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Grover's Corners Sentinel 4A • Special Show Edition • Fall 2011 SPECIAL SHOW University Theatre Faculty Grover’s Corners Sentinel EDITION Mark D. Guinn is the Acting Coordinator of Theatre, Production Manager and Profes- Dianne Maroney-Grigsby is the Staff Choreographer and an Instructor in the School All shows begin at 7:30 sor in the School of the Performing Arts. He is an anomaly within of the Performing Arts. She received her Bachelor of Arts from his profession. Dancing the sword’s edge between the artistic and Grambling State University and her Master of Arts from Louisiana Vol. 1 - no. 1 October 26-29 & November 2-5, 2011 5 Cents production side of theatre, Mark found theatre searching for a new Tech University. Dianne has instructed dance students in America, way to light his meta-matic sculptures. Twenty years later, with a Europe, Asia, and Africa for the Alvin Ailey Dance Company. She Louisiana Tech Stone Theatre Presents Our Town CAST lighting instrument in one hand and a sword in the other fightin’, is also the choreographer for the Orchesis Dance Company. Dianne Chris “Lito” Tamez, the Stage Manager, is Payton Danielle Wilburn, playing the role Jacob D. Guinn, playing the role of George lightin’, and directin’ shows from NYC to Yokahoma and Memphis has been the featured dancer in Twin City Ballet Company. Her a Theatre graduate stu- of Emily Webb, is a Gibbs, is a junior Theatre major from Rus- to Banff, Mark continues to pursue Einstein’s observation, “The training is in Modern, Horton, Graham, Classical Ballet, Tap and dent at Louisiana Tech junior Theatre major ton, LA. At Tech he was most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the Jazz techniques. She teaches Dance for the Theatre. University from Corpus with an English Minor Macduff in Macbeth in source of all true art and science.” Mark recieved the 2010-2011 Christi, TX. At Tech he from Pineville, LA. At 2011. Also in 2011 at University Senate Chair Award as the “outstanding professor of the year.” Dr. Kenneth Robbins is the Director of the School of the Performing Arts and Profes- has played the role of Louisiana Tech Stone Theatre West Virginia sor. Highlights of his career include recognition by the College Hastings in Richard III Theatre she has played he was Mr. Turner as Paul B. Crook is an Associate Professor of acting and directing and supervises all of Education, Georgia Southern University, as Alum of the year, in 2010, Duncan/Porter Sister Mary Leo in the well as the Head Py- student directing projects, in addition to directing and occasion- Louisiana Division of the Arts as a Fellowship recipient in The- in Macbeth in 2011, and 2010 production of rotechnician in Rocket ally acting for the Department of Theatre. He also serves as the atre, a Japan Foundation Arts Fellowship, and an appointment Big Pollution in the stu- Nunsense, and in 2011 Boys: The Musical and Director of Recruiting for the Department. Paul has previously as a Fulbright Scholar to Skopje, Macedonia where he taught dent-produced production of KAB Man in she was Witch Three in Cap Hatfield inHatfields and McCoys. served as the Director of Theatre Arts for Andrew College in American Studies at Sts. Cyril and Methodius University. He has 2011. At Fort Harrod Drama Productions Macbeth. At Pineville High School she was Jake is an Advanced/Actor Combatant in PLEASE TURN OFF Cuthbert, GA; as the Artistic Coordinator for the SecondStage directed professionally at the Barter Theatre in Virginia, the Black he played the Fire Ghost in Daniel Boone; Beth March in Little Women in 2008, and SAFD, an Actor/Combatant in BASSC, ALL OF THOSE Theatre in Tuscaloosa, AL; as the Associate Artistic Director Hills Playhouse in South Dakota, Stage West in Nebraska, and the the Man and the Legend in 2004. Also in Wendy Darling in Peter Pan in 2009. She is and Vice President of Alpha Psi Omega. NEW-FANGLED for the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival in Durant, OK; and Jacksonville Summer Repertory Theatre in Florida. 2004 at Asbury College he played Orsino in Lifeguard/CPR certified and has her scuba currently serves as the Artistic Director of The B & B Theatre, Twelfth Night. Lito is an Actor/Combatant certification. Payton is a swim team coach Ryan Ferrebee, playing Mr. Webb as well CELL PHONES AND a professional summer theatre company that he formed with his Nathan Gwartney has over fifteen years of experience in Amateur, Educational, in the Society of American Fight Directors. for Bulldog Aquatics and a published poet. as the dramaturge for this production, is BEEPERS. wife, Mary Fran, a theatre professor at Grambling State University. Paul and Mary & Professional Arts Management. He is an established, high- a second year gradu- Fran have three precocious children: George, CeCe, and