Theatre Newsletter: October 2003

Department Chair: Kristofer Eitrheim – (563) 333-6255

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Corinne Johnson – (563) 333-6427

Newsletter Editor: Daniel Sheridan, SAU Junior, SAUTheatreNews@Yahoo.com

Contributing Journalist: Julie Arensdorf, SAU Freshman

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Death of a Salesman to Reunite SAU Alumni

Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman is considered by many to be one of the most inspiring and evocative works produced in American dramatic literature.  It is with this moving piece that the Theatre Department at St. Ambrose University is hoping to reunite its alumni and merge them with current students and faculty to create a piece of unforgettable artwork filled with invaluable experience.

The production of Death of a Salesman is set to open Sept. 9^th and will run thru Sept. 12^th, 2004, at the Galvin Fine Arts Center Allaert Auditorium.  Dr. Corinne Johnson, theatre professor at SAU, commented on the mission of the production, “It is a chance to work on a significant script and to unite students, faculty, and alumni, while reconnecting any lost ties over the years.”  While there will be numerous parts that need to be filled, both onstage and off, some of the key players have already been decided.

SAU is proud to have its very own Michael Kennedy playing Willy Loman, the tragic lead that is determined to find success, or die trying.  Kennedy, a professor in communications and theatre at SAU for the past thirty-four years, is delighted for the opportunity to play this complex role.  “I am looking forward to the challenge and the people at work around me.”  Kennedy also offered some wisdom when approaching the show, as well as the character of Willy Loman.  “In order to do a tragedy, you can’t go into it already destroyed.  It’s how you go into the danger and let it destroy you, one piece at a time.  Willy Loman is almost a hero, in spite of himself.”

Dr. Corinne Johnson is also slated to play opposite of Michael Kennedy as Linda, Willy Loman’s wife.  Dr. Johnson feels privileged to have the opportunity to share the stage with such a great actor.  She stated, “It will be much like playing tennis alongside Andre Agassi.”  Johnson is also the producer of the production.

Other production positions have also begun to be filled.  Directing the show will be Ambrose alum, Matthew Speak.  Speak has spent the past few years working in Los Angeles.  “He is the best student director to come through the gates at St. Ambrose University and I greatly look forward to working with him again,” said Kennedy.  Dr. Johnson agrees, “He is a phenomenal director.”  Costuming the show will be SAU alum, Brian Hemesath, whose work has led him to the Big Apple.  Hemesath has worked on a number of costuming projects in his career.  He has designed the Today Show’s Halloween costumes and is currently a resident of the costume crew on Saturday Night Live.  Ted Stephens III (SAU 00’), who is presently employed at SAU as the Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing, will design the advertising for the show.  Stephens stated, “This whole project is great because it gives an opportunity to gather a group of people who have a passion for theatre and share their talents at a place where it began for them.”  A graduate of the SAU Communications Department, Stephens has just recently returned to classes to fulfill his requirements and receive his major in theatre.

The production of Death of a Salesman started as a simple thought.  For the past few years, Dr. Johnson and Kris Eitrheim, technical director at SAU, have tossed around the idea of doing the production starring Kennedy in the leading role.  Kennedy commented that Dr. Johnson walked in his office one day and set the script down on his desk and said, “You need to play this part.”  “Hell,” thought Kennedy, “it’s the one they want to do and Arthur Miller may very well be my favorite American playwright, why not?”  If there is any doubt that a play from the late 1940’s lacked the ability to connect with a modern audience, it was quickly dispelled by Kennedy.  “It’s universality lies not in the time period, but in the basic human being.  It is that terrible part of us that is not willing to know our own worth.  We get caught and begin to lie.  We fill ourselves up with lies and through suicide find the ultimate attention.  The show also deals with the sins of the father that are visited by the sons, Biff and Happy.”

Excitement continues to brew within the department.  “It is a chance to see Kennedy perform onstage in a tour-de-force role for American actors.  Seeing him play Willy Loman will be an incredible lesson in acting,” said Johnson.  Dianne Dye, SAU costumer said, “It will be exciting to see the professors at work on the stage and invaluable for the students to see and be involved.”  “It is a chance for people to perform opposite their mentors and work with them instead as peers,” commented Jill Schmits, SAU Senior.

Anyone who has ever participated with the SAU theatre department is encouraged to contribute to this production.  If interested, please contact Cory Johnson (563-333-6427) at your earliest convenience.  “I am really thrilled to have this fabulous play be done on our stage with a cast that can serve it well,” Dr. Johnson said in closing.  “We want to include as many as we can in this experience.”

