Theatre Newsletter: September 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

A New Leader is Seated in Theatre Department Chair

Often times throughout the day and evening a maniacal laughter can be heard creeping across the main stage floor of the Galvin Fine Arts Center. This laughter may seem filled with terror at first, but in reality it is only the resonation of pure joy leaking through the bricks of an office in the basement. This is the time that comes every three years. This is the time that fills the terror in a colleague’s hearts. This time is the change of the Theatre Department Chairperson,

The laughter coming from the lower depths of the theatre is actually that of Dr. Corinne Johnson of the SAU Theatre Department, enjoying her newfound time from the comfort of her office. For the last five years, Cory has been the official Chair of the Department and it was never an easy job. "It was a disconcerting feeling, having to be more concerned with money than making artistic choices." The time that has been gained by Dr. Johnson has made her first year without the chair responsibility a little different. "I enjoy classes so much more because I’ve been much more prepared than I have been in the past few years. There is no split focus now."

The split focus is easy to see as a problem when the whole job list of the department chair is revealed. Scheduling classes, overseeing account and production budgets, monthly meetings with the Arts and Sciences Dept., planning the theatre picnic, the responsibility of the play reading list, departmental recruiting, yearly advisory board meetings, adding new books to the library holdings, attaining rights and royalties for shows, handling any possible complaints about faculty members and a number of other issues consume the chair’s time.

The responsibility of the chair has now been put into the able hands of Technical Director, Kris Eitrheim. He has caught Dr. Johnson in her joyous fits, "I’ve seen her several times dancing around the office in random acts of celebration." Eitrheim is not only the Technical Director and new Theatre Department Chair, he is also scenic designer for Lobby Hero at the New Ground Theatre, technical consultant for studio show Private Eyes, designer and Technical Director for SAU musical My Favorite Year. He is also designing a food show marketing booth and will some day get around to mowing his lawn. He is preparing three more shows on the side, one of which is building the back half to Noah’s Ark for his church, and through all this, Eitrheim still finds time to play Power Rangers with his son, Alec. Eitrheim commented, "It is definitely a transitional year, but I do not want Cory to have to completely save me from sinking the ship."

Students who work around Kris also had some comments on the adjustment. Matt Cox, Senior, said, "There is no real change, other than the fact his palm pilot is twice as important as it was." Brian Strohm, also a senior, said, "There is just more for him to forget. Not that he does."

Through all the complications and difficulties, there is certainly an upside to having a rotating department chair position at Ambrose. "The academic setting is no place for a dictatorship with one constant ruler," commented Dr. Johnson. "The rotating of the responsibilities keeps all of us humble and aware of the tasks of others."

"For once I am seeing the university from a different point of view," said Eitrheim. "I even got Mike Kennedy (a fellow theatre professor at Ambrose who could spend hours yelling at a computer) a printer in his office after all these years of not having one. I guess I have a chance to do anything.

&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^

Senior Salute

Name: Trina Lynn Gillen
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Major(s) & Minor(s): English & Spanish Major & Theatre Minor
Date of Graduation: May 2004
Previous Productions at SAU: Babe Blandish in Rhythm Ranch, Joby in Anton in Showbusiness, Louise in Gypsy, Nora in Brighton Beach, Cory in Private Eyes, and in the one act The Original Last Wish Baby. Also choreographed Aladdin.
Favorite SAU experience? " It would be Brighton Beach Memoirs. I didn’t feel like the cast was even acting in the end. We became a family and that feeling made me want to be there every night."
Favorite role? "Louise in Gypsy. The character changed so much from beginning to end. It was really challenging to portray a character who changes so much, not just in age but emotionally as well."
Latest project? "Cory in Private Eyes."
Dream job? "A Broadway Actress. I would definitely want to be in musical theatre, even though I think some of my best performances have been in straight plays."
Favorite Actor/Actress? "Edward Norton and Julia Roberts."
Favorite quote? "Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened."
Favorite word? "Exquisite."
Least favorite word? "Moist or assume (I hate the connotation)."
If Heaven exists, what would you like God to say? "I am proud of you."
What will you miss most about SAU? "Every single cast I have bonded with has made me appreciate the people around me. I am not sure you get that in the professional world as often. I will miss that a lot."

