(l to r) David Wayne Britton, Mia Massaro, Wes Williams,
Devin Holloway and Emily Louise Franklin
Photo by Denise Truscello
The University of Central Arkansas Reynolds Performance Hall welcomes “An Officer and a Gentleman,” a new musical based on the Oscar-winning film and original screenplay by Douglas Day Stewart, on Tuesday, Nov. 30 at 7:30 pm.
“Like all good stories, ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ is set in a specific world with its own culture, customs and costumes—the U.S. Navy,” said book writer and director Dick Scanlan. “And like all great stories, its themes are universal: love, valor and the ways in which our reasons for pursuing a dream determine whether or not we’ll achieve it.”
Featuring a score based on the 1980’s catalog of music, the musical includes hits from Rick Springfield, Styx, Debbie Gibson, Richard Marx, Wilson Phillips and Pat Benatar, as well as the Grammy-winning hit single “Up Where We Belong,” sung by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes.
Wes Williams, Mary Nikols and the Company in “An Officer and a Gentleman.”
Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade
The show is written and directed by Tony Award nominee Dick Scanlan, choreographed by Patricia Wilcox and music supervised and arranged by Dan Lipton, with orchestrations by Lipton and Nathan Dame, and dance arrangements by Gary Adler.
“An Officer and a Gentleman” celebrates triumph over adversity through the eyes of Zack Mayo who has the raw talent and strength for the Navy’s Officer Training School. Graduating from the elite program will secure Mayo’s career and future, but only the brave and determined can endure the relentless commands of his drill Drill Sgt. Emil Foley, who is determined to weed out all those unable to pass the strenuous tests of knowledge, coordination and strength. On his journey of self-discovery, Mayo finds comfort in the arms of a strong-willed local factory worker, but it isn’t until tragedy befalls a fellow candidate that he learns the importance of friendship, commitment and honor, finds the courage to be his best self and wins the heart of the woman he loves.
This show contains adult language and subject matter. Tickets are $30-$40 for adults and $10 for students. Senior/UCA Community/Alumni discounts are available. Tickets may be purchased online at uca.edu/Reynolds, at the Reynolds Box Office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by calling UCA Ticket Central at (501) 450-3265 or toll-free at (866) 810-0012.
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