Millikin’s USITT chapter is hosting a one-night-only improv and interactive theatre experience where audiences become classmates returning to Cleaver High’s High School Reunion.
USITT (United States Institute for Theater Technology,) has a student chapter on campus for anyone who is interested in theater tech such as lighting, sound, set design, costumes, and stage management. It brings together students passionate about these areas to expand their skills beyond the classroom.
Isabelle Porter, a senior in design and production with a costume design emphasis is the chair of Millikin’s chapter of USITT. The chapter has organized this fundraiser comedy show to raise funds for students to attend the USITT conference in Long Beach, California this coming March.
“Going to USITT is really important so we can meet people within the industry and network, and there’s a bunch of businesses there that will help us get hired and find jobs,” Porter said. “It’s going to be a super fun night, and they’re gonna laugh their butts off, and they’re gonna feel so awesome supporting their favorite people who make the big main stage shows come to life backstage.”
These nationally recognized groups create hands-on opportunities for education, workshops, networking, and peer learning, helping students strengthen design and technology on their campuses.
Years after graduation, Ruby returns to her hometown for a night of nostalgia, reconnection, and unexpected revelations at her high school reunion, Cleaver High.
“Ruby’s High School Reunion,” written by Dennis Porter, Jamie Lindeman, and Patricia Peden is an original, one-performer, high-energy and laughter-filled performance. Ruby is a drag persona played by Dennis Porter, whose performance experience spans over 34 years.
Porter is a full-time variety entertainer based in Kansas City, Missouri. Through his company, Happy Faces Entertainment (celebrating 25 years), Porter creates live entertainment that brings smiles to the faces of kids, families, and adults.
He has spent decades performing everything from magic and storytelling to murder mysteries, clowning, drag, and MC work for audiences of all ages. One of his beloved personas, Ruby, was born years ago when a murder mystery script called for a different gender balance in the cast and a fellow performer suggested, essentially, putting Porter in drag to fill the role. What began as a practical solution quickly became a favorite character. Porter loved playing Ruby so much that she grew into a recurring presence in his murder mysteries and variety shows, eventually evolving into “Ruby’s High School Reunion,” an interactive improv/reunion show spun off from Porter’s earlier murder mysteries, “Cleaver Class of 19 Deadly 2.”
The show will also feature Floretta B. Extra, Millikin’s own drag queen. Incorporating local talent. “It’s fun to incorporate some locals, which is fun for variety, and gives them an opportunity for some stage time,” Porter said.
When asked about his favorite part of the performance, he said, “I don’t know if there’s one specific moment. What I love most is that, for this amount of time, everyone gets to come together in the shared idea of being high school alumni and support each other through the improv. When I bring people onstage, sure, I have bits I’m guiding them into, but they also have the freedom to add pieces of their own lives: who they were and who they are. We get to lift each other up and just play together.”
“I’ve been clowning for 34 years, so at heart I’m a big kid. I’m a clown. And people always say we need laughter now more than ever—though honestly, I think they’ve said that every year for decades. But it’s true,” Porter said. “You come in, you forget about the world for a while, good or bad. You have some fun. You remember the joy that’s in you, even if you haven’t felt it in a long time. Let it out. Smile. Laughter is something every human has in common, so let’s share it and support each other in it.”
Ruby’s High School Reunion performance will take place in Virginia Rogers Theatre, Saturday, January 31st, at 7:30 PM. The show has a run time of 80 minutes with an intermission. USITT will be selling merchandise such as mystery trinket bags, crochet items, and more in the lobby of CTD.
Tickets can be bought via Vemno at “kvandike” (Ember Kvande) for $10 presale and $15 at the door.
Follow Millikin’s USITT chapter for future updates: @millikinusitt on Instagram
Follow Ruby’s High School Reunion on Facebook and Instagram: @smileswithruby
and Check out happyfacesentertainment.biz to learn more about Dennis Porter and his passion!
