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Theater Department stages 40th anniversary celebration
UW-Fond du Lac alumnus Dan Bell with current student Robin Speidel in a scene from the 40th anniversary celebration fall production of OUR TOWN at the campus. Photo by Richard Gustin |
The fall campus theatrical production was a homecoming of sorts, as the cast and crew of “Our Town” featured a blend of alumni and community members working alongside campus students.
“It was particularly exciting to have gathered actors and technicians, past and present, from the
UW-Fond du Lac theater program for our 40th anniversary celebration production,” said producer/director and professor
Richard Gustin.
“Our Town,” is Madison, WI, native Thornton Wilder’s most frequently produced play. Set in the fictional community of Grover’s Corners, it depicts the daily lives of people in a small town in the early 20th century.
Major roles in the production featured community members George (Bud) Caldwell as the Stage Manager, Teresa Emery and John Emery as Mrs. and Mr. Webb, area student Rion Urven as George Gibbs; UW-Fond du Lac students Briana Gens as Emily Webb and Robin Speidel as Mrs. Gibbs; and alumnus Dan Bell as Dr. Gibbs.
“What a beautiful auditorium and stage,” commented Bell, of Mayville, about the
Prairie Theater. While the campus did not have a theater during Bell’s attendance, his life after college has included numerous area theatrical productions and, more recently, several Christian movies for television.
“It also was good to reconnect with actors like Bud Caldwell,” he added, “and to meet new talent in the area. I love the university, and wanted to support this anniversary event.”
Other alumni in the acting ensemble included Tylor Loest and Shirley Ries; community members included Natalya Rager and Jerry Martin; area students included Alisha Balsitis, Alexandra Horning, Victoria Linstrom, and Simon Riter; UW-Fond du Lac students included Alana Berthiaume, Adam Engles, Casey Fiebig, Michael Guell, Christopher Navis, Luke Scorcio, David Velasco, Cathy Weber and Josiah Zabel. UW-Fond du Lac music Professor Dan Rager also participated.
Production stage manager was alumna Erika Roehrig. Other production staff included alumnae Linda Drendel and Jennie Schaefer; current students Lynette Velasco, Mike Toshner, Brandon Burnard, Andy Senecal, Jamie Oaks and Krysta Hirschmann; and community members Tony Peterson and Calib Loderhose.
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