The Theatre Arts Management Shop at Catawba College Shuford School of Performing Arts Presents:

MC EPPTHE HOUSE: SPOTLIGHT CATAWBA COLLEGE 2300 West Innes St. April 2013 Vol 19, No. 6 www.catawba.edu/theatrearts Salisbury, NC 28144 TELEPHONE (704) 637-4481 EMAIL THEATREARTS @CATAWBA.EDU

Co-Editor: Sydney Berk Closing out this year with a classic [email protected] Co-Editor: JOIN US AS WE CLOSE THE Verity Pryor-Harden 2012-2013 THEATRE SEASON [email protected]

UPCOMING PRODUCTION: THE CRUCIBLE Directed by Kurt Corriher, this chilling drama by Arthur Miller tells a story of fanaticism, fear, and lust. Continued on Page 2

UPCOMING PRODUCTION: DANCEWORKS Completely choreographed and performed by students! Learn a little bit more about the Dance Ensemble, and join us for this free production! Continued on Page 4 Sydney Berk, Eric English, & Guest Artist Craig Kolkebeck in The Crucible (Photography by Tracy Ratliff)

BLUE MASQUE HALL OF FAMER RETURNS! Catawba Theatre Alumnus and member of the Blue Masque Hall of Fame, Richard Steinert is coming back! Continued on Page 4

Dancers of the Dance Ensemble from 2011 Richard Steinert UPCOMING PRODUCTION: ONE ACTS FESTIVAL The Directing II class presents an evening of exciting one-act plays. Continued on Page 5

ALUMNI OF THE MONTH: TIM ROSS & JUSTIN DIONNE We’ve doubled up our alumni recognition. Meet our Catawba Theatre Alumni of the Month! Continued on Page 6

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!e Crucible by Pen Chance played Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman as Join Catawba College Theatre as we a Guest Artist at Catawba in 2001, so I've Ca" close our 2012-2013 season in bringing to been looking for the opportunity to Betty Paris: Shannon O’Donnell life Arthur Miller’s chilling classic, The participate in another Miller Reverend Parris: Sean Henderson Crucible. This moving drama by the critically production. The Crucible is certainly one of Tituba: Dee Clarke* Abigail Williams: Katie Carpenter* acclaimed playwright and essayist Arthur the playwright's best. It is always topical Susanna Walcott: Emily Olszewski Miller, tells the story of the infamous Salem because we must always battle the human Ann Putnam: Katie Hopkins Witch Trials using powerful language and tendency to ignore the dictates of reason Thomas Putnam: Matthew Ensley potent characters. The production runs and yield to fanaticism, a state of mind that Mercy Lewis: Ashley O’Donnell April 9-10 beginning at 6:55 pm, and April invariably leads to great suffering and Mary Warren: Jacquelyn Loy* John Proctor: Eric English 11-13, at 7:30 pm. injustice. At the same time, as Miller shows Giles Corey: George Glass The stage is set in late 1600s, Salem, us, the struggle against fanaticism also often Rebecca Nurse: Collette Riddle* Massachusetts, as something evil winds its demonstrates man's opposite nature as well: Reverend Hale: Pen Chance way into a small village. Rumors of namely our capacity for courage and Elizabeth Proctor: Sydney Berk* witchcraft run amok, as young girls fall ill to nobility of mind in the face of such Francis Nurse: Ryan Kelly Ezekiel Cheever: Leana Guzman* causes unknown. One girl in particular uses injustices.” John Willard: Dillon Reid these rumors to her advantage by framing a Tickets are $10 general admission, $8 Judge Hathorne: Cody Mangum young farmer’s wife for witchcraft, sending non-Catawba students and senior citizens, Judge Danforth: Craig Kolkebeck the community into an uproar. with group discounts available. Tickets may (Guest Artist) Director Kurt Corriher comments on be purchased online at www.catawba.edu/ Sarah Good: Ruby Osorio why he chose The Crucible: “I've long felt that theatretix or at the box office on the nights Arthur Miller is the master of American of the performance. For more details, call * Denotes membership in the Alpha Psi Omega playwrights. I directed All My Sons some the Catawba College Theatre Box Office Dramatic Honors Society years ago for the St. Thomas Players, and I at (704) 637-4481.

