Newsletter Archives

Summer, 2004

Greetings, Friends!

ACADEMIC YEAR & FESTIVAL PLAYHOUSE 03-04: We celebrated our 40th Season, "Tribes & Rituals." We began in the Fall with MACBETH, directed by Professor Karen Berthel. Working with students on Shakespeare's text is a specialty of Professor Berthel's. Normally we do not quote reviews in our end of the year reports, but we will make an exception here as Kalamazoo Gazette reviewer Gus Gianakaris, a theatre scholar and historian noted: "…a strong production of Shakespeare's masterpiece…effectively directed …to keep the full house at riveted attention." Amazingly enough, this was the first time we've ever produced at K!

Winter saw A SENIOR PERFORMANCE CELEBRATION: TWO WEEKENDS OF STUDENT DIRECTED PLAYS IN ROTATING REPERTORY. It was a huge challenge for us to produce five different student directed plays in rotating repertory over two weekends on our mainstage, but we managed to pull it off! Comprising the bill was STORIES & DREAMS; i.e., THE BFG (based on the famous children's book by Roald Dahl) and directed by Nora Hauk, and Pam Gien's THE SYRINGA TREE, a one woman show, performed and directed by Emily Campbell; and second, IN YOUR FACE & OTHER ABSURDITIES, consisting of Beckett's KRAPP'S LAST TAPE directed by Matt Pieknik, Ives' THE RED ADDRESS directed by Jack Cardinal, and Sarah Kane's CLEANSED directed by Brian Ruby. In the Spring, guest artist African American musical theatre scholar and director Dr. Calvin A. McClinton returned to direct HAIR. Through the many long hours of rehearsal and thanks to the talents of Calvin (who doubled as Vocal Director), lighting designer Professor Lanny Potts, guest artist costume co- designer Sas Hanson, and the student artistic staff of choreographer Marla Hahn (K'04), band leader Will Miller, (K'05), scenic designer Mike Sabourin (K'06), and costume co-designer Rachael Weisman (K'05), HAIR was one of the biggest popular successes we've had in the Playhouse in the last few years (like MACBETH, it sold out many of its performances). In addition, in Spring, I directed Pinter's OLD TIMES in the Dungeon Theatre, one of my favorite productions in some time!

We also had some tremendous guest artists this year! In October, FREE JUJUBE BROWN, a one-man show written and performed by Psalmayene 24, and produced by the New York Hip-Hop Theatre Festival was performed to a full-house standing ovation in the Playhouse. At Homecoming 03 in October, Lisa Kron (K'83) was honored by the college and received the Distinguished Alumni Award. Lisa was also on hand to visit classes and have lunch with current theatre students. Professional Stage Combat director Jon Reeves choreographed the stage fights for MACBETH. Indian Theatre specialist Suman Mukherjee taught a Kathakali (Indian dance theatre) workshop in the Fall. In Winter, local actresses Patricia Daniels and Sharon Williams returned to present the play, THE SPY & THE ORANGE GIRL in the Dungeon Theatre, a historical piece about Aphra Behn and Nell Gwyn. In conjunction with the Asian Student Association, in February in Dalton Theatre, we presented STIR- FRIDAY NIGHT, sketch and improv comedy from Chicago's only Asian American theatre troupe. In addition to directing HAIR, Calvin McClinton taught our course in African American Theatre. Also in Spring, Theatre Arts co-sponsored "Global Frequency: Tune in to the World of Creation," a festival of hip- hop artists which included poets and filmmakers Thea Monee and Queen GodIS.

We continued our continuing service learning initiative with The Ark, Kalamazoo's only teen crisis center. Now taught by Karen, the Improvisation class uses Augosto Boal's and Michael Rohd's Activating Theatre techniques to bring awareness to teen issues such as peer pressure, and underage drinking. Also, as part of this initiative, and collaboration with the Kalamazoo College Institute of Service Learning, throughout the year there were theatre arts Senior Individualized Projects and Independent Studies in which the K seniors worked with high school improv troupes at Hackett High School and some Kalamazoo Public high schools.

