Indiana University grad returns as dance captain, female swing in IU Auditorium's 'Shrek'
When performers and auditionees in New York hear the words "I was in the BFA program at Indiana University," IU bachelor of fine arts graduate Casey Lamont says they flinch. She believes they might be thinking: "Uh oh, now I'd better up my game."
"IU has made a name for itself in New York City in the last 10 years," she said over the phone. Lamont, who graduated in May 2020, returns to Bloomington with "Shrek — The Musical," one of the most performed musicals in the U.S. It runs April 9-10 at the IU Auditorium.
Lamont, who lives in Washington Heights in upper Manhattan, said, "People in New York definitely recognize when I say I'm from IU. Our IU training has supported our careers, and it's clear now, as I see all the IU alums here."
Tony Award-winner "Shrek — The Musical," which uses popular fairy tale characters, sparkles with songs by Jeanine Tesori and a book by David Lindsay-Abaire, who won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play "Rabbit Hole."
"High School Musical" (2006) might be what propelled youth to the stage
Lamont wonders if "High School Musical" (2006) is the engine that sent so many middle schoolers to the Broadway musical route. Kenny Ortega directed "High School Musical," an American TV movie written by Peter Barsocchini. Suddenly, Lamont said, came an influx of kids age 11-14 aspiring to sing and moonwalk on stage.
Those youth included Lamont, who used to stand in her neighborhood cul-de-sac and belt out tunes.
While plenty of those youngsters are now trying out, Lamont is a triple threat with her finely honed dancing giving her an advantage. In fact, she is the dance captain and female swing in the IU Auditorium's "Shrek."
That's another thing with which she credits IU's BFA classes. "IU's not a cookie-cutter program." She said her instructors observe students, looking for ways they might stand out in the field and then focus on that.
"Let's find your niche," she said her teachers would advise. When Lamont's dancing skills became apparent, she said, IU instructors fostered her ability to become not just a dancer but a leader: a dance captain. "They saw that I was detail oriented."
What's happening off campus: IU Auditorium reaches out to community to spread its music, artful programming
Last year Lamont performed in Anna Miriam Brown's "His Story" in a fully realized Eamon Foley choreographed production. The musical took place in the Broadway Tent at Grandscape, a new (2023) 1,300-seat, 75,000-square-foot venue in The Colony, a city north of Dallas, Texas. “His Story: The Musical” is a new hip-hop and pop musical based on the life of Jesus.
In 2023, Lamont served as the assistant choreographer on "An American in Paris" at Indy's Phoenix Theatre; IU musical theatre dance instructor DJ Gray was the show's choreographer.
More about "Shrek — The Musical"
Shrek is a modern folkloric fantasy about things both good and wicked, with themes of attachment and love. One song in particular, "Freak Flag," Lamont said, represents the musical's message:
"Let your freak flag wave/Let your freak flag fly/Never take it down, never take it down/Raise it way up high/Let your freak flag fly ..."
Often, she said, "what makes someone special is what makes that person strong."
If you go
WHAT: "Shrek — The Musical," based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks animated film. Songs are by Jeanine Tesori, book by David Lindsay-Abaire.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. April 9-10
WHERE: Indiana University Auditorium, 1211 E. Seventh St.
TICKETS: Start at $17 for students, $30 for general public. Go online to https://am.ticketmaster.com/iuarts/buy.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Indiana University grad returns as dance captain, female swing in 'Shrek'