Sydney Berk, Eric English, and Craig Kolkebeck in The Crucible Eric English and Katie Carpenter in The Crucible (Photography by Tracy Ratliff) (Photography by Tracy Ratliff)

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THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS OF 1692 epidemic, and the threat of attack by warring Superior Court of Judicature, formed to from www.salemwitchmuseum.com tribes created a fertile ground for fear and replace the "witchcraft" court, did not allow In January of 1692, the daughter and suspicion. Soon, prisons were filled with more spectral evidence. This belief in the power of niece of Reverend Samuel Parris of Salem than 150 men and women from towns the accused to use their invisible shapes or Village became ill. When they failed to surrounding Salem. Their names had been spectres to torture their victims had sealed the improve, the village doctor, William Griggs, "cried out" by tormented young girls as the fates of those tried by the Court of Oyer and was called in. His diagnosis of bewitchment cause of their pain. All would await trial for a Terminer. The new court released those put into motion the forces that would crime punishable by death in 17th-century awaiting trial and pardoned those awaiting ultimately result in the death by hanging of New , the practice of witchcraft. execution. In effect, the Salem witch trials were nineteen men and women. In addition, one In June of 1692, the special Court of over. man was crushed to death, seven others died Oyer (to hear) and Terminer (to decide) sat in As years passed, apologies were offered, in prison, and the lives of many were Salem to hear the cases of witchcraft. Presided and restitution was made to the victims' irrevocably changed. over by Chief Justice William Stoughton, the families. Historians and sociologists have To understand the events of the Salem court was made up of magistrates and jurors. examined this most complex episode in our witch trials, it is necessary to examine the The first person to be tried was Bridget Bishop history so that we may understand the issues of times in which accusations of witchcraft of Salem, who was found guilty and was that time and apply our understanding to our occurred. There were the ordinary stresses hanged on June 10. Thirteen women and five own society. The parallels between the Salem of 17th-century life in Massachusetts Bay men from all stations of life followed her to the witch trials and more modern examples of Colony. A strong belief in the devil, factions gallows on three successive hanging days "witch hunting" like the McCarthy hearings of among Salem Village fanatics, rivalry with before the court was disbanded by Governor the 1950's, are remarkable. nearby Salem Town, a recent small pox William Phipps in October of that year. The

Depictions of the Salem Witch Trials A House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) Hearing

Creative Team Production Crew Director: Kurt Corriher Light Board Operator: Brandon Engelskirchen Set Design: David Pulliam Sound Board Operator: Alicia Almodovar Costume Design: Erin B. Dougherty Wardrobe: Amanda Becker Hair & Makeup Design: Lara Williams Dressers: Forest Fugate, Courtney Lighting Design: Christopher D. Zink Cowman, Ashleigh Moore- Sound Design/Sound Engineer: Gyo Gamble Orlowski Technical Director: Christopher D. Zink Properties Running Crew: Jordan Clifton Stage Manager: Jerry Archer* Deck Captain: Maggie Saunders Assistant Stage Manager: Hannah Lee Deck Crew: Jura Davis, Daniel Brown, TyNia Master Carpenter: Greg Stoughton Brandon Lead Carpenter: Sam Yeager Hair/Makeup Technicians: Chelsea Retalic, Morgan Master Electrician: Cody Gasque Summers Lead Electrician: Alicia Almodovar Publicity: Pen Chance First Hand: Adam Weiner Front of House Manager: Melissa Tarduno Second Hand: Kassandra Tuttle Poster Design: Pen Chance Properties Mistress: Leanna Hicks Program Design: Verity Pryor-Harden Lead Properties Artisans: Daniel Brown, Ashton Tibbitt Charge Artist: Verity Pryor-Harden * Denotes membership in the Alpha Psi Omega Dramatic Lead Scenic: Jean White Honors Society

Like us on Facebook: /catawbatheatre | Follow us on Twitter: @CatawbaTheatre | Follow us on Instagram: @catawbatheatre THE SPOTLIGHT PAGE4 Let’s take a peek at the Dance Ensemble

