.
“Don’t lose the energy,” he called at one point. “Good! Good! … Good work!”
To one of his youngest players, Molly Olson, who plays the mayor’s daughter, Gracie Shinn: “Good face, Molly! So good!”
As mistakes were pointed out, he softened the blow or chuckled along with actors as they recognized what they did and how to improve it.
“Working with Landon has been such an amazing experience,” Vigil said. “We work super well together and I love getting to see his vision come to life.”
Jewell sees the collaboration with people from MSU, as well as Merely Players Community Theater of Mankato, Sleepy Eye Community Theater, Springfield Community Theater, Martin Luther College’s Forum and local schools in New Ulm as a natural way to support organizations similar to theirs.
“There is so much great talent in the area, it just makes sense to work together, lend each other props or costumes, etc.,” Jewell said. “The theater world is intertwined, and the State Street Theater is happy to be a part of a growing, vibrant theater community.”