Finally, on top of everything else this past year, at Homecoming, we dedicated The Charles Tully Design Studio, honoring the late Charles Tully (K'00) and providing a facility where our theatre design students can conduct research and create. The studio also houses all of our new sound design equipment as well as a permanent exhibit of Charles' work and a rotating exhibit of current student designs. THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you who made a special trip to Kalamazoo for the dedication! We heard some inspiring words from three of the previous winners of the Charles Tully Design Award - Devin Brain (K'00), Jyl Ream (K'03), and Justin Thomas (K'01) - as well as Mrs. Erin Tully. And after we repaired to a wonderful celebration dinner at Arie's Café in Plainwell.

HEY, DID YOU KNOW that K College ranked #19 in the 2003 Princeton Review of the Top 350 Colleges & Universities in the nation in two areas? 1) Accessibility to faculty and 2) Excellence in College Theatre! We thank our students, and the student run performing groups of Monkapult (improv), Frelon (dance), CAT (Cultural Awareness Troupe) and AsiaFest of the Asian Student Association. We think they all contributed to this rating!

NEXT YEAR'S SEASON: With a nod to all of the indispensable artists of the theatre such as actors, designers, and directors, our 41st Season is a celebration of The Playwright: Modern, Emerging, and Classical. In the Fall, we begin with THE THREEPENNY OPERA by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill (Modern). I will direct with Vocal and Musical Direction by music professors James Turner and Tom Evans. In Winter, for the first time ever, we will produce A STUDENT PLAYWRIGHTING FESTIVAL (Emerging) on our main stage. It will create opportunities for playwrights, actors, and directors. There will be two evenings of 7 BY 10 (fully staged 10-minute plays), STAGED READINGS OF ONE-ACT PLAYS, and a staged reading of the full -length play, ALISON SHIELDS by Joe Tracz (a 2004 graduate of Kalamazoo College and recently recognized playwrighting regional winner in the 2004 American College Theatre Festival). There will also be playwrighting workshops, senior individualized projects, and feedback sessions with audiences, local, and professional playwrights. We will close in Spring with THE ROVER by Aphra Behn - (Classical), directed by Karen Berthel. Behn, the first major female playwright writing in the English language, wrote THE ROVER as both a Restoration Comedy of Intrigue and a frank insight into the sexual politics of the time, which still resonate today.

Finally, A SAD FAREWELL, AND THREE BIG CONGRATULATIONS!
1. It is with great sadness that I announce that Sas Hanson will no longer be our guest artist costume designer. After thinking long and hard about it, Sas has decided that she wants to devote more time to her family and also her new career as a secondary school teacher (Sas will begin student teaching in the Fall). We will begin immediately to look for a replacement for Sas; (it won't be easy)! In the meantime, let me personally - and publicly - thank Sas for the last five years, not just for all of her wonderful designs, but for her professionalism, dedication, and kindness.
2. Congratulations to my colleague and my friend Professor Karen Berthel, who was hired as the tenure track acting teacher! Karen has been here the last few years as a Visiting Professor and, in addition to MACBETH, has directed TOP GIRLS, AS YOU LIKE IT, and ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD, as well as teaching Fundamentals of Acting II & III, Voice & Diction, Senior Seminar, and now Improvisation as well as Yoga. Needless to say, our students absolutely love Karen. Here is what some recent alums and current students had to say about her: " an exemplary artistic mentor … a splendid listener … makes everyone around her… comfortable … She promotes an organic way of learning with each student doing what is right for him/her, and by allowing the students to make personal decisions … in all honesty, Karen Berthel is the best teacher I have ever had in my life."

3. Finally, ANOTHER TREMENDOUS TIP OF THE CAP to Lisa Kron (K'83) whose current piece, WELL, (described by Lisa as "a solo show with five other people in it"), had its official premiere at the New York Shakespeare Festival at The Public Theater in March, 2004 and was a smash success! Here are some of the quotes re: WELL in The New York Times and other sources: " …what Lisa Kron the playwright is doing…is an act of generosity and humility… the hearts of the audience (dissolve)… the show has a warmth and accessibility that makes you want to recommend it to everyone … passion and ingenuity bound up in Kron's writing…Beyond Kron's love of truth, WELL offers something bigger: It is political in a sense rare nowadays…" YAY, LISA! WE RE VERY PROUD! I didn't get the pleasure of getting to NY to see the play, but several alums and faculty did and all were enthralled! There is a rumor that the WELL may appear again in the Fall, (perhaps in a more "uptown" venue?) but I'm sure Lisa will let us know.

