Long before Thoroughly Modern Millie danced onto The Great White Way, it got its start on the graceful Silver Screen. The movie, released in 1976, was originally based on a 1956 British musical called Chrysanthemum. When the movie hit theaters, it was welcomed with open arms. The film starred, no stranger to the screen or stage, Julie Andrews, along with other notable talents such as Mary Tyler Moore, James Fox, John Gavin, Carol Channing, and Beatrice Lillie. The film was nominated for 7 Academy Awards, where it won for Best Original Score and 5 Golden Globe Awards, where Carol Channing won for Best Supporting Actress. Transition from screen to stage was fluid and natural. Its stage journey started with workshops in New York throughout 1999, where the show went through many step changes. Jumping to the year 2000, Thoroughly Modern Millie found itself at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, CA and could not have gotten more positive critiques. Unfortunately, the show's leading lady did not continue with the role, so Sutton Foster, the understudy, stepped in taking over the role. Little did she know, this would rocket her to stardom. When the show whirled onto the Broadway scene, it was nominated for 11 Tony Awards winning 6, including Best Musical and Best Performance by a Leading Lady for that little-known understudy. The production ran for 2 years and 903 performances on Broadway before finally hitting its final pose. That was not the end for this shuffling show because it toured around the US and UK. Since its final bow, the show has been hugely popular for all ages across the world in many different theater sceneries. So, it looks like the dance will continue for this powerhouse of pleasure.
Now, leaping into the Carlsbad Community Theatre’s production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. When first working with this script, I quickly realized that this show is much more than the satire that sits on the surface. Yes, this show is filled with very witty and comical moments, but the story has a wonderful underlying theme that I couldn’t deny. This show is about a girl who has left her home, this safe and familiar place, because she feels she has nothing left to learn from this home. Pushing past the idea of rebellion, this young woman leaves because she is being called to something more. Something better. Something more purposeful. And she answers the call. Instantly, I was connected to this theme and it caused me to examine my own ideas. I feel that we, as people, are faced with moments in our lives where we have no choice but to take the next step. We move forward, or we get stuck in the same old rut. When we come to the points in our lives where we need to move onward from the place that may be the most convenient, it is life’s way of telling us that there is more that we need to learn. Millie’s journey starts with a very misguided idea but ends with her understanding that her learning is so much more than she originally intended. When we come to these places in our lives, it is not always easy to be drawn towards the unfamiliar, but sometimes we need to take that next step, move into the unknown and be open to learning the new ideas that life is ready to teach us. My hope is that you view Millie’s journey, see how and what she needs to learn, and are able to make the connection to what life may be calling you towards.
“While I truly prefer emeralds, we could have made it on green glass.”
~Myles Vencill
