Making Magic Through the Muppets: The Heart of the Show
In the dazzling, wonderfully weird world of the Muppets, the least expected oddity arose: connection. From Elmo's crayon-red fur to Miss Piggy’s oinking good looks, ever since the ‘50s brought our fuzzy friends to life, they became cultural icons bridging generational gaps. Directed and conceived by Western Wyoming Community College’s very own Performing Arts Department Chair Anthony Romeo-Adcock, and 90% of the track production heralded by Musical Director Timothy Clyde, the community is proud to bring to you a one-of-a-kind musical experience. Or as Anthony calls it, “a half concert, half theatrical performance.”
Though Anthony views the Muppets as the ultimate bridge between generations, the sheer desire he showed to inspire and help people grow into what they’re meant to be echoed similar testimony. Anthony has been doing theatre since he was between 8 or 9, a child actor, describing himself to have “...caught the bug very early on.” From one generation to the next, he holds the door open for those who want to stop dreaming and start living.
In Saint Augustine, Florida, Anthony was the director of St. Johns County Center for the Arts. As he climbed the ladder of success, Anthony realized he was ready for his next big step, teaching adults. He had a hard time with teen students who, as seniors, were deterred from theatre by their parents for other career paths. From Florida, he found Western’s theatre program, and as they say: “the rest is history.” At Western, he’s been able to fulfill the desire to inspire people who crave theatre.
One of those inspired people? According to Anthony, it’s Timothy Clyde. In speaking about the musical director Anthony said, “[he’s] a brilliant musician, composer, and pianist.” It should come as no surprise, really. While initially invited to rework only a few tracks, Timothy has gone above and beyond, saying, “It started off with Anthony saying, 'I have tracks for everything, I just need you to do one or two of them because they sound bad.’ And so that turned into, I’ll just do a few, I’ll do this one, I’ll do this one, and it snowballed into making original tracks for half the show, and I arranged the other 40%.”
A Western alumnus who graduated just last year, and now a music director, Timothy’s story proudly showcases Western’s motto: “Enter with passion, leave with purpose.” The very thing molded by the hands of a professor who sought to break people out of their cocoons and help spread their wings. As Anthony shared had said, “What we do here is not just for the college, but for the community.”
That’s the golden thread that ties this unique Muppets production together: the idea of connection through imperfection. Anthony believes that the Muppets herald the idea that no matter our differences, in the long run we’re all working together for the same things. “One of the things I want everyone to get out of this is that we don’t have to be so serious all the time, and we’re all in this together. The Muppets let us know we may not achieve everything we want, but it's important that we all try. We can all look to each other and see we’re all looking together, and that’s how we’ll all get along.”
Similarly, Timothy appreciates the chosen family aspect of strange creatures like floppy frogs and grouchy green things living in trash cans – all working together. While he remarks that ultimately on the surface, he likes the Muppets because they’re silly, he also believes, “They have this sense of – even though they’re crazy and silly and not the brightest – they have this sense of being a family and a sense of unity.”
Through such a production, family was found in the absurd, dreams became real life, and both Anthony and Timothy help to represent what the world needs the most: acceptance. One fuzzy paw at a time.
You can purchase your ticket here!
