2011 - 2012 Mainstage Series
2011 GV Shakespeare
Festival presents
Twelfth Night
by William Shakespeare
Louis Armstrong Theatre
September 30 - October 9, 2011
& The Bard-To-Go Touring Show
Theatre at Grand Valley presents
Our Country’s Good
November 11 - 13, 2011
Louis Armstrong Theatre
GVSU Opera Theatre presents
The Light in the Piazza
February 3 - 12, 2012
Louis Armstrong Theatre
Theatre at Grand Valley presents
World Premiere of a new English Translation of
Antona Garcia
by Tirso de Molina
Translated and Adapted by
Jason Yancey and James Bell
March 30 - April 7, 2012
Louis Armstrong Theatre
Please see the order form inside this program.
Theatre
at Grand Valley presents
Production Staff
Director ----------------------------------------------------------------- Ben Cole
Faculty Consultants ------------------ Ben Cole, Al Sheffield, Jill Hamilton
Production Stage Manager ----------------------------- *Hannah Nicholson
Scenic and Lighting Designer ---------------------------------- Al Sheffield
Costume Designer ------------------------------------------------ Jill Hamilton
Technical Director ------------------------------------------- Chris Mahlmann
Costume Shop Manager ------------------------------------------- Sally Langa
Costume Crew -------------------------- *Lydia Benkert, Darion Murchison,
Mike Spisich, Kaitlin Pitcher
Sound Designer -------------------------------------------- *Branden Pompey
Properties Mistress ------------------------------------------ *Heather Brown
Shakespeare Auditions!
April 4 & 5, 2011
Room 1506 - Performing Arts Center
***
18th Annual Grand Valley
Shakespeare Festival 2011
presents
The Twelfth Night
and the touring show
Bard To Go
Assistant Stage Managers ---------------- *Sarah Watson, *Heather Brown
Light Board Operator ------------------------------------------- Kadie Howe
Sound Board Operator ----------------------------------------- Justin Morley
Fight Director --------------------------------------------------------- Ben Cole
Fight Captain ----------------------------------------------------- Charles Beale
Box Office Staff ------------------------------ Caylin Boswell, Jack T. Lane,
Auditions for the fall 2011 semester Grand Valley
Shakespeare Festival shows will take place April 4 & 5! Sign
up at the Louis Armstrong Theatre Box Office. Auditions
are open to all students and non-students. Call 616-3312300 for more information.
Zac Van Osdol, Desirea Yates
House Managers ------------------------- *Danielle Armstrong, Krista Scott
Usher Crew ----------- Students from CTH 101, CTH 151, and CTH 161
*Denotes membership in Alpha Psi Omega - National Honorary
Theatre Society.
Please be aware that strobe lights will be utilized.
Special thanks to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the
School of Communications.
Refreshments are available in the lobby of
the theatre during intermission and proceeds will benefit
Alpha Psi Omega.
Please turn off all cell phones and electronic devices.
The Grand Valley Shakespeare Festival is the oldest and
largest in Michigan, and for seventeen years has been
hosting artists-in-residence to work with students & faculty
on Shakespeare productions.
Anyone may audition, using two prepared, one minute
monologs, and following the tips are on the Festival website:
http://www.gvsu.edu/shakes
More information is available on our 2011 - 2012
season is available on our website at
http://www.gvsu.edu/theatre
Bios Continued
Sarah Tryon ( Cario ) is sophomore Political Science major and
Theatre Minor. Sarah’s previous roles were as Page/Sheep in As
You Like It, Midnight in Founding, as Daisy in Rhinoceros, and as
Sleeping Beauty in Into The Woods.
