Hinds Community College Presents 'Dogfight': A Musical Extravaganza Showcasing Local Talent

Hinds Community College's Fine Arts Department is preparing for their spring musical, 'Dogfight'. This follows their previous production, 'The Spitfire Grill'. The musical is scheduled from April 16 to April 19 at Brooks Theatre on the Raymond Campus. The production will involve students from various disciplines including theatre, dance, band, choir, and music. Alison Stafford, Director of Theatre, and Marc Rivet, Piano and Music Industry Instructor, will jointly manage the production.

The cast comprises students from Stafford’s Lendon Players theatre group and others from Fine Arts programs. The previous show, 'The Spitfire Grill', was well-received. Stafford plans to produce a play each fall and a musical each spring. To facilitate this, a new class, Musical Theatre Workshop, was introduced in fall 2023.

'Dogfight' will have live musicians backstage, directed by Rivet. The band includes six musicians, two of whom are Hinds music students, drummer Dylan Stanley and guitarist Landon Murin. Murin also played for 'The Spitfire Grill'. Rivet is looking forward to the production, which will include energetic performances with a 1960s blues and rock influence.

'Dogfight', based on a Warner Bros. film, is a musical set in November 1963. It narrates the story of a young soldier who learns compassion after playing a cruel joke on a girl. The plot involves three young Marines enjoying their last night before deployment to Vietnam. The music and lyrics are by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, known for their work on 'Dear Evan Hansen', 'The Greatest Showman', and 'La La Land'.

The student cast includes Gavin Standish, Alayna McDonald, Vance Woodall, Amari Jordan, Taylor Harris, Mack Talley, Reno Kane, Bryceton Thomas, Camryn Harris, Alli Henry, and Jameson Williams. Adayah Wood of Jackson is also part of the cast. The production aims to highlight the diverse talents at Hinds Community College.

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