DECATUR, Ill. – Last spring, Millikin University students had the unique opportunity to be a part of the premiere production of an original musical, “The Spell of Red River,” getting a first-hand look at all the blood, sweat, and tears it takes to bring a new production to the stage for the first time.
Now a little more than six months later, four Millikin alumni – Lauren Hartley ’24, Naomi Latta ’23, Gia Marino ’24, Reagan Minnette ’24 – will take part in the New York City debut of “The Spell of Red River” on Sunday, November 17, 2024, at 7 p.m. at 54 Below Cabaret Club.
“The Spell of Red River,” written by EllaRose Chary and featuring music and lyrics by Brandon James Gwinn, was Millikin's New Musical Workshop's first commissioned original production musical and was first performed at Millikin’s Virginia Rogers Theatre in May 2024. “The Spell of Red River” was the culmination of several years of hard work and collaboration made possible through the generous support of Charlene Callison and Larry Balsamo.
For Gia, the production will also be her New York City stage debut.
“I could not be more thrilled about it. Following this show to (New York) after being involved with the original workshop in January 2022 (at Millikin) feels like a true full-circle moment,” she said. “I am so grateful to have been a part of devising the story behind this show during the Winter Immersion Series, and I am even more thankful to see its continued life and growth now.”
“The Spell of Red River” is an intergenerational story about family, grief, and finding your magic. When Vel, a witch and has a unique aptitude for psychometry, inherits a mysterious school building in her recently deceased mother’s hometown, she goes searching for answers to questions about her family history that her mother took to the grave. Along the way, she meets a plucky technocoven of college students who help her solve the mystery of the Spell of Red River.
Getting to take part in “The Spell of Red River’s” first production with her talented Millikin classmates was one of Gia’s most memorable college experiences.
“Being with that cast of people at that time in my life, telling stories about grief, love, and acceptance, was something I will never forget. It had always been a dream of mine to originate a role, and I am so glad to have had that chance during my senior year at Millikin,” she said. “I remember reading through the final script a year after the original workshop and being shocked at how much the story had bloomed and evolved since that brief intensive. Contributing to the development of that story was truly a gift, and I am so excited to see where this new adaptation leads.”
A portion of the proceeds of the NYC debut show will benefit Abortion Care Tennessee (ACT), which is an organization that funds procedural costs for Tennesseans traveling to access abortion. ACT and the story of “The Spell of Red River” share a common thread.
“The Spell of Red River takes place in rural Tennessee, where our beloved characters face all kinds of aversion due to their circumstances of origin,” Gia said. “The people performing in and creating this concert know the importance of safe and accessible reproductive healthcare, especially in places where that lies in current jeopardy. ACT is dedicated to reproductive and sexual healthcare for all, regardless of race, gender, income, language, ability, documentation status, or identity.”
Since graduating with her Musical Theatre degree, Gia has relocated to New York and signed with Firestarter Entertainment talent agency. With all these big changes, returning to the familiar work of “The Spell of Red River” is comforting.
“Coming back to this material post-graduation with a more extended lens is something I have been looking forward to doing since the show ended in May. Rehearsing this concert with so many incredibly talented professionals has been beyond inspiring,” she said. “I appreciate every moment of singing in the same room with the women I admire most on Broadway's stages. I am beyond grateful to have the opportunity to share that space with some of my closest Millikin friends – taking this show to New York with them feels so incredibly kismet, and I can't wait to dive back into this beautiful story.”