Bryant Ford. ly successful producer and management professional hav- Rachael Anne Pace, playing the role of Matthew Phillip Ferguson, playing Dr. ate student in Theatre ing most recently worked for the internationally renowned Mrs. Gibbs, is a junior Gibbs, is a first year graduate student from Jewett, OH. He Don Stevens is the Technical Director and has written, directed, and produced six Tulsa Ballet. Mr. Gwartney has served as an Arts Manage- Theatre Major from Cov- from Leesville, SC. He received his B.S. in shows for Big Bad Productions. He is a graduate of Louisiana ment consultant, specializing in arts marketing, public rela- ington, LA. At Tech she received his B.A. from Communications/The- Tech’s Master’s program and recieved his second MA in English tions and box office operations for a variety of arts groups was the Marquess of Dor- Limestone College atre from West Lib- in the summer of 2011. Don was awarded the John C. Trisler throughout Oklahoma and the Mid-West Region. In addition to set in Richard III in 2010, in South Carolina. At erty University where Award in 2003 and the Vera Alice Paul Award in 2004. As one his professional accomplishments, he is an award winning ac- and Guinevere in So in Limestone College he he graduated Summa of the founders of C.H.A.T. (Coffee House Acting Troupe), he tor, designer, director and producer. Mr. Gwartney’s research Love! Opera Workshop was Benedict in Much Cum Laude. At Tech has been involved in bringing new works by local playwrights to and scholarly interests include the Federal Theatre Project, African American dra- in 2011 for which she re- Ado About Nothing in he played the role of Malcolm in Mac- the Ruston area, and has been involved in productions with the ma, Richard Schechner and the “white trash” aesthetic and its influence on popu- ceived a Tony Award for 2010, Mortimer Brew- beth in 2011, and Duke of Buckingham in University of Louisiana at Monroe, the University of the Ozarks, lar culture. Mr. Gwartney holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theater from Northeastern Best Supporting Actress. Also at Tech she ster in Arsenic and Old Richard III. At WLU he played Katurian Louisiana Tech University and Ruston Community Theatre as an State University and a Master of Arts in Theatre from Oklahoma State University. was part of the ensemble for Fiddler on the Lace in 2009, Gaston in Beauty and the in The Pillowman and Thomas Parker in “Please, actor, director and technician. Don is a fencing instructor. Roof and the Gas Station Attendant in The Beast in 2008, and David O. Selznick in Bat Boy in 2010. He directed Cinderella NO FLASH Grapes of Wrath. At Northlake Christian Moonlight and Magnolias in 2008. At the at the Strand Theatre Preservation Soci- PHOTOGRAPHY OR Directors Notes: Thoughts on Wilder School she was Mrs. Mae Peterson in Bye Gaffney Little Theatre he was Beau in ety in 2011. Ryan received the Mary Beth RECORDING KENNETH ROBBINS Bye Birdie in 2009. Rachael received Best Asleep on the Wind in 2008. Matt was nom- Thiels Award, the Lula Mae Sciro Award Director Props Design for Macbeth, an award for inated for an Irene Ryan Award for the role and is an Actor Combatant with the SAFD. DEVICES.” When Our Town opened on Broadway after a failed the original 1938 Broadway production was a block- world via television and DVD. This Fall marks the Outstanding Achievement in Promotions of Gaston and was the Vice President for out-of-town run in Boston, Thornton Wilder ap- buster, receiving the Pulitzer Prize and other treasured 10th year since the heinous terrorist attacks, and the and Marketing, and the School of Per- Alpha Psi Omega for Limestone College. proached drama critic Glenway Wescott with a sincere recognitions, most likely because of its delicacy, philo- Department of Theatre School of the Performing Arts forming Arts Merrit Scholarship in 2011. question: is the work worthwhile? He wasn’t asking in sophical turnings, and its invitation to contemplate that at Louisiana Tech wanted to do something to com- Alicia Madeline Goodman, as Mrs. Webb, THE PERFORMERS an effort to obtain praise or adoration. Instead, he was which lies beyond the mortal coil. In fact, the play has memorate the resilience of the American character. Bill Willoughby, making his acting debut is a first year graduate stu- Stage Manager Chris “Lito” Tamez genuinely concerned: had he, Wilder, disgraced him- found popularity around the world since its premiere, Our Town makes a clarion call for patriotism and it as Professor Willard dent in Theatre from Ar- Emily Webb Payton Danielle Wilburn self with such a piece of theatre? He was in the midst of indicating that its delicacy, philosophy, and sadness are demonstrates through nostalgia the way we were as in this production of cadia, FL.
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