St.
Ambrose University Theatre Department Newsletter
Edition 3-
'05-'06
November 7,
2005
518 West
Locust St. Davenport, IA 52804
Department
Chair: Kristofer Eitrheim - (563) 333-6255,
EitrheimKristoferJ@sau.edu
Faculty
Advisor: Dr. Corinne Johnson - (563) 333-6427,
JohnsonCorinneS@sau.edu
Newsletter
Editor: Jenny Stodd, SAU Senior, SAUTheatreNews@Yahoo.com
Contributing Journalists: Andrew Harvey, SAU
Junior / Emily Clifton, SAU Junior/ Kathryn Hale,
SAU Junior / Emily Kurash, SAU Freshman
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In This Issue:
1. Studio production
Wonderful World plays this weekend
2. Cast lists for "Dear
Edwina" and A Lie of the Mind
3. Guest Artist
Spotlight--Alumnus Dave Bonde
4. American College Theatre
Festival 2006
5. Urinetown Recap
6. Theatre Advisory
Board--Denny Hitchcock
7. Freshman Spotlight--Katie
Adams
8. Senior Salute--Jenny Stodd
9. Two Theatre Students Get
Married This Month
10. Ask A Graduate
Student--Mike Schaefer
11. Theatre Around the QCA This
Month
********************************************************
A WONDERFUL REASON
TO COME TO THE THEATRE
In just a few short weeks, the
SAU Studio Theatre will be opening Wonderful
World by Richard Dresser. The SAU Studio
Theatre has a running tradition of student
productions and of new and innovative plays.
Wonderful World is no different. Andrew Harvey
(Junior) makes his first appearance as a director of
a full-length play. The production crew includes:
Junior Kristy Heithoff as set designer, Junior Julie
Arnesdorf as costume designer, Sophomore Sean
Tweedale as stage manager, and Freshman Claire
Hasenmiller as assistant stage manager. Wonderful
World is a contemporary comedy that debuted at
the Humana festival in 2001.
The play is a dark comedy
centering around two brothers and the women in their
lives. Together, this family of truly
individualistic characters teeter on the brink of
disaster as secrets are revealed and
misunderstandings escalate. Dresser explores the
difficulties for people face with the cold, hard
truth.
Why should you see this show?
“The show opens the door to the role that white lies
and falsities play in relationships,” says director
Andrew Harvey. “It's hilarious!” says stage manager
Sean Tweedale.
The play will be performing in
the Studio Theatre November 11-13. Remember tickets
cost $6.00 and seating is limited, so get your
tickets now. Their will be 7:30 performances on
Friday 11th and Saturday 12th.
Their will also be 3:30 performances on Saturday 12th
and Sunday 13th. Note that this is the
first year a Saturday matinée has been added.
Tickets are available for $6.00
at the Galvin Box Office. Seating is limited, so
get your tickets as soon as possible.
Max............Jeremy Pack (SAU
Junior)
Jennifer.........Colleen
Winters (SAU Sophomore)
Barry............Jacob Kendall
(SAU Junior)
Patty............Claire
Richards (SAU Junior)
Lydia............Caryl Altemus
(SAU Faculty)
Director..................Andrew Harvey (SAU Junior)
Stage Manager.........Sean
Tweedale (SAU Sophomore)
Asst. Stage Manager...Claire
Hasenmiller (SAU Freshman)
Scenic Designer.........Kristy
Heithoff (SAU Junior)
Lighting Designer......Brad
Frazee (SAU Faculty)
Costume Designer......Julie
Arensdorf (SAU Junior)
Sound Designer.........Andrew
Harvey (SAU Junior)
Props Master............Scott
Peake (SAU Senior)
Technical Director......Kris
Eitrheim (SAU Faculty)
Faculty Advisor.........Dr.
Corinne Johnson (SAU Faculty)
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
VARIETY OF SHOWS AND
ACTORS HIT ALLAERT STAGE
The SAU Theatre Department is
putting on two completely contrasting shows within
the next couple of months, and now that the cast
lists are up, both casts and crews are already hard
at work on their productions.
The first weekend in December,
the character of Edwina Spoonapple will take center
stage in the children’s production, “Dear Edwina”.
Edwina is a 13-year-old girl who wants to be as
talented as her siblings (a math genius and two
musicians), who have numerous awards posted on their
family’s fridge. Edwina’s only talent is hosting
the “Dear Edwina Advice Giving Show” on her front
lawn every Saturday morning, with the help of her
devoted friends. This show is a special one,
however, because a talent scout from the Kalamazoo
Advice-A-Palooza Festival is in town watching
Edwina’s show—and she longs to have the invitation
to the festival posted on her family’s fridge.
