Women In Theater
By Elle Hebbelinck
I dedicate this piece to the cast of Decision Height at Michigan State University, Rileigh Belle Wine the student director, and to the overlooked and objectifed women in theatre. You all are stars and deserve the world.
Decision Height and their student leader, Rileigh Belle Wine
Rileigh Belle Wine is a Junior at Michigan State and has been in productions for the MSU Theatre Department as well as directed them. Shows she has been a part of at MSU are Much Ado About Nothing and A Beautiful Day In November On The Greatest Of The Great Lakes and shows she directed are Horse Girls in March 2024 and Decision Height in April 2025. She is an inspiring leader, actor, friend, and all-around incredible human. Shadowing these rehearsals and attending the final performance was an absolute honor. The amount of dedication, love, care, and rawness in this show is undoubtedly astonishing and the whole cast and crew truly created something I will remember for a long time. Decision Height is about Women Airforce Service Pilots(WASPS) during World War ll. The story is told by Virgina Hascal as well as her other WASPS. Sisterhood, bravery, sacrifice, and leaving home to be unrecognized American Heroes. All these girls come from many different backgrounds, but they are a family. Decision Height was open from April 1st - April 5th, 2025 in Studio 60 in Fairchild Theatre.

Rileigh Belle Wine, 20, is standing in the position of one of the actors so that head director Alexis Black can see what the scene will look like. Taken on March 27th, 2025.

The Cast of ‘Decision Height’ taking their final bows to close the show as they give their attention to their hardworking stage management for a great show. Taken on April 3rd, 2025

Rileigh Belle Wine, 20, figuring out what lighting looks best for certain scenes with her lead director and stage management on March 27th, 2025.

Rileigh Belle Wine, 20, taking notes of the actors and stage movement during the run-through of the show during rehearsal on March, 27th 2025.

The Decision Height show corkboard that includes the attendance sign-in, the chain of command, the schedule for the week, call time for actors, and the quote of the show “The altitude at which a pilot must decide to descend for her landing or continue on and deem it a “missed approach.” Taken on March 28th, 2025.

Rileigh Belle Wine, 20, listening to a question from her actors about the scene they are working on. Taken on March 28th, 2025.

Lexa Busch, the role of Ziggy, doing her monologue in the run-through of the show on March 27th, 2025.

Sam Dobrowolski, the understudy for Mildred, going through her lines on March 27th, 2025.

Rileigh Belle Wine and the cast of the show ‘Decision Height’ talking over what they did in rehearsal and some important information for the actors to know before the show opens in a couple of days on March 27th, 2025.

Maddie Affer, the role of Norma Jean Harris in the show ‘Decision Height’ during their 3rd show as she in her robe after lecturing her fellow fifinella girls about playing poker in their bay. Taken on April 3rd, 2025.

Rileigh Belle Wine, 20, having her actors run through scenes quickly before a full run-through of the show on March 27th, 2025.

Xhanna Travina, the role of Mrs. Deaton in rehearsal during the run-through of the show telling her troops to ‘zip it’ on March 27th, 2025.

Rileigh Belle Wine, 20, crossing the street to walk into Fairchild Theatre for her class on April 11th, 2025.

Maddie Affer, Anna Yarnal, Seray Sezgen, and Zoe Dorst show the saddening death of Norma Jean Harris as they represent her plane going up into flames and then engulfing her in them, taking her life. Taken on April 3rd, 2025.

Rileigh Belle Wine, 20, deciding what angle of light will look best for the scene. Taken on March 27th, 2025.

Rileigh Belle Wine, 20, viewing the run-through of the show during rehearsal on March 27th, 2025.

Rileigh Belle Wine and the cast of 'Decision Height' getting into places to practice the transition from the opening scene to next on March 28th, 2025.