Ringgold High School to stage ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’

By KRISTIE LINDEN
klinden@yourmvi.com

Audiences will go on a tap-dancing romp through the 1920s in the Ringgold High School auditorium starting tonight as “Thoroughly Modern Millie” debuts.
The show premieres at 7 p.m. today, continues at 7 p.m. Friday and wraps up at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Director Colleen Tolliver, who is in her third year directing the high school musical, said this year’s cast is full of talented dancers and this show is filled with dancing.
“We have a lot of seniors on the cast and they love to dance, which is one of the reasons we chose this show because it involves a lot of tap dance and other dances,” Tolliver said. “I think the audience will really enjoy it. Most of them don’t know ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie.’ The kids knew it, this was one of their favorites.”
“Thoroughly Modern Millie” is set in 1922 and tells the story of a girl from Kansas who has moved to New York City and is intent on marrying her boss — even though she doesn’t have a job yet.
Millie’s a secretary who is interviewing for various companies, but she’s also interviewing the bosses to see who could be the right husband for her, too.
In the meantime, she’s fallen in love with someone else, which isn’t part of her plan.
Taylor Sevick, a senior, plays Millie.
“Most people consider her a small town girl, but she has more of a fiery side,” Taylor said. “She wants to go to the city and find a rich man, but then she meets Jimmy and realizes she doesn’t need money to find love.”
Taylor said she and Millie are very much alike. Seriously — they’re extremely similar.
“She’s spontaneous and outgoing. She’s compassionate. She can be passive aggressive, but it’s her way of protecting herself. Almost all of her qualities, I possess,” Sevick said. “This was the musical I wanted to do my senior year. I don’t even have to act that much.”
Her favorite song is “Jimmy,” because when she’s singing, it feels like she’s expressing so much emotion. It starts out with Millie and Jimmy sharing a kiss.

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