The Trip is produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois.
PRODUCTION TEAM
Directors: Meg Breithaupt & Michaela Leist
Stage Manager: Ketzie Leake
Set Designer: Corry Hammett
Lights/Sound Tech: Ketzie Leake
Backstage Assistance/Props: Noelle Preston
Costume Manager: Lexi Hunter
Characterization Specialist: Bianca White
SPECIAL THANKS
The produc tion team would like to thank: Wayne Matthews, Dr. Vinnie Zarletti, Dr. Josh Tompkins, Corry Hammett, Chris Joseph, Parker Wruck, NCU’s ASL interpreters, Kent Geiken, Brandon Breithaupt, Joshua Geiken, Tom Larson and Dan Wold with Fridley Community Theatre for the lending of set pieces, NCU Counseling Services, and our audience members for going on this journey with us.
A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTORS
In The Trip, we see a snapshot in a day in the life of a family in the late 1970’s. It’s simply a moment in a lifetime of many moments. But it’s a hard moment. In this decade we chose to set the play, mental health advancements were just about to take strides within healthcare. There’s so much more that we hope for these characters that we may not get to see on stage. We see that mental health struggles not only affect an individual, but close friends and loved ones as a whole. Our individual experiences and selfishness come into play when making decisions and judgments, especially revolving around family. However we might respond to difficult situations in life, it’s good to understand our tendencies as they differ from others’ responses. I hope and pray this piece can bring awareness to how we respond to others amidst difficulty so we can better align our words and actions to God’s heart.
Michaela Leist Director for The Trip
The Brother’s Grimm Spectaculathon is a wild ride! In it, we encounter stories that we know and love, as well as a couple stories that may be new to some of us. One of my actors recently asked me what the heartbeat of this show is, and I had to sit and think on that for a while. The one word that kept coming to mind was laughter. When I selected this piece of theatre, I remember being excited to get into rehearsals and laugh with my cast as the last few years have been hard for many of us and void of laughter and joy. With this show, it is my hope and prayer that for 40ish minutes, you all can join together in laughter. It is my hope that we, as an audience and cast combined, can take the chance to find joy together in the midst of the dark and heavy situations that may be surrounding us. Theatre, if you let it, can transport you to a different place in time, thought, and emotion. It can bring newfound joy at the same time as help us to process our less than joyful circumstances of the past and present. In the show Steel Magnolias, we hear the line, “laughter through tears is my favorite emotion.” Sometimes the sweetest laughter is had after crying the most painful tears. I cannot think of a more appropriate time to experience this emotion than now in 2023 as we start to see the world heal. So, if you will be so kind, please allow us the honor of entertaining you this evening and the honor of providing you the space to be joyfully expectant of the many good and uplifting moments that the Lord has in store for each of us!
Meg Breithaupt Director of The Brother’s Grimm Spectaculathon
CAST LIST
THE TRIP
LUKE................................... Joseph Krube
Luke u/s...................... Andrew Marbut
VICKI................................... Julianna Crandall
Vicki u/s..................... Abi Ballard
ALESIA................................. Olivia Voerster
Alesia u/s................... Noelle Preston
HENRY.................................. Nate Luckow
Henry u/s................... Aaron English-Scrimshaw
TIM........................................ Tony Carlson
THE BROTHER’S GRIMM SPECTACULATHON
Narrator 1............................ Bianca White*
Narrator 2........................... Olivia Voerster**
Player #1............................ Kamdyn Burrough***
Player #2..............................Sophie Frigerio**
Player #3............................. Gabrielle Reiser*
Player #4..............................Aaron English-Scrimshaw*
Player #5..............................Lexi Hunter*
Player #6..............................Tony Carlson
Player #7..............................Andrew Marbut
(*indicating how many characters the student is understudying within The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon in addition to their original character)
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
Joseph Krube
Joseph, native to Minnesota, has embodied roles of fictional heroes such as Mr. Knightly in a play adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma. He’s starred as the male lead role in several one-acts. He also played Oz and Professor Marvel in NCU’s musical, The Wizard of Oz.