(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())

The Studio Theater in the Basement

Whether you've worked through hundreds of rehearsals in the Studio Theatre, attended a show in the studio, or have never set foot in the studio, there may be something you don't know about the Galvin Fine Arts Studio Theater. This small area was originally built to be the TV/Radio Studio, however that only lasted 6 months. The humidity of the basement studio took its toll on the equipment. So the basement spot turned into a storage space, where it collected a lot of junk. Dr. Corinne Johnson looked at the heap of props, costumes, set pieces, etc., and saw a little more. The area was slowly cleared out and turned into a classroom. Finally, the small basement nook was turned into a theater with the first show, The Woolgatherers, performed in 1991. Currently, the Studio Theatre has three productions a school year, along with the student directed one-acts during the latter half of the spring semester. The number of one-acts varies by the number of students in the Directing course.

Studio Theatre Mission Statement:
The mission statement of the Studio Theater is to provide St. Ambrose University Students with additional performance, design, and directorial opportunities. The intimate size of the theater (50 seats) also allows for performances of smaller, alternative productions that would be better served in such a venue. In addition, the Studio Theater provides the opportunities for student playwrights and other original works.

"I really encourage people interested in theatre to come to a Studio Theater Production because of its intimate setting and amazing theatre happens there." - Daniel Sheridan, Director of upcoming Studio produciton, Private Eyes.

If you want to do more than simply attend the shows, be sure to keep updated on audition dates for shows happening throughout the school year. All auditions will be in the Theatre Newsletter and posted around campus and the Galvin Fine Arts Center.

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Cast List Announced for My Favorite Year
Benjy:  Dan Hale
King:  Chris Bright
Sy:  Matt Erkel
Alice:  Allison Costello
Herb:  Scott Peake
K.C.:  Trina Gillen
Leo:  Rick Koehler
Swann:  Ted Stephens III
Belle:  Jodi Leonard
Rookie:  Sam Michael
Tess:  Anita Whitmer
Morty:  Pat Burr
Sadie:  Ellen Pagan

Overman:  Andy Burman
Announcer:  Jeff Hannah

Choreographer:  Janee Jackson
Floor Manager:  Jake Kendall
Doorman:  Jeff Hannah

Stage/Cameraman:  Jeremy Pack
Cavalcade Singers:  Sean Pankuch
                              Andy Burman
                              Dan McGinn
                              Danielle Mason

Scungilli:  Sean Pankuch
Roqurfort:  Dan McGinn
Secratary/Wardobe:  (Undecided)
Cigarette Girl/Princess:  Amanda Gagliani
Diva:  Clair Richards

Coffee Cups:  Jenny Stodd
                    Clair Richards
                     Ami Staab

     *Congratulations to all those cast in this years musical.  My Favorite Year will be performed on the Galvin Mainstage opening Thursday, Oct. 9th and running through that Sunday, Oct. 12th.  Tickets are available in the Galvin Box Office (563-333-6251).

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Freshman Spotlight

Name: Andrew Ryan Harvey
Hometown: Galesburg, IL
Major(s) & Minor(s): Theatre Major & Spanish Major
Previous Productions: Glenn Cooper in Rumors, Reverend Humphrey in See How They Run, Arty in Lost in Yonkers, Eugene in Broadway Bound, Bellhop in Lend Me a Tenor, and Carl in Bus Stop
Why did you come to SAU? "I really liked the campus and the friendly environment. It was warm and had a lot of promise to grow with."
Favorite SAU experience? "Playfair and meeting new people in classes."
Latest project? "A Sceneshifter in Private Eyes."
Dream job? "Acting professionally."
Favorite Actor/Actress? "Edward Norton, maybe Tim Roth."
Favorite quote? "I want to live tll I die. Nothing more, nothing less." -Eddie Izzard
Favorite word? "Styrofoam."
Least favorite word? "Taco."
If Heaven exists, what would you like God to say? "Took you long enough.

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Wedding Bells Ring a Theatre Medley

Although Jessica Rairdin and Dan Hale did meet at Iowa University through mutual friends, the Ambrose theatre department will take full credit for the marriage. Hale and Hale (Rairdin) have both been attending SAU for the past two and a half years and this has given them a chance to cultivate their relationship and turn it into marriage. "Both of us being in the theatre department gave an opportunity to work on like projects while spending time together. We often served in different capacities to these projects, which made things interesting," said Jessie.

Jessie made her acting debut last season in Martin McDonagh’s The Lonesome West, opposite her now husband Dan. From that point on, the two of them have had a snowballing amount of responsibility roll their way. With the wedding always in the distance, Dan and Jessie both acted in Brighton Beach Memoirs. Dan directed the play "Art" with Jessie as his stage manager in the studio theatre. Dan went to Washington D.C. for the finals of the American College Theatre Festival. They had their wedding, a honeymoon and then found themselves in Northern California, where Dan is attending a month long work shop at Dell Arte, a school in physical theatre.