“I think every kid that comes
to see this show will see themselves in one of the
characters,” explained Stage Manager Jamie Booher.
“These are just normal kids who come together once a
week and have the time of their life.”
Not only will the children
learn a few things from the snappy songs in this
production (“Hola Lola”, “Say No Thank You”, “Fork,
Knife, Spoon”, “Sing Your Own Song”), but their
creative lightbulbs will also go off. Edwina and
her friends (helped out by the directing/costuming
guidance of Dr. Cory Johnson and props master Senior
Scott Peake) find everything they need for their
show—the props, lights, set, costumes, etc—all from
Edwina’s garage.
Don’t miss this fantastic
children’s production for kids of all ages!
“Dear Edwina”
When: Saturday, Dec. 3
and Sunday, Dec. 4 @ 3pm
Where: Allaert
Auditorium in the Galvin Fine Arts Center
Tickets: Adults $7,
Children $5, Students with SAU ID are free
Call (563)
333-6251 or visit www.sau.edu/galvin
Cast and Crew
Edwina Spoonapple……………….Jenny
Stodd (SAU Senior)
Katie Spoonapple…………………Sarah
Ulloa (SAU Freshman)
Scott………………………………Sean Pankuch
(SAU Senior)
Becky……………………………...Jessica
Stratton (SAU Sophomore)
Kellie……………………………...Ashley
Domato (SAU Freshman)
Susie………………………………Sarah Foley
(SAU Senior)
Ziggy/Chef
Ludmilla/Napkin…….Claire Richards (SAU Junior)
Bobby………………………………Sean Tweedale
(SAU Sophomore)
Johnny……………………………...Seth
Kaltwasser (SAU Freshman)
Queen of Boola
Boola……………..Ashley Allen (SAU Senior)
Napkin/Ziggy’s Band………………Emily
Christiansen (SAU Freshman)
Perriwinkle…………………………Madeline
Dudziak (SAU Sophomore)
Carrie……………………………….Katie Adams
(SAU Freshman)
Harry………………………………..Hans
Schnekloth (SAU Sophomore)
Lola…………………………………Danielle Mason
(SAU Senior)
Farmer Jerry/Sonoma……………….Rick
Hoxie (SAU Senior)
William……………………………...Pat Laffey
(SAU Sophomore)
Aphrodite……………………………Christine
Goodall (SAU Sophomore)
Mary Sue Betty
Bob………………...Rebecca Kinsley (SAU Senior)
Fairy Forkmother……………………Emily
Kurash (SAU Freshman)
Lars………………………………….Zach Woods (SAU
Sophomore)
Talent Scout…………………………Kathryn
Hale (SAU Junior)
Director……………………………..Dr. Cory
Johnson (SAU Faculty)
Stage Manager……………………...Jamie
Booher (SAU Senior)
Music Director……………………...Dr.
Keith Haan (SAU Faculty)
Choreographer………………………Shellee
Frazee (SAU Alum)
Asst. Music
Director………………..Tyson Danner (SAU Senior)
Asst. Stage
Manager………………..Kathryn Hale (SAU Junior)
Props Master………………………..Scott
Peake (SAU Senior)
Lighting Designer…………………..Sam
Michael (SAU Senior)
Set Designer………………………...Kris
Eitrheim (SAU Faculty)
Costume Designer…………………..Dr.
Cory Johnson and her costume design class
In February, SAU Alum Dave
Bonde will direct the Sam Shepard drama A Lie of
the Mind. The drama surrounds the lives of two
families who are bonded through marriage, and the
troubles they face together.
“We have a really great cast,”
exclaimed Junior Marianna Caldwell who will be
playing Lorraine. “I am really excited to be a part
of this show.”
The cast will start rehearsals
in full after a majority of them return from
performing at the American College Theatre Festival
in January of 2006.
Congratulations to the cast and
crew!
A LIE OF THE MIND
When: Friday-Sunday,
Feb. 17-19, 2006
Friday-Sat. @
7:30pm, Sun. @ 3pm
Where: Allaert
Auditorium in the Galvin Fine Arts Center
Tickets: $10 Adults, $8
Students, SAU Students free with student ID
Call (563)
333-6251 or visit www.sau.edu/galvin
Cast and Crew
Frankie…………………..Jack
Kloppenborg (SAU Sophomore)
Jake……………………...Andrew Harvey (SAU
Junior)
Lorraine………………….Marianna
Caldwell (SAU Junior)
Beth……………………...Colleen Winters
(SAU Sophomore)
Sally……………………...Sarah Foley (SAU
Senior)
Bailor…………………….Sam Michael (SAU
Senior)
Mike……………………..Joe Feldman (SAU
Junior)
Meg………………….......Claire
Richards (SAU Junior)
Director………………….Dave Bonde (SAU
Alum)
Asst. Director……………Katie
Danalewich (SAU Junior)
Stage Manager…………..Amanda Bourn
(SAU Senior)
Set Designer……………..Kris
Eitrheim (SAU Faculty)
Costume Designer……….Dianne Dye
(SAU Staff)
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
SAU ALUM RETURNS FOR
DIRECTING GIG
As most of the Ambrose theatre
department already knows we have the great honor of
a hosting a guest director for our show coming up in
February. As Mike Kennedy takes on directing a
studio show; Dave Bonde an Ambrose alumnus will be
directing on the Allaert main stage and is kind
enough to tell us all a bit about himself.
