We spoke with Cara Dolan, longtime friend and choreographer for Charleston Stage bringing her skills to the Dock Street Theatre once again with THE PROM. Get your tickets to the show here, and read on to learn about her artistic process in creating the movement for this special musical!
Share with us your artistic background. How did you get into theatre and dance?
I’ve been doing theatre since I was a kid – I started taking dance around 5 and never stopped! I was really lucky to grow up near Flat Rock Playhouse in NC and train there for the majority of my childhood. I then went to Florida State University where I got my BFA in Musical Theatre.
Which styles of theatre do you gravitate towards the most? Why?
I tend to gravitate towards musical theatre. Doesn’t everyone love it when people break into song and dance?!
What has inspired you as you create choreography for The Prom? What are your dreams for Charleston Stage’s presentation of visual movement for this special show?
The movement in The Prom is really energetic and fun. It’s more contemporary than many of the previous shows we’ve done at Charleston Stage, which has been uniquely fun to work on. I hope our audiences will feel how much fun the actors are having dancing to this score.
What has come easily as you choreograph this show? Which aspects have proven to be more challenging?
So much of the choreography in this show is more contemporary and not your typical “music theatre” style of dance. That has been challenging, but also the most fun part.
What are your favorite shows of all time?
My favorite shows are West Side Story, Crazy for You and A Chorus Line. Dance shows for the win!
THE PROM, Charleston Stage’s MainStage opening musical, runs August 23 – September 17 at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. For tickets, visit CharlestonStage.com.
Cara Dolan received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Theatre from Florida State University and has danced and performed at a number of leading theatres, including The Flat Rock Playhouse, Central Piedmont Summer Theater, The Papermill Theater in NH, as well as Charleston Stage. She has taught dance and theatre for more than 9 years and has choreographed numerous professional productions including Charleston Stage’s Chicago, The Wiz, Legally Blonde: The Musical, Anything Goes, 9 to 5: The Musical, Annie, Next To Normal, Gershwin at Folly, Pinkalicious the Musical, Young Frankenstein, Catch Me If You Can: The Musical, The Producers, Mary Poppins, Hairspray, White Christmas, A Christmas Carol, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Mamma Mia!, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Footloose, Elf The Musical, and The Addams Family – A New Musical. Cara would like to thank her boys Chris, Gavin, and Brody for all of their love and support.