The Theatre Department Newsletter
Edition 8, Issue 8
May 2008 |
|
Subscribe to the Newsletter
Click on a title to jump to a story.
|
|
Upcoming Auditions!
Before leaving for the summer, don't miss your chance to audition
for next year's first Studio show! Auditions for Rabbit Hole, directed by
SAU senior Rachel Mayer, will take place May 6th from 7-9 p.m. in the Studio
Theatre and May 7th from 3-5 p.m. in Hut 3.
Rabbit Hole is David Lindsay-Abaire's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about
a couple learning to cope with the loss of their child. The play charts their
relationship as they begin to drift apart and attempt to find their way back to
each other. Performances are September 4th and 5th at 7:30 p.m. in the Studio
Theatre and September 6th at 3:00 p.m. in the Studio Theatre.
The script calls for three women and two men. Rehearsals will begin about a week
before the start of classes. A one-minute monologue is required for theatre
majors, but recommended for all. Scripts are currently available to be checked
out from the Galvin Fine Arts Box Office. If you have any questions please
contact Director Rachel Mayer (815-973-2632) or Stage Manager Jaci Entwisle
(630-341-2504).
|
|
 Pippin
Made Magic!
The SAU Theatre Department's 2007-2008 season ended with a
bang with Stephen Schwartz's musical Pippin. This coming of age story
about a young man looking for his "corner of the sky" is (very!) loosely based
on the historical son of King Charlemagne. While trying to figure out what to do
with his life, Pippin (played by SAU junior Ryan Westwood) encounters many
different paths, including war, politics, and temptations of the flesh before
finding true love.
Pippin was directed by Dr. Corinne Johnson with music direction by Keith
Haan, who also delighted audiences by appearing in drag for the show-stopping
number "No Time At All." Also, anytime the ensemble appeared onstage, audiences
were wowed by Shellee Frazee's Fosse-inspired choreography. This was no easy
task in the stunning costumes designed by SAU Alumnus Brian Hemesath. Other
design elements that added to the brilliance of this production include Brad
Frazee's gorgeous lighting design and the use of projection screens to set the
location (designed by Kris Eitrheim and SAU freshman Matt Carney).
Audiences and local critics were delighted with this production. Pippin
was an entertaining, astounding spectacle that made you stop and examine your
own life—in other words, exactly what a night in the theatre should be!
Catch the reviews here:
River Cities' Reader review by Mike Schulz
Review by Ruby Nancy
|
|
Studio Slot for
November 2008 is Determined!
Each year, students who have completed Dr. Corinne Johnson's directing class are
offered a chance to direct in Galvin's Studio Theatre. Last month, we announced
that SAU Junior Rachel Mayer will be staging David Lindsay-Abaire's Pulitzer
Prize-winning play Rabbit Hole in the Studio's September slot and that SAU Junior Seth Kaltwasser would be directing John Pielmeier's Agnes of God
in the Studio for the May 2009 slot. However, until these past few weeks, the
fate of the November slot had yet to be determined.
As it turns out, next November will be a first for the Studio. Instead of one
director staging one full-length show, the slot will be divided: two directors
will work in the space and each will direct a one-act piece.
Matt Mercer, who will be graduating from SAU with a theatre degree this May,
will return in the fall to direct Eugene Ionesco's absurdist one-act, "The
Lesson" and SAU Junior Steph DeLacy will be staging Christopher Durang's
hilarious "The Actor's Nightmare".
Even though Mercer and DeLacy are working on separate shows, they will be
heavily involved in the other's production. The two directors will share a set,
hold auditions together, and, ideally, cast the same five actors for both plays.
Also, each director will be the assistant stage manager for the other's show.
Truly, this will be a collaborative effort.
Mercer and DeLacy are certainly going to be faced with some challenges, but by
facing them head-on, they hope to be able to use the challenges to their
advantage, using any limitations on casting and set design as an opportunity to
create something completely original.
Auditions for this evening of one-acts will be Tuesday, September 23 from 5:00
to 7:00 p.m. and Wednesday, September 24 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
|
|
Summer Plans
for SAU Theatre Students and Faculty
As if the St. Ambrose Theatre Department's students and
faculty weren't busy enough during the year, they're taking on extra work during
this summer! Following is a summary of some theatre students and faculty and
what they are planning for this summer.
Emily Kurash
SAU Junior Emily Kurash will be working on several projects this summer at
theatres in the Quad City Area. She will be designing props and costumes for
John and Jen at The Green Room in May, in addition to costuming the
children's show A Year With Frog and Toad, also at The Green Room in
July. She also plans on working on the production staff for Countryside
Community Theatre in a managerial position for their two shows, The Sound of
Music and Children of Eden. She is looking forward to working with
many new, and also some old friends in the QCA theatre community. As always,
Emily will continue working with children at Center Stage Performing Arts
Academy.
