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Theatre Department Newsletter
Edition 10, Issue 1 – September 2009
Neil Labute’s "Fat Pig" Ushers in the 2009-2010 Studio Season
Theatre Picnic Recap
Theatre Department Gets a New Chair (Up Next: A New Sofa)
Cast Announced for Upcoming Musical "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas"
SAU Theatre Department Welcomes New Professor Daniel Rairdin-Hale
The SAU Theatre Department Welcomes Newest Kennedy Scholar: Stephanie Seward
Upcoming Auditions for "A Year with Frog and Toad"
The Curtainbox Theatre Company Presents Glengarry Glen Ross
Theatre in the QCA
Neil Labute's "Fat Pig" Ushers in the 2009-2010 Studio Season
Katie McCormack and Mike Kline star in "Fat Pig" |
"Fat Pig," by Neil Labute, is the story of Tom, a well-to-do, attractive businessman who falls for Helen, an overweight librarian. Even though their romance is blossoming, Tom is reluctant to share his relationship with his friends. When he finally tells his friends about Helen, their reaction is entirely negative. They tell him that it is important that he “run with his own kind.” In the end, Tom is ultimately forced to make a decision about his relationship with Helen. Senior director Dan Hernandez says, “'Fat Pig' is a love story, but also a study in weakness. It’s funny, it’s sad, it makes you think about others, but mostly it makes you think about yourself.”
The cast of "Fat Pig" is as follows:
Tom………………….Michael Kline
Helen………...………Katie McCormack
Carter……………..…Nathan Scheetz
Jeannie………………Elizabeth VanCamp
Fat Pig performs on Thursday, September 10 and Friday, September 11 at 7:30 PM and Saturday, September 12 at 3:00 PM in the Studio Theater. The show contains adult language and content. Tickets can be purchased at the Galvin Fine Arts Center Box Office for $6. Please check the SAU Theatre website at www.sau.edu/theatre for ticket information, or call the Galvin Box Office at 563/333-6251 to reserve your tickets now!
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Theatre Picnic Recap
 Every year, the SAU theatre department hosts a picnic on the Galvin Fine Arts Center Mainstage, boasting free food and fun company. New and interested students, old students, faculty and staff gathered together to receive information on upcoming shows, trips, and other theatre-related events.
Another part of the annual theatre picnic is the election of new CallBoard members. This is an election in which one student from the nominees of each class is selected to attend post-show meetings to help make important decisions such as the shows of the next season and plan the year-end celebration, the Galvins.
Kris Eitrheim knows how to picnic! |
The 2009-2010 Call Board is as follows: Senior Dan Hernandez, Junior Andrew Benson, Sophomore Grace Allen, and Freshman Tim Stompanato.
This year’s theatre picnic brought out many new faces (and a meal other than fried chicken), whose talents we hope to become more familiar with throughout the season. Thank you for coming and we hope to see you around the department soon!
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Theatre Department Gets a New Chair (Up Next: A New Sofa)
Former Theatre Department Chair Kris Eitrheim hands over the "chair"-ship to Dr. Corinne Johnson |
After six years as Theatre Department chair, Kris Eitrheim is stepping down and handing over control of the department to Dr. Corinne Johnson.
The normal chair rotation occurs every three years, but Eitrheim picked up another shift this time around. Although the chair position is important and honorable, Eitrheim is not upset to see the title pass to someone else, “Although, it’s been my pleasure to serve the department and the university over the past six years, I feel that Dr. Johnson will be a great chair for the next three years. I’m looking forward to fewer meetings and fewer administrative hours. I wish Dr. Johnson the best of luck as she will most ably fill these shoes.”
The duties of the chair include, but are not limited to: scheduling classes, overseeing account and production budgets, weekly meetings with the Arts and Sciences College, planning the theatre picnic, maintaining and updating the play reading list, departmental recruiting, yearly advisory board meetings, adding new books to the library holdings, mentoring new faculty, attaining rights and royalties for shows, handling any possible complaints about faculty members and many other important day-to-day tasks.