Every semester, a group of talented student choreographers are given artistic Danceworks 2013 freedom to conceptualize and choreograph a Directed by Missy Barnes “The problem lay buried, unspoken for dance piece to music of their choosing. In the April 21, 2:00 pm many years in the minds of American spring, we hold Danceworks, a compilation of women. It was a strange stirring, a sense of all their work, which is open to the public. It April 22, 7:30 pm dissatisfaction, a yearning that women is always different, surprising, creative, and Keppel Auditorium suffered...Each suburban housewife innovative. Per usual, this year will not Tickets are FREE! struggled with it alone. As she made the disappoint. Admission is free and tickets need beds, shopped for groceries, matched not be reserved in advance. Come see the slipcover material, ate peanut butter talent and creativity of our amazing dancers sandwiches with her children, chauffeured and choreographers. “My dance takes you inside the Cub Scouts and Brownies, lay beside her mind of a deranged girl where you husband at night, she was afraid to ask see the internal battle she's always even of herself the silent question: ‘Is this “The purpose of my dance is to pay going through. I really tried to push all?’ - Betty Friedan” homage to one of the greatest myself and choreograph something - Katie Carpenter, Senior choreographers that ever lived: Bob slightly out of my comfort zone Fosse. I guess I have always loved dance while still keeping me in there. It's because of its ability to let you release all been a real pleasure working with of the energy, good and bad, from inside my fellow artists and I just want to yourself and put it into something say thank you for bringing to life my beautiful. And that is exactly what I've final dance piece here at Catawba!” “Sign language is just as expressive a attempted to do with my final piece.” - Courtney Cowman, Senior language for the hearing as it is for the - Gabriella Bressi non-hearing and, as with any language, there is a poetry that is unique to that language. For my dance, I hope to use expressive movement to further the art “‘Even at your darkest hour, of signed poetry and to create a someone will be there to support “Looking for love in all the maddening mix of sound and silence as you.’ I have a lovely group of ladies we look into the collective minds of wrong places? Stop. It'll find and can't wait to share this dance you.” those who can speak but who will not.” with everyone.” - Collette Riddle, Senior - Dee Clarke, Senior - Jura Davis, Junior

RICHARD STEINERT IS BACK! by Sydney Berk This past October, 1981 alumnus Richard Steinert was inducted into the Blue Masque Hall of Fame. In February 2012, we were lucky enough to have him for an extended visit in which he taught Master Classes and shared copious lessons with current students. This semester, we are so happy to have him back again for Danceworks. He is coming to see the show as well as teach several master classes and give guidance to current choreographers and dancers at Catawba. Next year, in the 2013-2014 season, we will have the good fortune of getting to collaborate. (Stay tuned to next month’s issue for more exciting news on that!) Richard Steinert is currently the artistic director of Ballet Pensacola in Pensacola, Florida. He is also a dance faculty member at the Universtiy of West Florida and a scholar-in-residence at The Bishops School in La Jolla, . Since graduating from Catawba College, Steinert has served as director of Ballet Arkansas, director of Ballet Theatre in Hartford, Connecticut, and was a founding director of Connecticut Contemporary Ballet Theatre. His choreographic work on more than 30 original ballets was sanctioned by such funding organizations as the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Ford Foundation. He has held seats on the Board of Directors of the Midwestern Arts Alliance, the Alcoa National Choreographic Awards, and was appointed by President Bill Clinton to a seat on his Arts-In-Education Committee. Steinert's choreographic work is critically acclaimed for its innovation and collaborative blending of theatre and dance.

Like us on Facebook: /catawbatheatre | Follow us on Twitter: @CatawbaTheatre | Follow us on Instagram: @catawbatheatre THE SPOTLIGHT PAGE5 Directing II One Acts Festival THE ANNUAL ONE ACTS FESTIVAL IS ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPERIMENTATION, CHALLENGES, AND NEW BEGINNINGS. THIS YEAR, WE HAVE THREE TALENTED DIRECTORS PRESENTING THEIR WORK. DON’T MISS IT.

Chicago, Sudan By Marc Bamuthi Joseph One Acts Festival Directed by Ashley Noelle Jackson

April 25-26, 7:30 p.m. "If you brown, you can't go green until you hold respect for black life." Florence Busby Corriher Theater DG, a man determined to teach inner-city youth about environmental issues, meets TV, a mother struggling with the loss of Catawba Students & Faculty FREE her son, on a bench in Chicago's south side. Both possess a different $5, Adults understanding of the word "environment". What happens when the $4, Senior Citizens & Non-Catawba Students these definitions collide?

