Theatre Newsletter: September 2001

St. Ambrose University Theatre Department Newsletter
September 28, 2001 edition 01-1
Department Chair- Dr. Corinne Johnson- (563)-333-6427
Theatre Department Web Page- http://web.sau.edu/theatre/
Newsletter Editor: Megan O Connell  SAUTheatreNews@hotmail.com

*****Welcome to the first edition of the SAU Theatre Newsletter*****

Mission of the Newsletter:  The mission of the St. Ambrose University Theatre Department Newsletter is to inform students, potential students, and friends of the University of upcoming events, opportunities, as well as highlight productions and departmental accomplishments.

Scholarship Opportunities for High School Students
1. Scholarship auditions will be held October 20, 2001, December 1, 2001, February 23, 2002, April 20, 2002, or by special appointment at alternative dates.  Candidates must schedule an appointment to audition for the theatre faculty. Please contact Dr. Corinne Johnson at 563/333-6427 or Mike Kennedy at 563/333-6390 to set up an individual audition date.

2. Candidates must submit an application for admission and must complete a financial aid form even though demonstrated need is not a requirement.

3. Candidates are asked to prepare two contrasting monologues (one comic and one serious) of no more than two minutes in length each, and to sing 16 bars of a song from a musical (please bring taped accompaniment). Technical candidates are asked to present a portfolio and have an interview with the faculty.

4. This scholarship is contingent upon all established financial aid policies.


Summer Kept SAU Theatre Students Busy
Summer is a great time for jobs, internships, and gleaning experience.  These four SAU theatre majors performed in professional companies this summer.

Lou Hare (SAU senior) worked at Circa 21 Dinner Theatre Playhouse and performed in SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS as Zeke, as well as WINNIE THE POOH as Pooh.  Of his work Hare explains, "It was an excellent learning experience. I met many nice people and made great connections with fellow actors. I got a nice glimpse of the world of Theatre."

Phil Potter (SAU Sophomore) also performed at Circa 21 in SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS as Luke.  Potter s experience was a positive one, "It was a lot of fun, and I met some really great people while making connections."

Heather Starns (SAU Senior) spent her summer in Alpena, Michigan performing in summer stock productions of THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Elsa), WHO'S ON FIRST? (Camille), and the musical revue SECRETS EVERY TRAVELER SHOULD KNOW (Kathi). Starns embraced the experience of performing in another setting, "This summer gave me an opportunity to work at another area other than SAU. The new atmosphere and challenges let me step out of the Quad Cities and gave me a great learning experience."

Nick Bowers (SAU senior) commuted between the Quad Cities and Iowa City everyday when he worked as an acting intern at the Riverside Theatre.  He performed as a page in the outdoor Shakespeare production of AS YOU LIKE IT. Bowers explained his position as an intern, "As an intern you're experience isn't all about being in the show, but by working with the other actors, and seeing their techniques.  It was a wonderful learning experience and helped me to interpret Shakespeare better than before."


LONELY PLANET Opens Studio Theatre Season

September 14-16, the studio theatre sprang to life with Steven Dietz's touching play LONELY PLANET. Set in Jody's Map Store, the play ranges from comedic to a serious and powerful ending.  LONELY PLANET presents the friendship of two men, Jody and Carl.  Jody, unwilling to leave his map shop to get an HIV test relies on Carl to bring the outside world, and in the case of these two friends, representations of the friends they have lost to the disease. The production focuses not only on the treatment of homosexuals with HIV, but the fulfillment friendship brings to our lives.

Jeremy Koch's Jody was passionate about maps and their ability relate to his life. The studio theatre setting worked well to bring the intimate story of the two friends to life. Koch explains, "The studio theater was great to work in.  It is also a peer driven show, where students worked to make it come alive."  Jody's friend Carl, portrayed by Aaron Randolph also brought an exuberance to the production that mixed comedy with poignancy.  Of the experience Randolph states, "The script had a timeliness to the subject matter because of people experiencing the loss of friends to illness or tragedy.  It was also my first studio theatre production, which made me wish that I had performed in the space more often."

Senior, Heather Starns enjoyed the directing process, "Directing the show was one of the biggest challenges I have ever completed in my life. It gave me more options beside singing and acting, It helped me learn more responsibility."

The set was student designed by Theatre, Graphics Arts, and Fine Arts major Beth Curley.  Her set of Jody's Maps utilized the performing space of the studio theatre well, but added a sincerity to the play's message when she incorporated pictures on slides of AIDS victims. Senior, Joe
Goodall, designed the lighting that added depth to this production of LONELY PLANET.  2000 Graduate, Eric Anderson mixed songs that touched the audience and production so much that people are clamoring for a copy of the production's soundtrack.  Costume designer, Dianne Dye also designed costumes that followed the characters moods and situation from scene to scene. From the technical to performing elements LONELY PLANET was a strong production that matched the strength and truth of friendship.