4. A final congrats to all whom will be featured in the July issue of LUX ESTO! Feature writer Jeff Palmer decided to do an article on some of the K alums working in the film and television industry - and there are many! So make sure you check this out. But in the meantime congratulations to Lisa-Marie Bleyaert (K'03), Emily Campbell (K'04), Paul Eads (K'73), John Davies (K'75), Rich Hutchman (K'91), Jeff Lung (K'01), Pam Marsden (K'78), Brick Mason (K'75), Jeff Patterson (K'97), Rocky Russo (K'02), Leslie Simmer (K'82), Paige Simpson (K'77), and Teresa Tucker-Davies (K'76). More info on each follows in the class notes below.

THEATRE ALUMNI NEWS: 00s: LET'S START WITH OUR RECENT GRADUATING CLASS of 04!: Emily Campbell (was hired as an acting intern for six months at the Festival Theatre in St. Croix Wisconsin, where she will play Poppy in NOISES OFF, Hermia in MIDSUMMER, and Cecily in IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, among other roles. Another full-time acting job right after graduation!…Max Cherem has been awarded a Fulbright Research grant to Nepal…Nora Hauk has a Fulbright teaching fellowship in Korea next year. In order to accept it, Nora turned down an offer to work for the world-renowned Theatre de la Jeune in Minneapolis. 03: Timo Aker was in Africa this year and also climbed Mt. Kiliminjaro!…Lisa -Marie Bleyaert is assistant to talent department @ LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN…Nicholas Kessler is acting summer stock at the Oklahoma Shakespeare Festival where he reports he's doing "Bassanius in TITUS, Don Pedro in MUCH ADO, and a singin' and dancin' cowboy in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN." In October, Nicholas will be off to NH and tour until Christmas…Anne LaTarte is teaching second grade special education in Harlem for Teach for America…We hear Paul Natonek has joined Adam Karell, Rocky Russo, and Jeff Lung in LA…Lynnette Polcyn spent the year as a Dramaturgy Apprentice at Theatre Erlangen in Germany. She is pursuing a Master of Arts in Dramaturgy and wants to remain and work in Germany…Jyl Ream spent the year in Baltimore working for the Maryland Public Interest Group…Sue Semaan spent the year as a Development intern at The Shakespeare Theatre in Washington DC and had a terrific experience…02: Liza Bielby spent another year in China studying Sichuan Opera and other related material (you'll recall Liza received a 2002 Fulbright)… Bill Cassidy is Props Manager at the Park Square Theatre in St. Paul, MN and will be the TD at their upcoming Fringe Festival … Noah Goldsmith graduated from the Atlantic Theatre school in NYC, acted in and produced Eddie Parker's recent film, and also took the time to alert me about the Princeton rating…. Joe Hamlin will begin the MFA program in Technical Direction at Yale (and Joe was recruited to apply)!…Jessica Hoff is now Executive Director of Tangerine Arts Group in Chicago and, among other projects, assistant directed on Devin' Brain's THREE SISTERS, produced an audio documentary about the Redline of CTA, and directing Aaron Lipke's play, HARVEST …Adam Karell is doing stand-up several nights a week in LA, w/a regular gig at The Union in Hollywood…Kelly McDonald among other props work at various companies this year, propped the infamous "dwarf" production of Lee Breuer's DOLL HOUSE in NYC…Eddie Parker works for Hollywood Lighting in Portland, OR and continues to forge ahead as an independent filmmaker…Kristala Pouncy completed her Masters at Northwestern…01: Gretchen Beesing co-produced Aristophanes' rarely done ACHARNIANS in NYC for Freshly Squeezed Creative Juices Theatre Co., and also returned to K to teach a Drama Day Workshop.. Margie Cangelosi stage managed a 5 month run of BENEFACTORS at Writer's Theatre, an Equity Theatre in Chicago, as well as other projects, including the Albee Festival at The Goodman …Sarah Hancock had a beautiful time last summer in Italy teaching English through drama, and, last we heard, was working on a playwrighting project at a Boston inner city school for her master's thesis at Emerson College…Kim Henderson is now officially an RN and living in NYC… Sarah Huckabay directed the sketch comedy revue DRY HUMP - REMOUNTED at the Chopin Theatre in Chicago…We believe that Cassandra Johnson completed her graduate degree in December at St. John's in Santa Fe, NM…Jordan Klepper continues to teach and perform improv at both Improv Olympic and Second City in Chicago… Allen Krause is now in the Peace Corps in Cameroon! … Justin Thomas had a fantastic second year in the MFA Lighting Design program at the University of Maryland. He recently assisted on a show that won a Helen Hayes lighting award … 00: Devin Brain directed a very well received 3 SISTERS in Fall, at the National Pastime Theatre in Chicago. This past year Devin also assistant directed at the Hypocrites' Theatre and is also directing his own adaptation of Tennyson's IDYLLS OF THE KING …Megan Martin will begin graduate work in the radio documentary program of the Salt Institute in Maine. Megan has also interned at WNYC Radio and is also working with the People's Improv Theatre in NYC…Nice to see Lia Moore performing again, in RAGTIME at the Waterville Playshop, and SMOKY JOE'S CAFÉ at Croswell Opera House! …Joe St. Jean checked in from Otsu, Japan where he teaches English and noted that he "always starts class like an audition!" After 23 years of teaching, Joe, all I can say is "Me, too." …Jen Waldman is studying for her MLS at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand. Kia Ora, Jen!

