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| The Mime opens | MacBeth opens | The Dinning Room Opens | Rapunzel Opens |
| Spring Green Trip | Symphony in Sneeze | The Emperor’s New Clothes | Side Show |
A cast comprised primarily of Morningside College students will present “The Mime” on Friday, Feb. 20, at 6 p.m. in Klinger-Neal Theatre, 3700 Peters Avenue.
The public is invited to the free event, which is sponsored by Morningside’s Academic and Cultural Arts Series (ACAS).
“The Mime” is a portrayal of the story of Christ woven into Biblical history from the creation of the world to the resurrection.
Titus Nelson, a resident of Wakefield, Neb., and the only non-student in the cast, will portray Jesus. Brian Sauter of Alta, Iowa, will portray Satan. All of the other cast members will play more than one role. Other cast members include Rebecca Anderson of Lawton, Iowa; Alex Annan of Sioux City, Kalli Benne of Rapid City, S.D.; Cami Cain of Omaha, Neb.; Tessie Cook of Ames, Iowa; Miranda Galvin of Sioux City, Nick Grove of Grimes, Iowa; Amy Salton of Webb, Iowa; Katie Stumpf of Laurens, Iowa; Michelle Tesch of Granville, Iowa; and Corinne Youngberg of Blaine, Minn.
Morningside College’s theatre department will present William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18, and Thursday, Feb. 19, with a high school student matinee at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 20, and showings at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Klinger-Neal Theatre, 3700 Peters Avenue.
The performances are sponsored by Morningside’s theatre department and by Morningside’s Academic and Cultural Arts Series (ACAS).
“Macbeth” has been estimated to have been written by Shakespeare near 1606. It is one of his shortest plays, and one filled with bloody rage and fight for political power. Macbeth is visited by three supernatural beings that prophesize a future putting Macbeth in the throne of Scotland, a prediction that gives him high hopes and an ambitious hunger for success.
The play raises questions regarding ethical and moral standards, the point at which ambition takes over, and to what extent political figures should go in order to find their place of power, according to Art Moss, director of the play and assistant professor in the theatre department.
“It’s a play that shows us someone who loses the capacity to respond to others. At the same time he realizes that if he continues to do what he wants to do that it will ultimately destroy him,” says Moss, who has been an actor and director at several universities and regional theatres. He specializes in stage combat and stagecraft.
Cast members include Dave Kenan, a senior from Cherokee, Iowa, as Macbeth; and Tyrel Drey, junior from Storm Lake, Iowa, as Macduff. Several of the cast members will be performing multiple parts in the play. Katie Gorden, a senior from Le Mars, Iowa, will be playing Lady Macbeth and a messenger; April Parkison, a junior from Omaha, Neb., will be playing Lady Macduff and a servant.
Other cast members include: Tanya Anderson, a 2008 Morningside graduate from Piedmont, S.D., as Hecate; Trey Blackburn, a senior from Knoxville, Iowa, as Banquo, murderer and an English soldier; Michael Bryant, a junior from Knoxville, Tenn., as Roxx; Tom Chilton, a sophomore from Sioux City, as a messenger and Fleance; Mac Deeds, a senior from Sioux City, as Malcom; Andrew Gerodias, a junior from Storm Lake, as Seyton, Porter and murderer; Jamie Greenlee, a freshman from Le Mars, as Donalbain; Paul Guggenheimer, host for South Dakota public radio and teacher at Western Iowa Tech, as Duncan and siward; Nikki Helgeson, a senior from Altoona, Iowa, as bleeding sergeant, murderer and young siward; Maddie Mardesen, a freshman from Elliott, Iowa, as a witch and an apparition; Lucy Moss, daughter of director Art Moss, from Sioux City, as Macduff’s daughter; Athena Riesenberg, a sophomore from Sioux City, as a witch and an apparition; Nate Sadler, a sophomore from Mapleton, Iowa, as Angus and a murderer; Jacob Sandvick, a junior from Sioux City, as Lennox; Geana Schneider, a senior from Le Mars, as a witch, an apparition and a gentlewoman; Phoebe Smith, a junior from Clive, Iowa, as a doctor; and Owen Werden, son of assistant professor of English Leslie Werden, as Macduff’s son.
