11 minute read
Fine Arts News
The WLC Theatre Department had to get creative last fall due to the pandemic. “We had a very strong feeling that live, indoor theater was not going to be happening by then,” said Prof. Simon Provan, assistant professor of theatre. “We wanted to make sure that we had something in place for our students that wouldn’t get canceled, so we knew it had to be something that could be streamed online.”
After much research, the department ended up discovering – and producing – selected works from a collection of new short plays and monologues titled Alone, Together. From November 12 to 15, nearly 350 viewers tuned in via YouTube to watch the WLC Theatre Department’s production of the show – among the better-attended plays in recent history. The series was commissioned by the University of California, Santa Barbara’s LAUNCH PAD theatre program and included works from 24 distinguished playwrights – all written during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alone, Together was designed to be presented in an entirely virtual format, with many of the scenes mimicking the now ubiquitous video conference environment.
Capturing a play by means of recorded video, while still maintaining the authenticity a live theatre experience, proved to be a delicate balancing act for student Mandi DeVos ’21, who served as cinematographer for Alone, Together – her senior capstone project. When recording and editing each play and monologue, DeVos wondered, “How can we still preserve the theater elements and make this feel like a theater event for our actors and the audience?” In many instances, this meant resisting the urge to capture a perfect and polished scene and letting the camera roll for as long as possible.
The cast and crew of 20 students masterfully carried out 12 of the series’ 39 pieces, which portray the alltoo-familiar situations and emotions of life during the pandemic, such as mental health struggles, coping during uncertain times, and longing for a connection with other human beings.
The short plays were presented in styles ranging from comedic to very serious, with some falling in-between. Students took in stride the challenges of acting out emotionally heavy concepts, along with the new experience of having no live audience. “The students had to deal with some deep emotional character work, which they did with great gusto,” Provan – director of the production – said of the actors. “The truthfulness these young performers brought to their work was awe-inspiring and something which the entire WLC campus can be proud of.”
High praise came not only from within WLC circles. Playwright James Still, who penned two of the Alone, Together scenes presented by WLC, had this to say after watching their production: “There is such a range of emotion pulsing through those pieces, lots of sensibilities and voices from many wonderful writers, and I was especially moved to see young people take on those stories with courage and purpose.” He went on to compliment the show’s technical production: “The look and feeling of your digital presentation was professional, smart, and consistent throughout. Enormous congratulations to you [Provan] and the students, and everyone involved.”
Ensembles Perform
In late November, three WLC instrumental ensembles took the Schwan Concert Hall stage for a virtual concert featuring a diverse array of musical styles and genres. The first group to perform was the Chamber Ensemble (pictured below) consisting of four violins, a cello, and a contrabass, directed by Dr. Alexander Mandl.
The stage was then reset with an impressive amalgam of drums and idiophones for the Percussion Ensemble’s portion of the concert. The final group of the evening was the Flute Choir, whose member Laura Sanford ’21 said: “While the live audience element of performance was lost in this virtual event, the performance was genuinely rewarding, and I was very proud to see the members of my section show off the product of the hard work they put into practice and sectionals.”
Also in November, the Flute Choir provided musical offerings in worship at Emanuel Lutheran Church in New London, Wisconsin. The flautists – directed by Prof. Dan Hubert, assistant professor of music – played pre- and post-service music and accompanied several of the hymns. Ensemble member Brittany LaCourt ’22 said: “I was honored to share my gifts with fellow Christians at Emanuel. This trip reminded me why I enjoy playing the flute and sharing music with others, especially during difficult times where joyful sounds are needed.”
New Choir CD
In December, the Wisconsin Lutheran Choir and Chamber Choir released their newest album titled Shout the Glad Tidings, featuring a collection of sacred Christmas carols performed by the two ensembles. The selections were recorded live in the Schwan Concert Hall during the 2018 and 2019 Christmas Festival Concerts. “The album reflects the beauty, wonder, and joy of the Christmas season,” said Dr. James Nowack, professor of music and concert conductor. CDs are available for purchase for $10 online at wlc.edu/cd or by calling the Box Office at 414.443.8802. A selection of other WLC choir and concert band CDs is also available for purchase.
Changing Lives Changing Livesthrough Scholarships
How one donor’s generosity is paying dividends for WLC students, now and for years to come
By Jonathan Lorenzen ’11
Dolores “Dee” Rudolph was a fascinating woman. From avid bowler and accomplished artist to tireless volunteer and exceptional golfer, she was never one to shy away from taking on a new challenge. Even more remarkable, however, was her heart for Jesus and her selfless desire to help others – qualities that brought about a passion to help Christian servant leaders at Wisconsin Lutheran College.
Dee was a Milwaukee native and lifelong member of Atonement Lutheran Church, where she could always be found helping and encouraging fellow Christians. She was also a civil servant and active community volunteer; she served the City of Milwaukee as a pension counselor for more than 40 years, then volunteered every week at a local nonprofit resale shop upon retirement.