Name: David Bonde
Hometown: Comanche, Iowa
Education: B.A. in Mass
Communications from St. Ambrose
M.F.A. in Theater from Humboldt
State University
What is your current
project? : “Directing A Lie of the Mind
by Sam Shepard at St. Ambrose in February.”
Why did you decide to lend
us your talents this season? “I’ve always been
fond of Ambrose and especially the faculty of the
Theatre Department. I really couldn’t lose by saying
‘yes’ to directing this project. It gives me a
chance to work with Cory, Kris and Mike again, and I
love the script.”
How long have you been in
the profession of directing? “I can’t claim
directing as my profession because I’ve always
worked other jobs to support my theater habit.
Directing is my passion. I’ve been involved with
this passion for 12 years, since I directed my first
one act in Cory’s directing class.”
What do you find compelling
about theater? “Theater’s ability to connect
with and compel and audience, in my opinion,
surpasses any other medium – even film. It’s the
most sophisticated form of communication I’ve ever
found and I have never yet grown tired of studying
or practicing it.”
How do you begin to approach
a project such as this? “I do great deal of
analysis, research, and careful study of the
script. Then I set all of that aside and make a leap
of faith, trust that my gutlevel response, informed
by all of my studying in the beginning, will leadme
to the best production that I can create.”
What is your favorite
quote? “This is the true joy in life, being
used for a purpose that you yourself consider to be
a mighty one; being a force of nature instead of a
feverish, selfish clod of ailments and grievances,
complaining that the world will not devote itself to
make you happy” –George Bernard Shaw.
What is your favorite word?
“I love words. A few of my favorites are
“elegant”, ‘daunting’, and ‘lunch’.”
What is your least favorite
word? “Polyester slacks, affidavit, and the
C-word.”
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
MOORHEAD MEETS OUR
EYES
Each winter, the St. Ambrose
University Theatre Department takes students to the
Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival
(KC/ACTF). SAU is a part of district five of this
festival, which includes colleges in the states of
Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, North
Dakota, and South Dakota. In addition to the many
theatrical aspects of this festival, there is one
main attraction: the Irene Ryan Acting Competition.
Irene Ryan was the actor who
played Granny on the television show “Beverley
Hillbillies.” According to KC/ACTF, “The main focus
of the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Auditions is to
celebrate the nation’s finest student actors and the
craft that enables them to create compelling and
truthful characterizations.” This year, SAU is
taking six of its finest actors who have been
nominated by respondents who have seen their work in
the past year. Junior Andrew Harvey, Junior
Marianna Caldwell (both nominated from Blithe
Spirit), Junior Jeremy Pack, Sophomore Jack
Kloppenborg(both nominated from Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern Are Dead), Senior Jenny Stodd and
Senior Sean Pankuch (both nominated for Urinetown)
will all be traveling to compete in the scholarship
competition this January.
New rules for the competition
debuted in 2005, and the 2006 festival rules will
remain the same. Nominees must prepare a two-person
scene, lasting a maximum of three minutes in the
preliminary round (the scene may or may not include
singing). In the semi-final round, you must perform
the same scene and an additional two-person scene
with the same partner, not exceeding five minutes
(again, either of these scenes can involve music).
Finally, in the final round, you add a monologue (or
a solo musical number) to the same two scenes, and
you have a maximum of six minutes to present all
three. Partners chosen thus far for the 2006
festival are Junior Claire Richards (with Harvey),
Sophomore Sean Tweedale (with Pack), Junior Joe
Feldman (with Caldwell and Kloppenborg), Senior
Scott Peake (with Pankuch), and Freshman Seth
Kaltwasser (with Stodd).
When speaking about the
festival, Michael Kennedy says, “You have to prepare
for all three, cause ya never know, see?” What
Kennedy means is that students who are nominated
must prepare all three pieces required for the final
round, since you never know how far you’ll go.
