After a week of snowy weather, one of the longest-running Murray State traditions, Campus Lights, returns for its 87th production with a reprise of the show “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”
The show follows a young man, J. Pierrepont Finch, who, after reading the book ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,’ goes from a window washer to a chairman of a major company with a few humorous bumps along the way.
Leo Tucker, chairman of the board of production, said anxiety surrounded production as concerns about the weather and its impact on the show increased.
“We hated to cancel the Friday show, but [it was] in our best interests and the cast’s best interest,” Tucker said. “We just want to make sure everybody’s able to enjoy the show.”
The show is selected from a collection of student suggestions before the board of directors narrows the options to three, which are then voted on by the students involved in the show and members of Sigma Alpha Iota and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
This will be the second time Campus Lights has performed “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”
“It’s been almost 20 years since we’ve done the show, but we think it being a repeat show can definitely bring in some alumni who [as] participators saw the show for the first time,” Tucker said. “We think that was a big selling point for us taking the show.”
Over 80 students are producing the show, with some spending the majority of their winter breaks here at the University working hard to ensure the stage would be set for the annual show.
For some cast members like Alec Wadley, cast as J. Pierrepont Finch, this will be their last collegiate show.
“Having graduated this past fall semester, it is such an amazing honor to be going out with such a bang like this with a lead role in something I have devoted so much time to,” Wadley said.
Campus Lights is set to return to its long-time home, Lovett Auditorium, after having been temporarily held in Robert E. Johnson Theater during Lovett’s renovations.
“The actors are incredible,” Tucker said. “Our set is huge. I’m not going to spoil it for you guys, but we have spent a lot of time on our set and we’re super excited to show you guys exactly what all we’ve done with the show.”
Saturday features two showings, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday features one at 2:30 p.m.. Students and faculty tickets cost $10, and general admission tickets cost $15.
The cast features Alec Wadley as J. Pierrepont Finch, Kristina Belt as Rosemary Pilkington, Eli Borwick as J.B. Bigley, Olivia Beach as Smitty, Danny Preklas as Bud Frump, Quinn Coursey as Hedy Larue, Carter Parks as Book Voice/Wally Womper, Logan Combs as Mr. Bert Bratt, Zach Lamb as Mr. Milt Gatch, Jessie Leal as Mr. Twimble, Maisah Johnson as Miss Jones, Mallory Hunt as Miss Krumholtz, Jake Mitchell as Mr. Benjamin Burton Daniel Ovington and the following in the ensemble: Maia Annalise, Hannah Foote, Chloe Ladon, Alecia Fordham, Kat Hodge, Aiden Schweitzer, Elijah Larue, Sunny Smith, Jullian Morman, Holden Mast and Jake Blankenship.
