2007-2008 News and Announcements
MSUM Theatre Arts Student Selected from International Talent Pool
Ms. Lindsay Fischer, Theatre Arts, has been accepted into the highly competitive Dell’Arte training program. One of 20 students selected from across the world, Ms. Fischer will begin studying with Dell’Arte this fall. A spring 2008 MSUM Theatre Arts graduate, Ms. Fischer will be seen onstage this summer during the 45th anniversary season of The Straw Hat Players and is currently serving as the assistant director for THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT.
Dell'Arte International is the U.S. center for the exploration, development, training and performance of the actor-creator. Its mission is to employ and revitalize the traditional physical theatre forms to explore contemporary concerns.
Dell'Arte co-founder, Carlo Mazzone-Clementi, was a native of Italy and chose the name 'dell'arte' (dell are tay) because it means "of the art." His work was inspired by the lively commedia dell'arte, a character -based style of theatre that has fueled popular theatre for generations, and was known as 'the art of the professionals.'
Dell'Arte's audiences tell us, "There is no other theatre like Dell'Arte!" The combination of our training programs , research, our original touring productions, our education program in the public schools, our summer festival and our work in economic/community development make us a destination unlike any other on the American theatre map.
Dell’Arte has been a company at the forefront of the ensemble theater movement for more than 30 years. Employing and revitalizing traditional physical theatre forms to explore contemporary concerns, Dell’Arte develops original works of theatre through an ensemble process and has performed at international festivals in the United States, Europe, Scandinavia, South America and Canada.
Student Academic Conference/Theatre Arts Department Exposition
Over 50 students participated in the April 2008 Student Academic Conference / Theatre Arts Department Exposition. Presentations included: The Power of Dance, The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival: The Audition Process, and A Mini-Drama: An Original One-Act Play. The presentations explored many different facets associated with theatre arts, and allowed students to showcase their talents.
Congratulations to Richard Paul Klein who has been recognized by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for excellence in playwrighting. Klein has been awarded a 2008 National Selection Team Fellowship to attend the National Festival at the Kennedy Center in April.
One of only five students across the nation to receive a fellowship, his play, AN OLD ALBUM, won the regional KCACTF highest honor for a one-act play this past January. The MSUM Theatre Arts Department is pleased to stage the world premiere of AN OLD ALBUM next fall.
MSUM Theatre Arts Loses Pioneer
Delmar J. Hansen
The extraordinary life of Delmar J. Hansen, 81, Moorhead, ended peacefully on Saturday, January 19, 2008, at Villa Maria in Fargo. As always, his wife, Rhoda, was by his side.
Delmar was born at Manilla, IA, on December 1, 1926, to William and Elise Hansen. He completed high school there and entered the Army for World War II duty, serving as a platoon sergeant at a replacement depot in the Philippines. Following
his honorable discharge, Delmar worked in the sales office of Swift and Company in Omaha, NE.
He enrolled at the University of Omaha in the fall of 1949, graduating with a baccalaureate degree in English and theatre
in 1952. He completed his master’s degree at Florida State University and taught high school speech and English at Underwood, IA, for two years. He taught speech and dramatic arts at Illinois State Normal University at Normal, IL, before beginning his doctoral program at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. His PhD was awarded in 1961.
Delmar credited Clarence Glasrud, emeritus professor of English, for his decision to join the Moorhead State College
faculty in 1958. As Delmar stated in the July 1977 edition of Howard Binford’s Guide, “Every teacher needs a teacher— and here in Moorhead, Dr.Glasrud has been mine.”
Delmar met the love of his life and his principal collaborator while both were graduate students at Iowa. He married Rhoda J. Godown in December 1958 and they spent their honeymoon attending theatre performances in New York City. Thus began their remarkable service to theatre arts in the Upper Midwest. For the next 33 years he directed approximately 350 plays, as Rhoda helped actors with line interpretations. Most of their work took place in the MSU Moorhead theatre that now bears his name.