Cast Reserve tickets online at www.catawba.edu/theatretix DG: Rayshaun Sandlin or call the Box Office at (704) 637-4481 TV: Quashona Renee’ Kase’: Jay Nathaniel Koontz

Linda Her By Harry Kondoleon Compulsion Directed by Greg Stoughton By John Patrick Directed by Allison Andrews Linda Her is set in a summer cottage where Carol, an insomniac, lies awake pondering her dissatisfaction with her Scotty is a distraught young husband whose wife, boring husband (who talks of a lost love whom he hasn’t seen Sybil, is planning to divorce him. He persuades a long- since kindergarten), and her bratty step-daughter. In fact, she is absent visiting friend, Joe, to pose as a priest in order to thoroughly disenchanted with the whole domestic scene when persuade Sybil to stay with him. Scotty’s plan works her unmarried friend, Janet, who couldn’t think of anything beautifully – that is until Sybil catches on to her scheming nicer, walks into the bedroom with the answer to all of Carol's husband’s set up. Hilarity ensues as we see how Sybil turns problems. the tables on her dear hubby.

Cast Cast Carol: Bristol Glass Scotty: Daniel Mowery Janet: Leanna Hicks Joe: Tyler Elrod Hilary: Melissa Tarduno Sybil: Michelle Newberger Matt: Ashton Tibbitt

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Alumni of the Month: Tim Ross & Justin Dionne

Tim Ross

Since graduating in 1986, I've been on a fairly steady career path. I started out doing classic theatre for a nationally award winning company called Charlotte Shakespeare. After three years with that company, I moved to in 1990. I appeared in shows like Days of Our Lives, Saved By the Bell, Rescue 911, Unsolved Mysteries, a world premiere play, and a number of independent films. Once I moved back to North Carolina, I got much more deeply involved in working on independent films. I made a film called Phreaker in 2005 but I've really geared up in the last three years. I starred in an indie film called 40 Fears in 2010 and last year I played major roles in 6 independent films and also a feature role in a film called The Bay by Academy Award winning director Barry Levinson. This year so far I starred in an independent film called The Strange and Unusual, played a major role in a film called My Name is Paul, and a major role in a film called Live Evil with Tony Todd (Candy Man) Vladimir Kulich (), Vincent Ward, (The Walking Dead) and Charlene Amoia (American Pie: Reunion). I have also directed quite a few plays in the area, but my bread and butter work has been commercials and industrial film. I have been in over a dozen national commercials and many regional and local commercials. I am currently appearing in series of Honda commercials for a group of dealers in the south.

His Advice for Us…

When I arrived at Catawba College I had ton a grand total of three plays. I had most likely the least amount of experience as anyone there. It was so intimidating at first, but it was also a great lesson for me. I had as much passion for the craft of acting as all of the other students in theatre, and I realized it was called a craft because there were so many things you could learn. Yes, many people are born with talent but there is also a great deal you can learn if you work hard enough. I don't think I had much natural talent when I first arrived at Catawba but I feel that I've acquired so much learning, and so many great experiences over time that I believe I'm a talented actor now. And I'm a survivor. I've dedicated so much time and energy to the profession that I've outlasted a good deal of other talented people. It can be a difficult way to make a living and a profession filled with pitfalls but if you outwork, out prepare and outlast other less dedicated actors, it is an amazing way of life.

(continued on page 8 with Justin Dionne)

