Department of Theatre Arts Producer of Edgewood College Theatre, Department Chair & Professor of Theatre: ...... Dr. Jeanne Leep Assistant Professor of Technical Theatre: ..... Christopher R. Dunham Instructor of Theatre Arts: ...... Audrey Lauren Standish Instructor of Theatre Education: ...... Susan Nanning-Sorenson Theatre Arts Department Instructor: ...... Donna Peckett Resident Costume Designer: ...... Mary Waldhart Costume Shop Manager: ...... Mary Waldhart Box Office Manager: ...... Audrey Lauren Standish Professor Emerita: ...... Jewell P. Fitzgerald
Department Work Studies Department Work Studies: Scene Shop Work Studies: Anna Carullo Veronika Bienvenu-Neville Breanna Kluz Alan Lau-Brown Box Office Work Studies: Shawn D. Padley Jade Proctor Cassidy Calaway Emma Sorenson Rachel Seizer Costume Assistant Work Study Emma Sorenson Production Team Co-Producer: ...... Dr. Jeanne Leep Co-Producer: ...... Audrey Lauren Standish Stage Manager: ...... Breanna Kluz Stage Management Mentor: ... Audrey Lauren Standish Resident Costume Designer: ...... Mary Waldhart Hair and Makeup Design: ...... Emma Sorenson Scenic Designer: ...... Christopher Dunham Sound Crew: ...... Kylie Miller Props Crew: ...... Ellie Murphy
Show Order
The Philadelphia by David Ives; Directed by Emma Sorenson 91366 by Lori M. Myers; Directed by Maddie Budner Tiffany is a Medieval Name by Sarah Rae Brown; Directed by Veronika Bienvenu-Neville Virtuous Reality by Alexander Wilkie; Directed by Alan Lau-Brown Craving by Jonathan Wickremasinghe-Kuhn; Directed by Rachel Seizer The Universal Language by David Ives; Directed by Shawn D. Padley
The Philadelphia By David Ives Waitress: ...... Carissa May Al: ...... Tygh Field Mark: ...... Charles Pines Director's Bio Emma Sorenson (Director) is proud to be a part of Edgewood College's collaboration of student directed works. Her most recent productions include The Theory of Relativity (Caroline), Measure for Measure (Isabella), columbinus (Ensemble/Faith) and The Drowsy Chaperone (Mrs. Tottendale). She is also a member of First Act Children's Theatre Team working as an Assistant Director and Stage Manager year-round. Director's Notes
The Philadelphia tells the story of Mark, who must navigate the ups and downs of being in a “Philadelphia”. Coming from David Ives’ one act collection titled All in the Timing, this short story of navigating the unknown asked both the actor’s and I to embrace the strange and find the fun. Everybody right now is in a new state of mind that we have never known before, but if we adapt and learn, then we can make the best of it and work around these challenges. Because the feeling of unease and confusion has hit everyone so hard this past year, I believe that a piece that takes this idea and finds the laughter in it would be fun for myself to direct, the actors to perform, and the audience to enjoy. If you are a fan of Philly Cheesesteaks, be prepared to feel offended, and if you feel you are stuck somewhere you do not want to be, look for the positives and find the small joys. 91366 By Lori M. Myers Tattoo Artist: ...... Joe BonDurant Melanie: ...... Anneka Dorn Mark: ...... Colleen Murphy Director's Bio Maddie Budner (Director) is a senior musical theatre major and has appeared in Edgewood’s productions of Theory of Relativity (Sarah), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey) and The Rail Splitter (Brea). Regional: The Little Mermaid (Ariel), Joseph…Dreamcoat (Narrator), West Side Story (Minnie/ballet corps), Guys and Dolls (hot box dancer), A Chorus Line (swing). She would like to thank her family, friends, and vocal coach/mentor Christy Altomare for their endless love and support. John 15:5 Director's Notes When I was looking through plays this semester, I wasn’t sure what direction I wanted to go in. As someone who has done musical theatre for the majority of her time on stage, straight plays have always been intimidating to me. When I first read the script for 91366, I knew that it was the play I wanted to direct.My family’s history is a huge part of my identity and it is important to me. I knew that doing a play about the Holocaust would be a huge undertaking, but I felt that this was something I was ready to tackle.The amount of misinformation surrounding the Holocaust that exists today is truly terrifying and I often fear that if people like me do not tell the stories of our loved ones, these stories will be forgotten. I loved that this play was about the generational differences between these two women from very different times and places and how they can connect with one another. I hope you enjoy this play as much as I enjoyed working on it. Tiffany is a Medieval Name By Sarah Rae Brown Tiffany: ...... Carissa May Lucinda: ...... Ari Manghera