The play is directed by Moss with assistance from production staff: Beau Sudtelgte, a senior from Le Mars, as stage manager and lighting designer; Brittany Foxhoven, a sophomore from South Sioux City, Neb., assistant stage manager; Maggie Konecne, a junior from Humboldt, Iowa, house manager; Catelin Hoistad, a junior from Huron, S.D., lightboard operator; Jeremy Bauer, a senior from Lake City, Iowa, backstage manager; Ashley Dodgen, a freshman from Bloomington, Ill., run crew; Ashley Egan, a freshman from Cedar Rapids, house assistant; Jenn Bechtel, a senior from Cherokee, costume crew; Randy Peters, director of the Betty Ling Tsang Summer Fine Arts Series, costumer; and Bette Skewis-Arnett, professor of theatre at Morningside College, costumer.
General admission is $5 and $1 for Morningside students and other area college students with a valid ID. Reservations can be obtained by calling the Klinger-Neal Theatre box office at (712) 274-5197.
Six actors will portray over 50 characters when the Morningside College theatre department presents the A.R. Gurney play “The Dining Room” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, November 20 to 22, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, November 23, at Klinger-Neal Theatre, 3700 Peters Avenue.
The performances are sponsored by Morningside's Academic and Cultural Arts Series (ACAS).
“The Dining Room” is both a drama and a comedy set in a single dining room where 18 different scenes from different households explore the dynamic relationships of family life as they go about their daily routines. The play is unique in that the characters change around the scenery rather than the traditional format where the scenery changes around the characters. The actors change roles, personalities, and ages while they portray a wide variety of characters. The play was first produced in New York in 1981.
Cast members are Tyrel Drey, a junior from Storm Lake, Iowa; Whitney Gries, a junior from Onawa, Iowa; Athena Riesenberg, a sophomore from Sioux City; Andrew Gerodias, a sophomore from Laurens, Iowa; Jennifer Bechtel, a senior from Cherokee, Iowa; and Trey Blackburn, a senior from Knoxville, Iowa.
The play is directed by Bette Skewis-Arnett, professor and chair of the theatre department. The costume coordinator is Randy Peters, artistic director of the Betty Tsang Summer Fine Arts Series.
Members of the crew include Megan Parrish, a senior from Spencer, Iowa, scene designer; Beau Sudtelgte, a senior from Le Mars, Iowa, lighting designer, master carpenter, and props master; Catelin Hoistad, a junior from Huron, S.D., stage manager; Brittney Foxhoven, a freshman from South Sioux City, Neb., assistant stage manager; Tom Chilton, a sophomore from Sioux City, back stage manager; Madalyn Mardesen, a freshman from Elliott, Iowa, props assistant; Corinne Youngberg, a freshman from Blaine, Minnesota, props assistant; Katie Gorden, a junior from Le Mars, Iowa, wardrobe; Jamie Greenlee, a freshman from Anita, Iowa, wardrobe; April Parkison, a junior from Omaha, Neb., house manager; Maggie Konecne, a junior from Humboldt, Iowa, box office manager; and Jeremy Bauer, a senior from Lake City, Iowa, light board operator.
General admission is $5 for adults and $1 for students.
Morningside College’s theatre department will present a musical production of the Grimm’s Brothers children’s story “Rapunzel” on Saturday and Sunday, October 4 and 5, at Klinger-Neal Theatre, 3700 Peters Avenue.
Show times are 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. The performances are sponsored by Morningside's Academic and Cultural Arts Series (ACAS).
Rapunzel is the story of a young woman with extraordinary long hair locked in the top of a tall tower by a jealous witch. She is discovered by a handsome prince, who battles the witch in order to win Rapunzel’s freedom.
Cast members are Rose Stevenson, a freshman from Sioux City, as Rapunzel; Andrew Gerodias, a sophomore from Laurens, Iowa, as the prince; Trey Blackburn, a senior from Knoxville, Iowa, as Martin, a peasant farmer; Sarah Schreur, a junior from Hawarden, Iowa, as Gretchen, the farmer’s wife; Phoebe Smith, a sophomore from Clive, Iowa, as Mother Gothel, the neighborhood witch; and Arthur Moss, assistant professor of theatre at Morningside, as Jacob Grimm.
Moss is also the director and set designer. Randy Peters, artistic director of the Betty Tsang Summer Fine Arts Series, is the costume designer. The music director and accompanist is Steve Lundberg, an adjunct faculty member at Morningside.
