A Piece of My Heart Playbill

MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY’S J. WILLIAMAND MARY DIEDERICH COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION

DIGITALMEDIAAND PERFORMINGARTS

MARQUETTE THEATRE

DEBRAKRAJEC,ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

PRESENTS

September 29-October 8, 2023

“A Piece of My Heart” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

Directed by Debra Krajec

Scenic Design by Stephen Hudson-Mairet

Costume Design by Connie Petersen &Amelia Strahan

Lighting Design by Joshua Soape

Projections and Sound Design by Nathan Berry

Stage Managed by Sophia Stockhausen

Video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited. Marquette University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST).

CAST

(in order of appearance)

MARTHA………………………………………..……Kelsie Kasky

MARYJO……………………………..……………….Erin Fricker

SISSY…………………………………………………...Kynkade Mclachlan

WHITNEY……………………………………………..Eva Hesse

LEEANN……………………………………….……….Mei Macey

STEELE…………………………………………….…...Lauryn Middleton

MAN……………………………………….……….…..Michael Mingus

Martha, Sissy & Whitney u/s………………..Cari Nelson

SETTING

Vietnam and the U.S., 1960s-1990s

There is one 15-minute intermission.

The show runs approximately 2 hours.

A NOTE FROM THE CAST AND CREW

This show contains themes and uses language that may be offensive to certain groups. The cast and crew understand the significance of these words, but believe it is important to not erase the past usage of them. The past can be ugly, but we must look at it in order to do better in the future. We do not endorse the use of racial slurs or misogynistic language. The language in this show is used solely as a tool to truthfully portray this difficult story.

Throughout the process of developing this show, the cast and crew have learned a lot about the struggles that war veterans have endured and, although we can never fully understand their struggle, we sympathize with it. We hope our portrayal honors those who served in Vietnam.

THOUGHTS FROM THE DIRECTOR

I remember being at the family dinner table in the late 1960’s, eating supper with the TV tuned to the Huntly-Brinkley report on NBC in the background. I remember the imagery of the Vietnam war, for the first time brought in color into the homes of Americans every evening, along with baseball scores and the weather report. Seeing the pictures of the wounded and hearing the sounds of gunshots and choppers became familiar. The shock value diminished. It was all so very far away.

Everyone in my neighborhood had someone who was serving in the war. Even in my small town we had students protesting the war, wearing peace signs and flowers in their hair. It was such a confusing time.

I remember an Army nurse coming to speak to my class in junior high school, talking about the exciting life of being a military nurse. As the character Leeann states in the play, it seemed glamorous and romantic to me. It never occurred to me what it must have really been like. Because, rarely if ever, were there any stories on the news about the brave women in Vietnam, serving our country, risking their lives, helping the soldiers. They weren’t newsworthy, I suppose. But when I saw this play, A Piece of My Heart, in 2002, I realized there were heroes amongst us, unnamed and unrecognized. The women who risked everything in Vietnam. Totally off my radar for my entire adult life. I know better now. While back then they never fired a gun in combat, they were there, serving our country. They were forever changed, just like the surviving soldiers. Their sacrifice was heroic as well. This is their story.

Shirley Lauro based her play on the book of true stories told to Keith Walker, A Piece of My Heart: The True Stories of 26 American Women Who Served in Vietnam.

CAST BIOGRAPHIES (in alphabetical order)

Erin Fricker (MaryJo)

Erin is so grateful to be back on the Marquette stage telling such a powerful story with an incredible cast and crew! She is a sophomore Digital Media, Theatre Arts major and Dance minor from Brookfield, Wisconsin. Erin was previously seen on the Marquette stage as #25 in The Wolves, and over the summer, on stages across the state as a Principal Singer/Dancer in the Kids From Wisconsin Starstruck tour. Other favorite theatrical credits include Anything Goes (Reno Sweeney) and Godspell (Jesus). Erin thanks her family and friends for their continuous support in all her artistic endeavors. Enjoy the show!

Eva Hesse (Whitney)

Eva Hesse (She/Her) is a freshman at Marquette University from Sartell, Minnesota. She is pursuing a double major in English Literature and Theatre Arts. In the past at Marquette, Eva acted as an understudy for #7, #8, and #13 in The Wolves for the 2022 Second Stage Series, and as the understudy for Raelynn and Shelby in John Proctor is the Villain for a 2023 student capstone. She has also worked wardrobe for the Marquette productions of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and The Importance of Being Earnest. Eva would like to thank her friends and family who supported her in her theatre endeavors and beyond.