90s: 99: Ben Imdieke is now a fundraising consultant for Campbell and Company in Chicago, and is also a regular volunteer at the Old Town School of Folk Music… Jasmine Presson has been studying voice at the Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music. Next year, she will debut as the title character's best friend in the new opera, RAIN, at the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts … John Witzke recently acted a leading role in BENT for Pandora Productions in Louisville…98: Nikki McIlroy is extremely busy working full time in Chicago and pursuing her MLS …97: Patrick Burlingham has been working as independent visual artist in NYC for the last five years, including student teaching at Art Student's League of New York… Jennie Goodlander completed her MFA in Directing and Asian Performance at University of Hawaii (her thesis production was a Noh-tinged THE GHOST SONATA). Jennie will be in Indonesia this summer and then will return to NYC in the Fall as Artistic Co-Director of the Looking Glass Theatre… Lena O'Rourke now lives in DC where she is Deputy Director of Govt. Affairs for a health advocacy group (and does Improv - a paying gig no less - on the side) …Jeff Patterson will be appearing in a starring role as U.S. Marine Corporal Derrick Roberts in the new ShowTime movie about 9/11, WINNING THE PEACE… Betsy Spess finished her M.A. in the International Education program at Columbia this past year and also was in Brazil…95: Kassia Barney cheerfully reports from Washington that she has pretty much devoted herself to being a full time wife and mother to husband Robert and daughter Satinka, who turned three this year…From what we can see, Anjalee Deshpande Nedkarni had a smashing first year as Assistant Professor of Theatre at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, directing successful productions of DANCING AT LUGHNASA and MARISOL and still found time to guide her new South Asian American Theatre Ensemble, RASA CHICAGO! …Stacy Shafer Peterson just completed her Masters at DePaul in Public Services, with a concentration in Philanthropy and Fundraising… 93: By our calculations, Arminda (Mindy) Bepko will have completed her third year of law school at NYU, where she was also named Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review…92: Megan Carney Director of About Face Youth Theater produced UP UNTIL NOW at The Goodman in Chicago last summer. One of Megan's plays workshopped last Spring in a new play festival and Kate Warner (K'92) came over to direct it, renewing an old and fruitful collaboration! Kate also directed up the usual storm in Atlanta, including THE ISLAND (with Kenny Leon), BEEHIVE, and WAITING FOR GODOT…91: Lynda Berge reports from NYC that she enjoyed immensely being an extra in the re-make of THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (w/Meryl Streep, Denzel Washington & others) …Rich Hutchman had a guest star spot on the popular CSI TV series. Rich and Andrea also welcomed their first child, daughter Oona on August 10, 2003.

