RB
Rebecca Boes
  • Saginaw, MI

Saginaw native among SVSU's first all-female cast in WWII drama, 'Decision Height'

2017 Oct 9

Saginaw Valley State University recently soared into new territory with the theatre department's first production with an all-female cast, "Decision Height." The play's production spanned Oct. 4-8.

Set in World War II, the play followed a group of women who formed a bond of sisterhood while serving together in the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), a wing of the United States Army Air Forces. The main character, Virginia Hascall, joined WASP and met kindred spirits who also left their homes in pursuit of helping the world defeat the Axis powers. During the course of the drama, the team learns much about each other - and themselves - as they learn how to fly an airplane.

Among the cast was Rebecca Boes, of Saginaw . Boes is a theatre major .

Ric Roberts, SVSU professor of theatre, directed the empowering play.

"We wanted to not only highlight the actresses in our program, but we also wanted to highlight a young new female playwright, Meredith Dayna Levy," Roberts said of his motivation for bringing "Decision Height" to SVSU.

The play revolved heavily around the theme of the bonds formed between women. This theme carried over into the actresses' rehearsals and off-time, said Alicia Russell, a business major from Marlette. She played the role of Rosalie Hartson.

"It's so much fun being in an all-female cast, especially when you have this particular group of ladies," Russell said. "The rehearsal conversations are a little different than a normal show. Since we're all girls, we talk freely about some things we might not always discuss when guys are present."

SVSU's tech, sound, and lighting teams came together to create the illusion on stage of a WWII-era warplane. The behind-the-scenes crew utilized video clips and pictures, sound effects, costumes, and theatrical lighting to help this show take flight, Roberts said.