CrEATiVe Photographs and memories from a 40-year romance (still going strong) Students Matt Walton and with music, theatre and art Molly LeCaptain took the leads in the fall musical ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ Photo by Mike Roemer FEBRUARY 2009 Notes from 2420 Nicolet… It won’t be difficult to offer a warm welcome Greetings from the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where optimism and a sense of renewal are the order of the day. While it has been a difficult winter in many respects, Green Bay’s University of Wisconsin is continuing to move confidently ahead. Just recently we were delighted to announce that Dr. Thomas K. Harden, president of Clayton State University in 6 Georgia, had been confirmed as our fifth chancellor. FEATURES It is a tribute to UW-Green Bay that an educator of Dr. Harden’s stature pursued this position. He shared with us that he was attracted by our interdisciplinary academic program, focus on environmental sustainability, fine facilities and the Inside UW-Green Bay Creative alumni natural beauty of our campus, but he stressed one positive above all — the people. February 2009 2 Rising stars in music, theatre, art Volume 36, No. 2 I know what he means. Returning to campus myself last June, after years away, I was greatly impressed. I found business and civic leaders committed to growing this University. I met students destined to be difference makers. Editor New on campus 4 Chris Sampson Dr. Thomas Harden I was able to reconnect with alumni doing great things in their careers and communities. 1 6 arrives June 1 As for faculty and staff, the best illustration I can offer involves a display at our newly remodeled, visitor-friendly Editorial Staff 12 Chris Sampson Student Services Building. On the wall are a half dozen life-size posters spotlighting recent recipients of the Sue Bodilly Lens crafter University Founders Association Awards for Excellence. It’s an impressive new tradition, almost like a “hall of fame” for this Mike Heine 17 Roemer’s art is making photos year’s honored teachers, researchers, support staff and practitioners of public service. Designer The posters greet those arriving for admission tours. It’s my belief that that if and when these visitors enroll here they’re Yvonne Splan going to find these exceptional faculty and staff members aren’t outliers, at all, but instead entirely representative of the Photographer quality that is UW-Green Bay. Eric Miller When Tom Harden arrives to begin work later this spring, he’ll be welcomed by an outstanding institution. My thanks to Contributing Photographers each and every one of you for all you do for our University and its efforts to connect learning to life. Matt Robinson DEPARTMENTS Mike Heine 5 • 14 Campus news Inside UW-Green Bay is David J. Ward published by the Office of 17 Alumni notes Interim Chancellor University Advancement and its Marketing and Communi- cation unit. We welcome your comments. Address them to: Inside UW-Green Bay Editor, Cofrin Library Suite 815, fax (920) 465-2340, or e-mail [email protected]. 21 Mail change of address notification to Inside UW- Green Bay, Cofrin Library Suite 820, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, 2420 Nicolet Drive, Green Bay, WI 54311-7001. Visit Inside on the web at http://blog.uwgb.edu/inside/ Front cover: The oversize man-eating plant “Audrey II” wasn’t the only star of the fall musical, “Little Shop of Horrors.” Romantic leads Matt Walton of Wisconsin Rapids and Molly LeCaptain from New Franken get a skeptical look from “Mr. Mushnik,” Zach McLain, a senior from Fence, Wis. Inside UW-Green Bay tapped Mike Roemer as guest photographer and the 1986 graduate obliged with this shot and others that appear inside. Alumni here In University Theatre, and there comedy is king Marilyn Kemm-Kurtz ’72 Elgin, Ill. Drama/music teacher Larry Gruber ’87 Creative New York, N.Y. Set designer energy More often than not, a (Major Broadway shows and national night at the theatre is a laughing touring productions including last Remember Green Bay before matter these days. year’s “Irving Berlin’s I Love a Piano”) UWGB existed? Before the Sketch comedies, musical Maureen (Wilhelm) Christoffel ’89 College of Creative comedies, witty Shakespeare, Seattle, Wash. Communication? Before the comedy-drama, intelligent satire, Scenic artist, Seattle Repertory Company Studio Arts cafeteria was a British farce, reality-skewed between-class hangout for student absurdism — UW-Green Bay’s Erick Hoffman ’89 musicians, artists, actors, writers award-winning Theatre program Eugene, Ore. and poets? Before the University Director of Communications does them all, earning laughs University of Oregon’s Theatre, Lawton Gallery and and solid reviews for student Schnitzer Museum of Art Weidner Center became name- performers. Barb Alloy ’90 brand venues? The local