Within the past four years, St. Ambrose has made
quite a name for itself at the festival with its
small school “Cinderella Story” history. Not only
have several Ambrose nominees made it to the
semi-final and final rounds of the Irene Ryan
competition, but we have had two winners from
our small but strong department. In 2003, Dan Hale
(’04) was one of two regional winners, and last year
in St. Louis, Daniel Sheridan (’05) was not only
awarded a regional winner, but also came home with
the Classical Acting Award for his scene from
Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.
Caldwell has the advantage,
being the only one among this year’s nominees to
have performed at the festival before. “Last year,
my judge didn’t like the playwright Christopher
Durang, and I did a piece by him, so I didn’t move
on. It can be something as little as that that
stands in your way,” Caldwell explained.
Jenny Stodd and Sean Pankuch,
who were nominated in October, are working fast to
get their pieces together. “Jenny and I have a
harder time,” Pankuch admitted, “because we both
want to show off our singing voices, and we both
look extremely young. It’s hard to find two
contrasting scenes with the same partner.”
In the December edition, the
newsletter will give all the final ACTF information,
including what pieces each nominee will be
performing. Mark your calendars now—the first
showing of the Irene Ryan pieces will be on Monday,
December 12th, 2005, at 6:30pm.
This year’s Kennedy
Center/American College Theatre Festival will take
place from January 22-28, 2006 in Fargo, North
Dakota and Moorhead Minnesota (pack your mittens,
gang). The festival will take place at Minnesota
State University-Moorhead, Concordia College and
North Dakota State University. Along with the
nominees for the Irene Ryan Scholarship Competition
and their scene partners, members of the SAU Theatre
Callboard will attend, as well as professors from
the Theatre Department. However, anyone who is
willing to pay the registration fee (usually around
$50) is welcome to join. Open spots are always
offered to Theatre Majors/Minors first, and more
information on the number of extra people able to
attend will be included in the next newsletter. You
don’t just sit around, either—your registration fee
allows you to participate in any of the offered
festival workshops, attend plays, and audition for
Summer Stock Theatre Companies. If you are even
thinking about attending, you should give your name
to Department Chair Kris Eitrheim at (563)
333-6255. At this time we believe there is space
for two women and two men, but please ask Eitrheim
if you’d like to go—we’d love to have you along for
the ride.
Congratulations to all of the
SAU Irene Ryan nominees, and we hope to see you all
on Monday, December 12th for the first
scene showing!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
URINETOWN RECAP
The St. Ambrose Theatre
Department opened their first mainstage production
of the year October 13-16 with Urinetown—“not
the place of course, the musical.”
Urinetown is a satirical
musical, and pokes fun at numerous aspects of life,
including theatre itself. The show takes place in a
gotham-like city. After a twenty year drought, it is
no longer feasible to have private toilets, people
must pay to use public restrooms, which are owned
and operated by Caldwell B. Cladwell of UrineGood
Company. If they refuse to pay, then are exiled to
Urinetown, which in reality, is death. From out of
the poor citizens, a young man named Bobby Strong
starts a revolution which allows all the people to
“pee for free.” Although a few are killed along the
way to freedom, the revolution is successful.
However, the water soon dries up, revealing that
although Caldwell B. Cladwell may have been cruel,
he did know how to efficiently conserve the water.
As a special addition on
Thursday, October 13, Father Bud Grant led a
talk-back after the show for the audience on the
underlying messages within the musical, which
brought up themes as rich vs. poor, and
conservation, and that the main point seemed to be
more about people learning to live with each other
rather than Malthus’ theory on earth’s resources
running out.
Although the title may have
unnerved some people, Urinetown had fairly
large audiences each performance. A review published
in the Quad City Times on October 13, prior to the
show’s opening stated “…audiences who are in the
mood for something new and those with an offbeat
sense of humor will be thrilled to see it…”
Publicity such as this may have aided in bringing in
a large crowd.
A respondent viewed the
performance on Saturday October 16 to nominate two
actors for the Irene Ryan Acting Competition at the
American College Theatre Festival. Nominated for
their fine performances were Jenny Stodd (Little
Sally), and Sean Pankuch (Officer Lockstock). They
will compete in Fargo, ND, this January with the
nominees from previous shows. A review in the River
Cities’ Reader stated “St. Ambrose’s Urinetown
was good enough to make you feel confidant in
the future of American musical performers.”
Congratulations and good luck to both of them!
Urinetown had a 25
member cast, and numerous other people on technical
crew and production teams. Congratulations to
Director Michael Kennedy, Musical Director Marti
Dunn-Hall, Choreographer Shellee Frazee, and all
those involved on a fine performance!
