2024-25 Season
Speed Dating Tonight!
Music and Lyrics by
Michael Ching
Blank PerformingArts Center
Pote Theatre
November 15-18, 2024
In conjunction with the 27th annual High School Theatre Festival
Conductor/Music Director
Damon Stevens
Costume, Hair & Makeup Designer
Caroline Frias
Technical Director/Set Designer
Natalie Hining Director Ann Woldt
Co-Lighting Designers
Rick Goetz, Nicholas Mayhugh
Props Designer
Maddy Gunzenhauser
Stage Manager
BridgetAnderson
Cast
Hunter Weppler Bartender, Danny, Dave, Steve
Anaka Wamstad-Evans…………………………..………………..Waiter, Cassie, Taylor
Maxwell Wearmouth-Gweah………………………...……………..Rudy, Tucker,Andre
Lyza Cue………………………….…………………… Kaylee, Mary, Sophia, Melissa
Leah Wilson………………………………………Wendy, Doreen, Becca, Jenny, Susan
Max Meyers…………………………….……………………..Christopher, Tony, Darryl
Ian Wilde……………………………...…………………….Busboy, Charlie, Frank, Joe
Elainë Frey………………………………………...…………………...Isla, Izzy, Bianca
Jasper McGrath……………………………………..………………..Chloe, Kristen,Ava
-There will be no intermission-
Please make sure cell phones and alarms are turned off. Please no text messaging during the performance. Restrooms are located on the main and upper lobby levels
Musical Numbers
Speed Dating Tonight!...........................................................................................Ensemble
OMG, WTF………………………………………………………………………….. Rudy
Campaign Consultant Wendy
Go for a Run………………………………………………………….Charlie, Christopher
Wildlife Rehabilitation……………………………………………………………... Cassie
Disparity: An Introduction…………………………………………………………….. Isla
I Live in a Single Wide Danny
Famous Family…………………………………………………………………….. Tucker
My Priest…...…………………………………………………………………………Mary
Lurker Chloe
Busboy……………………………………………………………………………...Busboy
Car Man……………………………………………………………...Tony, Sophia, Waiter
Love My Cats Doreen
Kleptomaniac Frank
I’ve Always Liked This Bar…………………………………………………………..Dave
Talkative Girl…………………………………………………………………………..Izzy
Fragile Heart/Waiting For Too Long Becca, Andre
If Not Now, When……………………………………………………………….Ensemble
Food Truck…………………………………………………………………..Steve, Sophia
You Have Lovely Eyes……………………………………………………...Kristen, Jenny
Overthinker Joe
Ex-Duet………………………………………………………………...Izzy, Tony, Waiter
Order Up!..................................................................................................Bartender, Waiter
I’m Over You Melissa
The Dilemma of Dater…………………………………………………………...Ensemble
OSD (obsessive screen disorder)……………………………………………...Rudy, Susan
Coordinator Kayle
AN INTRODUCTIONAND ORIENTATION
by Michael Ching (Composer and Librettist)
based on a concept by
Dean Anthony
SPEED DATING TONIGHT! is what I call a "new numbers opera." Much of traditional opera is based on musical numbers: arias, duets, ensembles, finales. SpDT! is similarly structured but with some twists. First connecting material such as recitative is minimized. As for the songs and ensembles themselves, most of the material is not gendered and not limited to one vocal type. Even the order of the pieces is up to the producer. The cast needn't be based on a 50/50 gender balance. (It doesn't need to be binary either.) In the over 130 productions the smallest cast has been four and the largest around fifty. The goal is to have one hundred options, with the idea being that you use only the material you want for your cast. Currently there are 95 options I count a true duet as two options, for example, but a piece with only a couple of response lines, counts as one option.
The opera starts and ends with a frame and premise that isn't varied. At a local pub, the bartender (B), server (M), Dating Coordinator (S or M), and busboy (mute or any voice) get ready for the event and greet the daters as they enter. We are introduced to two nervous characters ("I could just die") and Dater #22 (B). He's got a singing birthday card. The actual speed dating starts and the show ends when everyone has had their song, duet, or trio. There are a few subplots to hold the show together. The finale starts with the server commenting in a Brechtian manner about the event ("Daters are a lot like singers"). Dater #22, a failure so far, gives it one more try, and in a parody of the Pappageno/Pappagena duet, finally finds his true love, a fellow cell phone addict. The daters exit and the bartender and server decide to go have a coffee. Alone, the busboy, dances with their broom.