Bridgett Vanderhoof * ( Acroteleutium / Dramaturg ) is a junior
Theatre major and an Advertising/Public Relations minor. Bridgett
is a Shakespeare Scholarship recipient, serves as the Shakespeare
Student Representative, a Grand Valley Award of Excellence
recipient, has been on the Dean’s list every semester, and is the Vice
President of the Alpha Psi Omega Theatre Fraternity. Her past
roles include Ensemble in GVSU’s As You Like It, Zoo Story, the
assistant stage manager for Rhinoceros and Founding, and was the Props Mistress for
Bye, Bye, Margarita & Wanda’s Visit. Bridgett has appeared in productions at Ramsdell
Theatre, Ludington Center for the Arts and Ludington High School.
Sarah Watson ( Assistant Stage Manager ) is a junior Social Studies/Education major
and a Theatre minor. Sarah was a Grand Valley Grant recipient and was the sound
board operator for As You Like It, running crew for Founding and Wanda’s Visit / Bye,
Bye, Margarita, and she has worked frequently in the PAC Scene Shop.
Brynhild Weihe ( Sceledrus ) is a sophomore Theatre major.
Brynhild has appeared as part of the Ensemble in Rent, Ensemble
in As You Like It, Chorus in Bye, Bye, Margarita, and as Sheila’s
Mom in Hair at Norðurlandahúsið.
Tara Zandbergen ( Venus ) is a sophomore Theatre major.
Tara’s previous roles were as Butcher’s daughter in Snippets, as
Julie in a student film, as Princess/Lavinia in Bard To Go: Sweet
Revenge, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, and as Agnes in Meet Me in
St. Louis.
Please turn off all cell phones and electronic devices.
Cast List
Pyrgopolynices ----------------------------- *Chaz Albright
Artotrogus ----------------------------------- Anna Johnson
Palaestrio -------------------------------------------- *Joe Cox
Periplectomenus --------------------- Garrison Schrauger
Sceledrus ---------------------------------- *Brynhild Weihe
Pleusicles --------------------------------------- *Sean Kelley
Apollo ---------------------------------------- *Jason Flannery
Lurcio---------------------------------------*Annie Dilworth
Philocomasium ------------------- Amanda J. Furstenberg
Acroteleutium ---------------------- *Bridgett Vanderhoof
Milphidippa ------------------------------------- *Sophie Ni
A Slave Boy -------------------------------- *Erik Czuprinski
Bacchus -----------------------------------------Sean Francis
Cario --------------------------------------------- Sarah Tryon
Venus -------------------------------------- Tara Zandbergen
Dianna ---------------------------------------- Brianna Shahly
Hercules -------------------------------------- Zach Johnson
Jupiter ---------------------------------------- Alex Kempsell
Sceledrus Understudy -------------------- Jason Flannery
Palaestrio Understudy -----------------------Sean Francis
* * * Notes * * *
Illustrations by Jason Flannery
There will be a ten minute intermission.
Please turn off all cell phones and electronic devices.
*Denotes membership in Alpha Psi Omega - National Honorary
Theatre Society.
Director’s Note
Remember watching Saturday morning Cartoons? I do. The exaggerated physicality of
cartoons as they freeze in the air and their eyes pop out, or as they rapidly run without
going anywhere, or the way they hide in plain sight “fooling” another character always
fascinated me as a child. But wait! When we grow older, we don’t stop wanting to be
entertained!
The “bits” in this production are inspired by my love for outrageous physical comedy
in the style of Bugs Bunny, The Three Stooges, Laurel and Hardy and silent film
masters like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. I also can’t help but be tickled by the
playful verbal banter in the style of The Marx Brothers.
Clearly, there are timeless techniques when trying to be funny. This play, hopefully, can
reach out to everyone and tickle your funny bone. What’s more ridiculous than being in
love? How foolish do you act when you think you’re better than everyone else? Are you
ever so sure of something that you don’t really know anything?
