Professor Emeritus Dr. Charles Nolte Makes Significant Donation to the University of Minnesota Libraries

Dr. Charles Nolte, distinguished and beloved teacher, actor, and author, has made a gift of his archives to the Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies at the University of Minnesota Libraries. To celebrate Dr. Nolte’s gift, which will allow students and scholars to continue to benefit from his remarkable gifts, the University of Minnesota Libraries, the Tretter Collection, and the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance are celebrating the donation of the Dr. Charles M. Nolte Collections in Theatre and Cinematic Arts with a reception at the Elmer L. Andersen Library. Portions of the archives will be on display at the Elmer L. Andersen Library.

Monday, May 18, 2009
4:30 to 6 pm
Elmer L. Andersen Library
222 21st Avenue South
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Program
Reception beginning at 4:30pm
Welcome and Speakers at 5:00 pm
Kris Kiesling, Director Archives & Special Collections
Carl Flink, Chair of Theatre Arts and Dance
C. Lance Brockman, Professor, Theatre Arts and Dance
Dr. Charles M. Nolte
Conclusion: Eric Colleary

BIG LOVE Cast Announced

Director Lisa Channer has announced the cast for the October 2009 production of Big Love.

Cast List for Big Love:

Thyona: Sasha Gibbs
Olympia: Jenna Frankenfield
Lydia: Julianna Drajko

Constantine: Nickolas Marcouiller
Oed: Ian Knodel
Nikos: Billy Mullaney

Eleanor: Addy Salami
Leo: Kalen Keir

Bella: Allison Witham

Guliano: Nathaniel Nesheim-Case
Piero: Kevin O’Neil

Additional Brides and Grooms will be announced later after discussions with the choreographer.

A note from Lisa to all who auditioned: there were so many talented and prepared auditioners that this was a very difficult decision. Anyone who wants feedback on their audition, just email me and I'm happy to share what I can with you.

A note from Lisa to those who are cast: I will be contacting you about prep work you can do over the summer. Please contact me also at some point to talk about the role and how you'd like to prepare for it.

Exclusive Offer for U of M Alumni Association Members!

Join fellow University of Minnesota Alumni Association members for a special evening aboard the Minnesota Centennial Showboat on Friday, June 19, or Tuesday, July 21.

The Friday, June 19 event offers a pre-show talk with director Kenneth Noel Mitchell, dinner on the upper deck of the Showboat, a ticket to Is There a Doctor in the House? and an invitation to the opening night reception following the show. On Tuesday, July 21, your Showboat experience will include a ticket to the performance and a member-exclusive, post-show dessert reception with actors of the Showboat Company. For event details, including pricing and times, visit www.alumni.umn.edu/University_Theatre.

Tickets are available now by calling Padelford Riverboats, the exclusive ticketing agent for the Showboat, at 651-227-1100 or toll free at 1-800-543-3908. Please identify yourself immediately as a member of the Alumni Association and have your alumni member number available.

Dance Program Recognized in the City Pages' Best of Minneapolis 2009

In the City Pages' Best of Minneapolis 2009, the University of Minnesota Dance Program students performing José Limón's 1958 classic Missa Brevis was named the Best Dance Performance of a Classic. Check out the full article at citypages.com.

Affiliate Dance Faculty member, Marciano Silva Dos Santos, was named Best Dancer. Read the full article about his award also at citypages.com.

BIG LOVE Auditions Announced

AUDITIONS
BIG LOVE
Written by Charles Mee
Directed by Lisa Channer

Description of the play: Fifty brides flee their fifty grooms and seek refuge in a villa on the coast of Italy in this modern re-making of one of the western world's oldest plays, The Danaids by Aeschylus. And, in this villa on the Italian coast, the fifty grooms catch up with the brides, and mayhem ensues: the grooms arriving by helicopter in their flight suits, women throwing themselves over and over again to the ground, pop songs and romantic dances, and, finally, unable to escape their forced marriages, 49 of the brides murder 49 of the grooms-and one bride falls in love. About the same odds as today.

The entire play is available to all at http://charlesmee.com/html/big_love.html

It is suggested that you read it before auditioning so you understand the style in which it is written and the world it inhabits.

Auditions are Monday May 4th from 6:30-11:00pm in Room 20 and callbacks are Tuesday May 5th from 7:00-9:30pm.

An audition sign-up sheet is posted on the callboard across from the tunnel entrance in the Pit.

For May 4th Auditions:
Sign up for a slot and come with two things:
A song excerpt that is no longer than one minute in length.
A monologue excerpt that is no longer than two minutes in length.

Note: Everyone must sing for the audition (even if it is Happy Birthday) although not every character sings in the show so you may be cast even if your singing is less than stellar :-)

For May 5th Callbacks:
You will be asked to prepare sides from the play and there will be a group dance/movement audition. Additional information about the callbacks will be given after the initial auditions.

Questions? Chann006@umn.edu or 626.6617

Dance Program Featured on A-List

Reporter Linda Shapiro featured the University of Minnesota Dance Program's Critical Mass performance during the ACDFA Conference, as well as their role in the José Limón Dance Company's performance at Northrop Auditorium in the City Pages' A-List. Check out Critical Mass: Professional Dance Companies at the University of Minnesota and José Limón Dance Company for the complete listing.

BA Theatre Program Head Named One of City Pages' Artists of the Year

BA Program Head and Instructor, Luverne Seifert, was named one of the City Pages Artists of the Year for 2008. Check out the City Pages article for more detailed information.