The Theatre Program

HISTORY

The arts are an important part of the human experience, and our Theatre program works to embrace the vision that artistic endeavor and expression can unite people from diverse backgrounds and experiences and allow us to achieve more than we can individually.

The Kennedy Center’s mission statement makes the point that:

The arts are one of humanity’s most eloquent means of understanding the world. Through the arts, we share the highest achievements of every culture and find a universal language, which permit communication among all peoples. As such, the arts are an essential component of a complete education…. Such an education should occur both in and out of the classroom setting as part of an ongoing learning process for all individuals…. A comprehensive arts education draws upon the expertise of both arts specialists and classroom teachers, and upon the experiences and resources of professional artists and community cultural resources. Only by using all of these resources can individuals achieve the full educational potential of the arts.

William Joyner, International Herald Tribune, January 29, 2003, added:

The arts show us who we are, and, as such, they are essential - not incidental - to humankind. Artists throughout history have moved and inspired millions to strive for the greatness that is in each of us. If the arts were given more prominence, rather than less, how much better off the world would be.

Art is very often relegated to a small corner of this modern society. In doing so, many of the ties between art, life, and learning have been severed. Art is an integral part of the human experience…. All of the arts, not just the visual, provide the tools [for] self-discovery.

Our Theatre program offers both Bachelor of Arts Degrees and Bachelor of Fine Arts Degrees in Acting/Directing and Design/Technical Theatre. Because we are part of a professional School of Arts + Communication, our program is intended to provide an introduction to the business of theatre arts.

Our primary emphasis is on the development of skills, concepts, and sensitivities essential for theatre and arts professionals, and they are designed to provide the background needed for students intending to earn advanced degrees.

PRODUCTION HISTORY

2008-2009

Mainstage Productions:

The Miser, by Molière. Directed by Professor Jeff A. Clapp.

The Skin of our Teeth, by Thornton Wilder. Directed by Kristina Corbitt ‘10.

A Dream Play, by August Strindberg. Adapted and Directed by Professor Brian Desmond.

Dance 2009. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

Company, by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth. Directed by Professor Jeff A. Clapp.

                  Music Direction by Justin Huertas ‘09.

Other Productions:

Actor!, by Frederick Stroppel. Directed by Steven Davis ‘08.

Not Your Grandma’s Showtunes 3: A Musical Theatre Cabaret Showcase.

Heart & Music: A Night of Musical Theatre. Directed by Lauren Nance ‘09.

Oleanna, by David Mamet. Directed by Niclas R. Olson ‘09.

The APO One-Act Play Festival: Does It Make a Sound?

            Act Without Words I, by Samuel Beckett. Directed by Jonathan Lee ‘09.

            Breakthrough: A Musical Revue. Directed by Erin K. Dorn ‘10.

            Heliocentric, by Dylan Twiner ‘10. Directed by Kirsten Helland ‘10.

No Exit, by Jean-Paul Sartre. Directed by Bradley Stieger ‘09.

The First Warning, by August Strindberg. Directed by Laura Barnes ‘09.

Last Waltz on a Midnight Violin. Written and Directed by Niclas R. Olson ‘09.

Not Your Grandma’s Showtunes 4: A Musical Theatre Cabaret Showcase.

Numerous Clay Crows Improvisation Events.

2007-2008

Mainstage Productions:

Our Country’s Good, by Timberlake Wertenbaker. Directed by Professor Brian Desmond.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, by Tom Stoppard. Directed by Tristan Morris ‘08.

The Illusion, by Tony Kushner. Directed by Professor Brian Desmond.

Dance 2008. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

Noises Off, by Michael Frayn. Directed by Professor Jeff A. Clapp.

Other Productions:

The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, by Jane Wagner.

                Directed by Tristan Morris ‘08. Featuring Julie Wolfson ‘08.

Not Your Grandma’s Showtunes: A Musical Theatre Cabaret Showcase.

