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MC unveils new studio theater with
one-act plays, May 3-4
Release Date:
April 27, 2007
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Rebecca McCormick, a sophomore from Palatine, and Professor Doug
Rankin focus lights in Monmouth College's new studio theater, in
preparation for its May 3 opening. |
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[print-quality
version] |
MONMOUTH, Ill. —
The Monmouth College theater season will draw to a close May 3 and 4 as
four students from the Principles of Directing class make their
directorial debuts in one-act plays. The performances will coincide with
the unveiling of a new theater space at the college, The Wit Theater,
located in the basement of the Haldeman-Thiessen Science Center.
Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Wit Theater. Tickets are
$2 and may be purchased at the door.
Comprising the eclectic group of one-acts are "Patter for the
Floating Lady" by Steve Martin, "Yellow Sheet" by Robert E. Johnson, "In
the Darkness" by Dan Totheroh and "The Man Who Couldn’t Dance" by Jason
Katims.
According to senior Sara Youngs of Bloomingdale, director of "In the
Darkness," the new "studio theater" in Haldeman-Thiessen has been used
in the past for rehearsals, but underwent renovations this semester in
anticipation of its first use as a public performance venue. She said
the performance area can be configured in either an arena stage
(surrounded by the audience on four sides) or as a thrust stage
(surrounded by the audience on three sides).
The name "Wit" came about after a competition to name the new
theater, although the winning entry came from an anonymous source. An
acronym, it stands for "work, inspiration and truth."
"Patter for the Floating Lady," directed by junior Valerie Key of
Glen Ellyn, is a dark and surreal drama about a magician who plans to
levitate his assistant in order to give her what he could not give her
when they were together –
freedom. The trick has an unexpected result: she splits in two and
reveals her utter contempt for him. The cast includes Ryan Burns,
Lindsay Brogan and Apryl Wishecoby.
Senior Chris Walljasper of Donnellson, Iowa, directs "Yellow Sheet."
The 1940s comedy revolves around six fraternity brothers, one of whom is
facing expulsion because he will not reveal the name of the true author
of a piece that appeared in the college newspaper. The student cast
includes Jesse Barlow, Steve Santell, Paul Bridges, Andrea Dorscheid,
Blake Lyon, Ed Slonim and Ryan Burnes.
"In the Darkness" is a relatively obscure drama that Youngs said she
discovered in the college library. Written in 1922, the play is based on
an 1880s homesteading family and closely examines the dynamics of what
keeps it together. Her cast includes Kate Drost, Emily Zvolanek, Mike
Wozniak and Mark Mullaney.
"The Man Who Couldn’t Dance" is directed by junior Ellen Ehrenhart of
Springfield. In the play, the character Gail and her husband, Willie,
have just had a baby whose beautiful new existence jolts Willie into
facing his failings as Gail’s former partner and as a person. The cast
includes Hilary Binks and Andrew Martin.
Haldeman-Thiessen Science Center is located on East Clinton Ave.,
just south of the football field. Theatergoers should enter through the
building’s front door and follow signs to The Wit.
Released
by the Office of College Communications
Barry McNamara, Associate Director of College Communications
Phone: 309-457-2117
Fax: 309-457-2330
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