6 minute read
All In The Family
A Tribute to the Schulte Family
For the past 24 years, there has been one element in every single O’Gorman production that most theatre goers may be unaware of. There are some hidden gems that are truly the secret to our success with every production. That secret is all in the family; the Schulte family. Parents, Jon and Nancy Schulte, met in the Twin Cities through a young adult group at their Catholic church. They married and Jon’s work allowed him to transfer to Sioux Falls to raise a family…a big one. Ten kids to be exact. All who would attend Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools and all who would be actively involved with the theatre department. All of the Schulte kids have worked behind the scenes on the technical crew. A few even managed to balance their time acting in a show and working on the technical crew.
In the Fall of 1998, a tradition spanning over two decades was about to begin. The eldest son, Philip, started spending time after school getting involved with technical theatre. Philip recalls getting his start in the technical world back in 6th grade. Christ the King church was closed for renovations so mass services were held in the gym every weekend. That meant setting up a portable sound system.
“I learned how to do that and helped them set it up. I think it was 6th grade as well where we did a class trip to go see an O’Gorman musical. I remember looking in the back and seeing an upperclassman I knew running spotlight for it. I knew I wanted to do that someday,” said Philip. Once he started high school he showed up after school to work on the technical crew. “I got involved and since that day I was hooked.”
Philip asked the technical director at the time, Mr. Kevin Brick, to show him how the equipment worked. “He gave me a crash course on lights and sound,” Philip explained. In fact, Philip remembers during his sophomore year being called to the main office several times to get the sound or lighting system up and running before an event happening in the auditorium. “I would say I spent a good chunk of my nights and weekends helping build the sets, hang and focus lights, and set the sound system. I felt at home in the theatre and loved playing with the technology. It was only natural that I would go to college for it and make a living doing what I love,” shared Philip.
Philip also unwillingly started what those involved in the theatre department would call the “ip” era. When asked how it all started, Philip recalls: “It started in marching band and I was an annoying freshman. A bunch of the upperclassman decided to start calling me “Pip.” Apparently, Philip reminded them of a character in South Park. “I didn’t like it at first so I resisted, which just made them call me it more. Finally, I just embraced it and have been called that since. Unfortunately for my siblings it started a little bit of a tradition.”
Cue the “ip” era. Somehow, the naming of Philip would become a Schulte family tradition and be passed down to the siblings. Steven was soon known as “Stip”, Laura “Lip”, Brian “Bip”, Deborah “Dip”, Michael “Mip”, Kimberly “Kip”, Teresa “Tip” and well… it started to fizzle out when Anita started high school because “Anip” just didn’t have the same one syllable vibe as the prior nicknames. Philip is the only one to still use his OG appointed name, Pip.
The youngest sibling, Matthew, is currently a senior at O’Gorman and will graduate in 2024. We feel more blessed than ever to have a Schulte behind the scenes. In November of 2022, Matthew and his mother Nancy were involved in a bad car accident. Matthew suffered a brain injury and his future was uncertain. But the Schulte family is resilient and with the help of great medical care, a few weeks at the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, and an army of prayer warriors, Matthew would walk back into O’Gorman High School to finish his junior year. Matthew can be found working in the scene shop, running lights in the booth, and even acting on stage this year. Current Technical Director, Mr. Kevin Humke, has worked with all of the Schultes and is grateful for their years of meticulous work and willingness to patiently teach other students in the scene shop. And while Matthew will be the last of Jon and Nancy’s children to serve the theatre department, Mr. Humke knows he can always depend on them as they are always a phone call away!
What are they doing now?
• Philip “Pip” is married and lives in Pierce, Nebraska. He is an ETCP Certified Rigger and Entertainment Electrician and has worked as Lighting Crew Chief for some pretty impressive entertainers such as Drake, Backstreet Boys, J Balvin, Janet Jackson, Fall Out Boy, and Hunter Hayes. He worked as Lighting Tech for Aerosmith, the Trans Siberian Orchestra, Demi Lovato, Panic! At the Disco, Coldplay, and John Mayer.
• Laura lives in Sioux Falls and works as a nurse at Avera Hospital. She is married to Jordan Gerdes (a fellow OGHS alumni) and has four children.
• Brian is married and has a little boy and lives in Burnsville, MN and works as an Electrical Engineer.
• Deborah is married and has three children. You can find Deborah up in the Science Wing teaching at O’Gorman High School.
• Michael is married and has a baby girl. He lives in Omaha, Nebraska and is completing his residency in Family Practice Medicine.
• Kimberly is just across the parking lot teaching math at O’Gorman Junior High.
• Teresa is in Sioux City completing an online Master’s program in Social Work through Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota- Winona and works part time.
• Anita is at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas and majoring in Music Education.
• Matthew is a senior at O’Gorman and can be seen working in the scene shop and acting on stage.
Currently, each year a worthy senior receives the “Outstanding Technical Crew Member” Award in honor of Steven Schulte. In April of 2002, Steven was diagnosed with Leukemia in his central nervous system. He didn’t let his diagnosis slow him down as he spent what would be his final summer going back and forth between chemotherapy treatments and working Boy Scout camp. He also spent time learning to ride his motorcycle. On August 31st at the beginning of his junior year of high school, Steven passed away surrounded by his family. We are so proud to award a senior each year who embodies the character of Steven and the Schulte family.
