THE SPOTLIGHT - catawba.edu

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THE SPOTLIGHTNov/Dec 2013

Co-Editor:Verity Pryor-Harden

[email protected]

Co-Editor:Pen Chance

[email protected]

Happy Holidays!

THIS MONTH

PREVIOUS PRODUCTION: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORSGet an inside look at our recent musical, Little Shop of Horrors!

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DIRECTING 1 SCENESHere from our student directors from this semesters Directing 1 Showcase!

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DIRECTING 1 SCENES/DANCE ENSEMBLEHave a look at some upcoming end of semester performances!

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ALUMNUS OF THE MONTH: JODYE CARROLLMeet our Catawba Theatre Alumnus of the Month!

Continued on Page 8

Vol 20, No. 3 www.catawba.edu/theatreartsM C E P P H O U S E :

CATAWBA COLLEGE2 3 0 0 W e s t I n n e s S t .

S a l i s b u r y , N C 2 8 1 4 4T E L E P H O N E(704) 637-4481 E M A I L THEATREARTS

@CATAWBA.EDU

Holly Fuller, Maggie Saunders, Jean White, & Terrell Jones in “Little Shop of Horrors”(photo by Tracy Ratliff)

Get an inside look at Dance Ensemble

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

ALUMNUS OF THE MONTH

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http://www.catawba.edu/theatrearts

http://www.catawba.edu/theatrearts


Holly Fuller, Maggie Saunders, Jean White, & Terrell Jones in “Little Shop of Horrors” (photo by Tracy Ratliff) (photo by Tracy Ratliff)

THE SPOTLIGHT PAGE2

Little Shop of Horrors Catawba College’s Shuford School of Performing Arts first musical of the season will be Little Shop of Horrors. It tells the story of a shy and awkward employee, Seymour, who discovers an unknown plant that brings sudden success to a small, run-down flower shop on Skid Row. But how much will that fame cost Seymour and the rest of Skid Row? Will Seymour be willing to pay the price?

Little Shop of Horrors opened off-Broadway at the Orpheum Theatre on July 27, 1982. When it closed on November 1, 1987, it was the third-longest running musical and the highest-grossing off-Broadway production. It won several awards including the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical and the Outer Critics Circle Award. Also the winner of the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, this up-beat rock musical gets your attention with its light-hearted music but draws you in with the darker story it tells.

Seymour starts the action of the story when he presents his latest botanical discovery, the Audrey II, named for his attractive female co-worker. When the shop’s owner, Mr. Mushnik, takes Audrey’s advice to put Seymour’s plant on display, his dying flower shop is brought back to life and thrives. However, we soon realize that the the employees of the shop may not be the ones in control.

The musical offers music by Alan Menken and book and lyrics by Howard Ashman. It is based on the 1960 horror film of the same name, directed by Roger Corman.

- Maggie Saunders ‘15* Denotes membership in the Alpha Psi Omega Dramatic Honors Society

Cast & Crew

Director: Joe Hernandez

Choreographer: Meredith Fox

Musical Director: John Stafford

Asst. Director: Allison Andrews*

Stage Manager: Forest Fugate

Asst. Stage Managers: Sam Erwin, Victoria Whetzel

Seymour: Terrell Jones

Audrey: Leanna Hicks

Mr. Mushnick: Caleb Garner

Orin, the Dentist: Pen Chance*

The Trio: Maggie Saunders*, Jean White, Holly Fuller

Voice of Audrey II: Daniel Brown

The Plant-Puppeteer: Lara Williams*

Male Swing: Jordan Abbatiello

Female Swing: Michelle Newberger*






Alan Menken ...was born on July 22, 1949 in New York City to a Jewish family. His mother and father, Judith and Norman Menken, encouraged his musical studies from an early age and Alan pursued piano and violin as a result. He is quoted, saying “"Growing up, I was surrounded by a family that loved Broadway musicals", says Menken, "Regularly, we gathered around my father at the piano, and as he played and we sang, the house was filled with the sounds of Rodgers and Hart, the Gershwins, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Frank Loesser, Lerner and Loewe, and all the other great Broadway songwriters. As a child, I was introduced to the power of the American musical through shows like My Fair Lady, Fiorello, and The Sound of Music".” He attended college as a pre-med student, but later changed direction and attended New York University’s Steinhardt Studio.

