The Tuesday before Thanksgiving was wet and cold. At 9 o’clock, Eastern Michigan University’s campus was almost silent for the lack of people. Entire halls of dorms were empty as students left for their happy families at home.
Yet, it was on a night as miserable as this one 11 teenagers stayed cooped up practicing for the play Go Dog! Go.
Even more impressive than the fact that these actors and actresses were present at practice was the fact that so few times in history do actors dressed up as puppies look sexy. Yet, the cast of the play Go Dog! Go, a musical adaptation by Steven Dietz and Allison Gregory, with music by Michael Koerner, managed to do exactly that with their use of expression and body movement.
The play is based off the children’s book of the same name by P.D. Eastman, but with the added twist of music and blocking instead of actual lines. The actors and actresses practice pitch and sound, going from a rough group of individuals to a beautiful harmony, perfectly together. The cast also does clapping games to help practice timing and reactions.
Of course, to get to such a level, the actors have to practice regularly. Every day from 7-11 p.m., the actors get together. Similarly to how a football team gathers in a circle to do stretches, the cast of Go Dog! Go gathers in a circle to stretch their vocal cords.
Each actor plays a different colored dog, donned completely in that dog’s color from his or her shirt and fake tail, to his or her colorful Converse. The actors perform their parts through the eyes of a dog; working, playing and sleeping all while smiling and laughing.
Chenise Smith, the actress who plays the famous Pink Dog, Hattie, described one of the first days after the actors received their new shoes.
“When Daniel first got roller skates, he had one skate on and one normal shoe and he fell on his face,” she said. “It was like a cartoon fall.”
Such a statement is believable considering how funny the cast is; joking and laughing between scenes.
Patricia Zimmer, the director of Go Dog! Go described the cast.
“It’s just one of the liveliest and cohesive casts I’ve had in a long time, even though the play is a challenge because of all the details,” she said.
With a play with so few actual words, it’s the little details that make the biggest differences.
“Lately we’re just blocking little scenes and trying to learn dance steps,” Smith said.
“Do you know how great it is that we’re working on details this early?” Zimmer said to her cast.
As the actors practiced, Zimmer made small changes in the way the actors tossed balls or held their props.
“I love the way she works,” Smith said of her director. “She makes it so you can develop the character. She’ll give you tips and still allows you to be creative. We have a lot of opportunity to put our input into the show.”
The blocking isn’t the only aspect of the play that requires a lot of detail. The two-story set and costumes also require a careful eye. The costumes all come from the costume shop on EMU’s campus, including Hattie’s hats. In the book, Hattie wears a variety of hats.
“She is a little sassy,” Smith said. “Her main tag is, ‘Do you like my hat?’ ”
The hats are made to match the ones in the book as closely as possible, no matter how ridiculous.
For the actors, creating a personality based off costume colors and just a few script notes can be difficult. Darius Tremain is an example of how practice and becoming in-tune with the character can add a lot to the overall effect of the show, especially since this is only his second show.
“I’m green dog, energetic and laid back,” Tremain said. He may actually be the coolest dog.”
While the play may not be quite the sexy, fun story you’re used to paying $10 for at the local theater, “Your inner child will love this show,” Kelly Fieldder said.
Even more importantly is the impact it can have on toddlers and young children, keeping them captivated with colors, sounds and physical humor.
The show will be playing at 7 p.m. on Dec. 2nd and 9th Quirk Theatre , as well as at 2 p.m. Dec. 3, 4, 10, and 11. Smith proudly encourages anyone to come. “The play is awesome,” she said. “It’s going to be very fun, funny and theatrical. EMU will definitely love it.”
