From our recent past...
Our 2007 grads
In ceremonies at Welch Field on Saturday May 12, we celebrated the accomplishments of our 2007 grads. The following received their degrees: Stephanie Braniff, Josh Christoffersen, Cara Cusano, Marisa Fritzemeier, Barbara Handy, Aaron Kennedy, Samantha Kennedy, Kimberly Lockwood, Dana McCoy, Mychal Moore, Robin Murphy, Carmen Patterson, Erin Schmidt, Courtney Slater, Maria Stukey and Amber Subelka. Several recent grads will be in graduate school in the fall: Aaron Kennedy to continue his studies in scenic design at the University of Wisconsin; Amber Subelka at Brandeis University; Gabe Templin at the University of Arkansas; and, Jamie Urban at Boston University. (May 2007)
Year End Events
We are proud to announce our annual ESU Theatre Guild Drive for 2007-2008. Support ESU Theatre and get a great entertainment value. Click here for more information. Don't miss our spring dance event--London Rocks--on Friday May 4 in the Frederickson Theatre. The show will feature numbers from "The Rocky Horror Show," "Cats," and "Phantom of the Opera." The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Our annual year end celebration--Curtain Call--will be on the Bruder Stage on Sunday May 6. At that event, we'll announce 2007-8 scholarship recipients and honor our graduating seniors. (May 2007)
ESU Grads on Broadway
ESU Theatre is well represented on Broadway. Two ESU Theatre alums are working across the street from one another on the "Great White Way." Lois Griffing (BSE, 1975) is the Production Stage Manager of HAIRSPRAY (Best Musical Tony Award 2003) at the Neil Simon Theatre on West 52nd Street. Across the street, in the August Wilson Theatre is JERSEY BOYS (Best Musical Tony Award 2006). Rob Young (BFA, 1985) is Assistant Stage Manager for that production. Earlier this season, Ben Pilat (BFA, 2005) was on the lighting team for the Broadway musical HIGH FIDELITY. (March 2007)
Emily Vieweg invited to participate in Writer's Workshop
"Atomic Lounge," a short play by Junior Emily Vieweg has earned Emily a trip to the Great Plains Theatre Conference. She was selected to participate in a Writer’s Workshop that will run throughout the eleven day event beginning on Saturday, May 26th. The Conference will include playwriting master classes led by Edward Albee, Will Eno, Arthur Kopit, Romulus Linney and David Crespy. Congratulations to Emily on being one of a select few that will participate in this prestigious event. (March 2007)
ESU THEATRE has outstanding showing at Region V, KCACTF
Maria Stukey wins Irene Ryan scholarship
Luchen and Kennedy win scene design honors
(Download a copy of the press release.) (February 2007)
ESU ALUM works on Broadway, published in Stage Directions
Ben Pilat (BFA, 2005) recently worked on the Broadway production of HIGH FIDELITY with Lighting Designer Ken Billington. Ben's experiences were featured in a January 07 article in Stage Directions magazine. To read Ben's blogabout his experience, go to http://stage-directions.com/ and follow the links to Ben's article "High on Tech." (January 2007)
Theresa Mitchell, Nancy Pontius receive KCACTF honors
Nine ESU Theatre students will participate in the Irene Ryan Scholarship competition at the regional meeting of KCACTF at Iowa State University. In addition, several design-tech students have entered work into the tech exposition. Two ESU faculty members will receive special recognition at the festival. Theresa Mitchell, director of "Five Women" has been selected as the KCACTF National Festival Fellow in Directing. She will mentor student directors and work with festival directors at the Kennedy Center in April. Nancy Pontius was selected to represent our region for the KCACTF Summer Design Intensive at the Kennedy Center. She is one of eight designers across the nation to be selected as a finalist for this award. (December 2006)
Five Women Wearing the Same Dress
ESU Theatre's November 2006 production of Alan Ball's Five Women Wearing the Same Dress has been selected for region V of the American College Theatre Festival. If selected from the regional festival, the play will be invited to the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. in April. (December 2006)
Annie Get Your Gun