Director's Bio Veronika Bienvenu-Neville (Director) is a junior at Edgewood College double majoring in Psychology and Theatre Arts. Some acting credits include: The Taming (Patricia), LoveSick (Sarah), Honk! (Greylag), and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Poole/Hyde 4). They would like to thank their friends and family for all their support! Enjoy the shows! Director's Notes This past year has been filled with negative experiences and emotions, so I knew I wanted to direct a happier piece. I didn’t, however, want to choose a show simply because it was happy; it was important to me to find something with a deeper meaning. In this instance, I found Tiffany is a Medieval Name. Not only is the play humorous and delightful, but it also brings visibility to LGBTQ+ individuals in a realistic way. Many depictions of LGBTQ+ people in popular media simply portray a “coming out” story or don’t give personality to the characters past their identity. While both characters in Tiffany is a Medieval Name are both vampires, the show explores realistic human emotion, breathing life and depth into the characters. Virtuous Reality By Alexander Wilkie Brian Hilden: ...... Chase Crull Lydia James: ...... Anna Carullo Director's Bio
Alan Lau-Brown (Director) is a Senior at Edgewood College majoring in Theatre Performance with an interest in Stage Management and Design. His most notable performances include: The Railsplitter, Late Company, The Drowsy Chaperone, and columbinus. He would like to thank his family and friends for their continuous support of the arts. Enjoy the Show! Director's Notes During the early part of the lockdown last year, remembering to laugh was difficult, but also something I strived to achieve daily. It seemed like as every week had passed by, we would continue to say, “one day we’ll look back at all of this and laugh”. Then weeks turned to months, and then the months turned into a full year, and even still, there is a long road ahead of us. But for now, let’s just breathe, acknowledge that we’re in a much better place today, and continue to laugh with one another. When I was looking for a show to direct, I knew that I wanted to do something comedic, because that’s what I thought myself and audiences needed the most right now. Upon the first reading of Virtuous Reality, I knew this was the show I wanted to work on because it was an extremely relevant topic with a parodical twist. A virtual program designed to help people learn how to date again post lockdown? Who doesn’t need that? I know I do. Going on a terrible first date is something that I think people from all generations have experienced. Also, over the course of time the idea of “chivalry” has changed drastically when it comes to how one behaves on a date. This play addresses these issues in a comedic manner that is sure to get a chuckle or two out of you. I hope you enjoy the show! Craving By Jonathan Wickremasinghe-Kuhn Thomas: ...... Zoh Hornes Bert: ...... Andy Ingraham Director's Bio Rachel J Seizer (Director) is an Edgewood College senior in the theatre performance concentration. She is a proud transfer student from Madison College where she earned the Liberal Arts Transfer Degree and the Women and Gender studies Certificate. Rachel has been seen on the Edgewood virtual stage in As You Are, Measure for Measure, and Tiny Beautiful Things. Pre-pandemic stage highlights include Broom Street Theatre: Lysistrata, Prom, Madison College: Student Body, The Addams Family, and StageQ: Queer Shorts: Unity. Tech credits include Edgewood College: columbinus; assistant director and stage manager, The Drowsy Chaperone; sound board operator, The Theory of Relativity; sound assistant, The Taming; costume crew. Rachel’s college journey has only been possible because of the team of friends, teachers, and family standing behind her.
