Elyssa Jackson has taken time off from singing in the Presbyterian Church choir to concentrate on her role in “Shout!,” Iola Community Theatre’s rendition of the mod musical featuring 1960s tunes. JACKSON and Quinhones work at Around the Corner, Iola’s downtown coffee shop. QUINHONES grew up in Wichita, but was no stranger to Iola. She visited relatives here in younger years and when she needed a place to live, she and her son moved in with her mother, Iolan Cindy Lucas. AS THE BLUE girl, Standridge plays an aspiring model and actress who has yet to fall in love. THE YELLOW girl, Aguirre, is the only American character — others are British — while Tressler, as the Orange girl, portrays a woman in her 40s, who suspects her husband is cheating on her.
Jackson’s concession may not square too well with real life. Her character in “Shout!” is “a bit of a slut,” she said.
“My role is very risqué,” Jackson added. “I hope people will be prepared to see me in a different light.”
Jackson 25, is one of three newcomers to the ICT stage. Others are Jessica Quinhones, 29, Iola, and Sara Joy Standridge, 28, who lives in Eureka where her husband, Matthew, is a dentist.
Others in the show, both veterans of ICT productions, are Pam Tressler and Sabra Aguirre.
“Shout!” will unfold on the ICT Warehouse Theatre stage in a dessert theater setting on Feb. 21, 22, 28 and March 1 and 2. Tickets may be purchased at Sophisticated Rose at $15 for adults and $10 for students.
The musical chronicles the dawning of women’s liberation, reprising the roles of such prominent recording stars as Dusty Springfield and Petula Clark in that social revolution.
While the show’s core is musical, it draws on events of the time, such as advertisements and letters to advice columnists, to parallel how times were achangin’. For example, women realized not every problem could be solved with a “fetching new hair style and a new shade of lipstick.”
Quinhones won the role of the Red girl, who “is a dork,” she said. “She’s young, confused and thinks she’s ugly,” an assessment that’s dispelled as the show proceeds.
Acting and singing are not new to Jackson. She performed in a children’s theater troupe under the auspices of a community theater group while growing up in Lancaster, Calif.
Jackson also works at SAFE BASE, the district’s after-school program, and as interim youth director at First Presbyterian.
She was in theater productions, including frequent vocal roles, as a student at Northwest High School as well as large Christmas events at Bethel Life Center. After graduating from high school, she was awarded a theater scholarship at Hutchinson Community College.
Recent rehearsals for her have been more of a challenge because of the weather. Standridge commutes to Iola each evening from Eureka, a drive of about 50 miles. Standridge is taking the commute in stride, having grown up in Northern Illinois, where snow, ice and cold are more prevalent features of winter.
She had her first acting role in “Oliver” at age 8 and figures she has been in more than 30 productions since. Standridge studied theater at Eureka, Ill., College, and was eager to return to the stage.
“I hadn’t done anything in theater since 2007. I was looking on the Internet, and saw the tryouts for ‘Shout!,’” she said.
Some memorable performances for Standridge are “Hello, Dolly” and “Seussical,” a musical that draws on Dr. Seuss stories for inspiration.
Among the show’s songs are those originally performed Springfield, including, “To Sir with Love,” “Downtown,” “Son of a Preacher Man” and “Goldfinger.”
ICT play features newcomers
