It's no secret on the St. Ambrose campus that once the weather starts getting warmer, students' minds turn to summer plans.
Even so, the SAU Theatre Department currently has a few more events to wrap up before the end of the year, including Tartuffe from April 12-14 and the Senior Showcase on April 25. Afterward, there will be quite a few summer plans coming to fruition for several theatre students.
These busy bees will take the skills they've learned throughout the year into the Quad Cities community and around the Midwest. The Department couldn't be more excited to see what they'll do!
Directly following the end of the academic year, two SAU students will handle finals and puppets in the Playcrafters Barn Theatre's production of Avenue Q. This hilariously catchy, adult-themed musical is told through Sesame Street-style puppets and will run from May 10-12 and 17-19. Both junior T. J. Green and First-year Joe Lasher will be featured in the cast.
Lasher will be one of two ensemble members, and Green will play Trekkie Monster. Recent SAU Theatre alum Kelci Eaton ‘18 also will make an appearance as Lucy/Miss Thistletwat.
After those productions, the three will move on to their next projects:
- Right after Avenue Q closes, Lasher will start rehearsals for Mamma Mia! at Countryside Community Theatre in Eldridge, Iowa.
- Green will play Miss Trunchbull in the Spotlight Theatre's production of Matilda, where he'll be joined by recent transfer student junior Abbie Carpenter. Since a trademark of a good actor is versatility, Green will also be playing a very completely different role as a counselor at the Davenport Junior Theatre Camp!
- Eaton will continue her work as Public Relations and Audience Services Manager of the Black Box Theatre.
Both senior Sarah Goodall and sophomore Tyler Hughes will work for the Mississippi Bend Players throughout the summer. SAU's own Cory Johnson will direct both Goodall and Hughes in Neil Simon's military comedy, Biloxi Blues. Hughes will play Arnold Epstein and Goodall will play Rowena. Both also will work as an interns.
Other SAU students will take their education a little farther from the university. Sophomore Luke Peterson will perform in Theatre Cedar Rapids' production of Newsies from June 28-July 20. He'll be playing three roles: Mr. Jakobi, a guard, and a policeman. In keeping with the theatre motto of "the show must go on," Peterson made it through dance auditions only to fracture his foot while practicing for his callback. Luckily, he was asked to send in a callback audition tape, void of dancing, which led to his casting.
In addition to appearing as cast members, SAU theatre students also will dive into technical and design work over the summer. Sophomore Anthony Duckett will be working at a professional scene shop in Munster, Ind., which is just a few minutes away from his home town of Lansing, Mich. Throughout the summer, he'll build sets for a local high school and local and community theaters.
Keep an eye out for these talented students around the Quad Cities and Midwest this summer! The Department is so proud of these students for continuous dedication to their craft and displaying SAU's talent in the arts. Break a leg, everyone!
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