In the summer of 1963, Delmar took over the Falls Summer Theatre at Fergus Falls Junior College and in 1965 the Straw Hat Players raised the summer stock curtain on their home campus. The program had two purposes: to provide an intensive training program for theatre students and to entertain audiences. It was a rigorous schedule— eight plays in ten weeks. When a show closed on Saturday night, Straw Hatters worked until dawn to replace the set so stage rehearsals could
begin on Sunday. Delmar told The Forum in 1973, “It’s an awfully good test of whether a student wants to stay in theatre.”
Delmar’s contributions to theatre ar ts training were recognized in many ways. In 1967 he chaired the first regional conference of the American National Theatre and Academy in St. Paul. He was a charter member of the Lake Agassiz Arts Council. He served eight years on the theatre advisory panel for the Minnesota State Arts Board, which is now led by alumnus Thomas Proehl (BA 1988). In 1985 he was recognized with the Burlington Northern Foundation Faculty Achievement Award for Quality Teaching. In 1987 he became the first educator in Minnesota to receive the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching’s recognition as Minnesota Professor of the Year.
Delmar served as chairperson and Director of Theatre for the Department of Speech Communication/Theatre Arts from 1960 to 1990 when he retired as emeritus professor of theatre arts.
During his tenure, he instituted a guest artist/instructor program that brought theatre professionals to the campus to
work with students. Theatre was his muse; education was his purpose. “Doc” guided scores of students to lives in the
professional theatre and all he instructed to lives enriched by the arts.
Delmar is survived by his wife, Rhoda; stepdaughter, Karen Rohde (Donald); brothers Marlin, Roger (Jean), Wayne and
Gary (Cleo); his sister, Madelyn Ortner (Richard); and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Ralph, Glen and Larry (Sandra); and sisters, Colleen and Lois. Delmar will be inurned at Riverside Cemetery in Moorhead. There will be a celebration of his life on Saturday, March 22, 2008, at 2:00 pm in the Delmar J. Hansen Theatre (Roland ille Center for the Arts) at MSU Moorhead.
The family prefers memorials to the Delmar J. Hansen ndowed Scholarship in care of the MSUM Alumni Foundation:
1104 7th Ave. S., Moorhead, MN, 56563.
MSUM's annual production of THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES, raised over $800.00 for the Fargo Moorhead Rape and Abuse Crisis Center. MSUM Theatre Arts is proud to work in conjunction with this global event known as V-Day.
V-Day is a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. V-Day generates broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM) and sexual slavery.
Through V-Day campaigns, local volunteers and college students produce annual benefit performances of “The Vagina Monologues” to raise awareness and funds for anti-violence groups within their own communities. In 2008, over 3700 V-Day benefit events are taking place, produced by volunteer activists in the U.S. and around the world, educating millions of people about the reality of violence against women and girls.
Thank you to the 30+ MSUM female actors.
Thank you to the 400+ audience members.
For more information, please refer to:
http://v10.vday.org/
Hansen Theatre Receives New Sound Equipment
MSUM Theatre Arts is pleased to announce the acquisition of new sound equipment for the Hansen Theatre. This is only Phase One in a series of steps, but the additional equipment is welcomed wholeheartedly. We look forward to seeing at work with the opening of SWEENEY TODD at the end of February.
MSUM Theatre Students Earn KCACTF Awards
Congratulations to the following MSUM Theatre Arts students who were recognized for Meritorious Achievement by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival:
Laura A. Mio, Stage Management for the production of CATS
Alissa Blaeser, Directing for the production of FICTION
Josh Stenseth, Assistant Directing/Stage Manager/Set Designer for the production of FOOLIN' AROUND WITH INFINITY
Travis Kuntz, Original Musical Composition for the production of TWELFTH NIGHT
We applaud their creative energy and commitment to MSUM Theatre Arts.
MSUM Garners One-Act Play Winner
MSUM won the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region V One-Act Competition with Richard Paul Klein’s AN OLD ALBUM. This winning play will be produced on campus next fall, and will be performed at next year’s festival in Lawrence, Kansas.
Theatre Arts Students Win Musical Theatre Award
Congratulations to the MSUM Theatre Arts Department and the success of several students at the regional Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
Sean Palmer, Paul Vonasek, Lindsay Fischer, Tyler Michaels, Steven Molony, Cassie Brehmer, Erin Granger, John Leingang, Joy Dolo, Matthew Pitner, Josh Stenseth, Tim Lane, Sean Benedict, and Rachel Palashewski all competed in the Irene Ryan Acting Competition. Tyler Michaels and his partner, Josh Stenseth, advanced to the final round where they were awarded Best Musical Theatre Scene.
