It tells the story of the New England settlers who founded Marietta, Ohio, where the Muskingum River meets the Ohio River, and how the decisions and events of 1786–1820 helped shape the future of the United States. A key figure in this telling of history is Ephraim Cutler, whose single vote secured Ohio’s admission to the Union as a free state.
The musical was written by award-winning singer-songwriters Larry Groce of Mountain Stage and Todd Burge and is being directed by John “Jack” Colclough, director of Marshall’s School of Theatre & Dance.
Marshall students involved in the production include Josh Bonyak, Dan Porterfield, Bailey Dore, Thaddeus Stambaugh and Josiah Baker, who are performing. Marshall alumni performing in the show include Mike Murdock, Chase Likens and Ethan Lyvers.
Marshall students Simone Coustasse and Reilly McClain will serve as assistant stage manager and light board operator, respectively, and alum Jimi Lawson will stage manage.
Marshall professor Logan Reagan has designed the set, and adjunct faculty Shelby Nelson-Burcham and MaShawn Morton are choreographing.
“The production is collaborative, as all good theatre is, with performers and artists from across the country, and tells the story of how one vote changed the direction of our country from its earliest days and the men and women who settled the Northwest Territory in the late 18th and early 19th Century,” Colclough said. “For our students, it is a huge opportunity to take their work in a new direction, with new people, and get a sense of what a life as a young professional artist looks like.”
The set is being constructed at Marshall University by Marshall and Ohio University students before being transported to Marietta, where Marietta College students will reassemble it for the production. Internships have been provided through Marietta College’s Center for Appalachian Innovation to give students real-world experience in theatrical production.
The show will be performed at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, July 17-18 and 24-25 at Marietta College. Matinee performances are planned for 2:30 p.m. on Sundays July 18 and 26.
“One Vote! The Musical” is made possible in part through support from the Ohio Arts Council, America 250-Ohio, Marietta College, the Center for Appalachian Innovation, and private donors.
For tickets and additional information, visit www.onevotemusical.com.