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My Favorite Year

My Favorite Year, a delightfully funny musical set in the Golden Ages of live television, is a story of a swash-buckling, sword-fighting movie star who’s career is on the downside.  The main character is an alcoholic, and ends up as a guest star on a TV variety show.  During his time on the TV set, the romantic lead of the play idolizes him, but winds up having to keep the star sober enough to perform the show.  As the play proceeds, both characters learn what it is to be a celebrity and what it is to accept responsibility for oneself. Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens based My Favorite Year on the 1980’s movie starring Peter O’Toole.

The musical, written in the 40’s and 50’s style, is an integrated musical where songs and music give us insight into the characters and moves the plot, rather than just a series of songs imposed in the story.  “The comedy in it is brilliantly written and characters are a lot of fun to work with,” comments director Mike Kennedy, “The rehearsal process is wonderful.”  Ted Stephens III (Alan Swann) comments, “The script is really tightly written and allows for a lot of bits.”  Marti Dunn-Hall, Shellee Frazee, and Jeff Coussens (chairman of Augustana Theatre Department) take care of the music conducting, dance choreography, and fight choreography respectively.  They use the first few weeks for rehearsal in their specialized areas and then Kennedy takes over to direct from the script.  Stephens, an SAU senior, commented on the rehearsal process, “I’m having a ton of fun.  It’s been a true honor and pleasure to work with so many fine actors.  My character is a lot of fun to play.” The music, dance, fighting, and book directing all go hand in hand.  After each specialist holds his or her rehearsals, they all come together to put together a wonderful theatrical treat that Kennedy says is “A lot of fun, a night of entertainment, and will get people the hell away from television.”

Tickets: $12 for adults; $11 for faculty, staff, alumni and senior citizens; $10 for students, SAU students are free with a current valid student ID. For reservations call 563/333-6251.

Cast

Benjy- Dan Hale

King- Chris Bright

Sy- Matt Erkel

Alice- Allison Costello

Herb- Scott Peake

K.C.- Trina Gillen

Leo- Rick Koehler

Alan Swann- Ted Stephens III

Belle- Jodi Leonard

Rookie- Sam Michael

Tess- Anita Whitmer

Morty -Matt Cox

Sadie- Ellen pagan

Caveman/Cavalcade Singer- Andy Burman

Announcer/Doorman- Jeff Hannah

Choreographer-  Jonathan Jackson

Floor Manager- Jake Kendall

Stage/Cameraman- Jeremy Pack 

Cavalcade Singers/Muskateers/Scunqilli/ Roquerfort- Sean Pankuch, Dan McGinn, and Danielle Mason

Secretary/Wardrobe- Katie Danalewich

Cigarette Girl/Princess- Amanda Gagliani

Diva/Coffee Cup- Claire Richards

Coffee Cups- Jenny Stodd and Ami Stabb

Name:  Brian Eugene Strohm / AKA:  PITT (“My freshman year of high school I was doing some tech work and was wearing my University of Pittsburg cap.  People began to call me ‘Pitt’ and continued to make little variations on this name, but then I bought a hat that simply said ‘PITT’ and the basic word has stuck ever since.”)

Hometown:  Eldridge, IA

Major(s) & Minor(s): Theatre Major

Previous Productions at SAU:  Technical Director for “Art,” flyman for City of Angels and Gypsy, sound operator for Man for All Seasons, light board operator for Macbeth and James and the Giant Peach, and sceneshifter for Rhythm Ranch.  Pitt has also worked for Kris Eitrheim in the scene shop for the past two years.

Favorite SAU experience? “My sound design project for Advanced Stagecraft.  Just ask me the story sometime and I’ll tell you.”

Favorite role/involvement?  “The flyline crew for Gypsy.  Just accidentally pegging people who were on the ‘hit list’ was a lot of fun.”

Latest project?  “Director of sceneshifters in My Favorite Year.”

Dream job?  “I would like to be a technical director at a college level.  It offers a lot of variety, and you have a lot of contact with people in a teaching environment.”

Favorite Actor/Actress?  “Jr. Asparagus from Veggie Tale.”

Favorite quote?  “Little guys can do big things too.”  -Jr. Asparagus

Favorite word?  “Eleemosynary.  It means to be charitable.”

Least favorite word?  “Your choice of any expletive you want to put in here.”

If Heaven exists, what would you like God to say?  “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

If you noticed a void in the theatre department at the very beginning of the school year, it was most likely because Eric Behnke, an SAU senior, was still in Sheffield, Massachusetts.  Behnke was a stage manager intern for 14 weeks at the Barrington Stage Company, in Sheffield, Massachusetts, from the end of May to the end of August, 2003.

