THE ILLINOIS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF THEATRE ARTS presents
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S
February 20, 21, 22, 23 @ 7:30 February 24 @ 2:00
PM
PM
THE JEROME MIRZA THEATRE at McPherson Hall 2 Ames Plaza East, Bloomington, IL 61701
THE ILLINOIS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF THEATRE ARTS PRESENTS
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare Director Christopher Connelly SDC
Scenic Designer Olivia A. Sarkis senior BFA Design & Technology
Costume Designer Mariya Radeva-Nedyalkova Lighting Designer Nicholas Valdiva
senior BFA Design & Technology
Sound Designers Christopher Connelly SDC
Hailey Aeschliman
sophomore BFA Design & Technology
Hair & Makeup Design Tuxford Turner senior BFA Acting
Musical Arrangement of the Fairy Lullaby by Angie Cornwell, sophomore BFA Music Theatre and Sam Hulsizer, junior BFA Acting The use of any recording device, either audio or video, and the taking of photographs, either with or without a flash, is strictly prohibited. Please silence and dim all electronic devices such as cellular phones and watches.
Illinois Wesleyan University School of Theatre Arts Faculty Jean MacFarland Kerr . . . . Associate Professor/ Director of the School of Theatre Arts Nancy B. Loitz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Professor of Theatre Arts Curtis C. Trout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Professor of Theatre Arts Scott Susong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Associate Professor of Theatre Arts Thomas Quinn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Associate Professor of Theatre Arts Christopher Connelly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts Charlie Berggren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts
Adjunct Faculty and Staff Laurel Beard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Music Theatre Voice Eka Berzirgani . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dance Lark Commanday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dance Maggie Cornyn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dance Paul Dennhardt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stage Combat Alicia Harvey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dance Susan L. High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Costume Shop Supervisor Kenneth Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scene Shop Supervisor Maxwell Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Recruiting Coordinator Nole Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Music Theatre Voice Julie Kasa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Music Theatre Accompanist Lyuda Kizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Acting David Kortemeier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stage Voice Sheri Marley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dance Saul Nache . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Music Theatre Voice Kyle Pingel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Costume Production Coordinator Jessica Riss Waltrip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dance Jo Lynn Robinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Music Theatre Accompanist Bridget Sundin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Theatre History Armie Thompson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Technical Director/Production Manager Kelly J. Ullom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Theatre Operations Specialist Joe Vitti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Staff Electrician
Production Crews Wardrobe Crew Ciara Bates (head), sophomore BFA Acting Eliot Bontumasi, freshman BFA Design & Technology Richard Diamond, freshman BFA Acting Gillian Elliott, freshman BA Theatre Arts Erika Harper, freshman BFA Music Theatre Jasper Noecker, freshman Theatre Design & Technology minor Julie Palcynski, freshman BA Theatre Arts Run Crew Briana Aiken, junior Theatre Arts minor Justine Dacres, freshman BFA Music Theatre Olivia Herlein,
freshman BFA Music Theatre
Alexis Ries, freshman BA Theatre Arts Sarah Roe, freshman BFA Acting Joe Storti, freshman BFA Music Theatre Light Hang Electricians: Jackson Bettis, sophomore BA Theatre Arts Kaia Burkum, freshman BA Theatre Arts Richard Diamond, freshman BFA Acting Justine Dacres, freshman BFA Music Theatre Connor Elliott, freshman BFA Design & Technology Erika Harper, freshman BFA Music Theatre Dylan Holt, freshman BFA Music Theatre Michael Jostes, freshman BFA Music Theatre Josh Kaiping, freshman BFA Acting Tyler Kelly, freshman BFA Acting Lizzie MacGuire, sophomore BFA Music Theatre Erin Sullivan, freshman BFA Acting Fly Crew Gillian Elliott, freshman BA Theatre Arts Gabrielle Ghaderi, sophomore Theatre Arts minor
Ushers Jackson Bettis, sophomore BA Theatre Arts Kaia Burkum, freshman BA Theatre Arts Alexis Jones, freshman BFA Music Theatre Michael Jostes, freshman BFA Music Theatre Josh Kaiping, freshman BFA Acting Tyler Kelly, freshman BFA Acting Zoey Mendoza, freshman BFA Acting
Production Assistants Costume Shop Assistants Veronica Blumberg, Connor Elliott, Lea Hulsey, Maxwell Kleve, Pearlie Leaf, Catherine Mojsiewicz, Monica Shen, Cal Ussery, Anne Warnke Scene Shop Assistants/ Facilities Manager Haylie Aeschliman, Eliot Bontumasi, Madisen DeBord, Richard Diamond, Andy Jump, Josh Kaiping, Kieran O’Connor, Hannah Ogunnubi, Joel Reedy, Tyler Saam, Olivia Sarkis, Anna Schultz-Breef, Josiah Tennent, Tuxford Turner, Chester Wallace Light & Sound Shop Assistants Taylor Coduto, Ely Kleinsmith, Nick Valdivia Theatre Office/Box Office/Photography/ Publicity/Research Assistants Ciara Bates, Jay Garner, Catherine Groth, Sam Hulsizer, Kamilah Lay, Paola Lehman, Shelby Moore Korte, Danielle Ponsot, Kira Rangel, Emily Strub, Cheron Whittley, Robert Wilson