Dr. Johnson says of her newfound duties, “Our new dean has a much different and more rigorous set of requirements of chair than I was accustomed to before. I am also looking forward to Kris Eitrheim having the time he needs to address and complete his design efforts.”
We would like to pass on our congratulations to Kris Eitrheim for a successful six-year reign as department chair, and our best wishes to Dr. Johnson for her next three years as chair.
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Cast Announced for Upcoming Musical "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas"
"The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," with book by Larry L. King and Peter Masterson and music and lyrics by Carol Hall, depicts the story of a brothel in Texas run by Miss Mona Stangley. The Chicken Ranch has survived several crusaders’ attempts to shut it down until faced with Melvin P. Thorpe, who is associated with a TV show dedicated to outing such immoral activity. Despite the community’s customary acceptance of the brothel, its increasing publicity threatens to cause the ranch doors to close for good. Come see returning guest director/choreographer Shellee Frazee’s production of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas!"
The cast of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" is as follows:
Miss Mona: Stephanie Seward
Bandleader: Catie Osborn
Governor: Dan Hernandez
Sheriff: Nic Anderson
Melvin P. Thorpe: Andrew Benson
Doatsey Mae: Valerie Zawada
Shy: Abby Van Gerpen
Angel: Jaci Entwisle
Jewel: Mel Morales
Sen. Wingwoah: Steve Andresen
Dawn: Monique Vos
Beatrice: Marita Miller
Ruby Rae: Amanda Kochanny
Eloise: Heather Hill
Taddy Jo: Kristen Jett
Ginger: Hannah Bates
Linda Lou: Morgan Griffin
Rufus Poindexter: Casey Nabb
Edsel Mackey: Kyle Wehr
CJ Scruggs: Hannah Wilke
Miss Wulla Jean: Katie McCormack
Texas Aggies/Cowboys:
Brandon Connell, Grant Legan, Jonathan Smith, Brian Moore, Tim Stompanato, Keaton Connell, Kyle Wehr, Casey Nabb
Dogettes: Grant Legan, Monique Vos, Jonathan Smith, Morgan Griffin, Brandon Connell, Marita Miller, Brian Moore, Heather Hill
TV Colorperson/Announcer: Katie McCormack
Camera Man: Keaton Connell
Sound Man: Tim Stompanato
Aide: Claire Hasenmiller
Reporters: Katie Harrington and Zoey Schmalz
Photographers: Katie Harrington, Zoey Schmalz, and Claire Hasenmiller
Townspeople: Katie Harrington, Zoey Schmalz and Claire Hasenmiller, Catie Osborn
20 Fans
Girl #1 Monique Vos
Girl #2 Marita Miller
Girl #3 TBA
Girl #4 Amanda Kochanny
Girl #5 Hannah Bates
Farmer: Brian Moore
Slick Dude: Grant Legan
Shy Kid: Tim Stompanato
Traveling Salesman: Jonathan Smith
Choir: TBA
Young Cowboy: Kyle Wehr
Angelettes Imogene: Monique Vos Amanda Kochanny Marita Miller
Performances are October 9 and 10 at 7:30 PM, and October 11 at 3:00 PM in the Allaert Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at the Galvin Fine Arts Center Box Office and are $15 for adults, $14 for faculty/staff/alumni/senior citizens, $12 for non-SAU students, or free with your student ID.
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SAU Theatre Department Welcomes New Professor Daniel Rairdin-Hale
 The St. Ambrose Theatre Department would like to offer a warm welcome to Daniel Rairdin-Hale, new theatre professor. A native of the area, Dan graduated from Pleasant Valley High School in 2000 and continued his education here at St. Ambrose, graduating in 2004.
After Ambrose, Dan completed his Master of Fine Arts in Acting at DePaul University. Through school, performing in the theatre was Dan’s preference, but after experiencing teaching, he was inspired. “I found teaching to be just as rewarding as acting.”
When asked what most excites him about his new position, Dan expressed his eagerness to meet his students and expose them to the art of theatre. While parts of this new career seem somewhat daunting, Dan considers it to be no different than the nerves he experiences before going onstage. “Stage fright can be a good thing, I just hope to allow the nervous energy to fuel my work rather than inhibit it.”