Director's Notes My decision to direct Craving was made through an effort to find a play where the virtual theatre of today would be the expectation and not a hinderance to the piece. I found a site of plays written during the early months of the pandemic all of which were created to be performed virtually and came upon Craving. I do not consider myself much of a science fiction person, but I love weird and unexpected plays and this one was charmingly alarming. The concept of taking a situation that seems fantastical and making it into the reality of characters who feel like regular people is what drew me to this piece. Bert and Thomas at first glance could be like any of us. What seems ordinary gives way to the dark, the strange, the moonstruck deranged! This is a couple with a history, it is a love story left unfinished. At times Bert is a bit overdramatic and the whole vampire storyline can come off camp-y, but that’s the charm in it. We are over the moon to invite you in for a taste of our story. The Universal Language By David Ives Don: ...... Shelly Egizi Dawn: ...... Kallie Bain Young Man: ...... Joe BonDurant Director's Bio
Shawn D. Padley (Director) is a junior Musical Theatre Performance major and Student Body President at Edgewood College. They’re usually found on the stage, but have had a blast working with these incredibly-talented actors! Acting credits include: Anthony- The Theory of Relativity, Letter Writer #1- Tiny Beautiful Things, Ensemble- columbinus, Underling- The Drowsy Chaperone (Edgewood College Theatre); The Count- A Year Without Summer (Forward Theatre, Inc.); Ensemble- The Empty Table (Madison College). Technical credits: Stage Manager- As You Are and Well Intentioned White People (Edgewood College Theatre); Lightboard- Queer Shorts 14 (StageQ, Inc.); Properties Design- Alice in Slasherland (Madison College).
Director's Notes The world needs some comedy right now, and I knew that the best thing for me would be to direct something light-hearted and funny. The challenge was in finding a piece that placed its humor in the text rather than the physical. After borrowing a classmate’s David Ives book, I finally found the perfect script in The Universal Language. Ives is a master at weaving together clever wordplay and absurdism into scripts that are as much a delight to read as they are to watch. This play in particular is filled with puns, wordplay, and Easter Eggs that I’m still discovering even as I’m writing these notes. This wacky gibberish language can be hard to follow at times, but at the heart of it, The Universal Language is about two very different people learning to communicate and fall in love. In our rehearsal process, we spent a good amount of time discussing who these characters are and how they ended up together, and found new pieces of Dawn and Don around every turn while having a lot of great laughs in the process. I hope you enjoy watching this play as much as we enjoyed rehearsing it. Biographies
Kallie Bain (Dawn) is a sophomore at Edgewood College. She has previously performed with the Fair Verona Shakespeare Company in Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet, and Henry IV Part 1, as well as in Edgewood Theater’s production of Measure for Measure. She is thrilled to perform “on stage” again with the wonderful people of Edgewood College.
Joe BonDurant (Tattoo Artist/Young Person) is a Sophomore at Edgewood College. He was recently in the productions of The Theory of Relativity (Mike), Measure for Measure (Angelo), columbinus (Ensemble) and The Drowsy Chaperone (Robert Martin). He is excited to continue his persuit of theatre through Edgewood College.
Anna Carullo (Lydia James) is a sophomore at Edgewood College majoring in Theatre Education with a minor in English. Previously at Edgewood College, she has appeared in The Theory of Relativity (Julie), Sweat (Jessie), Tiny Beautiful Things (Letter Writer #2), and The Drowsy Chaperone (Ensemble). She has also completed the following crew work: Props, Costumes, Hair and Makeup, and Dramaturgy.
Chase Crull (Brian Hilden) is a senior at Edgewood College. As a busy history major and National Guard member, he performs in theatre as a hobby. Performed in Edgewood shows such as Late Company, Drowsy Chaperone, and As You Like It. Biographies
Anneka Dorn (Melanie) is a sophomore Nursing major and Nutrition minor at Edgewood College. She is also an Air Force ROTC cadet at UW Madison. Her previous experience in the Edgewood College Theatre Department includes The Drowsy Chaperone (“Ensemble”), Columbinus (Box office crew) and the Fall '20 Social Justice readings (Costume Crew). She would like to thank her parents for always supporting her and hopes you enjoy the show!
Christopher R. Dunham (Scenic Design and Crew Mentor) is the Assistant Professor of Theatre Design and Technology for the Department of Theatre Arts and Technical Director for the Edgewood College Theatre. Some of his Edgewood College Theatre credits include designs for Boeing- Boeing, Clue: The Musical, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, The Crucible, Woods of Weaver, Little Women, The Wedding Singer: The Musical Comedy, Proof, and Urinetown. Other Madison area designs include My Name is Rachel Corrie, Alice in Wonderland, The Little Prince, Lord of the Flies, and Anne of Green Gables. Chris would like to thank a devoted crew of students who assisted in realizing this production as well as his family for their support.