Sources:
Nancy, Ruby. “You’re in for a
Surprise with St. Ambrose Musical.” Quad City Times
13 Oct 2005.
Schulz, Mike. “St. Ambrose’s
Urinetown: So Funny I Almost…” River Cities’
Reader 19 Oct 2005.
##########################################################
GETTING TO KNOW THE
SAU THEATRE ADVISORY BOARD
Many SAU Theatre students might
be unfamiliar with the workings of the SAU Theatre
Advisory Board—or, possibly have never even heard of
it. If this is the case with you, then take this
opportunity to educate yourself!
The SAU Theatre Advisory Board
consists of a group of three theatre professionals
who meet with the SAU Theatre faculty once a year to
review academic curriculum, season offerings, and to
ensure that the department is up-to-date, thorough,
and is functioning at its highest level. The
2005-2006 academic year marks the Board’s sixth year
in operation; the three members serve a term of
three years at a time. The first board consisted of
Ken Kordick (an SAU alumnus who is now a
professional actor), Don Wooten (the founder of the
Genesius Guild of Rock Island), and Denny Hitchcock
(founder of and producer at Circa ’21 Dinner
Playhouse in Rock Island). Returning for a second
term, Hitchock was joined by Todd Hensley (a
professional lighting designer in Chicago) and
William Theisen (the artistic director of the
Skylight Opera Theatre in Milwaukee). For the next
three months, the Newsletter will focus on a Board
member; this month brings Denny Hitchcock into the
spotlight.
Hitchcock received both his
Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Mankato State
University in Minnesota before coming to Rock Island
in 1969 to teach Theatre at Augustana College for he
was employed for the next seven years. In 1974, he
attended a conference in Minneapolis on dinner
theatres; afterwards, mulling over the information
presented about ideal dinner theatre locations, he
discovered that the Quad City area fit the bill
perfectly—so, in June of 1977, he opened Circa ’21
Dinner Playhouse in the District of Rock Island.
Speaking of Circa ’21, he declared that “its purpose
is to provide an evening’s entertainment with a good
meal, for as many people as possible, for a
profit.” Hitchcock feels that the role of live
theatre in the Quad City area is a vital one. “When
times are tough, theatre helps to raise spirits;
it’s a diversion that should reach as many people as
it possibly can.”
Over the years, he has enjoyed
working professionally with the SAU faculty as well
as the students; these include—but certainly are not
limited to—Jenny Stodd (’06), Kim Kurtenbach (’96),
Matt Speak (’96), and Lou Hare (’02). Praising the
faculty, Hitchcock proclaimed that “Mike [Kennedy],
Kris [Eitrheim], and Cory [Johnson] have taken the
department in a pragmatic direction, opening
professional doors for their students…their
dedication is commendable; on her sabbatical last
fall, Cory could’ve done something self-serving, but
instead she chose to go to Los Angeles to learn more
about film and television in order to help her
students with career choices.” While he lauded the
department, he admitted he’d love to see some
changes, particularly an expansion in the size of
the faculty because “areas are missing, like stage
combat and dance, that could make the students as
well-rounded theatrically as they could be.”
Hitchcock stated that he would
love to see the department continue to prosper and
to grow—so, in Circa ‘21’s Summer 2006 production of
On Golden Pond featuring Michael Kennedy and
Kim Kurtenbach, the entire proceeds from one
evening’s performance will go to the Michael Kennedy
Acting Scholarship to benefit an incoming freshman
Theatre Major.
Stay tuned until next month
when the Newsletter will find its light with
lighting designer Todd Hensley.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FRESHMAN SPOTLIGHT
Name: Katie
Adams
Hometown: Morton, IL
Major(s) & Minor(s):
Theatre/Journalism (majors), Spanish/Radio
Broadcasting (Minors)
Previous Productions:
The Pajama Game, Ten Little Indians, The Man Who
Came To Dinner, Little Shop of Horrors, Any Number
Can Die
Why did you come to SAU?
“I’m the fourth in my generation to come here. I
also came for the Theatre and Communications
Departments.”
Favorite SAU experience?
“Running spotlight for Urinetown.”
Latest project?
“Playing ‘Carrie’ in the children’s production,
‘Dear Edwina’.”
Dream job? “To be the
next Diane Sawyer.”
Favorite Actor/Actress?
“Johnny Depp and Charlize Theron.”
Favorite phrase/word?
“I believe in an art that cannot be compromised.”
Least favorite phrase/word?
“No.”
What do you hope to
accomplish at SAU? “To leave in four years with
a Bachelor of Arts Degree.”