Ultimately, I recommend that you stop trying to over-think this play. Sure it’s several
hundreds of years old, but try not to let that bother you. Forget about your exams
coming up, or silly fights with your roommate, or that pesky smell in your refrigerator
you can’t find. Sure the names are kinda funky, but the characters should be really
simple to understand. All the important stuff in the plot is repeated like a million
times anyway! Allow yourself to have fun for a change. You deserve it. You are, after all,
a paying audience member! Why, you’ve worked so hard just to get here on time and
make sure your cell phone is OFF so as not to disturb other audience members, that
you deserve to be entertained more than just one night. Why don’t you come back
tomorrow? Or maybe the next time we have a performance? You know, entertainment
this good really ought to cost double! Buy another ticket before we raise the prices!
Aaaagghhh!
Seriously, thank you for supporting our student’s work both on and off stage. Have
fun with the silliness in this show. Put yourself in the mindset of a child again. Laugh
when it’s funny. Ignore the parts you don’t get. Applaud at the end. And if nothing
else, smile a little more in life: it makes you look so good!
Ben Cole
As an aside, the Theatre Department is sad to note that Professor Cole wraps up his
three year visiting assistant professorship by directing The Braggart Soldier here at GVSU
and we wish him the very best in his endeavors. Break a leg, Ben!
Tickets for our 2011 - 2012 Season!
Flex Tickets for our 2011 - 2012 Season:
Name: ______________________________________
Address: _____________________________________
City & Zip: ___________________________________
Email & Phone: _______________________________
4 Flex Passes: $40 Adults, $32 Seniors/Faculty, $20 Students
6 Flex Passes: $60 Adults, $48 Seniors,Facutly, $30 Students
For Flex Ticket sales, please call 616-331-2300, check
our website (www.gvsu.edu/theatre) or email us at
[email protected]
If you don’t want to keep your program, please
recycle it as you exit the theatre!
Bios Continued
Sophie Ni ( Milphidippa ) is a junior Theatre major. Sophie
was an ACTF Nominee for Founding and a Grand Valley
Excellence Award recipient. She has played Mimi in Founding,
Nurse Ratched in The Hardy Boys and The Mystery of Where
Babies Come From, as Paris’ Page in Romeo and Juliet, as Sheila in
The Devil is in the Details, and as Joan Webber in Sexual Perversity
in Chicago.
Hannah Nicholson* ( Stage Manager ) is a senior Theatre major. Hannah was a
KCACTF finalist for stage manager of Rhinoceros. Her previous production work includes
production stage manager for Rhinoceros, Founding, Two Gentlemen of Verona (Heritage
Theatre Group), and the 10 Minute Play Showcase. She was the assistant stage manager
for Lady from the Sea, Romeo and Juliet, and Rent. Hannah also worked as properties/
house manager for As You Like It, and house manager for Wanda’s Visit / Bye, Bye,
Margarita, running crew for Seven Passages: Stories of Gay Christians, Sexual Perversity in
Chicago and properties designer for Inherit the Wind (Heritage Theatre Group).
Branden Pompey* ( Sound Design ) is a senior Theatre major at GVSU and he is the
President of Alpha Psi Omega, a theatre fraternity on campus.
Al Sheffield ( Scenic and Lighting Design ) is a theatre designer supervising GVSU
students’ work in design and theatre technology. Al has taught and designed for such
institutions as the University of Michigan’s Flint campus, The University of North
Carolina, and Kansas State University before joining GVSU’s theatre faculty in 1997. He
continues to explore the latest advances in computer-assisted stage & lighting design
technology, and to coach GVSU students interested in pursuing careers in the field.
Garrison Schrauger ( Periplectomenus ) is a Nursing major
and a Theatre minor. Garrison’s previous roles were as Bob
Barclay in The Still Alarm, as Gangster in Kiss Me Kate, and as
Chorus in Beauty and the Beast.
Brianna Shahly ( Dianna ) is a sophomore Theatre major.
Brianna was a GVSU Award of Excellence recipient and
portrayed Glinda in Wizard of Oz, Gertrude McFuzz in
Seussical, as Ellard Simms in The Foreigner, as Elizabeth Lavenza
in Frankenstein, as a Groupie in Dr. Horrible, as Renee in
Pancakes, in the Ensemble for Zoo Story as well as other roles
at Fraser High School. Brianna was also part of the running
crew for GVSU’s Romeo and Juliet.