Life Force: A Night of Musical Theatre. Directed by Natalie Heikkinen ‘08.

The APO One-Act Play Festival: Trapped.

            Snowed In, by Kristina Saldaña. Directed by Sara Hoagland ‘08.

            Trifles, by Susan Glaspell. Directed by Steven Davis ‘08.

            The Zoo Story, by Edward Albee. Directed by Travis Tingvall ‘10.

Three Plays by Will Eno. Directed by Julie Wolfson ‘08.

            Thom Pain (based on nothing). Featuring Tristan Morris ‘08.

            Lady Grey (in ever-lowering light). Featuring Kristina Corbitt ‘10.

            Mr. Theatre Comes Home Different. Featuring Travis Morris ‘10.

Love Letters, by A. R. Gurney. Directed by Julie Wolfson ‘08.

Fire, Desire, Passion & Sin. Written and Performed by Christopher Staudinger ‘08.

Not Your Grandma’s Showtunes 2: A Musical Theatre Cabaret Showcase.

Red Noise, A Radio Play by Max Falkenberg. Directed by Brie Yost ‘08.

New Works: Staged Readings of One-Act Plays Written by Students in Theatre 345: Playwriting.

            Heart Failure, by Kimberly Henry ‘08.

            A Tree Falling in the Woods, by Dylan Twiner ‘10.

            Red Line Express from Abaddon, by Joseph Fries ‘08.

            Rocko’s Post-Modern Life, by Paul Elvis Richter ‘10.

Numerous Clay Crows Improvisation Events.

2006-2007

Mainstage Productions:

Laughter on the 23rd Floor, by Neil Simon. Directed by Professor Jeff A. Clapp.

Eclipsed, by Patricia Burke Brogan. Directed by Julianna Brei-Crawley ‘07.

The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams. Directed by Professor Brian Desmond.

Dance 2007. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

Cabaret, by John Kander and Fred Ebb. Directed by Professor Jeff A. Clapp.

                Music Direction by Christopher Tavern.

Other Productions:

What I Did for Love: A Night of Musical Theatre. Directed by Kristin Burch ‘07.

The APO One-Act Play Festival:

            For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls, by Christopher Durang.

                Directed by Natalie Heikkinen ‘08.

            Heartbeats, by Max August Falkenberg. Directed by Ingrid Running ‘07.

            Another Hundred People: A Musical Revue. Directed by Justin Huertas ‘09.

Proof, by David Auburn. Directed by C. J. Butenschoen ‘07.

2005-2006

Mainstage Productions:

The Laramie Project, by Moisés Kaufman and the Members of Tectonic Theatre Project.

                Directed by Professor Brian Desmond.

The Birthday Party, by Harold Pinter. Directed by Sean William Harburg ‘06.

Twelfth Night, by William Shakespeare. Adapted and Directed by Professor Brian Desmond.

Dance 2006. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

The Spitfire Grill, by James Valcq and Fred Alley. Directed by Professor Jeff A. Clapp.

Other Productions:

Louder Than Words: A Night of Musical Theatre. Directed by Jill Anderson ‘06.

The APO One-Act Play Festival:

            Boise, Idaho, by Sean Michael Welch. Directed by Brie Yost ‘08.

            Reverse Transcription, by Tony Kushner. Directed by Ali Criss ‘07 and Cameron Pahl.

           ‘dentity Crisis, by Christopher Durang. Directed by Max August Falkenberg.

New Works: Staged Readings of One-Act Plays Written by Students in Theatre 345: Playwriting.

                One-Act Plays by Max August Falkenberg, Natalie Heikkinen ‘08, Tyler Pederson ‘07,
                and Julie Wolfson ‘08.

2004-2005

The Constant Wife, by W. Somerset Maugham. Directed by Professor Jeff A. Clapp.

A Handful of Rainbows, by Jonathan Troy. Directed by Elizabeth K. Widmer ‘05.

Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck. Directed by Professor Carl Anderson.

Dance 2005. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

Brigadoon, by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe. Directed by Professor Jeff A. Clapp.

                Musical Direction by Professor Jeffrey Bell Hanson.

2003-2004

The Boys Next Door, by Tom Griffin. Directed by Professor Jeff A. Clapp.

Talking With…, by Jane Martin. Directed by Meredith Heller ‘04.

Book of Days, by Lanford Wilson. Directed by Professor Carl Anderson.

Dance 2004. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

Picasso at the Lapin Agile, by Steve Martin. Directed by Professor Jeff A. Clapp.

2002-2003

Pippin, by Stephen Schwartz. Directed by Professor Jeff A. Clapp.

The Miss Firecracker Contest, by Beth Henley. Directed by Dan Gomez ‘03.

The Mousetrap, by Agatha Christie. Directed by Professor Jeff A. Clapp.

Dance 2003. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

Hamlet, by William Shakespeare. Directed by Professor William Becvar and Matt Orme.

2001-2002

Angels in America: Millenium Approaches, by Tony Kushner.

                Directed by Professor Danforth Comins.

Biloxi Blues, by Neil Simon. Directed by Scott Stangland ‘02.

The Last Night of Ballyhoo, by Alfred Uhry. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

Dance 2002: Dance World. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

Spinning into Butter, by Rebecca Gilman. Directed by Professor Cynthia White.

2000-2001

Lend Me a Tenor, by Ken Ludwig. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

A Night of Musical Theatre.

Uncommon Women and Others, by Wendy Wasserstein. Directed by Dahli Langer ‘01.

Angry Housewives, by A. M. Collins and Chad Henry. Directed by Professor Jeff A. Clapp.

Dance 2001. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare.

                Directed by Professor William Becvar and Professor Danforth Comins.

1999-2000

Ah, Wilderness!, by Eugene O’Neill. Directed by Professor William Parker.

The Ride Down Mt. Morgan, by Arthur Miller. Directed by Louis Hobson ‘00.

Inspecting Carol, by Daniel Sullivan and the Seattle Rep. Co. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

Dance 2000. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

The Shadow Box, by Michael Cristofer. Directed by Scott Green.

1998-1999

Rumors, by Neil Simon. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

Shadowlands, by William Nicholson. Directed by Rona Pryor ‘99.

A Man for All Seasons, by Robert Bolt. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

Dance 1999: Dance Power. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

The Threepenny Opera, by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill. Directed by Professor William Parker.

1997-1998

Light Up the Sky, by Moss Hart. Directed by Professor William Parker.

The Trip to Bountiful, by Horton Foote. Directed by Kevin B. Lee ‘98.

Night Watch, by Lucille Fletcher. Directed by Professor William Parker.

Dance 1998. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens, by Bill Russell. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

1996-1997

The Foreigner, by Larry Shue. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

Crimes of the Heart, by Beth Henley. Directed by Danforth Comins ‘97.

A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams. Directed by Professor William Parker.

Dance 1997: Dance Land. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

Amadeus, by Peter Shaffer. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

1995-1996

The Time of Your Life, by William Saroyan. Directed by Professor William Parker.

Lips Together, Teeth Apart, by Terrence McNally. Directed by Peter Boyd Wilburn ‘96.

Cyrano de Bergerac, by Edmond Rostand. Directed by Michael Robinson.

Dance 1996. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

Candida, by George Bernard Shaw. Directed by Professor William Parker.

1994-1995

Bus Stop, by William Inge. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

Equus, by Peter Shaffer. Directed by Marc Ostlie-Olson ‘95.

The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, by John Bishop. Directed by Professor William Parker.

Dance 1995. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

The Grapes of Wrath, adapted by Frank Galati. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

1993-1994

A View from the Bridge, by Arthur Miller. Directed by Professor William Parker.