In October, ESU Theatre and Music presented Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun in Albert Taylor Hall. Our 34th annual Homecoming Scholarship musical, Annie featured a cast of 22, an orchestra of 18 and over 30 staff and crew members. Sadly, a theft resulted in an unexpected expense. Several costumes were stolen from the dressing room prior to our third performance. As a result, our scholarship proceeds were reduced by $3000. These monies were charged by the rental company to replace the stolen costumes. (Fall 2006)
Summer Theatre 2006
Summer Theatre 2006, our 52nd season, opened on Wednesday June 7 with our production of AMERICA'S SONGBOOK under the direction of Jim Bartruff. Choreographed by Lindy Bartruff, with music direction by Penny Speedie, it proved to be popular with our audiences. Prior to opening night, Emporia State Bank presented ESU Theatre a gift of $1500 in support of department scholarships. The season continued with a hilarious production of NOISES OFF, directed by Theresa Mitchell; a provocative and dramatic production of THE LION IN WINTER, directed by Dr. Jim Ryan; and, the family favorite, SNOOPY!!!, directed by Anna Ryan and choreographed by Heather Knight. Penny Speedie was back as music director. The season ended on Saturday July 22. It was a memorable finish to the season as a power outage forced the cancellation of the Thursday night performance of SNOOPY!!! and the last-minute addition of a Saturday matinee. (July 2006)
Congratulations to our 2006 grads
In ceremonies at Welch Field on Saturday May 13, we celebrated the accomplishments of our 2006 grads. Dru Rutledge, picked up a degree in Music and Theatre. She was also the featured soloist at the ceremonies where she performed both the national anthem and the alma mater. The following received their degrees: Megan Hill (BA), Ryan Hamilton (BFA), Larry Mitchell (BFA), Amanda Jo Mooren (BFA), Emily Osborne (BFA), Drew Shirley (BFA), Mick Simons (BFA), Elizabeth Sullivan (BFA), Gabe Templin (BFA). Erin Burden and Derek Kolluri were awarded Bachelor of Integrated Studies degrees. Honorary major Joe Thomas received his bachelors degree. Five of the grads will be in graduate school in the fall: Dru Rutledge to continue her music studies at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo; Drew Shirley at the University of Illinois; and Derek Kolluri, Emily Osborne and Mick Simons at the University of Arkansas.
KCACTF 2006
Emporia State University Theatre attended the Region V Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival in Moorhead, Minnesota, January 22-27, 2006. 30 students participated in several events and distinguished themselves. 12 ESU Theatre students were among the 290 students nominated for the Irene Ryan Scholarship audition. Four ESU students made it to the semifnal round: Dru Rutledge, Ryan Hamilton, Emily Osborne and Ben Fleer. Emily Osborne and Ben Fleer made it to the final round of 16. Derek Kolluri was selected as outstanding Ryan partner in the semifinal round and received a cash award. Two tech students were adjudicated the best in the region. Josh Christoffersen was best undergraduate costume designer for his designs for TARTUFFE. Aaron Kennedy was best undergraduate scenic designer for his production of HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA. Drew Shirley directed the winning 10-minute play at the festival and Erin Schmidt was selected to appear in another ten-minute play. Shirley also won a Kennedy Center Citation of Excellence for his sound design for his December production of MARCUS IS WALKING. Cara Cusano's costume designs for the same production were also cited for excellence. SuJ Mai's costume designs for THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST were featured in the Festival Costume Parade. She and Nancy Pontius presented workshops at the Festival. Director Jim Bartruff was presented a citation for his direction of THE COCOANUTS. Festival 39 will be held at Iowa State University in January 2007. (January 2006)
NY Theatre Tour During Spring Break
The second annual ESU Theatre tour to New York City was held March 20-26. Tour members stayed at the Hotel Wellingon and attended four productions as a group: The Color Purple, Jersey Boys, Doubt and Dirty Rotten Scounderls. After the production of Jersey Boys, we got a backstage tour and met the cast. (In June, Jersey Boys was awarded four Tony Awards, including Best Musical.) The weeklong tour was led by Jim and Lindy Bartruff. For additional information. Follow this link.