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
SENIOR SALUTE
Name: Jennifer Lynn
Stodd
Hometown: Geneseo, IL
Majors/Minors: Theatre
Previous Productions at SAU:
My Favorite Year (Ensemble), Our Town
(Ensemble), Baby With the Bathwater
(Cynthia), “Pippi Longstocking” (Props mistress),
“Wanda’s Visit” (Wanda), H.M.S. Pinafore
(Relative), “The Jungle Book” (Tabuki/choreographer),
Urinetown (Little Sally)
Favorite role at SAU?
“Little Sally in Urinetown.”
Why did you come to SAU?
“I spent my first semester at Millikin
University and didn’t enjoy it. I came to SAU the 2nd
semester of my freshman year because it was
recommended to me and close to home, and thought it
was only a temporary thing—but then I saw
Brighton Beach Memoirs and started meeting
people in the department and realized that there was
something great happening here. So obviously I
stayed!”
Favorite SAU experience?
“Probably all of the ACTF (American College Theatre
Festival) trips. How can you not bond and create
lifelong memories when you’re with loud theatre folk
and snug as a bug in a 15-passenger van?”
Latest project?
“Playing Edwina Spoonapple in ‘Dear Edwina’”
Dream job? “Well
working in theatre is the obvious one. But other
than that, starring in something that was written
just for me, and opening up a performing arts
academy for kids.”
Favorite Actor/Actress? “Bernadette
Peters, Billy Crudup and Johnny Depp.”
Biggest Pet Peeve:
“When you’re working on a project, theatrical or
not, and not everyone is on the same team. That
really irks me.”
Favorite Phrase:
“Fantabulous.”
Advice for Incoming
Freshmen: “Have appreciation for everything and
everyone. If you’re into technical theatre, don’t
ever think you’re too good for actors; and if you’re
an actor, pick up a hammer or a paint brush once in
a while. Even if you find out you only excel in one
or the other, you’ll know what the others go
through.”
What will you miss the most
about SAU? “Cory, Mike, Dianne, and Kris—they
will never take the credit they deserve for the
people we become in 4 years with them. And of
course, I’ll miss my fellow theatre pals.”
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
TWO THEATRE STUDENTS
TIE THE KNOT!
In August of 2002 at the Annual
Theatre Department Picnic, Dan McGinn (who will
graduate in December with a degree in Business) and
Jodi Leonard (who graduated in ’05 with a degree in
Music Education) walked in the doors of Allaert
Auditorium at the same time. They never guessed
they would be spending the rest of their lives
together.
“When we walked in the door
together, we started talking immediately,” Leonard
explained. “It was like we’d known each other
forever, and we kept thinking we knew each other
from somewhere, but we didn’t.” They spent the
whole night at the picnic talking. Then the god of
Thespis stepped in to lend a hand.
“We both showed up for Gypsy
auditions the next day,” Leonard told us. “So we
hung out there all the time and then started hanging
out outside of the theatre.” Leonard explained that
after a week of hanging out, she and McGinn knew
they wanted to date each other.
A friend of the couple and
Leonard’s Maid of Honor, Senior Sarah Foley, says,
“They are just the cutest couple in the world. I
remember when they met like yesterday.” Senior
Jenny Stodd, who is also one of Leonard’s
bridesmaids, explains, “Dan (McGinn) would do
anything for her, and she for him. Really, it’s
like they’ve been married for about two years
already. You can tell how happy they make one
another.”
McGinn and Leonard played
opposite each other in the 2004 operetta H.M.S.
Pinafore. “I remember Dan telling us he was
going to propose on the Sunday matinee,” Stodd
recalled. “He got all secretive and funny when he
talked about it. He had to hide the ring in our
friend Scott Peake’s room so Jodi wouldn’t snoop for
it.”
Leonard recalls that at the end
of the show, she and McGinn climbed down through a
trap door where the orchestra pit is located and
into the studio theatre. On the way down, McGinn
tapped her shoulder and softly said, “Oh Beacon, my
Beacon” (which is a line from the show). Leonard
turned to see him holding out a beautiful engagement
ring, and she slipped it on over here white glove as
they happily bounded into the studio together.
“We were all waiting at the
door, because we knew he was proposing,” Stodd
remembers. “Sarah (Foley) and costumer Dianne Dye
and I were all waiting with cameras. We were
literally jumping up and down hugging each other—it
was so exciting!”
McGinn and Leonard have chosen
to have their wedding later this month. The two
belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Laterday
Saints, which means they must be married in the
Morman Temple in Navoo, IL. This ceremony will take
place on Tuesday, November 22, 2005. Only those who
are married in the temple are allowed to witness the
ceremony, but McGinn’s family and several of the
couple’s close friends will be waiting outside to
congratulate them. “We’ve talked to them about
their religion many times, and we understand why we
can’t watch them get married,” Stodd explains.