Dramaturgy Notes
Titus Macchius Plautus was an ancient Roman comedic
playwright whose plays were incredibly popular in his day. His plays
are centered around stock characters and stock situations
“borrowed” from the Greeks, mostly Menander, but his presentation
of the plot and his language is truly unique. Plautus is known for
adding puns and gags to the originally Greek stories, and for
emphasizing the ridiculous.
His plays were performed at festivals in Rome that featured
a myriad of activities. The plays he wrote are full of alliteration and
racy dialogue to keep the attention of the passing festival attendees
who were more than likely intoxicated and looking for some form of
raunchy entertainment. This uncommon location for theater also
influenced the dialogue: Plautus’ plots are almost always repeated
by the characters throughout the play to accommodate the
spectators that joined late.
In his play Miles Gloriosus, or The Braggart Soldier, Plautus
utilizes some of his favorite stock characters like the pompous
soldier, the wily servant, the experienced prostitute, and the young
lovers. Mix in cases of mistaken identity and secret plots, and The
Braggart Soldier becomes one of Plautus’ most popular plays.
The Braggart Soldier is an ancient play, but its story is just as
entertaining now as it was at the festivals in Rome. Its story is overthe-top and silly, and its comedy is low and physical. In the words
of our translation’s author, Erich Segal, “The very name of Plautus
means belly laughs, charm, wit, song-in a word, entertainment.
Plautus knew what the public wanted and how much they liked it.
He gave them not only enough, but too much, which is the
quintessence of all that evokes laughter.”
We hope you enjoy our production of The Braggart Soldier and
we hope to give you, as Segal said, “too much.”
-Bridgett Vanderhoof
Bios Continued
Synopsis
Anna Johnson ( Artotrogus ) is a junior English for Secondary
Education major and Theatre/Psychology minor. Anna’s
previous roles were Rebecca in TALK, Ensemble in As You
Like It, and Dame Coy in Jack the Juggler.
Plautus - c. 254 - 184 B.C.
Zach Johnson ( Hercules ) is a sophomore Film/Video major
and a Theatre minor. Zach’s previous roles include as John in
Bye, Bye, Margarita, as Larry in The Devil is in the Details, Mark
in I Think I Love You, and as part of the Ensemble in Zoo
Story.
This play was written by Plautus, pre 184 B.C.
The basic premise is that there is a soldier who, before the
play starts, stole a courtesan whom he fancied from a
gentleman in Athens who loved her very much. The soldier
took her to Ephesus, where she lives in his house, and ....
Sean Kelley ( Pleusicles ) is a junior Creative Writing major
and an English/Theatre minor. Sean’s previous roles were as
Touchstone in As You Like It, Dudard in Rhinoceros, Mark in
The Philadelphia, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Lysimachus/
Leonine in Pericles, Prince of Tyre, Steve in Friday the XIII, The
Musical, George in Our Town, and as Mr. Banks in Father of the
Bride.
As the play begins, we find out what has happened in the
past (kidnapping the girl ...), and what’s currently happening,
namely that her lover from Athens has come to Ephesus,
and is staying at the house next door to the soldier’s as a
guest of the elder gentleman who lives there.
A tunnel has been dug between her room and the neighbor’s
house, which the soldier knows nothing about. She’s been
able to see her lover because of this. The action starts from
here.*
Please enjoy The Braggart Soldier!
*Courtesy of The Golden Stag (www.goldenstag.net/players/play26.htm)
Alex Kempsell ( Jupiter ) is a junior Theatre major. Alex
was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Midland
Center for the Arts. His previous roles include Silvius in
GVSU’s As You Like It, Dr. Horrible in Nerdfighter’s Dr.
