Theatre News
Theatre 2012-13
October 11-14
Guys and Dolls, A Musical Fable of Broadway
Albert Taylor Hall
Nov 28-Dec 1
Inspecting Carol
Bruder Theatre
Feb 27 - Mar 2
Dancing at Lughnasa
Bruder Theatre
April 10-13, 17-20
Brownstone
Frederickson Theatre
April 26
LA Diner
Our Spring Dance Show
Bruder Theatre
ESU THEATRE at KCACTF FESTIVAL 45, January 2013
Once again, ESU Theatre has been honored by several accolades from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival during the past year. Costumes from our production of THE LADIES MAN (designed by Su J Mai) were featured in the regional costume parade. Seniors Noah Mefford and Cara Lohkamp presented a scene from our spring production of Doubt (directed by Jim Ryan) at the showcase of invited scenes. Seven students participated in the Irene Ryan Scholarship auditions. Of the 326 students entered in our region, 3 ESU students survived into the semifinal round of 64. They were Noah Mefford, Andrew Walker and Jamarious Wicker. Walker and his partner Kangwon Song made it to the final round of 16. Song was also awarded the second prize for his poster design for Doubt. The Tech Crew Showdown team was in the final 4, besting 11 of the 15 teams entered in this years festival. Commendations from the Kennedy Center were presented to Su J Mai (costumes), Ross Rundell (set design), Cara Lohkamp (scene painting), Marah Melvin (performance), Jim Bartruff (directing), Noah Mefford (lighting design) and Amanda Dura (costumes). This year's festival was hosted by the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINTER 2012 GRADS
With joy (and a little sadness) we celebrate the accomplishments of our Winter 2012 graduates. Congratulations to Elisa Blann, Newton (BFA), Jessica Gaddis, Ulysses (BFA) and Yui Watanabe, Chiba, Japan (BA).
WELCOME TO DOUG DION
ESU Theatre welcomes Doug Dion, a 2012 graduate from the University of Montana. Doug joins the program as Technical Director. His background includes acting, designing and scenery construction. He was a staff member of the UM Scene Shop, built the last four tours for the Montana Rep and was a student presenter for the Prague Quadracentennial in 2011.
ESU THEATRE Honors Its 2012 grads
At commencement ceremonies on May 12, several ESU Theatre students received their undergraduate degrees. We congratulate Nancy Boyce, Laura Dossett, Lindsey Jarvis, Casey McCabe, Chris Peterson, Ross Rundell and Josh Taylor.
EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY excels at KCACTF, Region V at Iowa State University
Once again, ESU Theatre has demonstrated the strength of its theatre program at the annual meeting of Region V of the Kennedy Center American Theatre Festival (KCACTF V). The gathering was hosted by Iowa State University, January 15-‐21. Nearly 1600 students and faculty from over fifty colleges and universities from Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, North and South Dakota participated.
ESU had many successes at the 2012 festival. Commendations were awarded at the opening ceremonies to 2011 grad Brianne Simon (set design), Senior Ross Rundell (Salina) was cited for his Sound Design for last spring’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Amanda Dura, Costume Shop Manager, received commendations for two of her designs Barefoot in the Park and Eurydice.
ESU Theatre had 9 students represented in the Irene Ryan Scholarship auditions. 299 students from the region participated this year...each was nominated for their outstanding work in productions during the 2011 calendar year. ESU students Noah Mefford (junior, Burlington); Lindsay Ward (alum, Gardner); Kangwon Song (senior, Pusan, South Korea); Casey McCabe (senior, Gardner); Annie Rosenbrook (junior, Merriam); Trinity Standridge (junior, Olathe); Marah Melvin (junior, Iola); Elise Blann (senior, Newton) and Andrew Walker (junior, Wichita) all participated in the preliminary round. Selected for the semifinals was Kangwon Song who participated in the second round with his partner Daniel Reardon (sophomore, Overland Park). Only 64 of the original 299 were selected for the second round. The students selected for the Kennedy Center in April represented Wichita State University and Winona State University (Minnesota).