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Justin Dionne

After graduating from Catawba, I took about a year long hiatus from theatre and just enjoyed living life. Then I spent about a year living in New York and then Chicago. After having some great experiences in both places, I found myself back in Salisbury, looking for a safety job before traveling again. While searching for my “safety job,” I ended up at Piedmont Players Theatre in Salisbury (ran by Catawba Alumnus Reid Leonard), and spent about 2 1/2 years working there. While at Piedmont Players, I worked backstage and as the Marketing Director. In May of 2012, I was offered the opportunity to become Managing Artistic Director at Lee Street Theatre, also in Salisbury. I've been in this position almost a year now. I am presently the sole employee of Lee Street, running operations, finances, marketing, development, you name it, I'm doing it. We are currently in a $1.5 million capital campaign drive to build a new performing arts center in Downtown Salisbury. Our new center will serve as a permanent home for Lee Street theatre AND the St. Thomas Players, two of Salisbury's smaller theatre troupes. We will also be available for rentals and concerts. In fact, we are booking our artists for our first winter concert series now. Lee Street is also committed to new plays! I will tell you even before our “official announcement” that next year's season will feature a brand new world premiere play written by Denise Laughlin Stewart (Catawba Alumna) and directed by Dr. Jim Epperson (Past Department Chair)! On the side, I've been working with a few friends renovating old advertising murals around downtown Salisbury. More recently, I've also had the honor to perform in Wit and attend this year's Humana Play Festival at Actor's Theatre of Louisville.

While at Catawba, he says the greatest lessons he learned were...

Do Everything. Really. Even if you're not good at it, at least try it. You can get a lot of work if you're just willing to try and willing to learn. “Love the art in yourself, not yourself in the art.” We read that out loud at the beginning of every year in the department. I believe it was part of Catawba Theatre's Code of Ethics. It's a great way to keep yourself in check. Collaboration and new play work. I was lucky to be involved with several Peterson Emerging Playwright Winners while at Catawba and having that experience really put a passion in me for new playwrights and the joy of collaborating. Collaboration is SO important in what we do, but especially with new plays.

His Advice for Current Students...

Please go take a few business classes. Really. Accounting, Marketing, any of these. I know that they don't seem like they will help you now, but you never know when you will need it. The more skills you have, the more likely you are to be employed. Also, make yourself a pleasant person to work with. Relationship building is one of the keys to growth. Also, don't be discouraged if you don't go the Grad School route. You can learn a lot by just doing it. I'd love to go to grad school, but then I would have to give up my job running a theatre. Finally, don't be discouraged because you haven't achieved the BIG dream that you had for yourself when you were in college. One thing I've discovered is that a dream is a living, breathing thing and it can change and grow into something that you never even thought of! I NEVER thought I would be in administration, or running a company at 28. I was never really aiming toward that, it just happened out that way, and I sure am glad that it did!

Like us on Facebook: /catawbatheatre | Follow us on Twitter: @CatawbaTheatre | Follow us on Instagram: @catawbatheatre Just a few reminders: You are cordially invited to: Have you read our student blogs? Once Upon a Time As a way to reach out and let parents and prospective students know what it’s like to be a theatre major at A Banquet by The Blue Masque Catawba, we have begun a blog with posts written by a few of our very own, very talented, very busy theatre Saturday, the twenty-seventh of April majors. Check it out! www.catawba.edu/gallery/2012/blog/theatre/ at six o’clock in the evening

www.facebook.com/catawbatheatre Peeler Crystal Lounge $25 @CatawbaTheatre Join us for a lovely meal, entertainment, the @CatawbaTheatre presentation of awards, recognition of seniors, Buy tickets! and the official announcement of the 2013-2014 www.catawba.edu/theatretix Catawba College Theatre season!

Do you have a friend or loved one in a Catawba Here’s your last chance to catch the College or Blue Masque theatre production? 2012-2013 season productions! Do you want to show your appreciation for all of their Check out next month’s issue for the hard work? announcement of the 2013-2014 season! Then purchase a Blue Masque Break-a-Leg Gift for just $6.00! !By Arthure Crucible Miller Break-a-Legs include a beautiful mylar balloon with Directed by Kurt Corriher April 9-10, 6:55 p.m. an equally exquisite red carnation and a One Acts Festival April 11-13, 7:30 p.m. Directed by Directing II personalized note. Hedrick Little Theater Students April 25-26, 7:30 p.m. To have a Break-a-Leg delivered to your loved one, Danceworks 2013 Florence Busby Corriher please send $6 in cash or check to: Directed by Missy Barnes Theater April 21, 2:00 p.m. The Blue Masque April 22, 7:30 p.m. c/o Theatre Arts Department Catawba College Keppel Auditorium 2300 West Innes St. Call the box office at Salisbury, NC 28144 OR (704) 637-4481 On campus mail box 262 or visit www.catawba.edu/theatretix Thank you! Allison Andrews to purchase tickets for any of our [email protected] productions! The Blue Masque Treasurer