Following college, Alan performed frequently in local clubs and worked as a composer of jingles and songs as an accompanist. Before long, he met Howard Ashman in New York in 1979 when Ashman, artistic director of the small WPA Theater, was looking for a composer to work with him on a musical version of Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater. Although the show was well received, he achieved greater success with the 1982 Off-

Broadway musical Little Shop of Horrors. This piece, which he also produced with Ashman, earned him a Drama Desk Award nomination followed by a successful film adaptation and later, a Broadway room.

Despite his many live theatrical credits, Menken is best known for his work over the past two decades with Walt Disney Pictures in which he scored numerous animated films including The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Hercules, Tangled etc… He has also written music for live-action Disney films such as Newsies and Enchanted.

During his time with Walt Disney Pictures, he has won eight Academy Awards (only composer Alfred Newman and Walt Disney have received more Oscars than Menken. He currently holds the record for the most wins for a living person and was named a Disney Legend in 2001.

Menken and his wife, Janis, a former professional ballet dancer, reside in upstate New York with their two young children, Anna and Nora.

Howard Ashman

...was born in Baltimore, Marlyand on May 17, 1950. The son of Shirley Thelma and Raymond Albert Ashman, he graduated from Goddard College in 1974. He also attended Indiana University where he received his

MFA and was a member of the professional acting company.

Ashman moved to New York following his graduation and in 1976, his play The Confirmation, was produced at Princeton’s McCarter Theater. As a founder and Artistic Director of the WPA Theater, he conceived, wrote and directed a musical adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut’s God Bless You. Mr. Rosewater with music by Alan Menken.

In 1982, he cpnceived Little Shop of Horrors, again which he wrote and directed with music by Alan Menken. The musical, based upon Roger Corman’s 1960s-era horror film was immediately successful, and it soon became a New York “must see” playing for five years Off-Broadway at the Orpheum Theater in Lower Manhattan. It was revived on Broadway in 2003 and is currently one of the most produced shows in American high schools.

Turning his talents toward film, Ashman was essential in the resurgence of Disney’s animated musicals including films such as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin, all with music by Alan Menken.

Ashman had been diagnosed HIV positive in 1988 and during the work on Beauty and the Beast, had many animators flown to New York to work because he was too weak to travel. After the first screening of Beauty and the Beast in 1991, the animators visited Howard in the hospital where he was 80 pounds, nearly blind and almost unable to speak. Producer Don Hahn leaned over to Ashman and said, "Beauty and the Beast is going to be a great success. Who'd have thought it?", to which Ashman replied with "I would have." Four days later, on March 14, Ashman died following complications from AIDS at the age of 40 in New York City.

-Emily Olszewski ’15

PAGE3THE SPOTLIGHT






“Down on Skid Row”

“And our fall musical will be…..Little Shop of Horrors”, seriously, cue the angel choir and clash of symbols was basically what was going on inside my head when I heard this information. Little Shop of Horrors has always been one of my favorite musicals. One,

because Alan Menken (who writes basically all the music for Disney movies which, yes, I happen to know by heart) wrote the music for this show and Audrey is one of my dream roles…..no really, I have a list of dream roles so I am able to check that off my “Role To-Do List”. This experience has been rewarding and extremely challenging. Being at this

school, I have learned many techniques in acting that I never even thought would benefit me until I came here. It’s incredible all the information I never knew! Coming in as a,

possibly, overly-eager freshman who was ready to do anything and everything involving theatre, I hit the ground running. I was given opportunities in the freshman showcase,

ten minute scenes and one acts! All of which I loved being involved in, but still I hoped I would be cast in a main-stage show and HUZZAH it happened. Yes, you assumed correctly, the minute I saw that I was cast as “Audrey”; I immediately fell to the ground and wept tears of joy. Over-dramatic? Maybe so, but I am a theatre person so that’s par for the course. I have seen this show many

times and have heard the soundtrack many times, so I went in to the first rehearsal really excited and ready to do what I had always seen…..HOLD UP! I soon realized that we were taking this show and making it entirely different. I had to erase what I had seen all before and create a whole new character….that’s hard y’all. When you dig deeper into the text, you find so many hidden facts about the character that you never saw before. I thought I knew Audrey, but clearly I had just seen the surface. She is a much