Shelly Egizi (Don in The Universal Language) is a 2017 Edgewood Aluma. Her past works include Mary Warren in The Crucible, Berthe in Boeing Boeing, and Mrs. Swettenham in Agatha Christie's A Murder is Announced. She has also made many contributions to the local theatre community including costume work with Madison Shakespeare Company, Stage Manager for the UW Madison Opera's Kurt Weill Cabaret, and a variety of technical roles with the Savoyards, Ltd. She is excited to work with her alma mater once again. Biographies
Tygh Field (Al) is a freshman student at Edgewood College majoring in Theater Arts. Tygh is thrilled for his second college theater performance in Student Directed One Acts! Tygh most recently played Claudio in Measure for Measure in his first Edgewood Theater Performance in the Fall of 2020. Tygh’s passion for theatre began at the young age of 4 when he began acting out roles from Andrew Lloyd Weber’s famous Phantom of the Opera. Tygh pursued his acting career when he was a Junior at Wisconsin Dells High School, capturing one of the lead roles in Anything Goes as Sir Evelyn Oakley. Tygh is grateful as well as excited to be a part of the Edgewood Theater Department.
Zoh Hornes (Thomas) is a martial artist, a fighter, a veteran, an actor, a painter, a rapper, a singer, a poet, a writer, a director, a filmmaker, and a strong advocator for social justice issues. Oh, and his government name is Zachariah Hornes but he goes by XO.
Andy Ingraham (Bert) is excited for the opportunity to take part in an Edgewood College production. Andy is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and is currently a manufacturing engineer in Madison. They do not have previous acting experience, but are thrilled to be cast in their debut role.
Breanna Kluz (Stage Manager) is currently a sophomore at Edgewood College. She is planning to major in Elementary Education with a minor in Theatre Arts Education. While at Edgewood College, she worked on crew for The Taming, The Drowsy Chaperone, columninus, and Sweat. She is excited to stage manage for Student Directed One Acts. Biographies
Dr. Jeanne Leep, Ph.D. (Director and Producer of Edgewood College Theatre) is the head of the acting and directing program in the Department of Theatre Arts at Edgewood College. She received her Ph.D. in directing from Wayne State University and her M.A. from the University of Michigan in theatre studies. She has also studied at the Moscow Art Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. She is the author of Theatrical Improvisation, Short Form, Long Form, and Sketch- Based Improv. and the co-founder of River City Improv, a performance improvisational troupe based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A longtime member of the Association of Theatre in Higher Education, Dr. Leep serves as the Chair for the Acting Focus Group. She has a heart full of gratitude for friends, family, and her husband Chris Edmonds for their unending support.
Ariana Manghera (Lucinda) is currently a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee; Peck School of the Arts studying for a BFA in Acting. Some of her previous roles include Ariel (The Little Mermaid), Katherine (The Taming), and Janet Van De Graaff (The Drowsy Chaperone). Ariana is excited to be back working with Edgewood's Directing Students and is thankful for her wonderful director Ronnie for making this possible.
Carissa May (Tiffany/Waitress) is a freshman at Madison College. She has previously performed with the Fair Verona Shakespeare Company in Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Henry IV Part 1, As You Like It, and Macbeth. She is excited to perform at Edgewood college for the first time in the two Student Directed One Act Plays, Tiffany is A Medieval Name and The Philadelphia. Biographies
Kylie Miller (Sound Crew) is a transfer student from Madison College and is a first-year student at Edgewood College with a major in Art Therapy. Selected acting credits include Almost Maine (Glory), Charlie Foster (Debbie), Crazy for You (Townsperson) at Monona Grove Highschool. Student Body (Lucy), The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Wood Nymph), Puffs (Sally Perks), These Shining Lives (Charlotte Purcell), The Laramie Project (Barabara/Catherine/ Tiffany/Cal/Trish) at Madison College. Barefoot in Nightgown by Candlelight (Cath) from The Rankin Theatre Guild.
