University of Idaho Theatre Arts to stage 'Ride the Cyclone' beginning Feb. 26

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The University of Idaho Department of Theatre Arts will present the darkly comedic musical 'Ride the Cyclone' beginning Thursday, Feb. 26, at the Forge Theater in Moscow. The one-act musical follows six Canadian teens from the Saint Cassian Chamber Choir who die in a roller coaster accident and awaken in limbo, where they are given the opportunity to tell their stories in hopes that one of them will be returned to life.

Why it matters

The production blends humor and heavier themes while exploring important topics like friendship, identity, and the meaning of a life well lived. The intimate staging and small cast with high-energy singing and dancing are expected to resonate with audience members, especially those who feel uncertain or overwhelmed by current events.

The details

Directed by Theatre Arts master's student Kate Pemberton, 'Ride the Cyclone' is set to a genre-spanning score that includes ballads and rap. Assistant director Rylan Love, a Theatre Arts bachelor's student, said the show may resonate with audience members who feel uncertain or overwhelmed by current events. The production will run for six performances from Feb. 26 to March 8 at the Forge Theater.

• The one-act musical will have a 7:30 p.m. preview performance on Thursday, Feb. 26.
• Additional performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27, and Saturday, Feb. 28.
• There will be 2 p.m. matinee performances on Sunday, March 1, Friday, March 6, and Sunday, March 8.

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What’s next

Tickets for the performances are free for University of Idaho students and range from $6 to $26 for the public. Organizers note that several performances are already sold out and encourage early reservations, which can be made at uitickets.com.