Dan’s style of teaching and directing, strongly influenced by his solid movement background, will differ significantly from the typical stage experience. When asked about how these methods will influence the department, his only response was, “We will see.”
Favorite previous experiences consist of participating in two pieces at the Horton Foote Festival (a festival of the famous playwright’s works), working in the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and helping with the creative process of developing new productions, including a film entitled A Cadaver Christmas. However, when we asked what his favorite SAU memory was, Dan was stumped. “It’s hard to pick, there are so many. I know it sounds cliché, but I wouldn’t have come back to apply for this position if it weren’t the truth.”
Dan Rairdin-Hale is delighted to be a part of it all, and the St. Ambrose Theatre Department returns his sentiments. “I want people to know I’m approachable. I’m new too, so don’t have any fears. I’m not sure what exactly you’d be afraid of, actually…”
We hope your transition is a smooth a pleasant one, welcome aboard Dan!
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The SAU Theatre Department Welcomes Newest Kennedy Scholar: Stephanie Seward
The St. Ambrose Theatre Department is excited to announce the fifth Michael Kennedy Scholar, Stephanie Seward. In order to receive this scholarship, an applicant must be a first-year theatre major at St. Ambrose, showing a dedication to both work ethic and humor. Having graduated from Bettendorf High School in 2009, Stephanie eagerly anticipates the new experiences to be had at Ambrose. After having participated in two Ambrose productions as a high school student, Stephanie feels this is the theatre department for her. “I was embraced so openly by everyone I met; I knew I couldn’t go anywhere else.”
Her original plan to enroll at an out-of-town college was foiled by her first appearance in the Ambrose theatre as an ensemble member in Pippin. “I was under the impression I had to travel to get the education and experience I was looking for, but I swear I grew more as a performer in one show at Ambrose than I ever had before!” This growth, in addition to the faculty’s constant willingness to help and the “awesome dorms”, affected Stephanie’s decision to follow in her SAU alumni parents’ footsteps.
Theatre has been a part of Stephanie’s life ever since she can remember. “I was always the cute little kid creeping in the back of the theatre at my parents’ rehearsals, and we went to see shows as a family a lot.” Her first personal foray onto the stage was in Center Stage Performing Art’s performance of School House Rock, Jr. in 2001. Since then, Stephanie has performed at Countryside Community Theatre, Bettendorf Middle and High Schools, and Playcrafter’s Barn Theatre. She also appeared briefly on TV in the Acri Creature Feature as “Goth Girl”, and performed in the 2006 Iowa All-Chapter Show, A Chorus Line.
Stephanie’s goals at Ambrose are simple. “I just want to learn as much as humanly possible about theatre, even if it means spending every spare moment at Galvin… Especially if it means spending every spare moment at Galvin.”
Congratulations from the St. Ambrose Theatre Department on your selection as the next Kennedy Scholar, Stephanie!
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Upcoming Auditions for “A Year With Frog and Toad”
“A Year With Frog and Toad,” written by brothers Robert (music) and Willie Reale (book and lyrics), will be directed by SAU alum and new faculty member Daniel Rairdin-Hale. The successful children’s musical chronicles – you guessed it – a year with Frog and Toad. Follow Frog, Toad and all of their animal friends as they pass through the four seasons.
Daniel Rairdin-Hale says, “I am ecstatic about directing the children’s show this year. My two-and-a-half year old son is a big fan of the Frog and Toad books and I am excited to tackle the challenge of directing a show that will be enjoyable to him as well as older kids and adults. I love the simplicity of the books and the friendship that frog and toad share; it’s a show about friendship, full of singing and dancing and cookies, but always friendship underneath.
“I am looking for people that aren’t afraid to sing and dance (even if they don’t think they’re very good at it!) It takes a special kind of energy to do a children’s show; I am looking for imaginative people that are excited about big, fun, theatre.”