newspaper’s take on the Green Bay, Wis. Warren Gerds, longtime arts and latest show is representative: Entertainer, photographer, director (Founded three-woman cabaret entertainment critic for the Green “Lively leads, solid singing, snazzy Glamarama, operates Alloy Photog- Bay Press-Gazette, remembers. special effects and carloads of raphy with the motto “You tie the And while a cultural scene camp-horror humor add up to knot, I’ll get the shot,” and will direct certainly existed pre-UWGB, few “Black Patent Leather Shoes” in April a strong version of ‘Little Shop for Green Bay Community Theater) would say it flourished. of Horrors’ at the University of Photo by Mike Roemer Wisconsin-Green Bay.” Mary (Gallagher) Damiani ’90 Gerds recalls a conversation Los Angeles, Calif. with Edward Weidner in which Comedies have a long history on Indeed, productions of Ibsen, (see page 4). Comedy returned BY DESIGN, UW-GREEN BAY GRAD Actress the retired founding chancellor campus, but faculty includ- Thornton Wilder and Tennessee with “Little Shop” and its crazy (Role in Jodie Foster film “Flight ing Prof. Laura Riddle started Williams have appeared in recent man-eating plant (photo above). Plan,” episodes of “Friends” and listened intently as the reporter TAKES DIRECT PATH TO THEATRE SUCCESS “Mad About You,” host for PAX and critiqued the University’s historic increasing their frequency more seasons. “Comedy is just another Due this semester are “Expecting Game Show Network shows, and impact. than a decade ago when she part of that mix. And comedy can Isabel” about a New York couple’s For a behind-the-scenes guy, Joel Good reviews are expected. “My artistic career definitely has its national TV spots including last year’s Sass ’89 of Minneapolis has made Recent triumphs for Sass include: roots in my time at UWGB and the Lean Cuisine office-lunch series) - arrived with a background in be an important way to approach over-the-top baby obsession With the creative energy of fac standup, improv and directing serious issues.” (starting Feb. 26 in the Jean quite a name for himself in the the- • In 2008, directing three shows at excellent instructors I enjoyed there. ulty and students, and with new stage comedy. Weidner Theatre), and Shake- atre world, especially if awards, highly the Jungle and an award-winning We had an informal theatre reunion This year, the stark, ripped-from- alumni each year joining the ranks speare’s romantic romp “Much regarded productions and national production of “Nine Parts of a year ago and it was a powerful “Certainly, we’re still going to the-headlines drama “The Balkan of those who teach and perform, Ado About Nothing” (scheduled connections are the measure. Desire” at the Guthrie, he won reconnection to some of my early do classic drama,” Riddle says. Women” opened the season Gerds said, “the graduates start to open April 24 in the University Since 2007, Sass has served as Twin Cities “Best Director” honor teachers and collaborators… and won cast and crew a bid to the full-time associate artistic direc- for the second time in six years. adding up, and things slowly Theatre). and a reminder of how quickly twenty the college theatre regionals tor of the Jungle Theatre, a regional • Last summer he made his West change, for the better. After a years can go by!” gem many consider on par artisti- Coast directorial debut at the while, you have momentum… that — Joel Sass ’89, Minneapolis, cally with the Twin Cities’ prestigious California Shakespeare Theater in award-winning director enthuses people even more about Guthrie Theatre, but with a more Berkeley with a new production of First, Love: Student actress put campus on national stage and scenic designer culture, entertainment and quality intimate (150-seat) auditorium. “Pericles.” The show ranked No. 2 of life in Northeastern Wisconsin. Lauren Love ’86, a theatre professor for the two-year Sass recently assumed leader- of the Top Ten Bay Area produc- UW Colleges campus in Baraboo, speaks from experi- “If we could time travel to the day ship of the Jungle while its founder, tions of 2008. ence when she tells students about acting competition. Bain Boehlke, enjoys a sabbatical. • In 2007, he received a national the decision was made (in the He leads an administrative staff of honor, the Alan Schneider Direc- mid-1960s) to build a university Love was a UW-Green Bay theatre student in fall 1984 eight, while selecting and directing a tor Award, given to a freelance when she was chosen the female lead for the campus in Green Bay, then compare that season of six play titles in 2009. director of exceptional merit. It - production of “Children of a Lesser God.” The show, to what’s around today, the differ UW-Green Bay theatre faculty allowed him to visit theatres in Emmy and Golden Globe winner Tony ences would be profound.” and Love, received rave reviews.