Huntington University to present One Act Play Festival
FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Huntington, Ind. "Huntington University students will present the University's annual One-Act Play Festival on April 28 and 29, 2006, at 7:30 p.m. in the Merillat Center for the Arts Studio Theatre. Led by Huntington student directors, five works will showcase the talents of the University's actors and designers. The public is invited to attend, and general admission is $2. For tickets, call the Merillat Centre for the Arts Box Office at (260) 359-4261.
The plays on Friday, April 28, directed by Kylie Edmonds, Rebekah Bachman and Christopher Betz, include A New York Minute by Michele Palermo, Waltzing with De Niro by Lynn Martin and Do Over by Frederick Stoppel. Performances on Saturday, April 29, will feature Oliphant Downs' The Maker of Dreams, directed by Rebecca Rodgers, and Murphy Guyer's The American Century, directed by Sharon Voss.
Kylie Edmonds
Student director Kylie Edmonds will present A New York Minute, a play about Harry, a successful businessman who committed suicide. When his best friend Melissa comes to clean out Harry's apartment, Harry's ghost appears to her, and they have one last discussion about life, death and love.
I chose this show because of what it says about living life in a way where you actually are 'living' as opposed to just going through the motions of life, said Edmonds.
Edmonds' cast includes Rob Sackett and Nicolle Sackman. Her crew includes Kristen Kohaut as stage manager, Brad DeYoung as lighting designer, Hannah Krauskopf as sound designer and Cassandra Quinn as props manager and set designer.
Rebekah Bachman
Rebekah Bachman will direct Waltzing with De Niro, a story about reality battling dreams come true when Clara discovers her best friend is dating Robert De Niro.
I chose this play because of its attitude of hope, said Bachman. It's so easy to get caught up in what is rational and practical, that sometimes we forget dreams really do come true, and that having complete control over our lives is not as good a thing as we make it out to be.
The cast of Bachman's play include Nikki Barger, Neil Rupp and Cara Bussis. Crew includes Rebekah Posegate as stage manager, Cassandra Quinn as set designer, Brad DeYoung as lighting designer, Jeff Blossom as sound designer, Kari Clark as costume designer, Meghan McClain as properties master and Randy Weade as choreographer.
Christopher Betz
Christopher Betz will direct Do Over, a play about a man Dennis who travels back in time to prevent his engagement from taking place. Student actors for Do Over include Joshua Dawes and Keeley Lewis. Crew includes Dana Frick as stage manager, Jeffrey Blossom as sound designer, Brad DeYoung as lighting designer, Cassandra Quinn as props manager and Abi Allwein as costume designer.
I chose this play because it makes a great comment about love, said Betz. We all desire love to be perfect, and when it doesn't work out the way we want it to, we assume something went wrong and run away. Love isn't meant to be perfect because we are human and mess it up. Love is something we must work at, something Dennis has a hard time accepting.
Rebecca Rodgers
On April 29, Rebecca Rodgers will present The Maker of Dreams, a story of a man in search of love who fails to notice the perfect girl right in front of him.
I read this play and immediately knew it was the one for my one-act, Rodgers said. I loved the language, and really, who doesn't love a fairy tale? I loved reading it and participating in rehearsals has been a joy.
Actors in The Maker of Dreams include Stacie Cheek, Deanna Repic and Joel Wentz. Stage manager is Lissa Shipman, and designers include Brad DeYoung, Amanda Carr, Meghan McClain and Cassandra Quinn.
Sharon Voss
Sharon Voss will direct The American Century, a play about a young couple from the 1940s who receives an unexpected visit from their future son and are given surprising news about the course of their lives.
It takes an interesting look at how people perceive their lives, as victims of circumstance or as having the power to determine their own fate, said Voss. The playwright managed to explore this idea with a marvelous sense of humor, which makes the entire experience highly enjoyable.
Voss's cast includes Matt Schownir, Abi Allwein and Seth Caldwell. Her crew includes Nikki Barger, Kari Clark, Jeff Blossom, Cassandra Quinn and Brad DeYoung.