“A Year With Frog and Toad” auditions will be October 12, 3-5 p.m. and October 13, 6-8 p.m. Those who wish to audition should prepare 16 measures of music, and Theatre majors and minors are required to prepare a one-minute monologue. Questions can be directed to director Daniel Rairdin-Hale, 563/333-6390, or music director Dr. Keith Haan, 563/333-6146.
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The Curtainbox Theatre Company Presents Glengarry Glen Ross
The Curtainbox Theatre company, founded by SAU Alum Kimberly Furness in Los Angeles in 2001, has recently moved to the Quad Cities. The Curtainbox mission statement says, “The Curtainbox Theater Company is committed to exploring the human condition through the staging of quality productions that enrich, challenge, enlighten, and embolden theater-going audiences in the Quad Cities.”
"Glengarry Glen Ross" is the third Curtainbox production since its relocation. "Glengarry" tells the story of four Chicago salesmen—Levene, Roma, Moss, and Aaronow—and their supervisor, Williamson, who work together selling undesirable real estate at inflated prices. The competitive nature of the business leads the salesmen to undesirable behaviors, such as lying and theft.
The special thing about this production is that most of the cast and crew are Ambrose Theatre Department graduates. People of interest involved in the production: Michael Kennedy, Louis Hare, David Furness, Daniel DP Sheridan, Aaron Randolph III, David Bonde, Kimberly Furness, Jessica Sheridan, Joe Goodall, and Dr. Cory Johnson.
Producer Kimberly Furness says of the Ambrose connection, “This is no coincidence. Being an Ambrose alum myself, I am well aware of the kind of talent and work ethic that the SAU Theatre department turns out. St. Ambrose students and alumni leave that program with a similiar artistic vision and work ethic. Ambrosians are dedicated and reliable. The cherry on top is that they are incredibly talented artists as well!”
"Glengarry Glen Ross" will run September 10-27 with Tuesday, and Thursday through Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday performances at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 or $10 with a valid student I.D. Tickets are available at the door or by reservation. Call 563/650-8121 or email reservations@thecurtainbox.com.
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Theatre in the QCA
Show: "Fat Pig"
Producer: St. Ambrose University
Dates: September 10 and 11 at 7 p.m. and September 12 at 3:00 p.m.
Tickets: $6, available for reservation at the Galvin Fine Arts Center Box Office at 563/333-6251.
Show: "Glengarry Glen Ross"
Producer: The Curtainbox Theatre
Dates: September 10-27
Tickets: $15 at the door or by reservation and $10 with a valid student I.D. Call 563/650-8121 or email reservations@thecurtainbox.com.
Location: The Village Theatre--2113 East 11th Street, Davenport (Village of East Davenport)
Show: “The Zoo Story”
Producer: Harrison Hilltop Theatre
Dates: September 17-27
Tickets: $10, Call 309-235-1654 to reserve.
Location: 1601 Harrison Street, Davenport, IA
Show: "See How They Run"
Producer: Playcrafters Barn Theatre
Dates: September 11-20
Tickets: $10, Call 309/762-0330 for reservations or visit their website www.playcrafters.com
Location: 4950 35th Avenue, Moline, IL
Show: ComedySportz Quad Cities
Producer: Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse
Dates: Every Friday and Saturday night at 7 p.m.
Tickets: $8 prepaid, $10 at the door
Location: 1818 3rd Avenue, Rock Island, Ill., located in the District of Rock Island, next to Circa ’21.
Show: "Mid-Life—The Crisis Musical"
Producer: Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse
Dates: Now through November 7; 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 $27.07 to $46.28. 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 Rock Island.
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Our next issue will be released on October 5, 2009 and will feature, among others, articles on "Fat Pig," an Irene Ryan nominee progress report, and an update on the upcoming "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas."
Visit the St. Ambrose University Theatre home page for more information about courses, degrees, events, and staff. For more information, contact theatre chair Dr. Corinne Johnson, 563/333-6427.
Department Chair/Faculty Advisor: Dr. Corinne Johnson, 563/333-6427
Newsletter Editor: Katie McCormack, SAU senior
Contributing Journalists: Stephanie Seward, SAU freshman
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