Ryan Westwood
SAU Junior Ryan Westwood will be starring in John and Jen at the end of
May at The Green Room. Westwood is excited to work with fellow SAU student Sarah
Ulloa. When asked what he thought about the show, Westwood stated, "The music is
fantastic!" Westwood will be seen on The Green Room stage again in mid-August in
Assassins. Westwood will be playing the Balladeer. "I get to play my
guitar and sing folk songs on stage – what's better? Nothing. Period!"
Sarah Ulloa
This summer, SAU Junior Sarah Ulloa will be starring in John and Jen at
The Green Room. She will be working with fellow SAU theatre student, Ryan
Westwood. Ulloa is excited to work on this production with Westwood. Rehearsals
started for the pair the day after they closed Pippin.
Jaci Entwisle
SAU Junior Jaci Entwisle will be doing several shows with several companies this
summer. She will be beginning dress rehearsals for the Prenzie Players'
production of Life's a Dream by Pedro Calderon de la Barca soon. The show
opens the second weekend in May. The day after that show closes (literally),
Entwisle will start rehearsals with the Riverbend Theatre Collective's
production of Kimberly Akimbo, in which she will play Patti. When
questioned about Kimberly Akimbo, Entwisle said, "I have to go into
labor—on stage!" She is also planning on auditioning for both Playcrafter's Barn
Theatre and Genesius Guild in May.
Jovon Eberhart
SAU Junior Jovon Eberhart will be nothing short of a set-designing fiend
this summer. She will be set designing three shows for The Green Room. The shows
are: John & Jen, A Year With Frog and Toad, and Assassins.
Eberhart stated, "I'm excited to work with Tyson Danner and Derek Bertelsen on
these shows - I love the collaboration process and the space offers a lot of
creative possibilities."
Lou Hare
This summer, SAU Faculty Member/Alum Lou Hare will be playing John Wilkes Booth
in Assassins at The Green Room. It will be running August 1-3 and August
8-10. "I'm very excited about it. I love the intimacy of The Green Room's space.
It reminds me of [SAU's] Studio Theatre. I'm also thrilled to be in this
particular production. I love Stephen Sondheim and it will be a great
challenge."
Dr. Corinne Johnson
Dr. Corinne Johnson will be performing in a production of Three Viewings
this June. SAU theatre alum Daniel Sheridan will direct the production and SAU
theatre alum Kim Kurtenbach Furness will perform along with Dr. Johnson. The
show will be in the Galvin Fine Arts Center Studio Theatre and will be produced
by the Kurtenbox Theatre. The performance dates are June 13-15 and 19-22. This
production will be a benefit for the Michael Kennedy Theatre Scholarship fund.
The St. Ambrose Theatre Department wishes its comrades the best of luck with
their endeavors this summer! |
|
Madeline Dudziak
Named Outstanding Theatre Major of 2008
Madeline Dudziak decided to come to St. Ambrose because she preferred the
idea of a smaller school, and thought that Iowa's winters were a "smidge" better
that Minnesota's. Dudziak graduated this past December, having made great use of
her three and a half years at Ambrose. When asked to sum up her theatre
experience she said it "involved all sorts of crazy things. i.e. Sausages,
Garlands, learning to dye hair with Tweeds, how to properly say ‘Hola' to Lola,
climbing 15-foot steel structures as well as planning the Galvin's among other
things."
Dudziak's favorite theatre experience was the Theatre in Ireland trip. She said
of the experience, "It's pretty hard to beat two men dancing in water...only
kidding. I mean, the Lady Windermere's Fan production in Dublin. (Cough,
next year's Callboard...pick this show!)"
The most influential experience for Dudziak while at Ambrose was participating
in the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival. Dudziak explained, "The
connections I made there have already paid off and the things I've learned from
my time there have been rewarding. But most importantly, realizing that SAU
Theatre really is a force to be reckoned with--in all aspects of theatre--is a
wonderful thing."
Dudziak just finished directing a show in Minnesota. "I lived by myself for the
first time, in Northern Minnesota, for three months while directing Annie.
I had a cast of 37, ranging in age from four (!) to 17... and it was a hoot!"
When asked about her future plans, Dudziak said that she will be attending grad
school. "Far off down the road, at some point, I would love to teach at the
college level, or perhaps at Perpich Center for Arts Education--my high school.
Time will tell."
St. Ambrose wishes its Outstanding Theatre Major of 2008 the best of luck with
her life! |
|
New Michael
Kennedy Scholar is Announced!
