URI_Research_Magazine_Momentum_Fall_2018_Melissa-McCarthy

McGlasson’s Favorite Shows

Mary Poppins 2018 “Everyone knows she’s going to fly – you can’t do Mary Poppins unless she flies,” says McGlasson. “But the first time she raised up and flew across the 50-foot-wide stage you could hear a gasp.” McGlasson says of sharing that feeling with an audience, the feeling people get before laughing or crying — “that’s the best part of doing theatre.” Singin’ in the Rain 2012 When URI Theatre decided to do Singin’ in the Rain, McGlasson knew immediately what question she was going to be asked: “Are you really going to have it rain on stage?” Yes, they did. The technical director, Jake Richards- Hegnauer, built a set

Paula McGlasson Professor Theatre

Beauty and the Beast 2004 When McGlasson thinks of the URI production of this

Disney classic – “Oh, I do love my Disney,” she says – her mind turns to the special effects. “That play had a lot of technical challenges to it, and it was just fun

piece designed by Cheryl deWardener that would allow the lead to literally sing in the rain on stage. “When he needed

to see how we all collaborated and worked together, we could make all those things happen in that show,” she says.

to be outside on that street corner singing in the rain, rain was pouring down on his head,” McGlasson says. “Audiences just absolutely loved it.” The Rocky Horror Show 2010 McGlasson admits that people may have thought the risqué musical was “a bit raucous, out there, and nutty” from her

Assassins 2000 “It was one of the most exciting, challenging pieces of musical theatre I’ve ever directed, and I think one of the best productions I’ve ever delivered as well,” McGlasson says of the Sondheim musical

usual selections. The show was hosted in J-Studio, URI’s so-called black box theater as a more intimate setting for the raunchy show. “I think a lot of people could not figure out what I was doing being interested in

featuring a dark cast of famous assassins, like John Wilkes

Booth and Lee Harvey Oswald.

“The company of actors I was working with were some of the most adventuresome, inventive group of young actors,” she adds. “It’s a brilliant, brilliant show.” David Howard, URI theatre department chair, played the narrator and guided the audience through the show.

directing that kind of show,” she says. “It was one of the most interesting musicals I’ve ever worked on, and to see how audiences responded to it was amazing.”

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