So, the traditional show requires:
Quinn, Bartender, baritone
Stephanie, Server, mezzo
Kaylee, the Dating Coordinator, soprano or mezzo
Busboy, mute or any voice type (can be cut entirely)
Your group of daters, number completely variable (4-40)
Since the first production commissioned, produced, and directed by Dean Anthony at the Janiec Opera of the Brevard Music Center, SpDT! has been done over a hundred times. The episodic, inclusive structure of the opera proved very useful during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-2021. Brevard commissioned a ZOOM SPEED DATING TONIGHT! which is essentially the same show, but one that concentrates on the daters, de-emphasizing the bar milieu.
-taken from https://operaandbeyond.blogspot.com
Michael Ching, Composer and Librettist
An opera composer/librettist, conductor, and songwriter, Michael Ching is the composer/librettist of the opera SPEED DATING TONIGHT! With nearly one hundred forty productions since its 2013 premiere at the Janiec Opera of the Brevard Music Center, SPEED DATING TONIGHT! is one of the most popular operas of the 21st century. Michael is Composer-in-Residence at Savannah Voice Festival and Taos Opera Institute, and Opera consultant at EC Schirmer. He is the former Artistic Director of Opera Memphis. He is serving his second term on the board of the National Opera Institute. Michael studied composition with Robert Ward at Duke University and Carlisle Floyd at the Houston Opera Studio. With a lifelong devotion to the craft of operatic composition learned through the success and failure of over a dozen operas, through composition study, and through years of conducting the standard operatic repertoire; and with a strong interest in folk and country music, Michael is a somewhat of an outlier in the world of new music. In 2025, his new opera HAZEL MINER will premiere at Northern State University.
Excerpt taken from https://operaandbeyond.com/home
The GuestArtists Program is a key component to the success of Simpson Productions. Guest artists help bring a new perspective to the work and create opportunities for students to engage with a broader network of designers, actors and directors. This production of Speed Dating Tonight! has provided us the opportunity to bring guest stage manager Bridget Anderson to Simpson College. Bridget is a graduate of Syracuse University's BFA Stage Management program. She spent several years holding stage management positions in the Greater Boston area and has been the Assistant Production Manager for Des Moines Metro Opera since 2021
Meet the Simpson Productions Student Company
Students involved in Simpson Productions come from a variety of disciplines across campus. Many of the students working on productions are theatre majors and minors. However, we also have criminal justice, history, communications, music and other majors working on the shows. We have some students who may not be in a production, but they do have a workstudy position in the department. The theatre department employs over 20 students in lighting, costumes, sound and the scene shop. Simpson Productions couldn't produce our shows without all of these students.
Robyn Aguilar, Wardrobe Crew
Sophomore, Urbandale, IA
Majors: Theatre, Environmental Science
Activities: Mock Trial, Choir, SC Pride
Charli Burton, Scene Shop
1st Year, Bloomfield, IA
Major: History
Minor: Legal Studies
Activities: Cheerleading
Olivia DiBari, Box Office Manager
Senior, Eastham, MA
Major: Music
Minor: Psychology
Activities: Choir, Theatre
Sean Chavez, Scene Shop
1st Year, Waco, TX
Major: Biology, Pre-Vet
Activities: Kappa Theta Psi fraternity
Cade Clark, Wardrobe Crew Head
Junior, Leon, IA
Majors: History, Education Studies
Activities: Theatre
Lupe Contreras, Sound
Sophomore, Ottumwa, IA
Major: Multi-Media Journalism
Minor: Music, Entrepreneurship
Activities: Latinos Unidos, Asian Simpor
Harley Eckert, Front of House
1st Year, Lehigh, IA
Majors: Biochemistry, Criminal Justice
Activities: Choir, SJA Club, Music Club, Admissions Rep, Theater
Vanna Freese, Prop & Deck Crew
Sophomore, Monticello, IA
Major: Health & Exercise Science
Minor: Biology
Activities Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, Theatre
Elainë Frey, Performer Junior
Major: Vocal Performance
Activities: Choir, Theatre
Lyza Cue, Performer
Senior, Madrid, IA
Major: Vocal Performance
Activities: Band, Jazz Band, Choir, Chamber Singers
Rebekah Geerdes, Light Board Operator
1st Year, Des Moines
Majors: Theatre, Education Studies
Activities: Theatre
Paisha Goodrich, Wardrobe Crew
1st Year, Des Moines, IA