deeper character than what I thought. Normally, I have always seen her as a skinny, blonde haired, ditsy girl who had a high pitched voice and most of the time spoke with a New York dialect. When really, she’s a broken girl who has dreams and passions

that she wishes she could achieve, but knows she probably won’t. This concept is hard for any actor to grasp, especially when you’re pretty happy with your life at the moment. This is why it has been an extremely difficult, but rewarding challenge. There are so many different ways I can play this role and stretch myself and my abilities as an actor. From movement of the body to the voice to the facial expressions you make all go into how this character comes alive on stage. Well ladies and gentlemen, I’m gonna let you in on a little secret….I’m not perfect. I know it’s shocking news, but it’s true….I’m still working on who Audrey is every day. I have

found different characteristics of her each night. As an actor, you should never stop searching, never stop learning and most importantly never be afraid to fail. If there is anything that I have learned in this process, it is to be bold and make BIG choices. Sure, they may not be the right ones, but it’s something challenging and different…and exciting! I am so incredibly proud of the talented group of people in this show and all who are involved in making this show, our show, so amazing. It’s been a long road,

but we made it and I am so excited to tell this story with everyone.

-Leanna Hicks ’16

BEHIND THE SCENES: Little Shop of Horrors

PAGE4THE SPOTLIGHT

Leanna Hicks played Audrey in “Little Shop of Horros” at Catawba College






THE SPOTLIGHT PAGE5

Directing 1 Scenes

Matt Ensley

My scene is from I Hate Hamlet by Paul Rudnick and it's about Andrew who has just been cast as Hamlet. He does not want to be in Hamlet but his virgin girlfriend does and he thinks this may be a way to finally break that barrier. He is receiving acting training for the role from the ghost of John Barrymore. I chose this scene because of its comedy and its relation to more classical drama. I really enjoy directing because of the idea of having a concept and having your directorial vision brought to life through actors.

Cast: Greg Stoughton is Barrymore, Nathan Riddle is Andrew, and Ryn Crawford is Dierdre (Andrew's girlfriend)

Each semester, the Directing 1 class goes through the process of auditioning, directing, and showcasing an individual scene of their choosing. Below is some information about those scenes.

Ryan Kelly

My scene is from the play The Odd Couple by Neil Simon. It is a comedy showing how 2 men deal with the end of their relationships. In this scene, they invite over 2 women for dinner. I chose this scene because it is probably the most

amusing scene in the play, and most starkly contrasted the 2 men's personalities. I hope to gain insight from the other end of the production spectrum. Hopefully by getting experience thinking like a director, I can help my acting. I'm also

excited to see what my cast can pull off with this particular scene, as it looks rather promising.

Cast: Dillon Reid, Summer Eubanks, Samantha Myers, Brandon Engelskirchen

Lara Williams

This particular scene is from the play Deathtrap written by Ira Levin. Sidney Bruhl is a washed up writer who would do anything to write another bestseller. When a fan sends him a manuscript that is nothing but brilliant he plans to steal the script. Sidney with the help from his wife, Myra, go to great lengths to pull this scheme off while avoiding the Helga, the psychic next door. I chose this scene because I love the play and I felt that it had challenges in it that would be very good for me to experience. I like directing because it is the side that an actor doesn't really get to experience. It is learning to take control of something and create a structure that everyone can contribute to. It is very challenging in that I have to find a way to communicate a message to the audience while staying true to the playwright. I can achieve that through direction! It's pretty neat!

Cast: Sidney Bruhl- Gyo Gamble; Mrya Bruhl- Hannah Lee; Helga Ten Dorp- Victoria Whetzel

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Dance Ensemble


“Well-rounded” is a word used to describe Catawba College quite often. We thrive in all academics here and of course our theatre department, but sometimes people leave out the wonderful dance opportunities at this school. Dance Ensemble is a very popular performance opportunity that many of our students participate in. Every year students involved in the Dance Ensemble class either choreograph or participate in a student choreographed piece with a theme of their choosing….or at least that’s what it used to be. This year we have made it a little more exciting and the stakes are a little bit higher between the choreographers. Bring in a brand new visiting faculty member, a brand new theme for the dances, a well-known dance company like Ballet Pensacola and what do you get? A masterpiece!

