The KCKCC Theatre Department
Callboard
April 2007
Theatre Department forms High School Partnership
The KCKCC Theatre Department has developed college/high school partnership
with St. James Academy in Lenexa. This relationship developed directly due to
our production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. Sherry Cook-Cunningham, the
Music Director from St. James, had seen that we were doing the musical and wanted
to know if her students, also doing the musical this spring, might come see
it. St. James is a new high school and presently comprised of only freshmen
and sophomore students. Sherry brought some 80 students and parents from St.
James to see the KCKCC production. Plans are formulating to teach technical
workshops to the St. James students next school year. A possible joint musical
production is being discussed for the spring of 2009. As part of the KCKCC Theatre
Department's mission to assist and enable developing high school programs, we
are lending the KCKCC set, costumes and stage properties to St. James for their
production of Millie in May. Joseph Serrano will also be appearing in the St.
James production reprising his role of Trevor Graydon.
Spotlight on Alums!
The KCKCC Theatre Department welcomed several of its favorite performers this
semester. Alumni David Ruis and Melissa Johnson returned to the KCKCC stage
to perform in our February production of The Story. Joseph Serrano, Bonnie
Johnson, and Malissa (Dewald) Peterson followed their lead performing in Thoroughly
Modern Millie, joined by community actors James Lendman and Catherine Hammer.
Melissa Johnson will be back again in the May edition of the Original Student
One-Acts performing in Kay Manherz' Choices.
- Nathan Jackson is going to the URTA (University Resident Theatre
Association) conference and auditioning for Master of Fine Arts programs in
acting.
- David Ruis after graduating from Stephens College and sojourning
in Kansas City is moving to Chicago. David has appeared in several stage productions
in Kansas City at the Unicorn and Coterie Theatres. We wish him the best of
luck in the Windy City.
- Joseph Serrano was accepted into the undergraduate Musical Theatre
program at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado.
- Barbara Handy (Emporia State University) and Robert Steele (University
of Kansas) will be graduating from their respective institutions this May.
Handy was selected as a participant at the regional American College Theatre
Festival's Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship competition. Steele made a stage
appearance at the same festival in an original play produced by the KU English
Department.
- Annie Premis continues to meet with great success as a realtor with
Prudential Realty. She closed on six properties in April and is working very
hard to relocate Dr. Leader and his ever-expanding family into a larger house!
The Original Student One-Act Play Festival.
Now in its ninth year, the One-Act Festival promises to be the best ever. Twelve
plays were submitted to the judging team of Charles Leader, Tom Murdock, Jim
Krajewski and Drama Club President Natalie Hudgins. This year's winners include
Brian Ramsay's In Case of Zombies, Kay Manherz' Choices, and Lost
in Addiction/Found in Love by Sarah Hamilton. Student playwright/actor Vicki
Wendt will helm the production of Zombies. Drama Club President Natalie
Hudgins makes her directorial debut with Lost in Addiction/Found in Love,
and playwright Sarah Hamilton will in turn direct the production of Choices.
The One-Act Festival plays on May 3-5 at 8 p.m. The matinee will be performed
on May 6 at 2:30 p.m.
Drama Club Students to New York!!!
On May 22, Assistant Professor of Theatre Tom Murdock will conduct a group
of KCKCC Drama Club students, parents and friends to New York City. The group
will be in the Big Apple for six days. Among the plays they will attend are
The Pirate Queen, The Lion King, and a new play starring Angela
Lansbury. Among the students taking the trip are Danielle Swatzell, Betty Welch,
Natalie Hudgins, Kay Manherz, Fred Rucker, Tim Daugherty, Brian Butler, Jessica
Genzer, and Charlie and Vicki Wendt.
Theatre Students featured at Women in Technology Symposium.
Theatre students Natalie Hudgins and Kay Manherz made their Symposium debut
along with Dr. Leader in the Performing Arts Center on April 12, 2007. Hudgins
and Manherz performed in a role-playing improvisational situation involving
how to dress effectively and successfully for an interview.
Congratulations to the 2007 Graduates!!!
- Tim Daugherty
- Sarah Hamilton
- Brian Ramsay
- Breanna Danielle Swatzell (Danielle is to be congratulated for receiving
a KCKCC Friends of the Arts scholarship. She will be attending K-State in
the fall.)