This month, The SAU Theatre
Department named the fourth recipient of the annual Michael Kennedy Theatre
Scholarship, which was established in 2004 to provide funds for students
majoring in theatre. The gifts of several SAU alumni and faculty helped to
establish the fund, with an idea to honor the many contributions that SAU
Theatre Professor Michael Kennedy has made to Ambrose's department.
The newest recipient of the scholarship is Justine Petesch, a senior
graduating from Rosary High School in Aurora, Illinois this May. Justine has
been very involved in theatre throughout high school and has already
fashioned an impressive resume, with leading roles in Little Women,
Cinderella, The Music Man, and 42nd Street. She will be joining
the SAU Theatre Department this fall, in order to pursue a theatre degree.
Previous recipients of the award were SAU Junior Seth Kaltwasser (in 2005),
SAU Sophomore Catie Osborn (in 2006), and SAU Junior Ryan Westwood (in
2007), after his transfer from Kirkwood Community College.
The Michael Kennedy Scholarship is given to students who meet the following
criteria:
- The applicant must be a first year student at SAU.
- The applicant must be a declared theatre major.
- The applicant must embrace all or most of the following criteria:
* A diligent work ethic
* A truthfulness/honesty in his/her
work and daily life
* A dedication to his/her art
* A willingness to be a productive
and loyal member of a team/ensemble
* A sense of humanity and civic
responsibility
* An ability to juggle classroom
and production responsibilities with success and grace
* A great appreciation for humor
The SAU Theatre Department would like to formally welcome Justine to our
family and wishes her the best of luck in her transition! |
SAU Goes Green!
Several SAU students are going to add a little "Green" to their resumes this
summer, and we're not talking about recycled paper. The Green Room Theatre,
located in the district of Rock Island, has already been host to many SAU
student and faculty talent, and will be the summer theatre spot to see several
of SAU's very own in action.
Most recently, SAU Adjunct Professor Donna Hare directed The Melville Boys.
"I really like the look of the space," she stated. "You can pretty much create a
wonderful set from their staircase and bricked wall. It also encourages you to
be creative, [and] I also like how intimate the space is." Also involved in
The Melville Boys were SAU Sophomore Abby VanGerpen (a Green Room veteran,
having been in The Glass Menagerie and Eleemosynary earlier this
season), SAU Senior Colleen Winters, and SAU Alumnus Andrew Harvey.
The summer season at The Green Room involves four shows: John and Jen, A Year
With Frog and Toad, Assassins, and Jerry Finnigan's Sister. The
season begins with John and Jen, in which two SAU students are cast in
the two-person show. Sarah Ulloa, SAU Junior, will be playing Jen, and Ryan
Westwood, also an SAU Junior, will be playing John. Following John and Jen
will be the children's show of A Year With Frog and Toad based on the
books by Arnold Lobel. SAU Sophomore Catie Osborn will be in this production,
and SAU Junior Emily Kurash will be designing costumes. Lastly, the musical
Assassins will include the talents of SAU Adjunct Professor Louis Hare, as
well as Ryan Westwood.
Ulloa, on her role as Jen says "I am thrilled to be a part of such an exciting
theatre opportunity, and to work on such a great show with another great actor
and the guys at The Green Room!" Of her upcoming summer work, Osborn adds, "I'm
excited because they show is quadruple-cast, so not only will I be The Great and
Terrible Frog, I will be a bird, a mole and a squirrel. I'm most excited for the
opportunity to play in such an intimate space, but also because I've never had
to play such a vast range of characters. I'm just really excited to finally get
to be a part of The Green Room!" Lou Hare, on his approaching work in
Assassins, states, "I am pumped for this show for many reasons. First, it's
a show that isn't done by a lot of local companies, but it's a great show that
should be done more often. I'm also looking forward to presenting such a
character-driven show in the intimate space of The Green Room. It provides a
great challenge as an actor. Lastly, I'm looking forward to working with and
meeting the talented actors in the QC theatre community. I've been away for a
while, so it'll be nice to be back."
For more information on The Green Room Theatre, their upcoming season and their
location, check out their website at
http://www.thegreenroomtheatre.com.
Best of luck to all of you in your upcoming musical adventures!
|
 Alum Brings Theatre to the Masses
"Claire Richards and fellow
actors take theatre to the streets."
SAU Alumnus Claire Richards, who graduated in May '07 and now resides in New
Haven, Connecticut, is involved in a unique opportunity to get theatre out
on the streets...literally.
The Connecticut Arts Council and the New Haven Theater Company have started
working together to present quality theatrical entertainment on city buses!