Kelsie Kasky (Martha)

Kelsie is a Senior from Shorewood, IL who is triple majoring in Secondary Education, English, and Theatre Arts and minoring in Dance. Her most recent Marquette onstage credits include Raelynn from John Proctor is the Villain, #46 in The Wolves, ensemble and coDance Captain in Mamma Mia! and Sister James in Doubt: A Parable. Kelsie is extremely honored to be a part of sharing this very important and difficult story. She is so proud of everyone involved! She would like to thank Martha for being an inspiration and a voice. She would also like to thank her family and friends for their support and Marquette Theatre for being another place to call home! Kelsie dedicates this show to her great uncle, James “Jimmy” Restaino, for his service as a Seabee in Vietnam.

Mei Macey (LeeAnn)

Mei Macey (she/her) is a sophomore at Marquette University from Johnsburg, Illinois. She is pursuing a major in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in Political Science on a Pre-Optometry track. Mei has been involved with theatre productions since she was 11 years old, and is ecstatic to be making her Marquette Mainstage debut in this production of A Piece of My Heart! She would love to thank all her family, friends, and mentors who've fostered her love for performing arts over the years. She hopes that you come away from today's show with a newfound sense of empathy, power, and compassion for the everyday women heroes in your lives.

Kynkade McLachlan (Sissy)

Kynkade is a sophomore at Marquette University. She is currently majoring in Theatre Arts and her minor is in Gender and Sexualities Studies. You may have seen her as Shelby in John Proctor is the Villain! She feels so lucky to be a part of her first Second-Stage series and is blessed to have told this story with such an incredible cast. With the creation of this show, she has learned so many interesting facts, and when watching the show, she hopes that you do too.

Lauryn Middleton (Steele)

Lauryn Middleton is a sophomore at Marquette University and a double major in Advertising and Theater Arts! She was born and raised in Illinois and is excited to portray Steele in A Piece of my Heart. This is Lauryn’s second opportunity doing Second Stage theater at Marquette University. She has done two shows previously, Player 8 from The Wolves and Bunny from Detroit ‘67. She would like to thank her family and the patrons supporting live theater. Special thanks to Tracey and Lavezz Middleton, and her family members who served in Vietnam. Cry and laugh with the audience and most importantly enjoy the show!

Michael Robert Mingus (Man)

Michael hails from New Albany, Indiana. He is a sophomore Theatre Arts major, minoring in Dance. He is very grateful to be a part of this wonderful cast. Some notable previous roles include: Lane in Importance of Being Earnest, Gaston in Beauty and the Beast and Harold Hill in The Music Man. Michael would like to thank his momma, grandma, family and wonderful friends for helping him along this journey. He wishes for all of this wonderful cast, crew, and team to BREAK ALL THE LEGS!! To any veterans or any active-duty military members in the audience, thank you for your service.

Cari Nelson (Martha, Sissy & Whitney u/s)

Cari Nelson is a sophomore studying speech-language pathology and Spanish. She is so excited to be involved in her first Second-Stage production, and would like to thank her cast mates, director, stage managers, and the crew for all their support and love. She has previously been seen on stage at Marquette in the Comet Project ensemble and in Dance Inc. She would like to thank her wonderful family for their encouragement, and she hopes you enjoy the show and its difficult but beautiful message

PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES (in alphabetical order)

Olivia “Babs” Babolea (Assistant Stage Manager, Props Master)

Olivia “Babs” Babolea is a freshman from Wilmette, Illinois. A Piece of My Heart is their first Marquette production. They have been in various original productions through their local theatre community: Mudlark, as well as directing Checkmate and choreographing Lagniappe Potpourri: Glass Half Full through New Trier High School. They are excited about the amazing opportunity they have been given and can’t wait to expand their skills over the next four years.

Nathan Berry (Sound & Projection Designer)

Nathan Berry is a Milwaukee native, attending Marquette University studying Digital Media & Theatre Arts. His past stage credits include acting as Haemon in Antigone, Assistant StageManaging Taming of the Shrew, Stage-managing the Light, Stage-managing Doubt, and acting as Dale in Marquette Feature Film Diffraction. Outside of this, he is also a working photographer and videographer who loves to capture beautiful images with his camera. He sends much love and appreciation to everyone who supports him and this production. It is heartwarming and exciting to know that you all will be there to see the magic happen! Enjoy the show!

Debra Krajec (Director, Artistic Director)

This production has had a special place in Deb’s heart for years, and she is so blessed to have been able to finally work on it with these 7 amazing young performers. This production is the 34th show Deb has directed at Marquette. Deb serves as a faculty member, a Stage Director, and a Costume Designer at Marquette. She received her MFA from Texas Christian University, and has worked professionally as a costume designer, a director, and an actor. Deb has been part of the Marquette Theatre Department for 40 years, and knows her time there is growing short. To all her students, past and present, and especially to the company of A Piece of My Heart, know that you will always have a piece of hers.

