Each spring, the sophomore class at Asbury takes to the stage. The longstanding tradition was created by the Cavalier class of ‘73 and has entertained Asburians for decades. Each year, a musical is pieced together from start to finish entirely by the sophomores. This year, the Faithful class is performing “Matilda”.
“It is based on a quirky book by Roald Dahl and the show reflects that,” said assistant stage manager Madi Bobb. “The music is funky, the jokes and characters are all slightly offbeat. The entire thing is sort of fantastical. It’s hilarious but also surprisingly deep and thoughtful. It’s a show about what is right and wrong and standing up for yourself.”
“Matilda” has been spearheaded by director Kylie Ward.
“I picked ‘Matilda’ because it’s a storyline that a lot of students my age grew up with but don’t know as a musical,” said Ward. “I thought it would be something that was both familiar and new at the same time. It’s a show with a lot of ensemble involvement so I primarily picked it because I knew everyone would play an important part.”
Everyone involved in the production of the sophomore musical, nicknamed SoMu, plays a vital role, which makes it a great bonding opportunity for the class.
“I think SoMu is an important tradition because it really brought our class together,” said Ashlynn King, who is playing Matilda. “I have gotten to know people in my class better than I would have without this show.”
The class works together in roles which may be unfamiliar to them, which brings them even closer.
“A show full of people who normally don’t do stuff like this is vulnerable and creates lots of trust in the class,” said Ivey Chrisco, who is playing Lavender. “I think SoMu is very important — it definitely creates a great bonding opportunity through the good and the bad times.”
SoMu strengthens relationships within the class, but putting the production on comes with challenges.
“I think SoMu is vital in creating a class identity. It is irreplaceable when it comes to bringing a class together,” said Bobb. “However, there is so much of this that has been pointlessly difficult. Unless there are some big changes made in how it is run from year to year, I do not see it continuing for much longer.”
Along with Bobb, other members of the cast and production team expressed the same concern. SoMu is an iconic Asbury tradition, which the members of the Faithful class believe needs to be continued into the future, but they also believe that changes should be made.
“I think SoMu offers so many valuable learning experiences and creates community in a way that other activities can’t. I think it’s an incredibly valuable tradition, but a poorly defined tradition that needs to have some sort of procedure in place,” said Ward. “SoMu is supposed to be a fun experience, but it’s incredibly stressful, and I think stress can sometimes take away from the fun in a way that makes it a less effective community tradition. I love SoMu, but after producing and directing it for eight months, I feel like I have no way to help or guide the next director, because each show has its unique problems and difficulties. I want to see SoMu become a continuously positive tradition on campus, and I think a procedure should be put in place to keep the tradition both alive, enjoyable and influential.”
However, despite the challenges, the Faithful class members said that it has been worth it.
“It can be scary and frustrating but it’s rewarding,” said Bobb. “I can’t wait for everyone to see it.”