Dee became acquainted with WLC through its Guest Artist Series in the Center for Arts and Performance; she was a longtime season ticket holder and subsequently became a faithful donor to the college. She deeply valued Christian higher education, even though her own college education was put on hold for years due to family circumstances. “Dee was a proponent of higher education throughout her whole life, in spite of her own aspirations being thwarted early on,” said longtime friend Mary Gizewski. “Not until later in life would she see those aspirations come to fruition when she attended night school to attain her degree.”
As she grew older, Dee felt inspired to make a lasting impact for Christian servant leaders at WLC. And as a faithful manager of the gifts God had given her, she was blessed to be in a position to make it happen. Working with a WLC development officer, she decided to begin an endowed scholarship – a permanent fund invested so that the interest income will generate an annual award for one or more students in perpetuity. As one who had a keen interest in medicine – she consistently read medical books and journals – and as a proficient golfer and softball and tennis player, Dee wanted her scholarship to support a student with similar passions.
Dee’s timing was perfect; WLC had launched a sport and exercise science major just a few years prior. The program prepares students for careers in such areas as athletic training, community health and fitness instruction, physical and occupational therapy, and strength and conditioning. Dee found sport and exercise science to be a perfect fit for her interests and decided to designate the scholarship for students within that major who have financial need. With a very generous initial gift from Dee, the Dolores E. Rudolph Endowed Scholarship was officially born.
Sport and exercise science major Joshua Helton ’18 was the inaugural recipient of the award.
Josh grew up in a struggling neighborhood of Houston, Texas, in a home where his mother was the sole provider for the family. According to sport and exercise science program head Prof. Rachel Kuehl ’96, Josh was a natural choice for the award: “I think it is very fitting that Josh was the first recipient of the scholarship as he is the first member of his family to graduate from college. The award came at a critical point of financial need in his life when he otherwise might have had to leave WLC. Dee’s scholarship is a testimony to her dedication to the students within the sport and exercise science program.”
Josh, a lifelong athlete, chose to attend WLC because it allowed him the opportunity to play football while pursuing a sport and exercise science degree. After graduating, he joined the Army National Guard, where he currently serves as a platoon leader in Temple, Texas. Now at a rank of second lieutenant, Josh knows his education and leadership experience gained from WLC helped him excel in his role with the Guard: “The coaches and professors did wonders for my leadership abilities.”
Dee went home to Heaven in February 2019, leaving behind a permanent legacy of selflessly serving others. Her estate included an additional large gift to WLC, which will now allow her endowed scholarship to generate annual awards for at least three students.
You, too, can help change lives. Support for scholarships – whether on an annual basis, in a large gift to establish an endowment fund, or through a legacy planned gift – will make an incredible difference for our students. To learn more about how you can invest in Christian servant leaders, please contact Rich Mannisto ’94, Vice President of Advancement, at 414.443.8788 or richard.mannisto@wlc.edu.
CELEBRATING
5YEARS OF WLC Christmas
An idea generated five years ago within a subcommittee of the Alumni Board, the 5 Days of WLC Christmas has become a tradition that alumni look forward to each year. “Christmas as a student was one of the best times of the year, but it’s absolutely incredible as an alum,” tweeted Andrew Flegel ’17. Brian Hopkins ’16 added: “The most wonderful time of the year! @WLCAlumni Christmas!”
The purpose of the 5 Days of WLC Christmas is to provide WLC branded gifts to alumni in exchange for the completion of important tasks to help further the mission of the college. Over the years, these alumni tasks have included confirming or updating contact information, making donations to assist WLC students, sharing testimonials about their WLC experience with prospective students, joining WLC career networking groups, registering for college events, following the WLC alumni social media accounts, and recommending future Warriors.
“Each year the involvement has grown,” said Lisa Leffel ’98, director of alumni relations. “We were thrilled to have around 200 alums participate the first year. In 2020, there were nearly 800 participants!”
It takes nearly year-round planning to make the 5 Days of WLC Christmas become a reality in early December. The first objective is to determine the tasks to complete and the gifts to send. Next, it is on to the promotion that includes a postcard, daily emails, and many social media posts throughout the five days. After each day is completed, participation is tallied. At the end of the five days, the alumni relations staff orders all the gifts based on the number of alums who completed each assigned tasks. Boxes and boxes of branded WLC items soon arrive on campus and the staff gets to work assembling all the packages and taking them to the USPS for shipping.
“It’s a quick turnaround to get the gifts into alumni mailboxes around Christmas,” added Denise Terrell ’99, alumni relations coordinator. “We’ve mailed some really fun items over the years – some of the most popular have been WLC Yetis, pizza cutters, and T-shirts. It is great to see alums showing off their WLC pride in their homes, workplaces, and communities with the branded gifts they receive during the 5 Days of WLC Christmas.”
WLC has seen tremendous growth in alumni giving as a result of the 5 Days of WLC Christmas, and 2020 was the biggest increase to date! This past year, 352 alumni made a donation during those five days; 229 were new donors this fiscal year and 36 made their first ever gift to WLC.
Leffel shared: “God has truly blessed our alumni relations efforts with the 5 Days of WLC Christmas. We have found a fun way to increase donations, maintain accurate contact information, assist with the college’s admissions and career networking efforts, grow our social media following, and expand attendance at events.”