APO Presents: An Evening of Four One-Acts:

            Loyalties, by Murphy Guyer. Directed by Jennifer Berk.

            Visiting Dad, by Judith Fein. Directed by Virginia Weisweaver.

            Night, by Harold Pinter. Directed by T. J. Keiter.

            You Can’t Trust the Male, by Randy Noojin. Directed by Douglas Steves ‘94.

Macbeth, by William Shakespeare. Directed by Professor William Becvar and Michael Robinson.

Dance 1994. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

Brighton Beach Memoirs, by Neil Simon. Directed by Professor William Parker.

1992-1993

Mother Courage and Her Children, by Bertolt Brecht. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

Spoon River Anthology, by Edgar Lee Masters. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

Dance 1993. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

Vital Signs, by Jane Martin. Directed by J. Robert Wills.

1991-1992

The Big Knife, by Clifford Odets. Directed by Professor William Parker.

An Evening of Three One-Acts:

            Birdbath, by Leonard Melfi. Directed by Shelley Towne.

            Jersey Girls, by John Ford Noonan. Directed by Stacy Senf.

            Next, by Terrence McNally. Directed by Kristin Sweet.

Much Ado About Nothing, by William Shakespeare. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

Dance 1992. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill Seal.

The Heiress, by Ruth and Augustus Goetz. Directed by Professor William Parker.

1990-1991

Moments: A Revue of Theatre and Song Commemorating 100 Years of Theatre at PLU.

                Co-Directed by Professor William Parker and Professor William Becvar.

Angel Street (Gaslight), by Patrick Hamilton. Directed by Patrick T. Foran ‘91.

The Apprentice. Written and Directed by Professor William Parker.

Dance 1991. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill Seal.

A Dream Play, by August Strindberg.  Directed by Professor William Becvar.

1989-1990

Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

Just As We Are. Written and Directed by Professor William Parker.

The Man Who Came to Dinner, by Kaufman and Hart. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

APO Presents Two One-Act Plays:

            Jesse, by John Remington. Directed by Jeff A. Clapp ‘90.

            Black Comedy, by Peter Shaffer. Directed by Nanna Bjone ‘90.

Dance 1990. Directed by Maureen McGill Seal.

The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams. Directed by Professor William Parker.

1988-1989

From These Sterile Hills. Written and Directed by Professor William Parker.

Agnes of God, by John Pielmeier. Directed by Rebecca Adams.

APO Moonlight Theatre Presents: Laundry and Bourbon and Lone Star, by James McClure.

A Doll’s House, by Henrik Ibsen. Directed by Rebecca Adams.

Dance 1989. Directed by Maureen McGill Seal.

The Actor’s Nightmare and Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You, by Christopher Durang.

                Directed by B. J. Douglas.

1987-1988

The Fantasticks, by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

                Choreography by Professor Maureen McGill Seal.

The Dining Room, by A. R. Gurney. Directed by Professor William Parker.

The Miser, by Molière. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

Dance 1988: Dance Quake. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill Seal.

The Lark, by Jean Anouilh, adapted by Lillian Hellman. Directed by Professor William Parker.

1986-1987

The Andersonville Trial, by Saul Levitt. Directed by Professor William Parker.

Royal Gambit, by Hermann Gressicker. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

All My Sons, by Arthur Miller. Directed by Professor William Parker.

Dance 1987. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill Seal.

1985-1986

Arms and the Man, by George Bernard Shaw. Directed by Richard Edwards.

Waiting for Godot, by Samuel Beckett. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

You Know I Can’t Hear You When the Water’s Running, by Robert Anderson.

                Directed by Robin Dollarhide ‘86.

Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

Dance 1986. Directed by Maureen McGill.

Crimes of the Heart, by Beth Henley. Directed by Bruce Siddons.

1984-1985

Kiss Me, Kate, by Cole Porter & Sam and Bella Spewack.