Horrible’s Sing-along Blog, Bottom in Interim Theatre’s A
Midsummer Night’s Dream, as Howard in Grand Rapids Civic
Theatre’s Moon Over Buffalo, Peter in Romeo and Juliet at GVSU,
and as Grandpa in Interim Theatre’s You Can’t Take It With
You.
Sally Langa (Costume Shop Manager) is GVSU’s Costume Shop Manager working
for both the Theatre Department productions and the Music/Opera productions. She
has worked for Grand Valley State University since 2001. Some memorable GVSU
shows Sally has worked on are Guys and Dolls, Ragtime, Hamlet, Servant of Two Masters,
Cymbeline, Secret Garden, Lady from the Sea, Rocky Horror.
Bios Continued
Jason Flannery ( Apollo ) is a Theatre major and Art &
Design minor. Jason was a previous Shakespeare Scholarship
recipient for acting and has played Ferdinand in Pigeon Creek
Scenes Troupe, Adam/Forester/Beatbox in As You Like It,
and as Chorus/Beatbox in Bye, Bye, Margarita.
Biographies
Chaz Albright ( Pyrgopolynices ) is a sophomore Theatre major.
Chaz appeared as Dante in Bye, Bye, Margarita, Greg in Founding,
Botard in Rhinoceros and Charles the Wrestler in As You Like It at
GVSU.
Charles Beale ( Fight Capitan ) is a junior Theatre major. Charles’ previous roles
include as Oliver in As You Like It, Papillon in Rhinooceros, and look for him in Grand
Valley’s film Horizontal Accidents as Brandon.
Sean Francis ( Bacchus ) is a senior Film and Video major
and theatre minor. Sean’s previous acting roles include Jean
in Rhinoceros, Lord Montague in Romeo and Juliet, Flute in A
Midsummer Night’s Dream, Man/Manager/Howard in Nickel
and Dimed, Bill in Sure Thing, Joe in Joe and Stew’s Theatre,
Giles in The Mousetrap, Jeff in Rememberin’ Stuff and as
Comedian in Playbox Group’s Showcase: A Dollar. He has
also appeared in several short student films at GVSU. Sean’s
previous design and technical work include sound designer/
board operator for Seven Passages: Stories of Gay Christians, True West, Vinegar Tom, Lady
From the Sea, and Hardy Boys. Sean was a Co-Director for GVSU’s Founding as well as
worked in the LAT Scene Shop, sound tech/assistant several events for Alma College,
and crew/grip on several GVSU student films.
Amanda J. Furstenberg ( Philocomasium ) is a junior
Theatre/Creative Writing major. Amanda is enrolled in the
Honors College and has been seen in previous roles as Mary
in GVSU’s Green Show: The Roaring Girl, Silly Girl in Beauty
and the Beast, Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Frenchy in
Grease, Liat in South Pacific, and as part of the Chorus in
Hello Dolly and The Music Man.
Jill Hamilton (Faculty Consultant) is a costume designer who also serves as the
University’s theatre facilities manager and coordinator for drama and music activities.
Sign up for our email alerts and special offers at
[email protected]
Get a copy of this program at our website: www.gvsu.edu/theatre
Heather Brown ( Assistant Stage Manager / Properties Mistress ) is a senior Theatre
major and a Harry Oliver Theater Scholarship recipient. Heather’s previous work includes
Stage and Properties Manager for You Can’t Take It With You, NMC (Traverse City, MI)
in 2010, Stage and Properties Manager for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, NMC (Traverse
City, MI) in 2009, Stage Manager for Much Ado About Nothing, NMC (Traverse City,
MI) in 2009, Stage and Properties Manager The Crucible ,NMC (Traverse City, MI) 2008,
and Stage Manager, Publicity Manager, and Properties Manager for Macbeth, NMC
(Traverse City, MI) in 2008.
Ben Cole ( Director ) is in his third year as a visiting assistant
professor of theatre at GVSU. Ben’s previous roles at GVSU
productions include Professor Hayes in Founding, Narrator in
El Capitan, Narrator in Into the Woods, Director of Vinegar Tom
and Bard To Go: Lovestruck, as the fight choreographer/coach
for As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream,
and for Bard To Go: Kissing and Courting and Sweet Revenge.
