NEWSLETTER
SimpsonProductions presentsStuds Terkel’s
Feb.14-16
Simpson Productions presents Studs Terkel’s Working: A Musical Directed by Jennifer Nostrala with music direction by Damon Stevens, the musical opens on Feb 14 and runs only one weekend in the intimate Barnum Studio Theatre
Based on Studs Terkel's best-selling book of interviews with American workers, Working paints a vivid portrait of the workers that the world so often takes for granted: the schoolteacher, the phone operator, the waitress, the millworker, the mason, and the housewife, just to name a few Nominated for six Tony Awards, this classic has been updated for a modern age, featuring songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Stephen Schwartz, Craig Carnelia, James Taylor, Micki Grant, and more with orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire.
Those interviewed include an employee with Kiya Koda, a server at Crouse Café, an Indianola elementary school music teacher, and a 911 dispatcher Simpson Productions is excited to produce a show with a direct connection to our community
Producing the localized version allowed Simpson Productions to replace some of the monologues with interviews of both local workers and Simpson College students Last fall two students, along with Director Jennifer Nostrala, interviewed twelve individuals about their work and their dreams for the future These interviews were turned into monologues that will be performed along with the original monologues from show
Performances are in the Blank Performing Arts Center at Simpson College on February 14-15 at 7:30 p.m. and February 15-16 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $20.00 for adults, $17.50 for seniors and non-Simpson students, $16.00 for group (10 or more) tickets, and free for Simpson students and employees with IDs
Working: A Musical is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International
Reserve your tickets today: Working: A Musical
SIMPSON PRODUCTIONS 2024 SIMPSON PRODUCTIONS 2024
YEAR IN REVIEW YEAR IN REVIEW
To celebrate the new year, we’re looking back at all Simpson Productions had in store in 2024
February: The Telephone and The Medium
April: Research and Creativity Symposium
March: A Beautiful Day in November on the Banks of the Greatest of the Great Lakes
April: Festival of Short Plays 2024 - Brecht and His Legacy
September: Simpson Productions BBQ
October: The Moors
September: Stage Combat Workshop
November: Speed Dating Tonight! and High School Theatre Festival
UNDERGROUND
UndergroundisamonthlycabaretstyleeventhostedbythePA(performingarts) House.Simpsonstudents,regardlessofmajororinvolvementinthearts,canperform anactoftheirchoosing.Undergroundisfreeeventandanyoneiswelcometoattend. StudentswantingtoperformshouldemailPiperJackman,PAHouseManager,at piper.jackman@my.simpson.edu
NextUnderground:Tobeannounced.Keepaneyeonyouremailfordate,time,andlocation
THEATREWORK STUDY
Thetheatrecostumeshop,scene shop,andlightingdepartmentare lookingforworkstudystudentsfor thissemester.Nopriorexperience isrequired.
Contactshopsupervisorsfor moreinformation:
CostumeShop:CarolineFrias caroline.frias@simpson.edu
SceneShop:NatalieHiningBruce natalie.hining@simpson.edu
Lighting:RickGoetz rick.goetz@simpson.edu
SIMPSON
COLLEGEMUSIC CLUBPRESENTS
MINIMONTHLY MUSICAL
SimpsonCollegeMusicClubwill presenttheirnextMiniMonthly MusicalonFebruary21at7pmin LekbergHall.Fivestudentswill performamedleyofsongsfrom theBroadwaymusicalThe25th AnnualPutnamCountySpelling Bee
QuestionsaboutMusicClub?
ContactMaxMeyers: max.meyers@my.simpson.edu
STILLLOOKINGFORAMAYTERM?
TherearespotsopenforTHTR190Make-UpDesign(4 Credits)
Thiscourseisanintroductiontotheatricalmakeupdesignandfocusesonthe applicationofstagemakeup.Studentswilllearnaboutproducts,tools,and techniquesofmakeupapplicationforthestage,includingbasichighlightand shadow,basiccorrective,oldagemakeup,injurymakeup,dragmakeup,and fantasymakeup.
AESOP’SFABLES
SimpsonProduction’sfinalshowthis seasonisthechildren’sproductionof Aesop’sFables.Thisunique productionwillnotonlybeperformed inBarnumstudiobutalsotourto localelementaryschools.Allwhoare involvedinthisprojectwillbepartof thecast.Thisisashortshow(30-40 min)andisagreatopportunityfor youtoexperiencewhatlifeislikeasa partofachildren’stheatretour. Anyonewhoisinterestedinbeing involvedinthisproduction,please contactAnnWoldt.ann.woldt@simpson.edu
Ourfirstrehearsalwillbeat6:00pm onTuesday,April1inBPAC201 Beonthelookoutformore informationinthecomingweeks!
Poster Design by Nayeli Mejia
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
Eachmonth,wefeatureseniorswhohavebeenorarecurrentlyinvolvedin SimpsonProductions,onoroffstage.
Hometown:Crescent,Iowa
Majors:ForensicScienceandMusic
FavoriteSimpsonProductionsRole:Monicain TheMedium
FavoriteSimpsonProductionsMemory:Beingin IntotheWoodsbecauseeveryoneinthecast madeitsomuchfun!
Hometown:Madrid,Iowa
Major:VocalPerformance
FavoriteSimpsonProductionsRole:Chorus memberinTheEnchantedPig
FavoriteSimpsonProductionsMemory:Hearing DrMcDonald’sTennesseeaccentduringGallantry: ASoapOpera
