DBU Music Department Presents My Fair Lady

Dallas, TX – From March 1-4, the DBU College of Fine Arts Department of Music presented the timeless musical, My Fair Lady, to packed houses at the Irving Arts Center.

My Fair Lady, known for its quirky blend of class and British humor, tells the tale of linguist Professor Henry Higgins’s attempt to transform a cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, into a prim and proper Victorian lady. Each scene holds a flurry of characters battling over accents, choreography, and a dynamic musical score. Taking on the challenge of replicating the six-time Tony Award and eight-time Oscar winning musical, DBU’s cast of 33 students delivered a memorable performance.

Cast as the lead, Senior Claire Dillahunty carried the role of Eliza Doolittle in her final performance with the DBU Department of Music. Her portrayal of the fiery Doolittle mixed with strong vocals added energy and depth to the show. She starred in musical numbers such as “Wouldn’t it Be Loverly” and “I Could Have Danced All Night,” which she described as “one of the most beautiful musical songs ever written and singing it onstage was like a dream.”

“There’s nothing better than performing with an incredibly talented and dedicated group of people who love the Lord and are committed to excellence,” shared Dillahunty. “My time at DBU has absolutely changed my life and been the richest season for me both as a musician and a person.”

What would a transformed Eliza be without her tutor? The role of Henry Higgins went to Joey Goodale, who so talentedly portrayed Higgins’s brash and dynamic character. While Goodale enjoyed the iconic role for its enjoyable complexities, the highlight of the show for him became the comradery that grew from “being a part of a project that takes months to develop and deepening friendship.”

Steeping into the role of Hugh Pickering, Higgins best friend and compatriot in the Doolittle project, was senior Josh Maples. Maples has been a consistent contributor to the program as a music student and Recording Studio Coordinator. The musical was also the last performance with DBU for Maples, a fact that was not lost on him as he reflected on the last several years.

“Throughout my time as a student in the DBU department of music,” Maples explained, “I’ve had some of the greatest experiences of my life. From traveling all over the world with the Chorale, to fulfilling a life-long dream of playing King Arthur in Camelot.”

As Maples continued, “We all have the same goal of glorifying Christ through pursuing excellence in the show. We are not only having a blast, but striving to show the love and glory of Christ through our performance.”