“Beth came to me over the summer with an idea about devising The Outrageous Dance Project around the Greek myth of Icarus and Daedalus and how we could possibly use Dance Ensemble as a springboard for this project. She wanted to create an opportunity to set a student choreographed piece on Richard’s professional dancers. So for DE I instructed my choreographers to choreograph a piece that was inspired in some way by the Greek myth for our final dance concert of the semester. I asked them to read the myth and research images, music, poetry, etc. for whatever theme they found inspiring from the story and allow that research to influence their choreography. Our dance concert would then link all the pieces together with a common theme to create more of a unified ensemble experience. Prior to the final dance concert, we will show our pieces to Beth and Richard, who will then select the student piece that they feel best suits their collaboration for next semester’s production. I have very much enjoyed being part of the ensemble this semester. In addition to overseeing the course and choreographing one of the ensemble’s pieces, I am very fortunate that 3 of our student choreographers invited me to perform in their pieces. It has been a privilege to dance under these talented choreographers and observe their growth as they run rehearsals.” Meredith Fox, Visiting Professor for Musical Theatre and Dance

When asked how the choreographers felt when they heard what the theme would be, the responses were very positive and also it seemed the dancers were excited for the different style; “I really liked the idea of using a story as the theme. It was interesting to see how each choreographer interpreted the myth and used specific parts of the plot to create their piece. It's cool to have pieces that are direct interpretations of the myth and others that have twists to them.” Jean White ‘16

“Dance Ensemble has been a different experience. I like that it does have one central theme that we all pulled inspiration from. It's so much easier and cooler to be able to relate to all the dances on such a common level and also see how so many different concepts came from one story.” Daniel Brown ‘16

Catawba College makes sure that when you leave, you have had opportunities that not many other schools are able to offer and that you leave with connections that will really help you in the long run! Come out and see Dance Ensemble perform their pieces this December and An Evening of Dance Theatre with Ballet Pensacola next year. Be sure to check Catawba’s Website for more information on show dates and tickets!

-Leanna Hicks ’16





I first heard of Catawba at SETC my junior year of high school. I met Professor Zink, the Chairman of the Theatre Arts Department, at the Catawba table, and I made a visit to the campus that spring and the following year for interviews and auditions. Every time I visited, I was in a warm, welcoming, supportive environment. I was told that it was not a competitive department—it was supportive and encouraging, with a constant push to grow and develop.

My original plan was to get a BFA in Musical Theatre. However, I graduated with a BA in Theatre Arts. I changed majors before the end of my freshman year when I realized the flexibility that a BA had to offer. There were a lot more classes that I wanted to take outside of the performance realm, and I would be able to do that with the BA. I also had come in with a lot of music theory background already, and I wanted to make good use of my time by taking classes I didn’t know anything about (i.e. props fabrication, directing).

I am currently on a yearlong contract from August 2013 to August 2014, as one of five in the Resident Acting Company at Midtown Arts Center in Fort Collins, Colorado. We serve as the ensemble up to supporting roles in the main stage series in the dinner theatre, and we are the cast of the Young Audience Series. We also teach classes in the Academy and dabble in a little bit of tech and marketing. At this very moment, I am in the ensemble of Les Miserables (about to close), rehearsing for White Christmas (Ensemble, Dance Captain, understudying Judy and Susan—opening the week we close Les Mis), we have two children’s shows that have opened and will continue running through May. Needless to say, I have learned how to work in rep and to carry lots and lots of information all at one time. I will be here through the end of August, and my hope is to keep working regionally/professionally for another year while I complete applications for grad school. I’d like to get an MFA in either directing or choreography and ultimately be a college professor (and continue to work professionally).

I definitely credit the Catawba Theatre Arts Department with most of what I’ve climbed to. Not only do I feel that the department prepared me for professional work, but I also am now working with a fellow Catawba theatre grad, Michael Lasris—he is the company manager, an actor, and the resident choreographer. The department really is a family that never ceases to support its fellow members, and I can’t be thankful enough for that. The support that is within the Catawba Theatre Department is unlike any other program around, and I’m still thankful for it on a daily basis. I also loved the well roundedness that Catawba encourages with the liberal arts requirements and the requirements within the department. Go ahead and roll your eyes…but Applied Theatre; it really is practical! I am just as busy now as I was in college. I have dances to learn and practice, lines to memorize, music to learn, and very short rehearsal processes before opening. Between rehearsals, performances, and study time, there really is very little down time, and I really am at the theatre all the time. But Applied Theatre prepared me for that, and now I can legitimately say that I am living the dream. It’s truly a blessing every day, to work with such a wonderful group of people who love the art just as much as I do and I don’t think I could ask for much more than that. And I attribute a lot of where I am to Catawba—so thank you, thank you, thank you!