80s: Andrea Rundell (K'89) works for the United Way in Urbana, IL and also sends great holiday newsletters with her partner Julie and their son, Asher…Trish Wagner (K'89) spent a great year in NYC in the Masters in Educational Theatre program at NYU (I had a wonderful dinner with Trish in NYC)!… Glenn Childs (K'88) and wife Gianna are very happily moved into their new home in Madison, WI…Sarah Delia Mack (K'88) her husband Frank, and her children, Jason and Rebecca are really enjoying living in Mansfield , CT (they also send adorable holiday cards)!…Speaking of holiday cards, we also get great ones from Tom Meyers (K'86). Tom, Caroline, and Rebecca & Sam had another great year traveling to CT, MD, and CA, and are still living in Seattle… Becky Soderna (K'88) was recently accepted into the MS Program in Rhetoric and Technical Communication at Michigan Tech …Ross Ambrose (K'86) Dee, & Dozer moved to High Springs, FL last year. Ross joined Karst Productions and has been working closely with documentary filmmaker and explorer Wes Skiles. Their documentary, WATER'S JOURNEY, ran in national prime time on PBS in the Fall…As if Lisa Kron (K'83) didn't do enough this year, she just now took over the leading role in the NYSF production of THE NORMAL HEART at the Public Theater! WOW! …Leslie Simmer (K'82) is a film editor for a respected Chicago-based documentary production house that produced THE NEW AMERICANS, recently broadcast on PBS.

70s & 60s: As Associate Professor in Ann Arbor, Holly Hughes (K'78) is working hard on establishing a performance studies program at the University of Michigan …Pam Marsden (K'78) producer of animated Disney films, next project is MICKEY'S TWICE UPON A CHRISTMAS… Did you know that Paige Simpson (K'77) yet another K alum and Hollywood producer, was the producer on LEAVING LAS VEGAS, for which Nicolas Cage won an Oscar? I am embarrassed to say I didn't! A VERY belated congratulations, Paige!…We hear that the next project for film producer Theresa Tucker-Davies (K'76) may be the Chess brothers who recorded blues greats Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf…Of course, her husband John Davies (K'75) has written, produced, and directed scores of television shows and movies for HBO, A& E and the major networks. In the Lux Esto article, John says his biggest thrill is the Emmy nomination for the one-hr special on Andy Kaufman that he co-wrote and produced for NBC in 1995…Brick Mason (K'75) says in the same article that he's now worked on 112 films in everything from storyboard artist to unit director! …Barbara Ostroth (K'74) recently checked in from Teaneck, NJ with some very kind words about the late Vinnie Liff. Barbara continues to shine as a residential realtor for Coldwell Banking and also was elected to her local Board of Education in 1995 (she notes that both of these jobs draw on her theatre training)! …In Hollywood, Paul Eads (K'73) is branching out from production design to directing, beginning with an episode of NYPD BLUE which aired 11/18/04 (it was great)!…Deb Marsteller (K'70) also checked in this past year from her summer home in Maine with some beautiful words about Vinnie… John Bolin (K'65) served as Dean of the Faculty at Berea College for five years, hiring over a third of the current faculty. He also reports that the theatre program at Berea (where he has directed almost 50 plays) is in good shape. John also continues to research and write in two areas: 1) Connections between museology and theatre theory and 2) New Anglophone Canadian plays. John noted: "Just recently Sandra and I came across some material from the first version of Festival Playhouse in the summer of 1965. Sandra was in charge of PR and I was acting, stage managing, and being a general assistant to Nelda!"

That’s it! PLEASE send your notes to me either in hard copy or via email otherwise I don’t know what you’re up to -I WANT TO PUT YOU IN THIS NEWSLETTER BUT I CAN'T IF I DON'T HEAR FROM YOU! As always, we want to share the good things that are happening to us, because we consider you folks, who have given so much to this program, to have had a strong hand in making it the success it continues to be for our students. Remember that you are always welcome back here – as artists, and as people.

Yours,
Ed Menta, Ph.D.
Professor & Director of Theatre
Email: menta@kzoo.edu

Please notify us of address changes, especially email!