Cast Theseus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sam Hulsizer, junior BFA Acting Hippolyta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maya McGowan, junior BFA Music Theatre Egeus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cal Ussery, sophomore BA Theatre Arts Lysander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephano Egleston, junior BFA Music Theatre Hermia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Megan Lai, senior BFA Acting Demetrius . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kieran O’Connor, sophomore BFA Acting Helena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrea Froehlke, junior BFA Acting Philostrate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danielle Ponsot, junior BA Secondary Education Titania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kamilah Lay, senior BFA Music Theatre Oberon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jace LeGarde, senior BFA Music Theatre Puck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rebecca Cauthorn, junior BA Theatre Arts Bottom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Will Mueller, senior BFA Acting Madame Quince . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paola Lehman, senior BFA Music Theatre Starveling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trey Ehrhart, sophomore BFA Music Theatre Snout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lili Moldovanska, sophomore BFA Acting Snug . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dominic Gambaiani, senior BA Theatre Arts Flute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ian O’Toole, junior BA Theatre Arts Cobweb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brynn Beveridge, junior BA Theatre Arts Peaseblossom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brigid Broderick, senior BA Music Education Moth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Angie Cornwell, sophomore BFA Music Theatre Mustardseed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pearlie Leaf, sophomore BFA Acting
Scene Synopsis Time: The turn of the 20th Century Place: The colony of New Athens and the surrounding forest There will be one ten-minute intermission
Director’s Note A Midsummer Night’s Dream may possibly be Shakespeare’s most subversive play. While many schools and theatres think of it as an innocent comic fantasy with lots of cute fairies (too often played by children) devoid of any shadings of darkness, this view ignores several important aspects of the play: •The play’s events are caused by a father’s desire to force his daughter to marry someone she does not love or be put to death. The law supports him in this. •The fairies (especially Puck) subject the lovers to much distress for their own amusement. Oberon also does this to Titania. The fairies and their world are not innocent. •The lovers have no real understanding of the world of the forest and what they encounter there. For example –Lysander proposes that he and Hermia walk three leagues or 21 miles through the forest at night. •The resolution and happy ending come about by a deception -Demetrius is still under the enchantment but is now married to a woman that, in reality, he may not love. This production occurs at the beginning of the 20th century in an unspecified European colony in the southern hemisphere. The court is very colonial, an insular enclave in the midst of an unexplored wild new world. Yet Theseus’ court (except for the conquered Hippolyta) and the lovers misconceive their world. They assume they live in one world when they actually live in another. The happy ending of the play is due to the fairies’ intervention, without them the play ends in tragedy and possibly death. So, while love can make us an ass, sometimes it is just fine to be an ass for love and the magic of the world exceeds what can be found in your pith helmet. “What fools these mortals be.” —Christopher Connelly
Special Thanks Frieda McArdell at Passion for Ponds IWU Physical Plant James Blumberg Ken Detloff Paul Lawton Paul Menendez Illinois State University Theatre Cover and poster illustration: Woman Walking in an Exotic Forest (1905) by Henri Rousseau
Production Team Stage Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margaret L. Nelson Asst. Stage Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sloane Polisner, sophomore BFA Acting Asst. Director/Dramaturg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lea Hulsey, sophomore BA Theatre Arts Fight Choreographer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Dennhardt, SDC Fight Captain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ML Nelson Asst. Scenic Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cami Tokowitz, senior BFA Acting Asst. Costume Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monica Shen, junior BA Theatre Arts Hair & Makeup Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tuxford Turner, senior BFA Acting Technical Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Armie Thompson Scene Shop Supervisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ken Johnson Costume Shop Supervisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan L. High Costume Production Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kyle Pingel Costume Technician . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nikki Wheeler First Hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Catherine Mojsieciwz, senior BA Theatre Arts Properties Master . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alanna Scoggins, junior BA Theatre Arts Properties Artisans . . . . . . . . . Veronica Blumberg, freshman BFA Design & Technology Connor Elliott, freshman BFA Design & Technology Serene Hannah-Morrison, freshman BFA Design & Technology Scenic Artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Karla Bailey-Smith Charge Artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Whitney Meltz, senior BFA Design & Technology Master Electrician . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe Vitti, IATSE 193 Asst. Master Electrician . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joel Reedy, freshman BFA Design & Technology Publicity Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelly J. Ullom Asst. Publicity Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kamilah Lay, junior BFA Music Theatre Graphic Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gary Schwartz House Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jean Muza, senior BFA Acting Asst. House Managers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Megan Boggs, freshman BFA Music Theatre Box Office Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelly J. Ullom Light Board Operator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joel Reedy, freshman BFA Design & Technology Sound Board Operator . . . . Haylie Aeschliman, sophomore BFA Design & Technology
School of Theatre Arts 2018-2019 Season In the Jerome Mirza Theatre ORIGINS: FACULTY CHOREOGRAPHED DANCE CONCERT 2019 April 10, 11, 12,13 @ 7:30 PM April 14 @ 2:00 PM
In the E. Melba Johnson Kirkpatrick Laboratory Theatre VIOLET Music by Jeanine Tesori Book by Brian Crawley March 22, 23 @ 7:30pm March 24 @ 2:00pm