The Cherry Orchard, by Anton Chekhov. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

Mary, Mary, by Jean Kerr. Directed by Sandra Doyle ‘85.

The Shadow Box, by Michael Cristofer. Directed by Professor William Parker.

California Suite, by Neil Simon. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

Dance 1985. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

Six Characters in Search of an Author, by Luigi Pirandello. Directed by Professor William Parker.

1983-1984

J. B., by Archibald MacLeish. Directed by Professor William Parker.

I Remember Mama, by John Van Druten. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

Candide, by Leonard Bernstein.

Oh, Dad, Poor Dad…, by Arthur L. Kopit. Directed by Professor William Parker.

Dance 1984. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

Child’s Play, by Robert Marasco. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

1982-1983

The Scarecrow, by Percy MacKaye. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

Suddenly Last Summer, by Tennessee Williams. Directed by Professor William Parker.

Picnic, by William Inge. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

The Strolling Players, by Christian Moe and Darwin Payne. Directed by Professor William Parker.

Dance 1983: Sundance. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

The American Clock, by Arthur Miller. Directed by Rod Pilloud.

1981-1982

A Flea in Her Ear, by Georges Feydeau. Directed by Michael J. Arndt.

Dance 1982: Dance Planet. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

1980-1981

Dark of the Moon, by Howard Richardson and William Berney.

                Directed by Professor William Parker. Musical Direction by Professor David Robbins.

                Choreography by Professor Maureen McGill.

Harvey, by Mary Chase. Directed by Professor Lise Olson.

PLU Children’s Theatre Presents: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C. S. Lewis.

A Thurber Carnival, by James Thurber. Directed by Deborah DeGrosse ‘81.

Dance 1981: Dancescape. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

A Delicate Balance, by Edward Albee. Directed by Professor Lise Olson.

1979-1980

The House of Blue Leaves, by John Guare. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

Hold Me!, by Jules Feiffer. Directed by Lisa A. Johnson ‘80.

Ghosts, by Henrik Ibsen. Directed by Professor William Parker.

Dance 1980: Dance Kinetics. Directed by Professor Maureen McGill.

PLU Children’s Theatre Presents: The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Directed by Phil Holte.

Absurd Person Singular, by Alan Ayckbourn. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

1978-1979

The Pajama Game, by George Abbott and Richard Bissell.

                Directed by Professor William Becvar. Musical Supervision by Professor David Robbins.

                Choreography by Professor Maureen McGill.

The Gingerbread Lady, by Neil Simon. Directed by Barbara A. MacDonald.

Blood Wedding, by Federico Garcia Lorca. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

Under Milk Wood, by Dylan Thomas. Directed by Barbara MacDonald-Hemdan.

1977-1978

The Canterbury Tales, from the tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. Directed by Professor William Parker.

The Miracle Worker, by William Gibson. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

Summer and Smoke, by Tennessee Williams. Directed by Professor William Parker.

The Beaux Stratagem, by George Farquhar. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

1976-1977

The Music Man, by Meredith Wilson. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

                Music Direction by Professor David Robbins. Choreography by Katherine Beckman.

PLU Children’s Theatre Presents: Holidays.

Little Murders, by Jules Feiffer. Directed by Kevin McKeon ‘77.

Luther, by John Osborne. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

1975-1976 

1776, by Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone. Directed by Professor William Parker.

                Music Direction by Scot Cinnamon. Choreography by Katherine Beckman.

Hedda Gabler, by Henrik Ibsen. Directed by Professor William Parker.

PLU Children’s Theatre Presents: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Washington Irving.

Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

1974-1975

The Fan, by Carlo Goldoni. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, by Jay Presson Allen. Directed by Jim Degan ‘75.

Agamemnon, by Aeschylus. Directed by Professor William Becvar.

I Never Sang for My Father, by Robert Anderson. Directed by Professor William Parker.

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