SAU Welcomes 2001-2002 Callboard Members:

Every year at the Theatre Department Picnic, each class votes on a student to represent their class for the callboard.  Callboard members are in charge of planning the annual Galvin Awards in May, suggesting the following year's productions, and responding to productions by representing their classes. This year's callboard includes:

Freshmen: Daniel Sheridan
Sophomore: Rusty Koll
Junior: Sarah O Haver
Senior: Joe Goodall

***Rhythm Ranch to open Mainstage Season ***

The Cast of Rhythm Ranch

Babe Blandish     Trina Gillen
Sam Graybeal      Phillip Potter
Tulsa del Rio        Louis Hare
Brandy                 Marcia Svalson
Cactus Hatch       Matt Erkel
Lucy Calhoun       Heather Starns
Denver                 Lucas Anderson
Dallas                  Tony Seward
Boise                   Dan Hale
Ruby Sue             Katie Spain
Opal Sue              Jody Leonard
Pearl                    Allison Costello
Natchez                Daniel Sheridan
Conductor             Rusty Koll
Indian                   Scott Hansen
Bar Dancer #1      Kathy Goetz
Bar Dancer #2      Angie Hinchman
Little Joey            To Be Announced

Director's Corner: Rhythm Ranch

Casting the musical in the fall helps to get people involved in the beginning, this proves no different for the upcoming production of RHYTHM RANCH. Director Mike Kennedy points out, "We have to seriously think about what plays to pick to be sure to fit the numbers involved in the department, and we had a bunch of new faces try out."

Kennedy is not only directing RHYTHM RANCH, but he also appeared in the production at Circa 21 Dinner Theatre Playhouse as Cactus Hatch. Comparing acting to directing he clarifies, "Acting is less complicated than directing, you're only responsible for yourself. The pride of doing a good job when you're finished is stronger as a director."

Music Director Marti Dunn-Hall adds, "This production has a strong cast with many opportunities to sing harmony which everyone loves to listen to!  It's foot stomping fun!"

RHYTHM RANCH will be performed in Allaert Auditorium of Galvin Fine Arts Center October 18-21.

HERO of the MONTH!

When the production of RHYTHM RANCH needed a stage manager, freshman Chris Konrady quickly and eagerly took the saddle.  When asked what inspired him to take the position he replies, "They needed a stage manager and I am qualified to do the job. Plus, it is a learning
experience since it is at a new school with new people." Konrady is from Eldridge, Iowa and attended North Scott High School. He is majoring in computer science and theatre.

His technical theatre list is a long one, but his favorite productions include: THE SECRET GARDEN (Sound Manager), ANNIE (Lights Manager), FOLLIES (Technical Director), WIZARD OF OZ (Technical Director), and WEST SIDE STORY (Stage Manager).  Although RHYTHM RANCH is his first production at SAU he looks forward to participating in many, many more.

ANTON IN SHOWBUSINESS Bringing Glimpse of  Showbusiness to SAU

Jane Martin's comedy ANTON IN SHOWBUSINESS, which originally premiered at the Humana Festival of New Plays 2000, is the studio theatre's next production. The play focuses on three very different actresses and the trials they face during their production of Anton Chekov's THREE
SISTERS. ANTON IN SHOWBUSINESS embraces stereotypes of the theatre, and enables the audience to move past them to understand each of the characters and their motivations on a higher level.  One of the ways Martin satirizes the lack of female roles in contemporary theatre is
demanding that each character (man or woman) be played by a woman, and the set crew must consist entirely of women.

ANTON IN SHOWBUSINESS will be performed November 9-11th in the Galvin Fine Arts Studio Theatre.  The cast is as follows:

CAST:
HOLLY- Jamie Johnson
CASEY- Beth Curley
LISABETTE - Jill Schmits
ANDWYNETH/ DON BLOUNT/ T- ANNE - Tiffany Flemming

JOE- BOB/ WIKEWITCH/ RALPH - Tiffany McCannon
KATE/ BEN/ JACKEY - Megan O Connell
JOBY - Trina Gillen
AREA ADJUSTERS (SCENE CHANGERS) - Lacey Jacobs
Meghan Conner
Marcia Svaleson
Susan Brandt
Sarah O Haver
Lily Corcoran

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ANTON IN SHOWBUSINESS Invites KC/ACTF Respondents to Performance

Every year the SAU Theatre Department enters the KC/ACTF as an associate member school. In return, a respondent from the Kennedy Center's American College Theatre Festival watches and takes notes on the production.  The respondent then speaks with the cast and crew after the performance about his or her impression of the show, and essentially, responds to the production.  With each production the respondent chooses up to two actors from the production to nominate as Irene Ryan Scholarship contestants.  The actors chosen are those who most adequately portray their character to the audience.