Other personnel include:
Beau Sudtelgte, a senior from Le Mars, Iowa, stage manager; Ashley Egan, a freshman from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assistant stage manager; Jennifer Bechtel, a senior from Cherokee, Iowa, assistant costume designer; Megan Parrish, a senior from Spencer, Iowa, lighting designer; Whitney Gries, a junior from Onawa, Iowa, house manager; Catelin Hoistad, a junior from Huron, S.D., assistant house manager; Jeremy Bauer, a senior from Lake City, Iowa, backstage manager; Maggie Konecne, a junior from Humboldt, Iowa, light board operator; April Parkison, a junior from Omaha, Neb., run crew; Ashley Dodgen, a freshman from Bloomington, Ill., run crew; Brittney Foxhoven, a freshman from South Sioux City, Neb., run crew.
Madeleine Kobus, a freshman from Ankeny, Iowa, costume crew; Katie Sokolowski, a freshman from Wakonda, S.D., makeup; Matt Sitzmann, a senior from Le Mars, Iowa, publicity assistant; Michael Bryant, a junior from Farragut, Tenn., set and prop construction; Tara Sueck, a freshman from Elliott, Iowa, set and prop construction; Jessica Bartak, a freshman from Ewing, Neb., set and prop construction; Katie Gorden, a junior from Le Mars, Iowa, set and prop construction; Madalyn Mardesen, a freshman from Elliott, Iowa, set and prop construction; and Kelsey Saboe, a freshman from Royal, Iowa, set and prop construction.
Stan Gill, a theatre professional who was a guest artist in residence at Morningside in 1998, wrote the play.
Admission price is $3.
Approximately 2,200 students and teachers from area pre-schools and elementary schools will attend special weekday performances of the play.
Morningside’s theatre department produces four plays a year, including its fall children’s plays, which have entertained more than 42,400 elementary school students and their teachers since 1987.
A Morningside College group will travel to Spring Green, Wis., Sept. 18-20 to see three plays at American Players Theatre (APT), a professional repertory company. All Siouxlanders interested in theater – including adults and high school students – are welcome to join the trip.
This year all three plays are comedies about love. In Shakespeare’s most popular romantic comedy, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” four young lovers and a troupe of amateur actors stumble into a feud in fairyland that turns everything topsy-turvy. The play closes with Shakespeare’s tragic farce “Pyramus and Thisby.” Then Eugene O’Neill’s “Ah, Wilderness!” is set in a small Connecticut town on July 4, 1906, and is a heartwarming celebration of family and the innocence of youth. The final play, G. B. Shaw’s “Widower’s Houses,” is a witty comedy of ideas in which a principled young British doctor becomes engaged to a hot-blooded young woman and is shocked to discover the source of his fiancée’s family’s wealth.
The plays will be performed at APT’s comfortable outdoor theater, which is nestled in the hills along the Wisconsin River. The group will travel by car and stay at Spring Valley Inn, a Frank Lloyd Wright-style modern lodging with pool, sauna, restaurant, shop and nearby golf course.
The $250 cost of the trip includes tickets, transportation, lodging and breakfasts, and designated drivers will receive stipends to pay for gas. This year high school and college students are eligible to apply for a limited number of student travel grants that will lower the cost of the trip to $175. “This is a great opportunity for high school students,” said Marty Knepper, who is professor and chair of English at Morningside and also the trip director, “especially since so many students have studied Shakespeare and drama in high school.”
This road trip is a Morningside tradition. “We jump in our cars and head to Spring Green for a weekend of wonderful classic plays. It’s a beautiful time of year in a beautiful part of the country,” Knepper said.
Bette Skewis-Arnett and Art Moss, faculty members in the theater department at Morningside, have attended plays at APT for years. Both have remarked that the plays appeal to all kinds of people, including those who have never before seen classical plays performed. The staging makes the plays lively and easy to follow and appreciate. Besides attending the plays, the group will have an opportunity to tour the APT facilities and meet informally with actors after the Friday night performance.
There also will be free time for trip participants to enjoy the Spring Green area. On Saturday, members of the expedition can visit Madison’s famous State Street, go to House on the Rock (Wisconsin’s number one tourist attraction), explore the Frank Lloyd Wright Hillside School, or browse through the arts and crafts shops in Spring Green or Mineral Point. Spring Green also offers golfing, hiking and boating. The English department will provide everyone with brochures about the area’s attractions, as well as study guides to the plays.
The group will leave in car pools on Thursday, Sept. 18, at 4 p.m., arriving at Spring Valley Inn in Spring Green at about midnight. The group will return at about midnight on Saturday, Sept. 20.