Major: Theatre Activities: Theatre, Tri-Delta sorority
Maddy Gunzenhauser, Props Designer
Sophomore, Humeston, IA
Majors: Theatre, English
Activities: Choir, Kappa Theta Psi, Music Club
Abby Hintz, Prop & Deck Crew Head
Senior, Pleasantville, IA
Majors: Sports Communication, Graphic Design Activities: Tri Delta, Student Media, ODK, Athletics Communications Dept
Piper Jackman, House Manager
Junior, Cedar Rapids, IA
Major: Computer Information Systems
Minor: Theatre Activities: Choir
Hannah Larsen, Front of House
Sophomore, Norwalk, IA
Majors: Theatre , Education Studies Activities: Choir, Residence Life
Klay McCombs, Scene Shop
1st Year, Oskaloosa, IA
Major: Journalism
McFarland, Lights
First Year, Carroll, IA
Major: Politiccal Science
Minor: History Activites: Mock Trial
Jasper McGrath, Performer
Sophomore, Knoxville, IA
Major: Criminal Justice
Minor: Pre-Law
Activities: SJA, Pre-Law Society, Music Club, TRIO, Choir
Keira McLain, Front of House 1st year, Osceola, IA
Major:s: Music, Psychology
Activities: Choir, Music Club, Theatre
Serymar Matias McMillan, Scene Shop 1st year, Mitchell, SD
Major: History
Activities: Speech & Debate, Culver Fellows, Latinos Unidos
Max Meyers, Performer
Senior, Carroll, IA
Majors: Management Information Systems, Music
Minor: Arts Management
Minor: Business Management
Activities: Music Club, Lambda Chi
Alpha, Choir, Residence Life
Kenneth Norris, Prop & Deck Crew
Senior, Creighton, MO
Major: Theatre
Minor: Physics
Activities: Kappa Theta Psi, SARA, ACES
Amanda Orozco, Lights
Junior, North English, IA
Major: Business Management
Minor: Arts Management, Marketing Communications
Kylie Ozbun, Costume Shop
1st Year, Adel, IA
Major: Music
Activities: Choir, Theater, Music Club
Lexi Ulrich, Wardrobe Crew Junior
Activities: Diversity in STEM, Tri-Delta sorority, PRIDE
Arseydia Rodriguez, Front of House 1st Year, Indianola, IA
Major: Forensics/Biochemistry
Minors: Theatre, Psychology
Activities: Tri Delta sorority, Theatre, Music Club
Hannah Roth, Assistant Stage Manager 1st Year, Omaha, NE
Major: Biology
Minor: Music
Activities: Tennis,, Softball, Choir
Anaka Wamstad-Evans, Performer
Senior, Lincoln, NE
Major: History
Minor: Music
Activities: Tri Delta, Chamber Singers, Choir, Students for Choice, Iowa History Center
Maxwell Wearmouth-Gweah, Performer Junior, Des Moines, IA
Major: Vocal Performance
Minor: Theatre
Activities: Chamber Singers, Choir, Jazz Band, Theatre, Symphonic Band, Music Club
Michelle Rundquist, Prop & Deck Crew
Senior, Sioux City, IA
Major: Human Services
Activities: Theatre, Kappa Theta Psi, Music Club
Hunter Weppler, Performer Junior, Atlantic, IA
Majors: Computer Science, Computer Information Systems.
Activities: Choir, Chamber Singers
Larry Schippers, Front of House 1st Year, Indianola, IA
Major: Theatre
Activities: Band, Speech & Debate
Ian Wilde, Performer 1st Year, Williamsburg, IA
Majors: Forensic Science, Music
Activities: Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, Choir
Aaron Scholes, Front of House Junior, Oskaloosa, IA
Major: Biology
Minor: Music
Activities: Choir, Theatre
Leah Wilson, Performer Senior, Crescent IA
Majors: Forensic Science, Music
Activities: Theatre, Choir
Production Staff
Technical Director Natalie Hining
Assistant Stage Manager Hannah Roth
Deck/Prop Crew Head Abby Hintz
Deck/Prop Crew Vanna Freese, Kenneth Norris, Michelle Rundquist
Wardrobe Crew Head Cade Clark
Wardrobe Crew
Lightboard Operator
Box Office Manager
House Manager
Front of House
Poster Design
Robyn Aguilar, Paisha Goodrich, Lexi Ulrich
Rebekah Geerdes
Olivia DiBari
Piper Jackman
Harley Eckert, Hannah Larsen, Keira McLain, Arseydia Rodriguez,Larry Schippers, Aaron Scholes
Nayeli Mejia
Production Crew
Scene Shop Supervisor: NatalieHining
LightingandSoundSupervisor:RickGoetz
Costume Shop Supervisor: CarolineFrias
Costume Construction Crew: Robyn Aguilar, Paisha Goodrich, Piper Jackman, Kylie Ozbun
Set Construction Crew: MaddyGunzenhauser UGA CharliBurton,SeanChavez,VannaFreese, KlayMcCombs,
SerymarMatiasMcMillan,AaronScholes
Lighting Crew: KennethNorris UGA RebekahGeerdes,McFarland, MaxMonroe,AmandaOrozoco
Sound : LupeContrerasUGA
Simpson Productions:
Production Assistant: Hannah Larsen UGA
Marketing: Abby Hintz UGA
Faculty Supervisor of Marketing: Jennifer Ross Nostrala
Educational Outreach Coordinator: Ann Woldt
Faculty Supervisor for Audience Services: Kara Raphaeli
Simpson Productions Student Leadership
Simpson Productions Scholarship Students
Scholarship recipients hold theatre as an essential part of their lives and are an integral part of the Simpson Productions company.
