Monkapult: a student-run improvisational comedy troupe. I've been involved in Monkapult for a total of seven quarters, and I've been a performer for six of those seven. In the Fall of my sophomore year I helped lead the group. If you're at all shy as a first-year (which I was to some extent), Monkapult will scare it right out of you! Performing without a script is a thrill I'll have a hard time doing without. Monkapult has also helped me to give back to the community; we donate most of our proceeds ($1 fee for shows) to volunteer organizations and charities. We've given to the American Cancer Society, Habitat for Humanity, groups trying to prevent domestic violence, and advocacy groups for troubled youth.
Kalamazoo College Chamber Choir: a small, advanced choral group. I sang with the Chamber Choir for a total of six quarters. Unfortunately, I have been unable to be a member my senior year. I love singing and have missed it terribly. I learned a lot from Jim Turner, the group's wonderful director.
Joe Hill: an original play written by a Kalamazoo playwright, which was judged awesome enough to travel to Columbus, Ohio for the regional level of the American College Theater Festival. This play was performed the Fall quarter of my first year here at K. I played five small roles.
Cloud 9: (Winter '97) This play was directed by visiting director and alumnus Cheryl Tomlinson. The subject of the play was gender roles, and I was in charge of gathering props and making various rag dolls.
A Midsummer Night's Dream: (Fall '97) Ah, classic Shakespeare. Never goes out of style. Ummm, well, for Adrianne, our director, the classic was just a little too boring; the play was set in modern-day Manhattan, with some surprisingly awesome results. My part was as a homeless woman I called Bernice. To see some pictures of this monumental production, click here.
Six Characters In Search of An Author: (Winter '98) For this play, an early-twentieth cetury classic by Italian playwright Pirandello, I donned purple stretch pants and became the 1950s beatnik. This play-within-a-play was set in the early-television era of the 1950s, and I played an intern at a TV studio.
W.A.S.P.: (Spring '98) For this one-act directed by senior Nikki McIlroy I decided to get off the stage and back in the shop. I designed quite a large number of costumes for the play, small as it was, and had some fun and more stress. The working metaphor was "clothes that a cartoon character might wear," and the costumes were duly shiny, stiff, colorful, and outlandish.
Sisters and Survivors: (Spring '99) For this evening of one-acts, the shows On the Bus and Trifles were presented under the heading "Sisters and Survivors." I costume-designed both of these student-directed efforts. For Trifles, a period piece about isolated Midwestern farm life, I researched turn-of-the-century fashion. For On the Bus, a world premiere about prostitutes and out-of-wedlock pregnancy, I was able to shop for more modern clothes. I did get to work with an icky wig, which was hopefully turned into a not-so-icky wig.
Fuente Ovejuna: (Fall '99) I was one of two assistant directors to director Lowry Marshall for this classic Spanish piece by Lope de Vega. Though we had problems with the casting, we turned out a very good product, if I do say so myself. This experience was unique in that the other assitant director, Joe, and myself, had to run rehearsals without Lowry for the first two weeks. This allowed us to stretch our director muscles and get ready for when we would both direct on our own, the very next quarter.
Tough Choices for the New Century: A Seminar
in Personal Responsibility: (Winter '00) While Joe wrestled with
Van Itallie's The Serpent, I took on
Tough Choices as my
pick for the senior directing series in the black-box Dungeon Theatre.
Having proposed the project nine months before, I was ready to direct my
three actors on to stardom! Well, at least to two sold-out houses in the
college black-box. Ahem. The umbrella title for our projects was "Seminars
and Ceremonies for the New Millennium," but my modern satire and
Joe's 1960s experimental piece really shared nothing more than that. Directing
was a great experience I'd definitely do again, although this time I'd
like more than $500, please. Please??
Overall, my experience with co-curricular activities
has been a very positive one. The performing arts have allowed me to grow
in technical skill as well as in performing and directing. My acting has
achieved greater depth through classes with Adrianne Krstansky and Holly
Hughes, and through inspiring experiences with my fellow students in shows,
workshops, and performing groups. I hope to continue with the performing
arts in a community environment after school is over.