Director of ANTON IN SHOWBUSINESS Dr. Corinne Johnson, chose to enroll the production not only under the associate member category, but also as a participating member. This means that the KC/ACTF sends one college professor as an associate respondent, and one as a selector.  The associate respondent critiques the production and may nominate up to three performers for the Irene Ryan Scholarship Competition. Whereas, the selector watches the play, and will later decide if the production is nomination worthy to be performed at the Regional American College Theatre Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The selector is one of twelve college professors in our region that sees a large percentage of plays and selects a play that goes to the region's festival.  Once a selector views a production the director will know within a week if the play has not been chosen to be in the running to be selected to go to the regional ACTF. If the production is chosen for further consideration, the SAU Theatre Department would not be notified until mid-December.  Thus, the set must stay intact and ready for transfer or adaptation for a different stage, lines must be kept in mind, and a rehearsal period must be scheduled before the KC/ACTF occurs January 22-27th, 2002.

Director Cory Johnson explains why  ANTON IN SHOWBUSINESS could be chosen for the KC/ACTF, "This is a relatively new play, with a strong cast and it would have a perfect audience at the American College Theatre Festival." The production will also be bringing in a special
lighting designer from the University of Northern Iowa, student, Tim Kruse. Another attraction for this production is the amount of student involvement. Joe Goodall will return as a scenic designer to the studio, while Lou Hare will work not only as the stage manager, but also as assistant director.  With the amount of student work Cory Johnson reiterates the appeal for ANTON IN SHOWBUSINESS.  The more student involvement, the better the chance for the production to be showcased.

^^^^^^^^^^^^  Freshmen Spotlight  ^^^^^^^^^^^^

Full Name: Daniel David Patrick Sheridan
Year: Freshmen
Birthdate: May 10th
Hometown: Davenport, IA
Majors: Theatre & Secondary Education Speech
Why did you come to SAU?  "I had a lot of exposure to the campus and was impressed."
Favorite Previous Productions: DARK OF THE MOON (Preacher Haggler), CYRANO (Valert), COMPLETE HISTORY OF AMERICA (Dan)
Favorite experience at SAU: Getting cast in RHYTHM RANCH
Latest Project: Daniel is currently playing the role of Natchez in SAU's RHYTHM RANCH.
Dream Role: Mercutio in ROMEO AND JULIET
Favorite Actor/Actress: Patrick Stewart
Favorite Motto: No, but I'll try.

***************  Senior Salute  ******************

Full Name: Elizabeth Anne Curley
Birthdate: January 26th
Hometown: Peoria, IL
Majors: Theatre, Graphic Design, & Fine Arts
Date of Graduation: May, 2003
SAU Theatre Experience: OLEANNA Carol, THIS IS A PLAY (Female), TARTUFFE
(Marianne), CITY OF ANGELS (Donna, Oolie), HEDDA GABBLER (Mrs. Elvsted),
NOW THE CATS WITH JEWELLED CLAWS (Madge), DEATH AND THE MAIDEN (Paulina
Salas)
Dream Role: Jackie O. THE HOUSE OF YES
Dream Job: I would love to base my career on Theatre, designing, or acting near Broadway.
Favorite actor/actress: Edward Norton & Nicole Kidman
Most embarrassing SAU Theatre Experience: During A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM when my bra/top snapped open, and I caught it with my armpit.
Latest Project: Having worked as set designer for the studio theatre's LONELY PLANET, Beth is currently playing Casey in the upcoming studio production of ANTON IN SHOWBUSINESS.
Inspiring quotes for underclassmen: Always follow your dreams, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.   If you have the strength and passion to do it, do it.

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Auditions Approaching for WINNIE THE POOH

Guest director Tom Johnson, from the Old Creamery Theatre in Amana, Iowa, will direct the 2001 children's show, WINNIE THE POOH. Auditions for the production will be held Tuesday, October 23rd from 3-5:00 and 6:30-8:30.

Director Tom Johnson offers these tips to prepare for auditions:
* Wear comfortable clothes you can move well in; no high heels or dress clothes.  Dance costumes will be fine.
* Read the script.  (copies available in the Galvin Fine Arts Box Office for check out)
* After reading the script, pick a scene from the play you would like to read for auditions.
* There will be cold readings, as well as improvisational exercises.

GOOD NEWS!

Costume Designer Brian Hemesath will take a small break from NYC and visit the SAU Theatre Department to create the costumes for this spring's production of MACBETH.

More news next month from the St. Ambrose University Theatre Department's Newsletter!  If you would like to unsubscribe, or would like to add a subscription to the SAU Theatre Department Newsletter please contact Megan O'Connell at SAUTheatreNews@hotmail.com. Article ideas are always welcome!

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