Stephen Hudson-Mairet (Professor, Lighting Design, Scenic Design)

This season marks Stephen’s 24th at Marquette. Thank you so much for your support of Marquette Theatre and Marquette’s theatre arts students and your support of the arts across our community – live performances help keep Milwaukee and Marquette amazing places to live and work. Stephen wants to especially thank Jonathan and Deb for their joyful energy and support of our students. Thank you as well to the student body for their artistry and energy in bringing these stories to life. Stephen lives quite happily in a very old house in Wauwatosa with his wife Heidi.

Connie L. Petersen (Co-Costume Designer, Costume Shop Manager)

Connie is excited to return to this 22nd season at Marquette with such energetic new freshmen and seasoned upperclassmen along with Deb and Jonathan, two very well-respected Milwaukee directors. She received her B.S. degree in theatre from Northwest Missouri State University and M.F.A. degree in Costume and Scenic Design from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL. She has worked professionally for Door Shakespeare, Central City Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Denver Center Theatre Company, and Playmakers Repertory Company at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Connie spends her free time with her two daughters, Emma and Olivia who are quite busy around Brookfield. Connie was recently nominated and elected to serve as a Board of Director with the Elmbrook Education Foundation.

Sophia Stockhausen (Stage Manager)

Sophia is a junior Digital Media major and Theatre and Anthropology double minor from Columbus, Ohio. She has been in the booth before as a stage manager for From White Plains and John Proctor is the Villain, but you might have also seen her on stage for The Amish Project (MUPS). She can often be found in the Helfaer, whether she’s working in the costume shop, running an errand for MUPS e-board (she’s treasurer!), or sitting in a late-night rehearsal.

Sophia would like to thank the wonderful cast, director, and her friends for supporting her. She is very excited for this show and hopes you enjoy it! It’s a beautiful story that needs to be told.

Amelia Strahan (Co-Costume Designer)

Amelia is honored to be a part of this important production. Amelia works in the Helfaer Costume Shop as the Cutter/Draper and Assistant Costume Shop Manager. She also Costumes Designs for many local companies including Summit Players’ Theatre, Next Act Theatre, Florentine Opera Company, UW-Milwaukee Dance Department and Milwaukee Repertory Theater. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Costume Design from Marquette University and a minor in Studio Art through MIAD. Website: ameliastrahan.com Instagram: amelia.s.makes

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

OUR U.S. MILITARY and the VETERANS OF VIETNAM – Thank you for your service!

David Krajec

Rachel Gauthier

PRODUCTION STAFF

Technical Director Stephen Hudson-Mairet

Scene Shop Supervisor Peter O’Neill

Costume Shop Manager Connie Petersen

Asst. Costume Shop Supervisor/Cutter/Draper Amelia Strahan

Stage Manager Sophia Stockhausen

Assistant Stage Manager Olivia “Babs” Babolea

Props Master Olivia “Babs” Babolea

Light Board Operator Miranda Croll

Sound Board Operator Draylin Pickett

Deck Crew Charlie Hobert

Wardrobe Crew Evelyn Blasius, Gabriela Shulman

Costume Shop Assistants Bailee Barton, Eva Hesse, Alex Merkel, Lauryn Middleton, Michael

Mingus, Matthew Read, Nate Rodriguez, Sophia Stockhausen

Costume Shop Build Crew Bailee Barton, Evelyn Blasius, Shannon Burke, Lynn Choi, Iris

DeWeerdt, Brandon Engel, Andrea Estrella, Draylin Pickett, Hunter

Thein, Jonalie Zamora

Scene Shop Assistants Brandon Engel, Ethan Jacoby-Henrickson, Kelsie Kasky Naomi

Kriege, Jack McMahon, Will Reames, Mack, Rosales, Jackson Sheerin, Josh Soape, Matthew Torkilsen

Scenic Shop Build Crew Olivia “Babs” Babolea, Grayson Buesing, Miranda Croll, Michelle, Cecchin, Susie Dobbs, Christina Espinoza, Jameson Fagan, Hunter Ho, Michael Kratzer, Gabriela Shulman, Tristen Yang, Jonalie

Zamora

Administrative Assistants Cassidy O’Neil, Erin Cavender

Box Office Staff Trevor Holt, Taylor Mundt

House Manager Trevor Holt

DON’T FORGET TO COME BACK TO SEE THE OTHER SHOW IN OUR SECOND STAGE SERIES

THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS

TICKETS

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