“Meet Me in St. Louis” Opens in Huntington

The Huntington University Theatre Company and Department of Music are proud to present Meet Me in St. Louis. Set in the summer of 1903, Meet Me in St. Louis follows a year in the life of the Smith family. The musical includes seven of the best-loved songs from the film, plus ten additional Martin and Blane songs written specially for the stage. Memorable musical numbers include "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "The Boy Next Door," "The Trolley Song" and "Whenever I’m with You." Based on the heartwarming MGM film, Meet Me in St. Louis is a rare treasure in musical theatre: a wholesome and enchanting portrait of a turn-of-the-century American family. 

But as Ryan Long, Department of Theatre Arts chair, assistant professor of theatre and director of Meet Me in St. Louis pointed out, though this show is full of music and humor and fun, it’s the family's mutual respect, tempered with good-natured humor, that helps them through romance, opportunity and heartbreaks and entertains the audience. 

"One of the main themes of the production is that it isn't necessarily the physical things that are the most meaningful in life,” said Long. “It's the relationships." 

Long went on to point out that "stories are immensely powerful things,” citing Matthew 13:34 (CEB), which says, "Jesus said all these things to the crowds in parables, and he spoke to them only in parables."  

“Stories have a way of revealing things to us that we might not otherwise see or might not be willing to see," said Long. 

The cast for the show includes the following:  

• Mr. Smith – John Ulery  
• Mrs. Smith – Sarah Smith  
• Lon Smith – Carson Cunningham  
• Rose Smith – Emily Kars  
• Esther Smith – Renee Preston  
• Agnes Smith – Karissa Merillat  
• Tootie Smith – Ava Curtis  
• Grandpa Prophater – Nate Benjamin  
• Katie – ReBecca Zorn  
• John Truitt – Brody Bowman  
• Warren Sheffield – Ross Bell  
• Lucille Ballard, Ensemble – Lillia Kilzer  
• Eve, Ensemble – Sophie Henderson  
• Postman, Sidney Purvis, Ensemble – Jacob Covey  
• Clinton Badger, Ensemble – Izzy Sprunger  
• Ensemble – Rylie Raber  
• Ensemble – Emily Saxon  
• Ensemble – Rebekah Steffen  

And the crew for the show includes the following:  

• Producer/Director – Ryan Long 
• Music Director – Melanie Carter 
• Choreographer – Molly Hill 
• Choreographer – ReBecca Zorn 
• Scenic Designer – Derrick Null 
• Lighting Designer – Andrew Gutshall 
• Costume Designer – Kandra Tenuto 
• Sound Designer – Andrew Edmonds 
• Props Designer/TD – Sam Tenuto 
• Stage Manager – Lexie Caudell 
• Assistant Stage Manager – Anna Cassidy 
• Assistant Stage Manager – Angel English 
• Assistant Stage Manager – Elizabeth Sonntag 
• Props Assistant – Lydia Welch 
• Sound Mixer/Sound Board Op – Lex Wright 
• Master Electrician – Elias Collier 
• Flyrail Operator – Elizabeth Kruse 

The show opens in Zurcher Auditorium in the Merillat Centre for the Arts on March 30 and runs through April 1. To get your tickets, visit huntington.edu/MeetMe.