Colleen Murphy (Sarah) Colleen is excited to work with this terrific crew! She received her BA in Theatre from Viterbo Univesity and over the years, has performed with area theatre groups. Other credits include Little Women, Madison College, Merry Wives of Windsor, Madison Shakespeare Company, and Born Yesterday, Madison Theatre Guild. Colleen works also with Whoopensocker as a teaching artist, and sings with flabulous Fannels. Thanks and love to her supportive family!
Ellie Murphy (Props Crew) is a freshman Business Finance major and Graphic Design/Spanish minor at Edgewood College. Technical credits include: Sound for Well Intentioned White People at Edgewood. Additionally, she helped with props and sets for Pippin, Footloose, Peter Pan, Romeo and Juliet, and Seussical at Wauwatosa East High School.
Charlie Pines (Mark) is a long-time actor and delighted to be taking part in his first Edgewood play. He has previously participated in Freak and Rumors (Mt. Horeb High School Theatre) and The Emperor’s New Clothes and Cinderella (PlayTime Productions) Biographies
Audrey Lauren Standish (Box Office Manager and Stage Management Mentor) is part of the Theatre Arts Faculty. She is an alumna of Edgewood College, and is thrilled to be working in Diane Ballweg Theatre. Audrey has directed plays all over the Pacific Northwest as well as right here in Madison. She recently directed The Wolves for University Theatre, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Gondoliers and Princess Ida for Madison Savoyards, Much Ado about Nothing for StageQ, Inc., and The Rail Splitter, Little Shop of Horrors, Woods of Weaver, The Wedding Singer: The Musical Comedy, Almost, Maine, and Fuddy Meers for Edgewood College Theatre. She also cowrote, directed and produced Conceal & Carry: Queers Exposed which debuted at Broom Street Theater in 2012.
Mary Waldhart (Resident Costume Designer and Shop Manager) joined the Edgewood College Theatre Arts Department in 2010. Costume designs for Edgewood College Theatre include columbinus, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Taming, Little Shop of Horrors, As You Like It, The Penelopiad, Boeing, Boeing, Clue: The Musical, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, The Crucible, Little Women, The Wedding Singer, Love’s Labours Lost, Absurd Person Singular, and The Arabian Nights Mary was the Costume Director at the Madison Repertory Theatre for 23 years, designing costumes and managing the costume department, and was also the Resident Costume Designer at Madison College. Other design credits include: Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Forward Theater Company, Next Act Theatre, and Children’s Theater of Madison Check Out Edgewood College's Next Season! Triumph of Love Adapted and Directed by Susan Nanning-Sorenson "First presented by the Comediens Italians in 1732, this timeless comedy clearly demonstrates the ageless affinity of laughter and love. "Marivaux's command of comedy is so adroit that the exploit moves as effortlessly as a master chess game, while the humor is pure delight…The present [production]…maintains such a delicious soufflé lightness to it all, that amusing phrases which might have jarred here merely enchant." —NY Post Sept 22-26 2021, Atrium at the Stream Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play By Joe Landry; Directed by Jeanne Leep Spies, murder, love, and other trademarks of Alfred Hitchcock come to life in the style of a 1940s radio broadcast of the master of suspense's earlier films. With The Lodger, Sabotage and The 39 Steps, Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play is a triple feature, complete with vintage commercials, that recreates a daring train chase, a serial killer's ominous presence, and a devastating explosion through the magic of live sound effects and musical underscoring. Nov 12-13, 18-20, 2021, Diane Ballweg Theatre Sister Act Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Glenn Slater, Book by Cheri Steinkellner & Bill Steinkellner; Directed by Audrey Wax Standish, Musical Direction by Sergei Pavlov A woman hiding in a convent helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she rediscovers her own. This feel-good comedy smash is based on the hit film. Feb 25,-26, Mar 3-5, 2021, Diane Ballweg Theatre
Check Out Edgewood College's Next Season! The Tempest By William Shakespeare; Directed by Jeanne Leep Shakespeare’s most original play of magic, betrayal, love, revenge, forgiveness, romance and a bit of social justice, this classic tale brings the poetry of the bard to life. April 27-May 1 2022, Atrium at the Stream
Learn More about our next season by visiting: theatre.edgewood.edu Special Thanks Carla Pool from Technology Assistance Center Partners and Roommates who gave up their space so directors and performers could work