WASHINGTON, PA (Aug. 16, 2016) - What does it take to be the perfect “wingwoman”? Dara Gold ’12 has a song or two about that.
The Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) alumna is the author of “How To Be The Perfect Wingwoman,” an original, new musical that debuted during the Washington D.C. Capital Fringe Theatre Festival in July.
“I’ve been obsessed with musicals for a very long time,” Gold said. “I grew up outside of New York City, and we’d go see Broadway shows for a couple of my birthdays. I’ve always enjoyed watching and performing musicals, and lately have played around with writing songs.”
Gold’s passion for writing plays reignited after she attended a show by the Washington, D.C. theatre group Next Day Theater. The group’s performances are similar to W&J’s Theatre Slam, a project in which theatre enthusiasts come together to write, rehearse, and produce a play in 24 hours. She got more involved with D.C.-area theatre groups, and focused on her own writing.
“Wingwoman” is Gold’s first independently-produced piece, and features a female-led cast. The musical comedy is about the trials and tribulations of dating in the modern age, as one group of friends take advice from a 1950s book on dating to a new level.
Gold worked with Director Merancia Noelsaint and co-composers Justin Paschalides and Janani Ramachandran to bring the show to life. The Capital Fringe Festival accepted the project, and it ran for three nights in July at Tropicalia Lounge.
The experience of being in W&J’s theatre community was a major reason for the play’s success, Gold said. The difference between observing a director’s work and leading the show herself became clear while producing “Wingwoman,” but she was able to take on the challenge because of what she learned in Olin Fine Arts Center.
“The thing that was great about W&J was that you could always pursue your passions, even if it wasn’t in line with your major path,” she said. “Theatre and law worked
well together. Public speaking and problem solving are part of both. Some of those theater skills helped me focus during my bar exam.”
When she’s not contributing to the theatre community, Gold is preparing for a career as a lawyer. She recently graduated from the University of the District of Columbia – David A. Clarke School of Law, and currently works for the DC Council Committee on Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. Although she wants to pursue law as a full-time job, she doesn’t plan to give up theatre.
“I’m looking at the logistics of making an album of music from ‘Wingwoman’ to distribute, and I’m interested in entering into the YouTube sphere of entertainment,” Gold said. “I’ll stay involved in D.C. theatre for as long as I can.”
About Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent study work. For more information about W&J, visit www.washjeff.edu, or call 888-W-AND-JAY.