Joseph William Cox III ( Palaestrio ) is a junior Theatre
major and Psychology minor. Joe was a I Am Grand Valley
Award recipient and portrayed Orlando in As You Like It.
Erik Czuprinski ( A Slave Boy ) is a junior Theatre major.
Erik’s previous roles include Hippie/Rich Folk/Thomas
Jefferson/Actor in GVSU’s Founding, as Dennis/Forester/
Thug in GVSU’s As You Like It, Husband in Snippets, and
March Hare in Alice In Wonderland at Cadillac Senior High
School.
Annie Dilworth ( Lurcio ) is a junior Theatre major. Annie is
a Shakespeare Scholarhip recipient and her previous roles at
GVSU are as Rosalind in As You Like It, Alice in Vinegar Tom,
and as Portia/Luciana/Puck in Bard To Go: Lovestruck.
Dress Circle Members
Your Dress Circle Contributions:
• Help us present a Mainstage Shakespeare production, including bringing
regional school groups to see the productions at a discount rate schools
can afford. This year more than 1400 area students saw As You Like It.
• Help us take Bard to Go to thousands of high school students who will
be influenced by Shakespeare’s excellence and who may not witness his
work without this program due to financial constraints. Previously, our
Bard to Go production traveled all the way to China to perform. This fall,
more than 1500 students saw Bard to Go performances at their school.
• Provide a training ground for college students, both on the stage and
behind the scenes in building and operating the production. Provide
students with the opportunity to work with seasoned professionals and
world-renowned actors, designers, scholars, and other artists.
• Continue building a theatrical community by making you a direct
influence upon so many lives. Dress Circle funds contribute both to
Theatre at Grand Valley and to the Grand Valley Shakespeare Festival.
Guild Members ($25-$50)
Mr. Richard A. Gonce
Ms. Whitney L. Hershberger
Dr. Danielle and Mr. Jayson Leek
Mr. and Mrs. Ferris Sickrey
Mr. Matt Tilmann
Royal Players ($51-$150)
Mr. Gilbert R and Ms. Patricia K. Davis
Ms. Anna, Jillian and Meredith Lane
Mr. Richard J. Oman
Dr. Toni A. Perrine
Dr. Jo E. Miller and Mr. Larry Tosh
Mr. Robert F. Trepa
Ms. Suzanne F. Zale
Please turn off all cell phones and electronic devices.
Dress Circle Members
Knights and Ladies ($151-$250)
Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Bailey
Dr. James A. and Ms. Nancy S. Bell
Mr. Benjamin Cole
Ms. Ann Dilworth
Ms. Kathleen F. Lee
Dr. and Mrs. Benjamin G. Lockerd, Jr.
Mr. Darion J. Murchison
Ms. Maureen R. O’Brien
Ms. Laura and Mr. Hugo Salazar
Mr. Aaron P. Sohaski
Mr. and Mrs. James Zwarensteyn
Dukes and Duchesses ($251-$500)
Dr. and Mrs. Roger B. Ellis
Ms. Arielle C. Leverett
Mr. Alfred Sheffield and Ms. Jan Sheffield
Kings and Queens ($501+)
Grand Valley Office of Admissions
Ms. Karen Libman and Mr. Mitchell A. Kachun
Mr. and Mrs. Paul J. Little
Mr. and Mrs. Dan R. Seeley
*Please detach and mail*
Please join our 2011 - 2012 Dress Circle Membership program:
Name: ________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________
City & Zip: _____________________________________________
Email & Phone: __________________________________________
__ $25-$50 __ $51-$150 __ $151-$250 __ $251-$500 __ $500 +
Please mail your check to:
GVSU Shakespeare
290 Lake Superior Hall
1 Campus Drive
Allendale, MI 49401