Just like the sporadic nature of their lives, so was Dan’s proposal to Jessie. Once, while en route to Iowa City, Dan pulled the car over at a rest stop and popped the big question. "I was ready for him to propose, but I didn’t expect it at a rest stop. I was surprised, so that was nice," said Jessie.

The married life has brought with it a lot of new surprises itself, but even more so, a closer bond between the two. In a telephone conversation with Dan he said, "The biggest difference in a marriage is the level of new responsibilities. People can take these new responsibilities and work on them together and become closer or they can let them push each other apart. Thankfully Jessie and I get stronger everyday."

Wherever the Hales end up, it will always be nice for students, faculty and staff, to try and take full credit for their marriage. Rusty Koll, junior, summed it up the best, "How couldn’t they be married? Look at them."

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2003 - 2004 Season Opens

Private Eyes, a play by Steven Dietz, combines many styles of theatre, ranging from comedy to farce to murder mystery to drama. It will open the Galvin Fine Arts Studio Theater season this fall on Friday, September 12th. In the play, husband and wife, Matthew and Lisa, are cast side by side. Conflict rises when Lisa’s interest in the London director, Adrian, grows.

The aim of the Studio Theatre is to mount productions run entirely by students and provide them with the opportunity to be active members on all sides of the theatre. The director, actors, and technical designers for Private Eyes are all students. Before a student can direct a play in the Studio Theatre he/she must have successfully passed the directing class offered at SAU each spring. He/She must then apply to the faculty for a shot at directing a full-length show.

Director Daniel Sheridan (a junior and first time full-length play director) says that the theme for Private Eyes is that "Only by confronting the lies within ourselves can we face the truth. This challenge is not only afforded to Matthew, but every character in the play."

The cast has a total of 20 rehearsals before opening night. This causes a cast and crew to need swift guidance in all areas. Even though Sheridan is younger then his entire cast, Jill Schmits (Lisa) commented, "He brings a lot of maturity to the project, and is very experienced." The other actors agree with Schmits. All of the actors interviewed agreed that the show has a lot of depth; it is profound and makes you examine your own moral codes. Ted Stephens (Matthew) prefers the shortened rehearsal process because it is run like a professional production and less time is wasted. These committed actors, as well as their director and supporting technical crew, are certain to turn out a spectacular theatrical event that you won't want to miss.

Private Eyes
Galvin Fine Arts Studio Theater
September 12th & 13th @ 7:30pm
September 14th @ 3:00pm

Tickets available in the Galvin Box Office (563) 333-6251

EXTRA SHOWING DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND!!!

September 14th @ 7:30pm 

^{Get reservations ASAP at the Galvin Box Office.}

^{If this show or any other is sold out, you can come to the door 30 - 20 minutes early and put your name on the waiting list. If a non-prepaid reservation does not arrive by 15 minutes prior to show time, the ticket(s) will be sold to those on the waiting list. If a prepaid reservation is not at the doors within 5 minutes of the show time, the ticket(s) will be sold to those on the waiting list.}

^{Private Eyes Cast
Matthew - Ted Stephens III
Adrain - Matt Erkel
Frank - Rusty Koll
Lisa - Jill Schmits
Cory - Trina Gillen}

^{Director: Daniel Sheridan
Stage Manager: Michael Schafer
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Corinne Johnson}

^{++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++}

^{We Still Want to Know What You Did Last Summer}

^{Name: Allison Costello
Year: Junior
What did you do this summer? "Competed in the Miss Clinton County Scholarship Program. It was more nerve wracking than acting. People were there to see me and who I was and not a character in a show." Allison encourages women to get involved. She took 1st runner-up and was awarded $1000. She also won a $200 scholarship for a short essay.}

^{Name: Sarah Foley
Year: Sophomore
What did you do this summer? "Camp counselor for YMCA in Michigan."}

^{Name: Mike Schafer
Year: Senior
What did you do this summer? "I worked in the SAU scene shop this summer with Kris Eitrheim. It was just fun."}

^{Name: Chris Konrady
Year: Junior
What did you do this summer? "Worked in a lumberyard. Doing that all summer definitely makes a guy want to come back to school."}

^{Name: Daniel Sheridan
Year: Junior
What did you do this summer? "Worked at ComedySportz, Junior Theatre and Outback Steakhouse. The hardest part of the summer was losing $350 on a poker trip. Texas Hold em’ is my second passion after acting."}

