Volume IV, Issue 1
March - 2004
Department of Theatre Newsletter
2004-2005 Season
Flyin' West to Denver!
The KCKCC Drama Club production of Flyin' West recently went on the road. The play, directed by Media Coordinator Kim Jones, was chosen as one of only seven entries to perform at the Region 5 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival at the fantastic Newman Performing Arts Center at the University of Denver. Director Jones, technical director Gary Mosby, faculty member Tom Murdock, Theatre coordinator Charles Leader and a team of 17 student cast and crew members faced the daunting task of disassembling the set and packing it, the costumes, and stage properties into a 26-foot truck. That mission accomplished, they then took the road to Denver. At 6:00 a.m. on Thursday morning, January 22, they met at the loading doors of the Gates Concert Hall to begin putting the production back together for an 8 p.m. performance. By 7:30 that evening the house doors opened and a crowd of over 900 students, faculty, and Kennedy Center representatives flocked into the theatre to enjoy and applaud Pearl Cleage's rollicking tale of homesteaders in Nicodemus, Kansas. By 10 p,m, the audience was gone and we began the task of disassembling the set and putting everything back in boxes. One a.m. found the cast and crew back at the hotel and ready for a good night's rest after a fun-filled 19-hour day.
KCKCC Actors participate in Irene Ryan Competition
Five KCKCC Theatre students traveled to Denver, Colorado to compete in the Region V Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition on January 19, 2004. The Scholarship was established by none other than Grannie Clampet herself. Irene Ryan felt that the income she collected from her years on the highly successful television series
The Beverly Hillbillies could be put to greater use so she established an endowment to help future actors achieve their academic goals. Nominees Barbara Handy, Nikko Howell, Bonnie Johnson, Carla McDonald and Rhen Ward were accompanied by scene partners Cheryl Burnett, Maria Gaitan and Cindy Quinn. Each nominee had five minutes to perform two contrasting pieces demonstrating their acting talents in comedy and drama. Rhen and Bonnie chose to perform musical numbers in addition to their scenes. In an interesting turn of events, the competition's runner-up award went to KCKCC Theatre Department alum, Keenan Ramos, now a student at KSU.
KCKCC actor awarded Fellowship to Washington D.C.
Here is some great news to brighten your day. I recently received a telephone call from Greg Henry, the head of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. He informed me that one of our Theatre students, Carla McDonald, had been chosen to receive the National Selection Team Fellowship. The National Selection Team judges all of the productions presented at all eight regional KCACTF Festivals. The Fellowship is awarded to an actor the National Selection Team feels gave an outstanding performance in a play. In case you have forgotten, Carla played Sophie in
Flyin' West last fall and in Denver. Carla will travel all expenses paid to the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Washington, D.C. to participate in all the workshops and perform in the evening of 10-minute plays along with the national Ryan Scholarship finalists. She will also get to see all the productions performed at the national level and the finals of the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship competition. This is a huge honor for Carla, the Theatre Department, the College and Wyandotte County.
Dames at Sea
By George Haimsohn and Robin Miller
Music by Jim Wise.
Directed by Charles Leader
April 1, 2, 3 at 8 p.m.
April 4 at 2 p.m.
The small musical comedy that super-spoofs the big Dick Powell-Ruby Keeler-Busby Berkley movie musicals of the 1930s,
Dames at Sea is a tap-dancing musical full of comedy, dancing and torch songs. Loosely based on
42nd Street, Dames at Sea tells the story of naive, fresh-faced Ruby, who becomes the last-minute star of a new show. Calamity strikes during rehearsals when the theater is demolished. But in the true spirit of show business the show does go on-on the deck of a battleship. With an off-Broadway opening in 1968, the original musical starred newcomer Bernadette Peters. You'll definitely hear echoes of Gershwin, Porter, and Rogers and Hammerstein.
One Acts Announced
The Bald Soprano by Eugene Ionesco. Directed by Nick DaVolt. Fifty years after it burst upon the world, Eugene Ionesco's
The Bald Soprano remains impervious to logic. But that's all right. As far as Ionesco is concerned, logic is overrated. Logic is overrated, narrative is overrated and so are plot and character. Which leaves you with ... Well, laughter is still good, and there's nothing wrong with suggesting that the world doesn't make much sense. As Kierkegaard says, wacky times call for wacky plays. Naturally, Kierkegaard never said that (or anything like it) but as long as Ionesco is breaking rules, what the heck. In
The Bald Soprano time runs backward and rapidly, randomly forward as the hands of a big grandfather clock whirl at odd intervals. Round and round and round they go, and where they stop doesn't really matter.
The Actor's Nightmare by Christopher Durang. Directed by Colby Craig. Having casually wandered onstage, George is informed that one of the actors, Eddie, has been in an auto accident and he must replace him immediately. Apparently no one is sure of what play is being performed but George (costumed as Hamlet) seems to find himself in the middle of a scene from
Private Lives, surrounded by such luminaries as Sarah Siddons, Dame Ellen Terry and Henry Irving. As he fumbles through one missed cue after another the other actors shift to HAMLET, then a play by Samuel Beckett, and then a climactic scene from what might well be
A Man for All Seasons-by which time the disconcerted George has lost all sense of contact with his fellow performers. Yet, in the closing moments of the play, he rises to the occasion and finally says the right lines, whereupon make-believe suddenly gives way to reality as the executioner's axe (meant for Sir Thomas Moore) instead sends poor George to oblivion-denying him a well-earned curtain call.
April 29 and 30, May 1 at 8 p.m. May 2 at 2 p.m.
Faculty News
Robert Foulk, adjunct professor in Theatre and Speech, recently appeared in the Avilla University production of Proof. Robert's big news is that he has been hired as a new Assistant Professor in Theatre at Avilla University. We will miss Robert, his wonderful teaching and directing abilities, and general good will. This is a great opportunity for him, however, and we wish him well.
Tom Murdock, assistant professor in Theatre and Speech performed at the Nelson Art Gallery in January. Tom enacted the role of artist Marsden Hartley as part of a Nelson tribute to Harley's works. Tom, in his best Simon-like manner, will also be serving as a judge for the upcoming auditions being held for would-be National Anthem singers at this season's KC T-Bones games.
KCKCC Students awarded scholarships to Four-Year Schools
Yes! Barbara Handy and Rafaella Saltigerald are making the big move away from home. Barbara will be attending Emporia State University next fall, while Rafa heads farther down I-35 to Wichita State University's technical theatre program.
Alumni News
Derek Seifert (2000-2001) has a recurring role on the Fox Network's
Boston Public. His professional name is Derek Ray. Many of you may remember Derek, the handsome model turned actor. He made his acting debut here at KCKCC in the original student one-act play,
Paint, in 2001.
Billy Brame, One of KCKCC's favorite actor, playwright, comedian, Presidential Scholarship holder is about to graduate from Columbia College is Chicago. Billy is planning on moving back to KCK, getting married, and attending graduate school with the intent of becoming (gasp!) a theatre teacher.
Nikki Bunch recently moved to Los Angeles to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Art. She lives in a bungalow just off Hollywood and Vine and is hard at work taking classes. Her favorite course is stage combat.
Nathan Jackson graduated from K-State this fall. We are pleased to inform you that he is back in Kansas City. Nate just finished a run of
After Juliet at the Coterie Theatre, directed by Sidonie Garrett. He has also agreed to serve as a judge and help coach our Forensics Team.