The Cocoanuts" is our 33rd Annual Homecoming Musical, New Box office in the works
ESU Theatre opens its 2005-6 season with an old-fashioned musical by legends of the American Theatre. The Cocoanuts was written by Irving Berlin and George S. Kaufman as a vehicle for The Marx Brothers in 1925. It became their first movie in 1929. With this production, the ESU Theatre box office enters the electronic age. We are currently putting the final touches on an agreement with the ESU Memorial Union to sell tickets at the MU ID Center. Return to this site for additional information--soon! (August 2005)
Summer Theatre 2005
Summer Theatre 2005, our 51st season, opened on Wednesday June 8 with our production of Neil Simon's RUMORS under the direction of Dr. Jim Ryan. Prior to opening night, Emporia State Bank presented ESU Theatre a gift of $1500 in support of department scholarships. The season continued with Larry Shue's THE FOREIGNER and BUS STOP by William Inge. The season concluded with I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE. (July 2005)
Congratulations to our 2005 graduates
Fourteen ESU Theatre students graduated in ceremonies held in Welch Stadium in May. Many are headed to graduate study. Others have already begun their career's in the theatre. ESU Theatre's class of 2005: Paul Arnold, Maggie Bieberly, David Bryant, Kelley Davis, Mary Gaetz, Tiffany Garrison-Schweigert, Kelsey Glasener, Melissa Loper, Nathan Magee, Chelsea McKee, Ben Pilat, Mika Satake, Ben Thomas and Jamie Urban. (May 2005)
Old friends return
During the run of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, several old friends returned to campus to receive long overdue thanks. Dr. Charles (Charlie) Hill returned to present the first Charlie Hill scholarship to incoming student Michael Wilke. The same weekend saw the formal dedication of the Ronald Q. Frederickson Theatre with "RQ" in attendance. At the same ceremony, the family of Inez P. Friesen was present for the dedication of the classroom/studio in Roosevelt Hall named in her honor. (April 2005)
KCACTF 2005
Emporia State University Theatre attended the week long Region V Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival in St. Louis, Missouri, January 16-22 . Twenty-eight students participated in the Irene Ryan Scholarship Auditions, William Inge Theatre Festival Scholarship Scene Auditions, and Regional Design Work Exposition. Selected for the William Inge Theatre Festival Showcase was a scene by Tina Howe directed by Senior Mary Gaetz. The cast featured Josh Christoffersen, Marisa Fritzemeier, Nate Magee and Kimberly Lockwood. Dana McCoy directed Ryan Hamilton and Elizabeth Sullivan in a scene by William Gibson. She was presented an award by Festival Guest artist Jeff Calhoun (director of Broadway’s Brooklyn) as runner-up for the SSDC Student Directing Fellowship. (January 2005)
New Faces in King Hall (August 2004)
ESU Theatre is happy to welcome two new members to its staff. Jim Bartruff joins ESU Theatre following 14 years at Minnesota State University Moorhead where he served as Director of Theatre. Previously he directed the Montana Repertory Theatre at the University of Montana and the Carroll College Theatre in Helena, Montana. He has degrees from the Universities of Nebraska-Kearney, Oregon and Montana. Jim and his wife, Lindy, make their home in Emporia. Kyle Land is a new and an old face. He joins the program fulltime as scene shop manager. A graduate of ESU, Kyle has already proven a valuable and indispensable member of our team.
ESU Theatre celebrates 50 summers (August 2004)
The 50th annual ESU Summer Theatre celebrated its past, present and future by returning to some old favorites (OUR TOWN, THE ODD COUPLE and THE FANTASTICKS). Our fourth production, TO GILLIAN ON HER 37TH BIRTHDAY rounded out our celebratory season. Stay tuned for Season 51 in the summer of '05.
