NW offering dark cheering play
by Frances Matteck, Reporter

   Be Aggressive, a modern dark comedy written by playwright Annie Weisman, opens tomorrow on NW Campus.
   The play is about the competitive nature of cheerleading, single parenting and loss.
Brent Alford, director of theater on NW Campus and co-director of this play, chose the play with TCC students in mind.
   “It’s a great thrill to work on a very contemporary piece, and it’s accessible to a young cast,” he said.
   One of the leading roles, Laura, is played by Annie Anderson.
   Laura, a girl who has just lost her mother, is now responsible for taking care of her younger sister and father. According to Anderson, the playwright is not afraid to express things from a modern viewpoint and shows how people are out of touch with others around them.
   Anderson, who has been acting since she was 4, said this is her favorite part.
   “I get to go crazy,” she said.
   She describes herself as a “terminal freshman” and did not audition for any particular part. Anderson said she just wanted to be a part of the production.
   Kayla Foster plays Leslie, Laura’s best friend on the cheerleading squad. She is passionate about cheerleading and does not think her squad is serious enough about it. She also pushes her overworked, single mother around to get what she wants.
   Foster said she auditioned for this part because she is nothing like her character, and that is very challenging for her.
   Twelve-year-old Sarah Broyles plays Hannah, Laura’s younger sister. Even though this play conflicts with her many other extracurricular activities, Sarah said she makes time for rehearsals.
   Aspiring to be an actress, Broyles is well on her way. She has been involved in theatre since she was 7, and her favorite part was in Peter Pan.
   Laura and Hannah’s grieving father, Phil, is played by Kirk Fisher. Phil does not understand his daughters.
   He is the type of guy who works to provide for his family and then comes home to dinner prepared by his wife every night. When his wife dies, he depends on his eldest daughter to run the home.
   Fisher is taking a few business courses at TCC and wanted any part when he auditioned.
   Fisher said developing his character was challenging because Phil has just lost his wife, does not know his daughters and gradually discovers how clueless he is.
   Leslie’s mother, Judy, is played by Lindy Benton.
   Judy is a 43 year-old-single mother who is prone to give in to whatever her daughter wants.
   Benton has performed for 20 years and has also taught and directed. She did not audition for this play; the directors invited her to perform the part.
   Benton said she loves this play because she loves the playwright and her dark sense of comedy. She also loves working with the TCC NW Theatre.
   “Brent Alford has an excellent department,” she said.
   Ironically, Benton said she can relate to her character; she is 42 with a 17-year-old stepdaughter while her character is 43 with a 16-year-old daughter.
   The cheerleader chorus is made up of three members: Nadaha McCullough, Kristyn Smith and Chloe James.
   These cheerleaders, who come and go throughout the play, are definitely stereotypical—airy and goofy—the cast said.    All three actors say they are not the cheerleader type, but enjoy playing the part.
   They all participated in theater in high school.
   The rest of the bit parts are played by Trey Brown.
   “I went in looking for a part, and I got four” he said.
   Moriah Hardy serves as stage manager for Be Aggressive. She was stage manager for two productions last year and was invited to come back again for this one.
   Although she says this play is harder because there are more lights, she is enjoying it. She also enjoys the cast.
  “They’re very energetic,” she said.
   Be Aggressive will run Thursday, Oct. 9-Sunday, Oct. 12. Performances will be at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with 2:30 p.m. matinees Saturday and Sunday.
  For reservations, call 817-515-7724. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and non-TCC students and free for TCC students, faculty and staff.