“It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s MTC!” Geneseo’s Musical Theatre Club hosted its biannual revue show from Friday Dec. 4–Saturday Dec. 5 in Wadsworth Auditorium. MTC holds two big performances each year where members sing, dance and act out a variety of show tunes. The club also performs at smaller events throughout the school year. MTC is known for its interpretations of famous musical numbers, often editing lyrics to coincide with a certain theme and storyline. This semester’s theme was superheroes; the cast dressed up as fictional heroes and villains, performing 20 musical numbers during two acts.
Songs included “Nothing Suits Me Like a Suit” from popular TV show “How I Met Your Mother,” “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” from Mulan and “Hakuna Matata” from The Lion King. Most of the numbers followed the superhero storyline and dealt with subjects like learning how to become a superhero, being a super villain and superheroes taking the day off.
Creative choreography was incorporated into all numbers, but three numbers stood out in terms of elaborate footwork. The performance of “Don’t Break the Rules” from the musical “Catch Me If You Can” featured police officers complaining about superheroes as they tap danced. The cover of “We Both Reached for the Gun” from the successful Broadway musical “Chicago” was incredibly intriguing with the incorporation of puppet-like movements. The third, “Hernando’s Hideaway” from the musical “The Pajama Game,” had villainous characters dancing the tango.
MTC secretary junior Francesca DiGiorgio noted that not all of the numbers performed adhered to the theme. The cast calls these “rogue numbers.” “[There’s] room for creativity,” DiGiorgio said. This is a result of MTC chiefly being a creative community where those interested in the performing arts can gain experience in all aspects of performance.
MTC is completely student-run, so there are opportunities in production as well as performance. Students can work on choreography, directing, lighting, acting, singing and dancing. DiGiorgio herself started out as a vocalist, but was given the opportunity to become an actress and a choreographer as well.
A few rogue numbers from the show were the all-female number “My Body,” a classic chorus line number entitled “One” and “Flight,” which featured two vocalists and three ballet and lyrical dancers.
The show-stopping closing number “Live in Living Color”—also from “Catch Me If You Can”—had the entire cast singing and dancing in a fast-paced, energetic ending to the show.
What stands out the most with the MTC shows is the overwhelming amount of positive energy exuded from all cast members. Humor definitely plays a large role in the club’s performances, as well as in the lyrics of the songs themselves. According to DiGirogio, it’s this laid-back and humorous attitude that makes seeing an MTC show different than other Geneseo performances.