Richards was on one of four "Art Buses", performing The Legend of Pedro
de Urdemalas in the form of traditional puppetry and mask work. In
addition to her bus, there was also an improv bus, a "def jam poetry sort of
bus", and a musical bus that featured a gospel choir and later a jazz band.
Of the experience, Richards says "It is really a cool concept that New Haven
is heading up and it's already getting a ton of press. The idea is that once
a month there will be these art buses and then a free arts festival on the
New Haven Green where people are able to really enjoy top-rate productions".
This is the first time that free theatre and music have ever been available
in New Haven.
SAU congratulates Claire on this unconventional opportunity and wishes her
luck in all future endeavors!
|
And One More Thing Before You Go...The 2008-2009 Theatre Picnic!!
Although the 2007-2008 Theatre Season has barely
come to an end, it's time to mark your calendars for the annual
back-to-school SAU Theatre Picnic! The 2008-2009 picnic will be held on
Monday, August 25 in the Galvin Fine Arts Center's Allaert Auditorium.
The Theatre Picnic is a time to make some new friends and reconnect with the
old, share the stories and achievements of the summer months, eat some
delicious food, get reacquainted with eating on the Galvin Mainstage floor,
and most importantly, discuss the new theatre season! At the picnic,
students and faculty will get a chance to introduce themselves to the new
freshman, or even current students who have decided it's time to see what
all the buzz is about in Galvin. Directors will plug the year's upcoming
shows, as well as inform everyone of what tech positions still need filled
for the season. Perhaps most importantly, the Theatre Callboard is elected.
The Callboard is made up of one student from each class (freshmen-seniors)
and assists in choosing the next year's theatre season and planning the
Galvin Awards Ceremony. Callboard members are also given the chance to
attend the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival that January.
So, enjoy your summer, make some great theatre, and remember to join us in
August!
|
Theatre in the QCA This Month
Show: Miss Nelson is Missing
Producer: Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse
Dates: May 6, 8, 9, and 10 at 10:00 a.m. and May 2, 3, 8,
and 10 at 1:00 p.m.
Tickets: All seats $8.00. Call the
Circa Box Office at (309) 786-7733 or visit Circa's web site at
www.circa21.com.
Location: 1828 3rd Ave, Rock Island, IL; located in the District of RI
 Show:
Smoke on the Mountain
Producer: Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse
Dates: Now through May 24, 2008; Wednesday matinees at
1:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 7:45 p.m., and Sunday
evenings at 5:45 p.m.
Tickets: Prices range from $24.96 to $44.20. Call the
Circa Box Office at (309) 786-7733 or visit Circa's web site at
www.circa21.com.
Location: 1828 3rd Ave, Rock Island, IL; located in the
RI District
Note: "SAU Alumni
Kim Kurtenbach and Jenny Stodd perform in "Smoke on the Mountain"
- pictured
to the right!"
Show: ComedySportz Quad Cities
Producer: Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse
Dates: Every Friday and Saturday night at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $8 prepaid, $10 at the door
Location: 1818 3rd Ave, Rock Island, IL. Downtown in the District, next to Circa
'21.
Show:
Twelve Angry Men
Producer: Playcrafters Barn Theatre
Dates: May 9-11 & 16-18; Friday and Saturday showings at
7:30 p.m. Sunday matinees at 3:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10; Call (309) 762-0330 or visit
www.playcrafters.com
Location: 4950 35th Avenue, Moline, IL.
Show: Life's a Dream
Producer: Prenzie Players
Dates: May 9, 10, 16-18 at 8:00 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. (There
will be a post show discussion following the May 9 performance.
Tickets: Tickets available at door only; $8 for all.
Location: The Masonic Temple, 420 18th St., Rock Island, IL.
Note: Cast includes SAU Junior Jaci Entwisle.
|
|
SAU Theatre Newsletter Next Issue
Due to summer break, this will be our last issue of the season. Our next issue,
which will be released on September 1, 2008, will have news on next year's first
Studio show, Rabbit Hole, and an article reviewing our annual Theatre
Picnic.
Thank you, for your continued support of the SAU Theatre Department and we
look forward to another year with you all!! Please use our convenient signup page to manage your subscription to SAU e-newsletters.
Visit the St. Ambrose University Web site for more information about courses offered, degrees, events, and staff. And also check out the SAU Theatre Website for more information about the Theatre Department, or contact theatre chair Kristofer Eitrheim by email or by phone at 563/333-6255. |
|
Department Chair: Kristofer Eitrheim
- 563/333-6255
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Corinne Johnson
- 563/333-6427
Newsletter Editor: Seth Kaltwasser, SAU sophomore
Contributing Journalists: Emily Kurash, SAU Junior / Rachel Mayer, SAU Junior / Katie McCormack, SAU Sophomore |
|
SEARCH |