PLU theater continues growth

Final performance wraps up successful year for Theater Department

Bryanna Plog - plogb@plu.edu

mast news repoter

The PLU community will have its final chance this year to see a PLU theater production when the main-stage play “Noises Off” holds its final performance Sunday May 18 at 2 p.m. When the curtain closes that afternoon, it will end a successful theater season that has seen an unprecedented expansion of theater opportunities, shows and talent.

This year has given PLU theater students opportunities to showcase their talents through not only the three Theater Department main-stage productions but smaller student-produced work as well.

The newly established theater club Vpstart, pronounced “upstart,” Crow was created fall 2007 by seniors Tristan Morris and Julie Wolfson. The organization has been part of this expansion and helps funds student-produced theater on campus.

“Students have taken the initiative and created a variety of opportunities for student-produced theater at PLU,” Wolfson said.

Vpstart Crow supported a number of shows on campus this year starting with “The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe” early last fall.

“These shows have allowed several students acting opportunities,” Wolfson said. “But they’ve also involved students as directors, assistant directors, stage managers, props masters, set-building crew members, lighting and sound technicians, writers, producers and more.”

Vpstart Crow is a reference to what Shakespeare was called before he was established. The club has been working closely with another student-run organization on campus, Alpha Psi Omega, a national theater honor society.

Junior Jackie Roberts served as vice president of the club this year and was recently elected president for next year.

“APO has allowed more funds and more opportunity to all theater majors and minors,” Roberts said. “There is much opportunity for student directing of full length productions. By having other shows that aren’t main-stage there is also more chances for costume, lighting and set design.”

APO became an official club this past fall for the first time at PLU since the 1970s. APO has helped put on such shows as Night of Musical Theater, three plays including “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead,” two musical showcases entitled “Not Your Grandma’s Show Tunes,” a live radio play and “Trapped,” three one-act plays directed and produced by PLU students.
The newly created student improv group, the Clay Crows, is also a part of APO and has held numerous shows this spring.

Many APO productions have been produced with the help of Vpstart Crow and all have given theater students unique opportunities to work in leading roles creating, coordinating and performing shows.

“Because the department is growing so quickly, it is becoming more and more competitive to be cast in the main-stage shows or to direct the APO show in the fall,” junior Eddie Dorn said.
Dorn has performed and helped out in both APO and main-stage productions including “Not Your Grandma’s Show Tunes” and the student-directed play “Love Letters.”

Theater opportunities have grown in part because of the increasing need for more theater outlets on campus. In recent years, the number of students majoring or minoring in theater has grown as well as the number of faculty in the department.

“Suddenly it seemed that there weren’t enough opportunities for everyone,” Wolfson said.
Along with the commitment of the students, Wolfson said she appreciates the support from the Theater Department and all its staff and faculty.

“The students and faculty have been working together to create more opportunities for theater to be produced,” Wolfson said.

Before, the only way students could participate in theater at PLU outside the main stage productions was through their capstone projects.

As a supporter of all theater students, APO also has helped with senior capstones of theater majors. Any theater major or minor can go to APO with a proposal for a theater project or production.

“If it is agreed among the officers that the project will help spread the importance and passion of theater, then we will do everything we can to see that that project is realized,” Roberts said.

After such a successful theater season this year, all involved hope that next year will continue with many productions giving PLU students a chance for hands-on learning and to showcase their talent.

Roberts has been impressed by the evolution of theater at PLU.

“This year has pretty much exploded with theater,” she said.

“Noises Off” begins its official two-week run in Eastvold Friday May 9 at 8 p.m. This play-within-a-play runs May 9, 10, 16 and 17 at 8 p.m. and May 18 at 2 p.m. Tickets can be bought at Campus Concierge in the UC.

Edited Sunday May 11, 2008 at 7:09 PM PST by JKMP.

Photos by Chris Hunt

Top: Junior Brian Wehmhoefer and senior Julie Wolfson act out a scene in the final play of this year, “Noises Off.” “Noises Off” makes its debut May 9 at 8 p.m. in Eastvold. The play is running for two weeks and was written by Michael Frayn and directed by associate professor of theater Jeff Clap. Tickets can be purchased at Campus Concierge. The last show is at 2 p.m. on May 18.

Photos by Bryanna Plog

Top: Junior Justin Huertas performs “Fly Away (Never Neverland)” in the production “Not Your Grandma’s Show Tunes 2.” This was one of the many theater productions this year at PLU.