Nate Luckow
Nate is excited to be playing Henry for his second NCU Production. Having recently been seen as Uncle Henry in The Wizard of Oz, and Demetrius in Midsummer Night’s Dream, Nate is glad that you’re here and hopes you enjoy the show.
Tony Carlson
Tony is best known for his many comedic characters such as Cosmo Brown from Singing in the Rain or Steve from Almost, Maine (NCU ’22). He is very grateful for the opportunity to work with this wonderful cast and loves Andrew and his dog Ada.
UNDERSTUDIES
Aaron English-Scrimshaw
Julianna Crandall is excited to be returning to the NCU stage. She has previously appeared as Gayle in Almost, Maine and Charlotte in Pride and Prejudice. She would like to thank her parents, friends, and sweetheart for always supporting her creative endeavors. Glory to God!
Olivia Voerster
Olivia is a sophomore Pastoral Studies major and is so excited to be Alesia in The Trip and Narrator 2 in The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon. She was most recently seen in Almost, Maine as Marvelyn (NCU ’22)! Thank you to Meg and Michaela for the opportunity to be in these shows.
Aaron is a senior Theatre Major. His most recent role was Steve in A lmost, Maine (NCU ’22). He is currently writing and producing an audio drama for his senior project and would love to tell you all about it! He’d like to thank Shepard and Mirage for all their love and support!
Julianna Crandall
Abi Ballard is delighted to be understudying for the role of Vicki in The Trip. In the past, she enjoyed participating in The Nutcracker as a 1920s flapper and in multiple programs for the Fourth of July; even helping choreograph some of the performances. She thanks you all for attending this extravagant One-Act.
Noelle Preston is excited to be understudy for the role of Alesia in The Trip. Other roles she has enjoyed were the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, Bird Girl in Seussical, and Old Sally in Oliver! As a Psychology major, she is excited to raise mental health awareness by taking part in The Trip.
Gabrielle is excited to be making her North Central University Theatre debut! She is looking forward to her time with the NCU theater community in the semesters to come. She was last onstage in her High School’s production of The Little Mermaid. She sends love to everyone who supports her.
Andrew
is a freshman majoring in Theatre. This is his second show on the NCU stage, previously playing Scarecrow in the fall production of The Wizard of Oz. He is very grateful for the opportunity to join such an incredible cast and loves Tony!
As a senior, with a minor in theater, Lexi is super excited to be back on the NCU stage as a Player in this production! You may have seen her most recently as Marvalyn in Almost, Maine last spring. She thanks everyone who’s supported her!
As a freshman at NCU she is excited to be a part of her second NCU production. Previous shows include The Wizard of Oz (NCU Fall ’22), The Addams Family as Morticia, and many others. She loves and appreciates all support given!
Abi Ballard
Andrew Marbut
Marbut
Noelle Preston
Lexi Hunter
Gabrielle Reiser
Kamdyn Burrough
As a senior theatre major, Bianca is thrilled to be performing as Narrator 1. She was previously the Lion (The Wizard of Oz), Judy (Curious Incident) and others. See Bianca’s final theatrical work at her Senior Project in late April. She is so thankful for all those that have empowered her during this process.
Sophie is a Junior majoring in Youth, Children, and Family Studies. She most could most recently be seen as Villian/Hope in Almost, Maine (NCU ’22) and Erika in Dontrelle Who Kissed the Sea (NHCC). Soli Deo Gloria!
A NOTE FROM THE COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS
Theatre, at its core, is the art of telling people’s stories. As an educational program, the Theatre Department at North Central University seeks to equip our students with the ability to ask questions about faith and life, and to grapple with those stories that are different than our own. As a result, many characters in our productions do not reflect people who follow Christ. We do not always agree with these characters, but we wish to represent them honestly and with excellence. And it is in examining these characters—their histories, their convictions, their choices, and their responses to the world—that our students are challenged to develop discernment as artists who do follow Christ in a world that does not.
Bianca White
Sophie Frigerio