Behnke gained the opportunity when he used an online art search database.  He sent in a resume and cover-letter, was contacted about mid-April, and after an interview he was offered a job as one of the stage manager interns at the Barrington Stage Company.  Behnke’s primary responsibility was stage-managing, however most interns were “catch-all”, meaning they helped out wherever the company needed them.  Before rehearsals Behnke prepared the rehearsal space, by cleaning, sweeping, and the list goes on.  During rehearsals he would take blocking notes, help actors with lines, and move scenery and props.  The biggest job was the changeover from one show to another on the mainstage.  “We had 36 hours, and there were some pretty elaborate sets,” Behnke commented with a heavy tone. 

During the rehearsal period, Eric Behnke would be in rehearsal from about 10am to 6pm, and then work in the shop from about 6pm until 10 or 11pm (Tuesday through Sunday.)  When a show was up and running, his hours would be from about 9am to 11pm or midnight, working with scenery, props or whatever was needed.  Mondays were usually spent doing whatever the company asked of the stage managers

“I would recommend to anyone thinking about theatre professionally to do an internship, as it will prove one way or another if you have what it takes and if you want to do it professionally.”  Behnke would not suggest Barrington Stage Company, however, because he did not care for the way they treat their interns.  Although they gave him a lot of contacts, there was a lot of stress.  Overall, Behnke thought it was “an awesome experience working with professionals.  I ate, slept, and breathed theatre for 14 weeks, but I learned a lot about myself as well as the business.  Theatre is an entity in itself, it’s a never-ending thing.”

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Performances Earn Congratulations

Jill Schmits and Ted Stephens III were recently nominated for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship for their performance in the SAU Studio production of Private Eyes.  This nomination will take them and six other Ambrose students to the American College Theatre Festival in Denver, CO to compete for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship.  Congratulations again to the entire cast and crew for a job well done.

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Freshman Spotlight

Name:  Julie Marie Arensdorf

Hometown: Dubuque, IA

Major(s) & Minor(s):  Majors currently in Theatre, Psychology and Biology.

Previous Productions: Arsenic and Old Lace, The Secret Affairs of Mildred Wilde, Evita, Of Mice and Men, A Christmas Carol, Voices from the Grade School, and Private Eyes.

Why did you come to SAU?  “I loved the theatre department and it was close enough and far enough away from home.”

Favorite SAU experience?  “Making new friends.  More specifically, the down time that I had with the Private Eyes cast between Sunday productions was great.  Everyone was so relaxed and having such a good time that I really felt like part of the group.”

Latest project?  “Costume Running Crew for Private Eyes and Contributing Journalist for the SAU Newsletter.”

Dream job?  “A professional actress, what else but?”

Favorite Actor/Actress?  “Julia Roberts.  She simply makes me smile and she controls the camera.”

Favorite quote?  “Who needs an inspiring quote when inspiration surrounds us everyday?”

Favorite word?  “Discombobulate.”

Least favorite word?  “Homework or test.  I just get a bad feeling when I hear those words.”

If Heaven exists, what would you like God to say?  “Welcome.”

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Come One, Come All!

Auditions for Pippi Longstocking

Mainstage

October 13 4-6pm

October 14 7-9pm

*Scripts available in the Galvin Box office for overnight checkout

What Do I Have to Do at Auditions?

-A prepared 1-minute monologue from any text (requested, but not required)

-Read from the play

-1 verse and 1 chorus of a song of your choosing, to be sung acapella

-If you can do any tumbling, circus related tricks, etc, please come prepared to show them

Wanted:

5-10 females

5-10 males

(Clowns can be either gender)

*Some non-singing roles are available

If you can’t make these audition dates please contact Dr. Corinne Johnson (333-6427), before October 13, to arrange a private audition.

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New Faces

Name: Aaron Alexander Hook

Year: Junior

Hometown: Adel, IA

Major(s) & Minor(s): Theatre Major

Previous Productions:  Serge in “Art” at Waldorf College, Freddie in Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Vergil in Bus Stop, Reverend Hale in The Crucible.

Why did you come to SAU? “My previous college was great but a new faculty took over and we had some disagreements.  An old friend of Kris Eitrheim’s, SAU Technical Director, recommended St. Ambrose, since I have a strong suit in tech.  I visited and I thought it might be the place for me.”

What school did you come from? “Waldorf College in Forrest City, IA.”

Favorite SAU experience? “When I came to visit here last year for that one big end of the year party.  It was a blast.”