^{Name: Gil Cervelli
Year: Sophomore
What did you do this summer? " I was a STAR for SAU taking care of the freshmen."}

^{Name: Matt Erkel
Year: Senior
What did you do this summer? "A Telephone Sales Representative (aka telemarketer). It gave me new insight on the illusion of the first time due to a constant repetition."}

^{Name: Brad Frazee
Year: Faculty - Galvin Assistant Technical Director
What did you do this summer? "Worked on Music Man at Countryside Community Theatre and traveled to New Orleans. I actually got to have my vacation. Working in theatre, that doesn’t happen very much."}

^{Name: Brian Strohm
Year: Senior
What did you do this summer? "I was the Technical Director at Countryside Community Theatre. The experience was enjoyable, stressful, enlightening, some headaches, but otherwise a good time."}

^{Name: Jaime Booher
Year: Sophomore
What did you do this summer? "I was involved in six different shows this summer. The big jobs were Assistant Technical Director for Jesus Christ Superstar and Stage Manager for Once on this Island. It was a long summer."}

^{Name: Eric Behnke
Year: Senior
What did you do this summer? "I was in Sheffield Massachusetts interning with the Barrington Stage Co., a professional theatre. I was the ASM for Funny Girl and ASM for the world premiere of The Game (a musical adaptation of Dangerous Liaisons). The whole experience was unbelievable on so many different levels."
(MORE ON BEHNKE'S STORY NEXT ISSUE)}

^{!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!}

^{Auditions! Auditions! Auditions!} 

^{Betrayal by Harold Pinter}

^{If you are wondering how to get involved in shows like Private Eyes or would like to work in the wonderful Studio Theater, your opportunity is quickly approaching! Harold Pinter's Betrayal will be performed November 14-16. Director Rusty Koll is holding auditions September 15th and 16th from 4pm-6pm in the Studio Theatre.}

^{Rusty Koll had heard about Harold Pinter for a long time and is excited to direct one of his plays. Koll Says, "The play is stylized and classy. It moves backwards; the audience gets to hear the indictment before they experience the offense. The most important things aren't said, rather communicated through pauses."}

^{Betrayal Auditions will be held:
Sep. 15th & 16th from 4pm - 6pm in the Studio Theater}

^{Betrayal Cast Needed
Emma - 34 Woman
Robert - 40 Male
Jerry - 40 Male
Waiter/Waitress - No age specific Male/Female}

^{*Ambrose is an educational theatre setting. You do not necessarily have to be these ages to play the role.}

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^{New Faces}

^{Name: Christopher Lee Bright
Year: Senior
Hometown: Sterling, IL
Major(s) & Minor(s): Theatre Major
Previous Productions: Man from Hell in Man Who Turned into a Stick, Harry the Horse in Guys and Dolls, Jess in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), Applegate in Damn Yankees, and Sheridan Whiteside in You Can’t Take It With You
Why did you come to SAU? "Marsha Svaleson (a transfer student from a previous year at SAU) had a lot of good things to say. I was originally from around here too."
What school did you come from? "Bradley University."
Favorite SAU experience? "Theatre party at 2138 Gaines (Theatre House) after the picnic. Everyone seemed so relaxed and cool. There were no groups that disassociated themselves from one another."
Latest project? "Adapting William Perry’s short story "The Kansas City Horn" into a screenplay to film next summer."
Favorite quote? "When you are willing to work for no money, live with no food, and walk with no clothes, you truly are ready to be a theatre artist." -Louis (something) from the San Francisco Mime Troop.
Favorite word? "Improvisation."
Least favorite word? "No."
If Heaven exists, what would you like God to say? "How in the bloody Hell did you get in?" (I guess his God is British).}

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^{SAU NEWSLETTER: NEXT EDITION}

^{The newsletter is intended to be sent out on the first business day of every month.  We apologize for the delay on the first issue, but due to technical difficulties and a restricted prep time, the issue was late. Next issue will be out on Wednesday, October 1st.}

^{Next issue will cover Eric Behnke's trip out to the Northeast to work professionally, Dan Hale's experience on the West coast in California workshopping with Dell' Arte: School of Physical Theatre, and an upcoming production of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman to be done at SAU in the next year staring Michael Kennedy, Theatre and Communications Professor.}

^{DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKED TO BE ADDED TO THE SAU NEWSLETTER MAILING LIST?  If yes, contact us at SAUTheatreNews@Yahoo.com and get their names put on the list.  If you would like to be removed from the mailing list, please contact us at the same address.  Thanks.}

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