A New York Minute
Kylie Edmonds (director), a junior theatre performance major from Bourbon, Ind.
Rob Sackett ( Harry Conner ), a junior youth ministries major from Lima, Ohio
Nicolle Sackman ( Melissa Burns ), a sophomore elementary education major from Mansfield, Ohio
Kristen Kohaut (stage manager), a sophomore theatre performance major from Hackettstown, N.J.
Brad DeYoung (lighting designer), a sophomore theatre design major from Lansing, Ill.
Hannah Krauskopf (sound designer), a junior educational ministries major from Huntington, Ind. (originally from Chicago, Ill.)
Cassandra Quinn (props manager and set designer), a sophomore theatre and sociology double major from Bedford, Ind.
Waltzing with De Niro
Rebekah Bachman (director), a junior theatre performance major from Columbus, Mich.
Nikki Barger ( Clara ), a senior theatre performance major from Celina, Ohio
Neil Rupp ( Bobby ), a senior elementary education major from Blissfield, Mich.
Cara Bussis ( Joanna ), a freshman theatre performance major from Holland, Mich.
Rebekah Posegate (stage manager), a freshman theatre education major from Lake Villa, Ill.
Cassandra Quinn (set designer), a sophomore theatre and sociology double major from Bedford, Ind.
Brad DeYoung (lighting designer), a sophomore theatre design major from Lansing, Ill.
Jeff Blossom (sound designer), a senior digital film studies major from Fort Wayne, Ind.
Kari Clark (costume designer), a junior theatre design major from Columbus, Ind.
Meghan McClain (properties master), a freshman theatre education major from Greencastle, Ind.
Randy Weade (choreographer), a senior middle grades education major from Mishawaka, Ind.
Do Over
Christopher Betz (director), a junior theatre performance major from Blissfield, Mich.
Joshua Dawes ( Dennis ), a senior English education major from Leesburg, Ind.
Keeley Lewis ( Lisa ), a sophomore theatre performance major from Manchester, Iowa
Dana Frick (stage manager), a senior music performance major from Kendallville, Ind.
Jeffrey Blossom (sound designer), a senior digital film studies major from Fort Wayne, Ind.
Brad DeYoung (lighting designer), a sophomore theatre design major from Lansing, Ill.
Cassandra Quinn (props manager), a sophomore theatre and sociology double major from Bedford, Ind.
Abi Allwein (costume designer), a freshman theatre performance major from Fort Wayne, Ind.
The Maker of Dreams
Rebecca Rodgers (director), a senior theatre performance and theatre design double major from Lincoln, Ill.
Stacie Cheek ( Pierrette ), a freshman social work major from Franklin, Ind.
Deanna Repic ( Manufacturer ), freshman theatre performance major from Aliquippa, Penn.
Joel Wentz ( Pierrot ), a junior music business major from Greencastle, Pa.
Lissa Shipman (stage manager), a freshman social work major from Parker, Co.
Brad DeYoung (designer), a sophomore theatre design major from Lansing, Ill.
Amanda Carr (designer), a freshman theatre design major from Anderson, Ind.
Meghan McClain (designer), a freshman theatre education major from Greencastle, Ind.
Cassandra Quinn (designer), a sophomore theatre and sociology double major from Bedford, Ind.
The American Century
Sharon Voss (director), a senior theatre performance and psychology double major from Villa Park, Ill.
Matt Schownir ( Man a.k.a. Tom), a sophomore history major from Huntington, Ind.
Abi Allwein ( Woman a.k.a. Margaret ), a freshman theatre performance major from Fort Wayne, Ind.
Seth Caldwell ( Stranger, a.k.a. Tommy Jr. ), a junior communication studies major from Mansfield, Ohio
Nikki Barger (crew), a senior theatre performance major from Celina, Ohio
Kari Clark (crew), a junior theatre design major from Columbus, Ind.
Jeff Blossom (crew), a senior digital film studies major from Fort Wayne, Ind.
Cassandra Quinn (crew), a sophomore theatre and sociology double major from Bedford, Ind.
Brad DeYoung (crew), a sophomore theatre design major from Lansing, Ill.
