Mount Mercy show combines chemistry, theatrics

CEDAR RAPIDS - Joe Nguyen likes to blow things up.

And about eight times each school year, Nguyen, an assistant professor of chemistry at Mount Mercy University, gets his wish, in full view of the public.

Members of Mount Mercy's science club help Nguyen perform 'CheMMusical,” a show that combines the chemical with the theatrical. The show, which the club began performing in 2013, was inspired by a program at Creighton University in Omaha, Nguyen said.

'Online, some of the experiments are described,” Nguyen said of Creighton's show. 'About a third of (our) show is based on that. Other than that, it is based on my own experience, things I do when I teach.”

During a recent performance for residents of the Methwick Community at Mount Mercy's Graduate Center in Cedar Rapids, chart toppers such as 'Happy” by Pharrell Williams and 'Fancy” by Iggy Azalea boomed from the speakers as costumed students danced and performed experiments.

Several times, fire made an appearance in the show, including an instance where Nguyen drank a mystery liquid and proceeded to blow flames out of his mouth. Students also detonated explosions using items such as jugs and balloons, which made several audience members jump.

Nguyen said the students help him come up with ideas for the experiments and suggest songs and themes.

Last year, the students suggested using 'Let it Go” from 'Frozen,” and dressing a student up as Queen Elsa, the snow queen. Olaf the snowman also makes an appearance during the segment, and icy creations are tossed at the audience.

Nguyen said he would love to perform the show more, but it takes up a lot of time.

'I set this up for students to gain experience” doing chemistry, Nguyen said. 'It gets kids excited about science.”

The show has been performed during science fun nights at elementary schools, as well as the Science Olympiad at Coe. Nguyen said he is willing to take the show up to 45 minutes away. They have gone to Marengo in the past, and next year they plan to go to Central City.

'When we started at the beginning of the year, we had a five or six hour practice, even with people who have already done it,” Nguyen said. 'I try to keep the same people all year so we don't have to retrain.”

It cost about $10,000 to get the show up and running, Nguyen said, and it takes about $4,000 to $5,000 a year to maintain the show. This year it was funded by Alliant Energy, the Giacoletto Foundation, Cedar Rapids Community Foundation and the Student Government Association (SGA) at Mount Mercy.

'A third is funded through SGA and two-thirds I find funding for, Nguyen said.

Most of the science club members actually are biology majors. Mount Mercy is creating a chemistry major next year, Nguyen said, adding it's 'a long time in the making.”

Katie Hoffert, a sophomore biology/pre-med major from Hollowayville, Ill., said the club is talked about a lot in class.

'We're all in different things and we come together for this,” she said. 'It's a stressbuster. We do a lot of things together.”

Virginia Brust, a junior from Rochester, Minn., who is studying environmental science and archaeology, agreed.

'It's a very diverse group of people coming together for science,” she said.

Nguyen said he and the students are willing to explain the science behind the show to any audience members who want to learn more about chemistry.

'My intent is to send them off not only excited but curious,” Nguyen said.