KCACTF 2004 (January 2004)
ESU Theatre attended the week long Region V Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival in Denver, Colorado, January 18-24 . Ben Pilat was a finalist in the Thayer Lighting Design Competition, and won 1st Place in the Undergraduate Lighting Design. ESU’s production of A Fool and His Fortune was among the seven productions selected to perform at the Regional Festival. The play was directed by ESU Associate Professor, Dr. Jim Ryan with scenery designed by Assistant Professor Ron Fowlkes, lighting design by Associate Professor, Nancy Pontius, and costumes designed by ESU senior theatre major Cori Kelland. The sound coordinator was ESU senior theatre major Michael Swickard. At the Kennedy Center in April, the production was cited by the national selection team for excellence. Special commendations were awarded to the playwright, Sarah Pottorf, Director Jim Ryan and Designer Ron Fowlkes.
Meet Jay Cranford, Director of "The Music Man" (September 2003)
Jerry Jay Cranford marks his seventh association with THE MUSIC MAN, having played Harold twice, Marcellus once, Jacey in the quartet once, dance ensemble once(with the original Broadway dance captain) and choreographer once before. After losing 100 pounds and graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a BFA in Music, Mr. Cranford left his hometown of Tecumseh, Oklahoma and hit the road starring in tours of SINGING IN THE RAIN and ANYTHING GOES. He was featured dancer with the European company of EVITA and was a soloist with the Frankfurt Symphony for the International Arts Council closing ceremonies, Frankfurt Opera House, Germany. Regionally, some favorite roles are Curly in OKLAHOMA, Kenickie in GREASE, Mike/Don/Zach in A CHORUS LINE, Hanna/Jean-Michel in LA CAGE, Maximillian in CANDIDE, Lewis in PIPPIN and the young fool in Kansas City Starlight's BIG RIVER. He spent two seasons in Branson dancing and singing with the Stars of Lawrence Welk and was on the PBS Special LAWRENCE WELK-THEN AND NOW. In June, Jerry Jay finished an eight year association with the Broadway and touring companies of LES MISERABLES where he performed Jean Prouvaire and Enjolras and was co-director of benefits raising over $500,000 for Broadwy Cares/Equity Fights Aids. He worked with Broadway legends Colm Wilkinson, Andrea McArdle, Lea Salonga, the late Laurie Beechman and soap star Catherine Hickland. Mr. Cranford directed an Equity benefit prodution of THE FANTASTIKS for the Canadian Pediatric Diabetes Foundation in Vancouver, BC and has choreographed THE WIZARD OF OZ, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, SINGING IN THE RAIN, LA CAGE, ANNIE, PHANTOM and in 1993, ESU's produtions of ONCE UPON A MATTRESS and JOSEPH. He would like to say thanks to Dr. Harry Parker for this wonderful opportunity to return to ESU and to Dana for allowing him to leave home for six weeks.
PARKER LEAVING ESU (April 2003)
ESU Director of Theatre Harry Parker announced on April 29 that he has accepted a position as the Chair of the Department of Theatre at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, beginning in the fall of 2003. He and his family will remain in Emporia for Summer Theatre 2003 before moving to Texas. Harry released this statement: "It has been an extremely difficult decision for my family and me to decide to leave ESU. We have had a wonderful eleven years here, and have enjoyed being a part of Emporia and ESU Theatre more than we can say. This is an extraordinary theatre program, and a marvelous university and community. However, the opportunity to return to TCU, which is my undergraduate alma mater, to serve as their Chair of the Theatre Department, is a special opportunity that we feel we cannot pass up. We leave with deeply mixed emotions; it is difficult to say goodbye to a place we love, but we are looking forward to an exciting new challenge at TCU. We are grateful to all of the students, faculty, and community members who have made our time in Emporia so wonderful, and we know that only greater things are ahead for ESU Theatre."
Last Updated May 23, 2008