September 2002
“Green Room” gossip column, courtesy whatzup Kendra Clauser
steps into the role of Ethel in the Civic Theatre's MOON OVER BUFFALO, opening
this weekend. With only a single rehearsal under her belt, Kendra performed
before her first preview audience a week ago tonight. The actress originally
cast had to leave the state due to a family emergency. Director Phillip
Colglazier and the cast (led by Jim Yarnelle and T.J. McCombs) consider
themselves fortunate that a talent like Kendra was available on such short
notice. Last year in this time slot, Gregory Stieber stepped in on a week's
notice for WIT, and won an Anthony Award. BUFFALO is a hilarious farce taking
place in a theatre, and features mistaken identities, close calls, and of
course, five slamming doors. ====== “EDUCATING”
PLAY First Presbyterian
Theatre's director Thom Hofrichter and fiancee Nancy Kartholl star in the
two-person comedy EDUCATING RITA, opening this weekend. The couple is eager to
show off their British (and in Nancy's case, Liverpudlian) accents. The play is
directed by Thom's college friend David Schuler, a raving soccer fan who hails
from Rochester, New York. David and Thom collaborated on last season’s world
premiere adaptation of Ibsen's BRAND. RITA is a modern re-telling of the
Pygmalion story, exploring class distinctions, friendship, and the question: who
learns more – the student or the teacher? ====== DINNER THEATRE
GAINS NEW DRAPE Arena Dinner
Theatre unveils its new grand drape, which hangs across the front of their stage
with its production of GYPSY, which runs through September 15. Installed by
Darrell Monroe and Jim Wasson, the drape adds a touch of class and
professionalism to the ever-growing dinner theatre. ====== Ball State
University is currently rehearsing THE LARAMIE PROJECT, featuring Fort Wayne's
own David Mitsch in a variety of roles, including the role of the play's
award-winning author, Moisés Kaufman, founder and artistic director of the
Techtonic Theater in NYC. The play was written in response to the brutal murder
of Matthew Shepard and was adapted for an upcoming HBO film, which Kaufman also
directs. Kaufman and the
Techtonic Theatre conducted over 200 interviews with the people of Laramie and
have constructed a deeply moving theatrical experience from these interviews and
their own experiences. The show is
directed by Bill Jenkins and assistant directed by local talent and BSU
theatre student Tony Sirk. Mitsch is
particularly excited about this production because Kaufman will see the
production and give a lecture on Tuesday September 24. This is part of a lecture
series, UniverCity, that also boats such names as Danny Glover, Linda
Elerbee, Sally Ride, and Stedman Graham. The cast will take
their production to the American College Theater Festival in Evansville in
December, and hopefully to Nationals at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. The
play runs September 19-29. For tickets call (765) 285-8749, Monday-Friday
from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. ====== PASSAGES Tracey
& Scott Graham are the proud parents of their first child. Isaiah Scott
was born Tuesday August 27 at 7:30 p.m., weighing in at 7 lbs, 11 ounces and
measuring 20 inches long. Baby and parents are doing fine. Many
of us remember Chris Chapman, 29, who died Sunday August 25, 2002, in
Greenville, SC. Chris worked at the Civic Theatre and the Grey Lite Theatre as
technical director, and went on to work as a truck driver. In addition to his
theatre work, he also assisted with the Miss Fort Wayne Pageant. His last
Civic show was JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT 2000. Chris' dry
sense of humor and technical expertise helped make many a production more
enjoyable. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chris' family. He will be
missed.
CAST CHANGE OVER “BUFFALO”