Over thirty MSUM students and three MSUM faculty and staff attended the five-day festival, which included multiple competitions, over 140 workshops and several fully-mounted productions from a seven-state region.
MSUM Theatre Arts was pleased to entertain approximately 25 theatre arts alumni at the Guthrie Theatre in December. It was great to hear stories from the “old” days, and to fill them in about what’s happening here at MSUM. We look forward to making this an annual event.
Faculty to Perform in THE LAST FIVE YEARS
Music Theatre Fargo-Moorhead (MTFM)* is proud to announce its upcoming production of The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown on January 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, & 19. Performances will be held at 7:30pm in Weld Hall on the campus of Minnesota State University Moorhead.
The Last Five Years chronicles five years of a marriage between a successful writer and a struggling actress. The musical is told from each partner’s point of view as they work through the relationship—each starting and ending at different defining moments in the five years time. The Last Five Years reinvents the “relationship musical” and offers up one of the brightest, freshest scores of today’s musical theatre.
MTFM is pleased to present this contemporary song-cycle in a unique repertory experience featuring two different rotating casts and directors. Cast #1 features MSUM Faculty, Craig Ellingson and Angie Schulz directed by Rebecca Meyer-Larson performing on January 10, 12, & 18th. Cast #2 performs January 11, 17, & 19th and is comprised of Adam Pankow and Molly Zupancich with Lori Koenig directing. David Watson accompanies both casts and heads a five-member pit orchestra.
Tickets are $15 dollars for adults, $12 for seniors (55+) and $10 for students and children. A package deal of $25 (adults), $20 (seniors), and $15 (students & children) is available for tickets to see two performances, each featuring different casts. All seats are general admission and available at the door or by calling 701-237-5627.
MSUM Set to Produce SWEENEY TODD
MSUM’s Theatre Arts Department will stage Sweeney Todd, February 27th through March 1st.
Benjamin Barker, after being unjustly banished from London, returns using the pseudonym of Sweeney Todd to consume his revenge. At his side is the baker Mrs. Lovett, and together they make an evil plan: the chair of the barber kills his clients, while Mrs. Lovett uses the mortal remains to bake pies that become the sensation of London. Life is never mundane in this musical thriller by Hugh Wheeler and Stephen Sondheim. Considered by many to be Sondheim’s musical masterpiece, the music and lyrics are powerful and captivating.
For ticket information, please contact the MSUM Box Office at 218.477.2271.
MSUM Theatre Arts Student Selected to Compete
The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region V is pleased to announce that the following students have been chosen to participate in the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers Scholarship Audition Competition.
Liz Carey-Linskey – Concordia College – Sam Shepard’s Buried Child
Ryan Fortney – University of Central Missouri – Paula Vogel’s Hot and Throbbing
Charles Johnston – Southwestern College – Sam Shepard’s Fool For Love
Joshua Stenseth – Minnesota State University-Moorhead - Sam Shepard’s Cowboys #2
Michelle Makie – St Cloud State University – Eugene O’Neill’s Strange Interlude
Brian LaDuca – University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Sam Shepard’s Fool For Love
Joshua Minnis – University of Central Missouri – Lillian Hellman’s The Children’s Hour
Heather Folsom – Minnesota State University-Mankato – Sam Shepard’s Curse of the Starving Class
Taylor Gozia – University of Central Missouri – Eugene O’Neill’s Ah Wilderness
The regional winner, selected by one or more SSDC member(s), will go to the national festival in April, 2008, to attend workshops and to direct a concert reading of one of the national festival short plays, as well as receive a one-year membership in SSDC.
Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival awards MSUM Theatre Arts
MSUM Theatre Arts is pleased to announce that their production of CATS has been selected by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival as one of the finest collegiate costume designs in our region. MSUM’s costume designer, Ricky Greenwell, will have his designs showcased at the regional festival in Omaha, NE in January 2008.