Latest project? “The last project I worked on was Serge in “Art” at Waldorf.”

Dream job? Own a coffee house with a stage and bar so that poetry readings, open mic nights, and some other small plays could be performed.”

Favorite quote? “Live as if you were to die tomorrow.  Learn as if you were to live forever.”  -Gandhi

Favorite word? “Crimson.”

Least favorite word? “Vomit.”

If Heaven exists, what would you like God to say? “Nice hustle.”

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Hale Storms Through Northern California

“We explored the boundaries of physical expression,” stated Dan Hale, when asked what it is he did to end his summer.  Hale, an SAU senior, was proud to have spent one month with Dell Arte’ International to workshop and train in the art of physical theatre.  The school itself is tucked away in the town of Blue Lake, CA.  Blue Lake is in a remote part of Northern California, surrounded by forest and excluded from any large human population.  Hale was awarded a scholarship to attend this workshop, through an arrangement with the Kennedy Center and the American College Theatre Festival.  The workshop concentrated on body control and physical awareness, but even more specifically, it worked with the “cultivation of an ensemble and the construction of an Actor-Creator.” 

Led by Stephen Buescher, a specialist in African Dance, the group, comprised of ten individuals of all ages ranging from 18 to 30 and backgrounds spanning from coast to coast, would meet five days a week from 8:00am until around 8:00pm.  Any time outside of class was spent learning and perfecting body memory and physical awareness, as well as a study on how animals move and socialize. Hale’s initial underdeveloped physical strength had taken a toll on him in the beginning days of the workshop.  “I was exhausted for the first week because many of the people in our workshop had already been to Dell Arte’ schooling all that year.  For the first few days this forced me to play catch up.

During the opening three hours of each day, Dan and his classmates would do a non-stop physical warm up exercise, which involved moving throughout a space and contorting the body to new shapes.  They would begin by slowly moving their bodies around, stretching in new ways and directions.  The intensity and speed would build until the students were moving about the room in all sizes and forms.  At various times during the exercise they were told to freeze in place and control their heavy breathing to a soft and gentle level.  They then were told to begin again with full energy, at the sound of a clap.  Hale commented, “ You learn quickly that the body is capable of doing much more than people give it credit.  You realize in many ways how important it is to have friends who work together with a strong sense of trust.”

The workshop closed with a performance of The Bacchae: A Wolf Sonata, where Hale and his classmates interpreted the Greek classic as a pack of wolves, in order to mimic the way society moves and interacts with each other.  The performance ran only one weekend.  “So much happened over the month I was there, it is hard to put all of the experiences in words.”

At SAU, Hale has played an assortment of roles and his next part is a leading role in My Favorite Year, the Ambrose main stage musical production, which opens on Oct. 9^th and runs that weekend thru the 12^th.  “There is a lot more to be aware of when singing, sword fighting, dancing, and speaking all at once.  I feel my physical training has given me a new tool to help develop a character.”

The Dell Arte’ workshop in the forests of Northern California may have been an experience that changed this actor’s approach to performance forever.  It is simply another weapon in his arsenal of theatrical supplies and techniques.  Hale summed up his experience with this closing comment, “It wasn’t so much about your body as it was your mind, your mind to other minds, other minds to other bodies, other bodies to the environment, to the earth, and ultimately to the universe.  It supplies a new understanding of the world around you and the way it functions.”

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Senior Salute

Name: Jill Illene Schmits

Hometown: Muscatine, IA

Major(s) & Minor(s): Elementary Education Major and Theatre Minor

Previous Productions at SAU: Lisa in Private Eyes, Blanche in Brighton Beach Memoirs, Estelle in “No Exit,” Debra in “Sexual Perversity in Chicago,” Lisabette in Anton in Showbusiness, Mallory/Aunt in City of Angels, Burnadette in Raised in Captivity.

Favorite SAU experience? “Snowdays!”

Favorite role? “Lisabette in Anton.  It was my first real cast bonding experience.  If you saw the show, you’d understand.”

Latest project?  “Emma in Betrayal.”

Dream job? “The guy on Big (the Tom Hank’s Film) whose job is testing toys.  It would be fantastic.  Or, a job where you get to do what you want, whenever you want, with no previous experience or training.”

Favorite Actor/Actress?  “Edward Norton and Kate Blanchette.”

Favorite quote?  “The fool looks at the finger that points at the sky. -Amelie, a French film.

Favorite word?  “Hopscotch.”

Least favorite word?  “Mealworm.”

If Heaven exists, what would you like God to say?  “Good job… you want to go again?”

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