KEEP WORKING! Never, ever, ever stop fighting for what it is that you want to do. You ABSOLUTELY can do it. You have to put in the work, and you sometimes have to make tough choices, but make sure you are spending your time doing the things that make you feel the most fulfilled. BE PRODUCTIVE! BE DISCIPLINED! Take the time to talk with your professors. Get to know them—let them get to know you. ASK FOR ADVICE! It was the advice of several professors that got me interested in directing in the first place. Never underestimate the power of a good talk with a professor. If there is a big project that scares you but you know it’s what you want, take it on. Ask for opportunities—the worst answer you can get is no, and you’ll have the same thing you have now. I learned at Catawba to ask for things I wanted and work for them, and after a little bit of time here to settle in, I asked if I could be the dance captain for White Christmas, and they said yes. I then asked if I could audition to understudy a role—and I am understudying two roles. Fight for it—it will pay off.

-Morgan Summers ’16

Alumnus of the Month:Jodye Carroll

THE SPOTLIGHT PAGE7






Just a few reminders:

Do you have a friend or loved one in a Catawba College or Blue Masque theatre production?

Do you want to show your appreciation for all of their hard work?

Then purchase a Blue Masque Break-‐a-‐Leg Gift for just $6.00!

Break-‐a-‐Legs include a beautiful mylar balloon with an equally exquisite red carnation and a

personalized note.

To have a Break-a-Leg delivered to your loved one, please send $6 in cash or check to:

These can be purchased by placing $6.00 (checks made out to "The Blue Masque") in Chelsea Retalics'

campus mailbox, number 335.

Thank you!Chelsea Retalic

The Blue Masque Treasurer

www.facebook.com/catawbatheatre

Have you read our student blogs?

As a way to reach out and let parents and prospective students know what it’s like to be a theatre major at Catawba, we have begun a blog with posts written by a few of our very own, very talented, very busy theatre majors. Check it out!http://www.catawba.edu/gallery/2013/blog/theatre/

@CatawbaTheatre

@CatawbaTheatre

Buy tickets!www.catawba.edu/theatretix

Be sure to mark your calendars and check out our upcoming productions!

Where Are the Diamonds?! Improv Troupe

Catawba College’s one and only improve troupe Where are the Diamonds?! was founded in 2007 by Jordan Hunt,

Paul Saylor, and Aaron Ganis and believe it or not is still around. While the troupe was sad to say goodbye to the

graduating seniors, the returning members: Allison Andrews, Katlyn Shaw, Lara Williams, and Michelle

Newberger are happy to welcome some fresh faces onto the team. The new members for the 2013-2014 Season are Brandon Engelskirchen, Eric English, George Glass, Greg Stoughton, Leigh Butler, Matthew Ensley, Jordan Clifton and Morgan Summers. The team meets weekly to hone their improv skills by playing various games and

working on different forms of improv. After a very successful past season with such hit shows as An Evening

with Channing Tatum, we are all looking forward to another exciting year. The team plans on doing two

performances this semester alone and is opening up one rehearsal a month the school population so that everyone has the chance to do some awesome improv. Keep an ear out for our open rehearsals or “Playdays” and of course

our shows!

Call the box office at (704) 637-4481

or visitwww.catawba.edu/theatretix

to purchase tickets for any of our shows!

The Importance of Being ErnestDirected by Craig Kolkebeck

April 8-9 @ 6:55pmApril 10-12 @ 7:30pm

Hedrick Little Theater

Outrageous Dance ProjectDirected by Richard Steinert ’81

February 25-26 @ 6:55pmFebruary 27- March 1 @ 7:30pm

Keppel Auditorium

The FantasticksDirected by Allison Andrews

March 25-29 @ 7:30pm

Florence Busby Corriher Theater



http://www.catawba.edu/gallery/2013/blog/theatre/

http://www.catawba.edu/gallery/2013/blog/theatre/



http://www.catawba.edu/theatretix




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