“Even though we can’t go in, we still want to be
there. It IS their wedding day, after all!”
Even though few can see McGinn
and Leonard get married, they will be having a ring
ceremony at their church here in Davenport on
Saturday, November 26, 2005, following with a
reception so that friends and family can celebrate
their special union with them.
“We’re really excited for
them,” explained Senior Sean Pankuch, who is one of
McGinn’s groomsmen. “To stand up at their wedding
for them is an honor.”
When McGinn is asked about his
approaching wedding day, he is all smiles. “I can’t
wait,” is all he needed to say.
The next time you attend the
SAU Theatre Picnic in the fall, make sure you talk
to those new students. You never know—one of them
may be the match for you.
Congratulations Dan and Jodi!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
WORDS FROM AN
ALUMNUS IN GRADUATE SCHOOL
Although several theatre
students are eager to perform, teach, or just live
in the "real world" after graduating from SAU, a
handful of theatre alumni are going to graduate
school to further their knowledge in the Arts.
Michael Schaefer ('03), Lou Hare ('02), Ted Stephens
III ('01 and '04), Dan Hale ('04) and Daniel
Sheridan ('05) are all getting their M.F.A.'s in
various programs throughout the country. This
month, alumnus Mike Schafer shares his advice about
the transition from an undergraduate program to
graduate school. Schafer is a graduate student at
Northern Illinois University School of Theatre and
Dance, studying toward an MFA in Theatre
Technology. He plans to graduate in May 2007.
Q: What as, an
undergrad, did you fail to place a significant
amount of importance upon that has affected your
studies as a grad student?
A: Since my studies are
focused more on scenic construction, I wish I would
have spent more time in the scenic shop to develop
my skills in construction as well as metal work. I
have been able to make up for that by asking many,
many questions.
Q: How do you juggle
academia with a social life and a job?
A: My social life and
my job go hand in hand. I have made a huge attempt
to make friends in the theatre. We make a point to
go out to eat sometimes and just relax away from the
theatre. The other half of my social life is my
ability to “get away” from the theatre and be with
the love of my life. I make a point to not live in
the theatre, but to live my life with theatre.
Q: How much interaction
do you have with undergrads?
A: I have a ton of
interaction with the undergrads. I am currently a
teacher’s assistant in the introduction to
stagecraft class that all majors (tech, acting and
dance) have to take in order to graduate. This
class has about 30-35 students each semester that
are all undergrads, each with a different range of
skills and interest. In addition, these same
students must fulfill a lab in which they work two
hours per week in the scenic shop, perform a job on
a running crew for a show and work on one strike
crew. In addition, I interact constantly with
undergrads who are not involved with the class while
working on my production for the semester and in my
classes, which are often a mix of graduate and
undergraduate students. My interaction with the
undergrads is a mixture of teacher, classmate and
friend.
Q: What has been the
most difficult adjustment to make as you
transitioned from undergrad to grad?
A: The biggest
adjustment I had to make was making the change in
how the department is run. Each school and each
professional theatre runs in a slightly different
way. My job as a technical director was not clearly
defined for me in either undergrad or when I first
got here. I had to adjust when I made mistakes,
stress out when I forgot something and also learn to
step back when needed.
Q: Has the education you
received at SAU helped/hindered you in grad school?
A: It helped me
tremendously. SAU taught me all about the different
aspects of theatre, which has allowed me to better
work with everyone involved and work with their
different personalities. A technical director must
learn how to balance everyone’s needs and not let
anyone down. My education as a stage manager was
perhaps the best learning experience at SAU.
Q: How did you choose your grad
school and what advice would you give on choosing a
school?
A: Grad school for me was
actually an easy choice. I chose the field of
Theatre Technology, which is only offered in a small
number of schools, only around 8-10. I started by
looking at all the schools and found that two of the
closest schools to SAU had what I was looking for:
UW-Madison and Northern Illinois. The final choice
was actually an easy one for me, due to the fact
that UW-Madison would not give me an assistantship,
but Northern Illinois did. Both programs had
strengths and weaknesses and I was willing to go to
both.
My advice is to do
lots of research and shop around for what school
would have the best fit for you. The best program
for you would be one that would strengthen your
weaknesses and use your strengths.
Q: Why did you feel grad school
was a necessity for you, and what is your goal post
graduation?
