Posted on Friday, February 07, 2025
Whatever life brings our way, the world keeps on spinning. That lies at the heart of LC Musical Theatre’s “And the World Goes ’Round,” a musical celebrating the unwavering power of the human spirit.
The production, which runs Feb. 21-23 at Price Theater, weaves the music of the famous Broadway songwriting team John Kander and Fred Ebb into a storyline centered around the relationships made through the setting of a coffee shop.
“With this musical, we are putting the focus on the relationships between the people passing through the coffee shop and the barista,” said D.J. Grooms ’13, guest director and choreographer for the production. “We work to encapsulate the original show’s main theme of continuing regardless of the struggles in love and life.”
To create a jazz club atmosphere for the setting, there will be an ensemble led by conductor Devin Porter. Joining the piano, bass and clarinet performers will be alumni Jacob Broome ’24 and Adam Stanley ’06 on bass guitar and drums, respectively.
In total, there will be 14 different songs, ranging from upbeat swing to moving ballads. Included in the mix will be hits from the musicals “Chicago” and “Cabaret.”
“This show has a good balance of a lot of solo opportunities, as well as duets and large ensemble numbers,” Porter said. “It’s been fun to work on musicality with the students.”
Performing these songs will be a 14-member cast made up of students and guest artists Stevie Nix ’23 and Alyese Cross ’14, who also serves as vocal coach in the show.
“I've really enjoyed discovering songs from Kander and Ebb that I wasn’t originally familiar with and seeing how each student brings their own unique interpretation to their performance,” Cross said. “It’s amazing to watch them bring these songs to life with their individual creativity and artistry.”
She said it is a privilege to not only be on stage with the students, but also to collaborate with Grooms, a former classmate at LC.
“Working with D.J. has been such a fun and fulfilling experience,” she said. “He is an incredibly talented musician who brings so much depth and experience to the show. Returning to the Price Theater stage has been a bit nostalgic, bringing back so many great memories while creating new ones.”
Freshman Madilynn Rieke, who performs several group numbers as well as a duet with sophomore Jala Williams, said this show has allowed her the chance to dig more into the creative side of crafting different personalities for each of her characters.
“It has been fun to work on the process of making these roles my own,” she said.
Freshman Summer Baker, a costume assistant and performer in the show, said she has learned how important a style of clothing is to a storyline.
“I love helping with the costumes because it has allowed me to connect with our cast on a deeper level as well as dive deeper into the script and understand the true meanings behind our characters and their songs,” she said.
The overall theme of the show is just as relevant today as it was when it was first on Broadway, according to Theatre Arts Professor and Director Kim Barber Knoll.
“It’s a wonderful production that sends the message we have to do the best we can because the world is just gonna keep on spinning,” she said.
Performance times are 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21; 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 22; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23. The show contains mature subject matter.
Ticket reservations will be made through Eventbrite. Seating is limited. The link will be active on Monday, Feb. 10. The cost is $10 for adults and free for LC faculty, staff and students. Make sure to select the appropriate ticket when given the option. Cash and checks are accepted at the door.
LC will host the West Georgia Regional Contest for National History Day Georgia on Saturday, March 1. Faculty, staff and alumni are encouraged to serve as contest judges. These volunteers will preview student work, interview students, and as a team select entries to advance to the state contest. It is required that judges are available until 2 p.m. Those interested can sign up on the contest website.
Taste of Storytelling
Sunday, Feb. 9
2 p.m., LaGrange Memorial Library
Building Inclusive and Empowered Communities
Monday, Feb. 10
7 p.m., Bailey Room
Career Assessment
Tuesday, Feb. 11
3 p.m., Bailey Room
Black History Month Jeopardy
Tuesday, Feb. 11
8 p.m., Dickson Assembly Room
Men's Basketball
LC soared past Pensacola Christian on Tuesday, Feb. 4, winning by a final score of 78-68 inside Mariotti Gym. They hit the road this week, traveling to Wilmore, Kentucky, and Maryville, Tennessee, to take on Asbury on Friday and Maryville on Saturday. The team will look to notch a couple more wins to their regular season total as they prepare for postseason play in a few weeks.
Women's Basketball
The Panthers celebrated National Girls and Women in Sports Day this week with a momentous 69-35 rout of Wesleyan on Tuesday, Feb. 4. The win marked the team's 10th win of the season, as well as Coach Destiny Lane-Frazier's first 10-win season since taking over for the Panthers in July of 2024. They will travel this weekend for a pair of respective matchups against Asbury and Maryville.
Softball
LC officially begins its season on Saturday, Feb. 8, taking on Berry in Rome, Georgia, for a doubleheader.
Baseball
The Panthers open their season on the road at the Centenary Tournament Feb. 7-9 in Shreveport, Louisiana. They will take on Rhodes College in the first game on Friday and then respective contests against host Centenary College on Saturday and round out with McMurry University on Sunday.
Beach Volleyball
LC begins its season traveling to Truett McConnell to compete in the university's namesake tournament Feb. 7-8. They will play the University of Mobile (Alabama) and the host on Friday, with their Saturday opponents TBD upon completion of the tournament's opening rounds.
Lacrosse
The Panthers celebrate the start of their season on Saturday, as they host a scrimmage against a group of LC alumni. Faceoff for the contest is scheduled for noon.
(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)
Friday, Feb. 7 – Beach Volleyball vs. University of Mobile (@Truett McConnell), noon, Cleveland, Georgia
Friday, Feb. 7 – Beach Volleyball at Truett McConnell, 4 p.m., Cleveland, Georgia
Friday, Feb. 7 – Women’s Basketball at Asbury, 4 p.m., Wilmore, Kentucky
Friday, Feb. 7 – Baseball vs. Rhodes (@Centenary), 4:30 p.m., Shreveport, Louisiana
Friday, Feb. 7 – Men’s Basketball at Asbury, 6 p.m., Wilmore, Kentucky
Saturday, Feb. 8 – Beach Volleyball vs. TBD, TBD, Cleveland, Georgia
Saturday, Feb. 8 – Lacrosse vs. LC alumni (Home), noon, Callaway Stadium
Saturday, Feb. 8 – Baseball at Centenary, 11 a.m., Shreveport, Louisiana
Saturday, Feb. 8 – Softball at Berry, noon and 2 p.m., Mount Berry, Georgia
Saturday, Feb. 8 – Women’s Basketball at Maryville, 2 p.m., Maryville, Tennessee
Saturday, Feb. 8 – Men’s Basketball at Maryville, 4 p.m., Maryville, Tennessee
Sunday, Feb. 9 – Baseball vs. McMurry University (@Centenary), 10:30 a.m., Shreveport, Louisiana
Tuesday, Feb. 11 – Women’s Basketball (Home) vs. Agnes Scott, 5 p.m., Mariotti Gym
1,000 and counting: LaGrange College’s Zyhia Johnson scores her 1,000th point and she is not done yet, LaGrange Daily News, Feb. 1
Category: Community, Students, Arts and Culture
Keywords: Theatre, Music