Cadence Clark
Lyza Cue
Harley Eckert
Jeri Eisbrenner
Vanna Freese
Rebekah Geerdes
Maddy Gunzenhauser
Abby Hintz
Piper Jackman
Hannah Larsen
Keira McLain
Kenneth Norris
Kylie Ozbun
Arseydia Rodriguez
Larry Schippers
Ian Wilde
PerformingArts Theme House
The Performing Arts Theme House focuses on supporting the performing arts on campus by sponsoring workshops and hosting a monthly cabaret style show, The Underground. This is the twenty-sixth consecutive year for the PA House.
Piper Jackman (house manager), Maxwell Wearmouth-Gweah, Jasper McGrath
UGA-UndergraduateAssistants
Undergraduate Assistants are positions across campus that are designed to offer students the opportunity to gain practical, in-depth experience complementing their formal education.
2024-2025 UGAs
Lupe Contreras-Sound
Maddy Gunzenhauser Scene Shop
Hannah Larsen Production Assistant
Kenneth Norris Lighting
Abby Hintz -Marketing
Upcoming Shows
Working: A Musical
From the book by Studs Terkel
Adapted by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso
Localized format conceived by Daniel C. Levine for ACT of CT*
Barnum Studio Theatre February 14-16, 2025
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 teacher, 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.
Behind every job, there is a person with a story to tell.
Medea
By Euripides
Pote Theatre March 28-30, 2025
Lies, betrayal, and revenge culminate in this Greek tragedy as a passionate exploration of the depth of Medea’s pain.
Aesop’s Fables
Adapted by James Brock
Barnum Studio Theatre April 25-26, 2025
Four of Aesop’s best loved fables... ‘The Fox and the Crow,’ ‘The Hare and the Tortoise,’ ‘The Donkey In the Lion’s Skin,’ and finally, ‘The Fox and the Sour Grapes,’ are delightfully created in this interesting approach to storyteller’s theatre. All the scene changes and costume adaptations are done in full view of the audience. As the actors become the Rabbit, the Turtle, the Fox, the Crow, or the Donkey in the Lion’s skin, the audience is brought into the action of the play by seeing the change from actor to character and back to actor again.
Forticketsandinformation,goto https://events.humanitix.com/host/simpson-productions
Want to hear more about our upcoming shows?
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Simpson Productions Would Like to Thank:
Michael Ching
Chris Williams
Nicholas Mayhugh
Des Moines Metro Opera
Simpson Productions Mission Statement
Founded in 2019, Simpson Productions is an interdisciplinary, collaborative partnership between the departments of Theatre and Music at Simpson College. Previously two separate production entities, this merger of theatrical and operatic programming fosters greater creativity and connectivity across the college, allowing us to share resources, experiences and talents of students and professors alike. We seek to offer innovative and diverse programming to both the Simpson community and the greater Central Iowa region, keeping our college’s values of curiosity, discovery, and integrity at the core.
Vision
To create a unique, nationally recognized academic performance community for the study and practice of theatre and opera.
Mission
• To present high quality productions which offer our students and audiences experiences that embrace diverse performance modes.
• To explore performance as a communication tool and form of service that can reach multiple audiences.
• To provide students various opportunities to design, perform, and create collaboratively.
Into the Woods 2023
Caroline Frias
Costume Designer
Costume Shop Supervisor; Courses in Design and Tech
Rick Goetz
Natalie Hining
Jennifer Ross Nostrala
Lighting and Sound Designer Courses in Design and Tech
Scene Designer
Technical Director, Scene Shop Supervisor; Courses in Design and Tech
Simpson Productions Producer; Courses in Directing, Acting, Literature, Script Analysis; Director
Kara Raphaeli
Damon Stevens
Ann Woldt
Assistant Professor; Courses in Directing, Plays and Performances, Script Analysis; Director
G. Dewey and M. Maine Larsen Chair in Opera; Courses in Music History, Ensembles, CollaborativePiano,Opera; Conductor
Theatre Department Chair; Outreach Coordinator; Courses in Acting, Voice, Arts Management, Interpretation; Director