A: Grad School was necessary
for me, because I needed a MFA for my chosen
career. My goal is to become a university
professor; and I needed the experience of teaching,
the extra years of working on productions and the
degree in order to accomplish this. Besides the
fact that I really enjoy teaching, I wanted to find
a career in theatre that would be stable and
consistently bring in a paycheck. Just working as a
freelance artist would not give me that stability.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()())()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
THEATRE AROUND THE
QCA THIS MONTH
Show:
Wonderful World
Producer: St. Ambrose
University
Dates: Friday, November
12 @ 7:30pm
Saturday, November
13 @ 3pm AND 7:30pm
Sunday, November 14
@ 7:30pm
Tickets: $6 General
admission; seating is limited so get your tickets
today!
Location: 518 W.
Locust St, Davenport, IA in the Studio Theatre,
located in the
Galvin Fine
Arts Center basement.
Show: “Dear Edwina”
Producer: St. Ambrose
University
Dates: Saturday,
December 3rd and Sunday, December 4th
at 3pm
Tickets: $7 adults, $5
children, SAU students free with student ID
Location: Allaert
Auditorium in the Galvin Fine Arts Center
Show: ComedySportz
Quad Cities
Producer: Circa ’21
Dinner Playhouse
Dates: Every Friday
and Saturday night at 7:00pm
Tickets: $8 prepaid,
$10 at the door
Location: 1818 3rd
Ave, Rock Island, IL. Downtown in the District,
next to Circa ’21.
Note: SAU students
Andrew Harvey and Don Abbott are
ComedySportz
players. Check with them to catch them onstage.
Show: Christmas From
the Heart
Producer: Circa ’21
Dinner Playhouse
Dates: Wednesday, Nov.
9 thru Sat, Dec. 31
Wednesday
Matinees @ 1pm
Wednesday, Fri,
Sat Evenings @ 7:15pm
Sunday Evenings @
5:15pm
Tickets: Prices range
from $24.96-$41.60 for dinner and show
Call (309)
788-7733 x2 or visit www.circa21.com
Location: 1828 3rd
Ave, Rock Island, IL; located in the District of RI
Note: Producer Denny
Hitchcock is on the SAU Theatre Advisory Board
Alum Kimberly (Kurtenbach)
Furness is a cast member
Show: It’s A
Wonderful Life
Producer: Playcrafter’s
Barn Theatre
Dates: Now thru Sunday,
Nov. 20th
Fri & Sat @ 7:30pm,
Sun @ 3pm
Tickets: $8 General
admission
Call (309)
762-0330 or visit www.playcrafters.com
Location: 4950 35th
Ave, Moline, IL
Show: The Scottish
Play: A Travesty!
Producer: Black Hawk
College
Dates: Thursday, Nov.
10-Sunday, Nov. 20th, 2005
Tickets: $5 General
admission
Call (309)
796-5419
Location: Black Hawk
College, Quad City Campus
6600 34th
Ave, Moline, IL
Show: Promise Ring
Producer: New Ground
Theatre
Dates: Thursday, Nov. 10
thru Sunday, Nov. 20th
Tickets: $12 Adults, $10
Students
Call (563)
326-7529
Location: 2822 Eastern
Ave, Davenport, IA
Mary
Nighswander Theatre located on the Annie
Whittenmeyer Complex
Show: A Christmas
Carol
Producer: Quad City
Music Guild
Dates: December 2-3 @
7:30pm, Dec. 4 @ 2pm
Tickets: $12.50 Adult,
$8 Students
Call (309)
762-6610 or visit www.qcmusicguild.com
Location: Prospect Park
Auditorium (located off 16th St. near
Southpark Mall), Moline
*Parking is
located in the JC Penny Parking lot at Southpark
Mall. Buses will
Take patrons
to the theatre since parking is limited.
Note: SAU Senior Scott
Peake is a member of the cast
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
SAU
NEWSLETTER:
NEXT EDITION
The newsletter is sent out on the first
business day of every month. Next month’s issue
will be released on December 5 of 2005.
To inquire further about St. Ambrose
University and our offered courses, degrees, events,
and staff, visit
www.SAU.edu for information. Come check out
the SAU Theatre Website at www.sau.edu/theatre. If
interested in learning more about the Theatre
Department, please contact theatre chair Kristofer
Eitrheim by phone at (563) 333-6255 or e-mail at
EitrheimKristoferJ@sau.edu.
The next issue will include a story about
the mainstage production of A Lie of the Mind,
an interview with alumnus Dan Hale on his graduate
school experiences, information on another advisory
board member, Todd Hensley, and more updates on the
2006 American College Theatre Festival.
DO YOU KNOW
ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE SAU
NEWSLETTER MAILING LIST? If yes,
contact us at
SAUTheatreNews@Yahoo.com and get their names
put on our e-mail list. If you would like to be
removed from the mailing list, please contact us at
the same address. Thanks.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