Kangwon Song also received a regional award for poster design. His poster for the ESU Theatre production of Eurydice was selected as the best in the region in ceremonies on Thursday evening. Brianne Simon’s set design for Barefoot in the Park was presented a second place award in the region. Also representing ESU in the design competitions at the festival were senior Yui Watanabe (Chiba, Japan) in costume design, senior Josh Taylor (Salina) in lighting design, and senior Chris Peterson (Rose Hill). Peterson and Ross Rundell also presented their portfolios at the festival. Rundell’s portfolio and presentation received first place at the festival.
One of the highlights of the festival was the Wednesday night ceremony where Jim Bartruff, Director of Theatre at ESU, was presented the 2012 KCACTF Golden Medallion. The award is presented to those “who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the values and goals of KCACTF and to excellence in educational theatre.” It is the most prestigious award presented by KCACTF. Brad Buffum from the University of Nebraska also received the award.
A member of the regional selection team for Region V, Bartruff was selected to direct a concert reading of The Book of Adam by Matt Fotis. The play, a national award-‐winning comedy was the featured performance of the festival on Monday night. ESU senior Casey McCabe (Gardner) was one of the cast members for that production.
Natalie King (junior, Wichita) and Lindsay Ward (2011 alum) also performed at the festival when cast in roles for the Faculty Directing Showcase.
Seniors Gabe Moyer (Olathe) and Laura Dossett (Jenks. Oklahoma) participated in the SDC competition for outstanding student directors in the region. Although neither was selected to advance, both represented ESU with distinction.
Twenty ESU theatre students attended the conference and all of them rooted on the ESU team in the Stage Crew Showdown. A competition between tech crews, the Hornets were in the finals, one of the top 4 schools of the 15 participating. Their classmates cheered on team members Cara Lohkamp (junior, Maize), Noah Mefford, Aubrey Near (sophomore, Independence), Ross Rundell, and Josh Taylor. The team demonstrated their skills in knot tying, stage lighting, prop setting and costume quick-‐changes.
Region V is one of eight regions in the U.S. and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is the site (and sponsor) of the national festival held each April in Washington, D.C.
Bartruff Awarded KCACTF Golden Medallion
Director of Theatre, Jim Bartruff was awarded the Kennedy Center Golden Medallion in ceremonies at Festival 44 of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Ames. The award was presented on the stage of the Ames Community Auditorium in downtown Ames, Iowa on January 18. While a student at Ames High School from 1968-1970, Bartruff acted on the same stage. Bartruff's acceptance speech focused on the connection between him and the theatre in Ames. The Golden Medallion is the highest award presented by KCACTF and recognizes years of excellence in teaching and in service.
Our 39th Homecoming Musical
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT is our 2011 Homecoming musical. Presented in historic Albert Taylor Hall, the production runs from October 13-16. A fundraiser for scholarships for students in performing arts, friends of ESU Theatre can become Golden Patrons by downloading this Golden Patron application.
Alum Katie Amanda Keane presents annual Pflaum Lecture
The 2011-12 Pflaum Lecture sponsored by The Department of Communication and Theatre with funding support from the Performing Arts Board was presented on Tuesday, September 6. Katie Amanda Keane, a 1996 BFA and Topeka native spoke on her journey as a working actor. The Emporia Gazette website has posted her appearance on their website. You can see and hear Katie's presentation at http://www.inkbarreltv.com/inkbarrelCMS/system/networks/ks_emporia_gazette/indexphp?console=open
ESU Theatre honors its 2011 grads
Twelve theatre majors accept their baccalaureate degrees in ceremonies on May 14. Honored at our annual Curtain Call on Sunday May 8, we congratulate Al Daugherty, Desiree Dye, Brenna Fulton, Megan Henson, Levi Howe, Dylan Lewis, Gabe Moyer, Cim Roesner, Brianne Simon, Christina Thomas, Brock Tucker and Emily Warren. (May 2011)
Summer Theatre Season 57 - June 8 through July 23 (Download a copy of the season release)
The 57th season of summer theatre opene Wednesday June 8 with an original musical I Love to Tell the Story by Jim Bartruff. The family comedy Daddy's Dyin' Who's Got the Will? by Del Shores under the direction of Dr. Jim Ryan ran June 22-25. Theresa Mitchell helmed Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park July 6-9 and our annual children's show was The Monster Under the Bed which opened July 20 and closed with a matinee on July 23. Ticket sales were up over the last several seasons. Audiences seemed to really enjoy the variety of offerings and responded in almost record numbers. (May 2011/Updated August 2011)