Collin College students Tori Hudson, Stuart Charles Neef and Quinn Angell are set to co-star in a new rock musical, “Give Me A Break,” on Nov. 9 at the PFAMILY ARTS Theatre, 4017 Preston Rd. Ste 544, in Plano.
“Give Me A Break,” a comedy co-written by Barbara McMillen, associate music professor at Collin College, and Laurie Windham, will run at the PFAMILY ARTS Theatre through Nov. 18. Designed to be a road show, “Give Me A Break” will next play at Austin’s Dougherty Arts Center Theater in January.
“Working with the Collin College students has been very exciting and rewarding,” McMillen said, noting the director of the musical is Richard S. Blake. “The students are creative, talented, smart and funny.”
According to McMillen, Hudson is a wonderful actress and singer who is studying songwriting this semester. She plays the role of Markie, the chick singer in the band, and sings on three songs from the musical that are currently singles on iTunes.
Angell, McMillen noted, plays the “hot” lead guitarist, Billy. He is a great actor, singer and fun guy, she said, adding that Quinn is studying drama at the college.
Neef, a wonderful dancer who is studying drama and dance, McMillen continued, plays the major comedic role of Sal, the drummer.
“The students have been working since April to learn the songs, record the CD and rehearse for the show,” McMillen said. “And every step along the way, they have displayed true professionalism.”
Set in Dallas in the late 1970s, the show is based on an original story and features a 19-song soundtrack that will be available at the show’s performances.
“Co-writing with Laurie has been a fun experience. I met her in college at Texas Woman’s University and we started our first band together. Our first gig was the Mug and Pitcher in Denton,” McMillen said. “Our experiences in the band, and as liberated women of the 70s, as well as our friends’ experiences, are written into our story [Give Me A Break]. Some of the songs in the show were written back in the 70s, while other songs were more recently written specifically to carry the storyline of the show.”
For more information regarding the show and to purchase tickets, visit www.givemeabreakthemusical.com .