To register for the trip, apply for a student travel grant or find out more details, contact Marcie Ponder in the English department by phone at 712-274-5126 or by e-mail at ponder@morningside.edu. The deadline for trip registration is Sept. 8.
“Symphony in Sneeze,” a family concert of symphonic music play, will be presented at 7 p.m. August 23 in the Buhler Outdoor Performance Center at 3625 Garretson Avenue on the Morningside College campus.
The free concert features musician, author and child development specialist Jim Gill and a 45-piece orchestra.
“Jim has created a program of what he calls symphonic music play,” said Randy Peters, artistic director of Morningside’s Betty Ling Tsang Summer Fine Arts Series. “In his concerts, Jim doesn’t just perform for children and their parents. He uses his music to promote active play between adults and children.”
Gill has produced five recordings of music play activities that have received awards from the American Library Association and the Parents’ Choice Foundation. He also is the author of “May There Always Be Sunshine,” a picture book that received the 2002 Book Award from the Philadelphia Children’s Museum.
“Symphony in Sneeze” is the final 2008 production for the Betty Ling Tsang Summer Fine Arts Series at Morningside’s new outdoor amphitheater-style performance center. In the event of rain, the performance will be moved to Eppley Auditorium, 3625 Garretson Avenue, on the Morningside campus.
“The Emperor’s New Clothes,” the classic tale of a vain emperor and his new set of clothes, will be presented August 8 and 9 in the Buhler Outdoor Performance Center at 3625 Garretson Avenue on the Morningside College campus. The free performances are at 2 and 7 p.m. on Friday, August 8, and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 9.
According to Randy Peters, artistic director for the Betty Ling Tsang Summer Fine Arts Series, “The Emperor’s New Clothes” is especially suited for children.
“It is just silly, fun entertainment,” Peters said. “The performance includes a chase scene and a zany cast of characters. But adults also will enjoy it.
“Theater is a wonderful learning tool for children. One of the goals of the Betty Ling Tsang Summer Fine Arts Series is to start building in Sioux City area children a lifelong love of the arts.”
Peters added that a highlight of the August 9 performance will be an ice cream social with ice cream treats provided by Dairy Queen.
“The Emperor’s New Clothes” is the third of four productions scheduled for the Betty Ling Tsang Summer Fine Arts Series at Morningside’s new outdoor amphitheater-style performance center. In the event of rain, the performance will be moved to Klinger-Neal Theatre, 3700 Peters Avenue, on the Morningside campus.
The next performance scheduled for the Betty Ling Tsang Summer Fine Arts Series is “Symphony in Sneeze,” a family concert of symphonic music play, on August 23. All performances are free and open to the public.
Tony-nominated lyricist and playwright Bill Russell returns to Morningside College to direct a concert version of his Broadway musical “Side Show” that will be performed at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, in the Buhler Outdoor Performance Center at 3625 Garretson Avenue on the Morningside campus.
Russell, who attended Morningside College from 1967 to 1969, made his Broadway debut as a writer with “Side Show.” The musical opened in October 1997 and is inspired by the true story of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton, who became stars during the Depression. “Side Show” received Tony nominations in 1998 for best musical, best actress, book (musical) and original musical score.
The free concert is the second of four productions scheduled for the Betty Ling Tsang Summer Fine Arts Series at Morningside’s new outdoor amphitheater-style performance center. In the event of rain, the concert will be moved to Klinger-Neal Theatre, 3700 Peters Avenue, on the Morningside campus.
“We are honored that Bill has agreed to return to Morningside College and Sioux City to stage this concert version of Side Show,” said Randy Peters, artistic director for the Betty Ling Tsang Summer Fine Arts Series. “This will be a unique opportunity for Sioux City area residents to see and hear a Tony-nominated musical directed by its creator.”
Peters added that several Sioux City performers will appear in the concert, including Erin Nelson in the role of Violet Hilton, Sally Sams as Daisy Hilton, Collin O‘Connor in the role of Buddy Foster and John Krager as The Boss.
Russell is a South Dakota native who lives in New York City and continues to write and direct. His many Broadway and off-Broadway credits include “Pageant” and “Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens.” Morningside conferred an honorary degree of doctor of humane letters upon Russell in 2003.
Other performances scheduled for the Betty Ling Tsang Summer Fine Arts Series include “The Emperor’s New Clothes” on August 8 and 9, and “Symphony in Sneeze,” a family concert of symphonic music play, on August 23. All performances are free and open to the public.