Sarah Goeke doesn't like to do anything without giving it 100 percent.
"I am very enthusiastic about everything I do. I don't like doing things halfway. I don't like it when people don't get the most out of life," Goeke said in an interview Monday afternoon.
That makes her a lot like the role she plays in Wagon Wheel Theatre's next musical - Molly Brown, in "The Unsinkable Molly Brown."
"She's a lot of fun to play," Goeke said, "but being in that character is so exhausting. She's high energy, but a lot of fun to play."
"The Unsinkable Molly Brown" follows Molly Brown's journey through her life, Goeke said, starting in Hannibal, Mo. Molly was raised without her mother.
"The show starts with me wrestling with my brothers. It's the best way for me to get into my character," Goeke said.
Molly goes off to seek her fortune - a sugardaddy specifically. However, she meets Johnny Brown, Goeke said, who courts and falls in love with Molly instantly. He doesn't have any wealth to give her, but he proposes to her with a cabin. But luck is on Molly's side as the couple strikes it rich with a gold mine. Molly wants to become high society because that's what she considers happiness, Goeke said.But the elite don't want the new money around, so they shun Molly. She moves to Europe, becomes friends with royalty, gets schooled and returns to Denver with a new bag of ammunition.
But Molly and Johnny, Goeke said, have become complete opposites. She goes alone to Europe, only to discover what love is, and decides to return back to the states. She returns home on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. Luck is on Molly's side again as she survives the Titanic's sinking.
Goeke said she did her research on Molly Brown, but the show is about her character, her love for life, her "balls to the wall" attitude. To get into character as Molly, Goeke said, she only had to look into herself and her own lust for life.
While she's seen the movie before, Goeke said, she's never seen a theatrical production of "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" before, and that's good for her.
"I like to develop characters on my own," she said.
Goeke is only at the Wagon Wheel for three shows this summer. She was a Hot Box girl in "Guys & Dolls," Molly in "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" and then plays Mayella in "To Kill A Mockingbird." Her third show closes Aug. 16, and classes at the University of Missouri in Kansas City start up Aug. 18. It's a 10-hour drive for her.
At UMKC, where she will be a junior, Goeke, 20, is a vocal performance major.
Growing up, she said, she's performed in musicals in high school. She's also worked with Tony Humrichouser before. Humrichouser is the director for "The Unsinkable Molly Brown."
"I really enjoy it," Goeke said of working with Humrichouser. She said he thinks about every single line and word in the show. He's very dedicated to his craft.
"He brings out the best in absolutely everyone. He doesn't let anyone off the hook. If he sees something in you, he'll drag it out," Goeke said.
Molly has quite a few numbers in the musical, Goeke said. However, the role of Johnny has some beautiful ballads in the show, she said.
Johnny will be played by Brandon Springman. Springman played the Tin Man this summer in "The Wizard of Oz."
"He's got a lot of natural talent like I do," Goeke said of Springman, "but he's also new like I am."
"The Unsinkable Molly Brown" is at the Wagon Wheel now through Aug. 2.
For more information and ticket prices, call 574-267-8041; toll free, 866-823-2618; or online at www.wagonwheeltheatre.com
