Robinson Theatre is back this fall with a bold production of Ride the Cyclone (high school edition). Quirky and unforgettable, this darkly comic musical blends humor and heart, keeping the audience happily engaged.
Written by Brooke Maxwell and Jacob Richmond, Ride the Cyclone follows six members of a school choir whose lives are tragically cut short in a roller coaster accident. The students are trapped in the carnival, and they’re told that one of them has a chance to return to life. Each character gets a chance in the spotlight, revealing their hopes and dreams in a mix of heartfelt ballads and sharp raps.
According to the director, Jessie Dorsey, picking the show was far too easy.
“We actually got a major set piece donated from USF. Which meant that we didn’t have to build the ‘Karnak’ booth. That happened at last year’s One Acts Festival,” Dorsey said.
The cast has been rehearsing since last month, working on the challenge of portraying such complex characters. K. Mitchell (’26) plays Constance, an optimistic and sweet girl who is sick of being called “the nicest girl in town,”. Mitchell spoke about the tests of bringing Constance to the stage.
“My character is kind of, shy and quiet. [The challenge is] trying to make sure I talk loud enough to be picked up by the mics and heard by everyone, while still staying in the shy and quiet character. But also all of the heavy choreo with, like, no water breaks in between because we’re all on stage so much,” Mitchell said.
And she’s right. All of the characters [besides the rat, played by J. Navarte (’26)] are on stage throughout the entire show. Because there are so few characters in the show, there isn’t an opportunity for the actors to take breaks. When Robinson’s Ride the Cyclone has no intermission, and a run time of an hour and a half, the stakes are high. These actors have been working hard to memorize their choreography and scripts, and it really shone through during their opening night performance.
Musically, the show is a whirlwind. The score demands strong vocals and dynamic stage presence, and the Robinson Theatre Troupe did just that. The hauntingly beautiful “The Ballad of Jane Doe” sung by Leah Bell (’28), was about another member of the choir who was lost in the accident, but no one could seem to remember her name. This number was amazing and creepy, earning her a thunderous applause from the audience. “This Song is Awesome,” was sung by Jeremiah Williams (’29), who played a Ukrainian adopted student named Misha. This Song was hilarious, and Williams’ stage presence had the whole audience laughing within seconds.
For many of the actors, this production is more than just a show, it’s a community.
“Some of these people are people that I haven’t really talked to before,” Mitchell said. “I didn’t think I ever would if it wasn’t for [this show]. There are people I haven’t talked to in a while that I’ve really gotten to reconnect with.”
This is only the second full-length musical under the direction of Dr. Dorsey, and Ride the Cyclone was an intriguing watch. Dorsey hopes that the audience takes home more than a fun time.
“You can’t take material things with you when you die. And it’s just a ride. Life is just a ride… don’t take it too seriously,” Dorsey explained.
As the lights go up and the carnival ride begins, Troupe 2660 invites audience members to laugh and cry with them during Robinson’s Ride the Cyclone.
