Letter from the chair
Welcome to the 2012-2013 season of the Pittsburg State Theatre! Our
motto this season, “Catch the Big Stories Here!” might well say “Catch
the ORIGINAL Stories Here!” because two of our three productions
bring fresh, new material to the stage. We hope our dedicated patrons and new friends are engaged and entertained. Pitt State Theatre
prides itself on bringing a significant amount of original work to the
stage – a testament to the number and quality of dedicated theatre
artists within the PSU community. It is with great pleasure that I celebrate serving this wonderful program for 14 years this season.
The 2012/13 season begins in mid-October with Megan Westhoff’s
production of Carlo Gozzi’s The King Stag, a wonderful new adaptation written by Westhoff of this timeless Italian fairy tale of greed,
magic, and true love. Then, in December, we continue our tradition
of Theatre Unplugged with the student-directed one-act plays produced in the Studio Theatre on Joplin Street. In the spring of 2013,
the Studio Theatre hosts two diverse contemporary works. In March,
Gil Cooper directs Sam Shepard’s True West. This drama, recognized
as an American classic, centers on the lives of two brothers in the
southwest over the course of a weekend. By turns comedic and violent, Shepard captures the complications of sibling rivalry with true
honesty. Closing the season is The History of Laundry, a structured
improvisation in the style of previous Pitt State productions such as
Brass Tacks and Macaroni and Jell-o. Conceived by yours truly and
performed by the advanced performance ensemble, this production
uses the metaphor of laundry to investigate the “cycles” of our lives.
Kaye Lewis of the Midwest Regional Ballet will serve as guest choreographer for the production.
I am sure the faculty, staff, and students
of the Department of Communication and
PSU Theatre join me in expressing our
gratitude for your support and our sincere
hopes that you enjoy the 2012/13 season.
Regards,
Dr. Cynthia Allan
Department of Communication
Robert Wilson, Austin, and
Austin Curtright, Lee, take down their
blocking during a rehearsal.
director’s note
True West asks the question: what might you consider
living a “true life.” How many of us simply go through the
routine of life? Is what we are doing true to our desire or an
illusion of what we really want to do? Sam Shepard suggests
that our perspective on life is what makes our life, which is
why I chose to cast two different actors for the role of
Austin.
I wanted two different perspectives as a way of playing with
the script’s theme. Robert Wilson and Rashid Fielder-Bey
both portray the character Austin but the development of
their performances is designed to give the audience
different feels/interpretations of Austin and his brother Lee.
This approach placed a high demand on the actors. Austin
Curtright who portrays Lee essentially had to prepare as if he
were in two separate plays. Yes, Curtright’s lines and much
of his movements are the same but his characterization and
interactions are different. As for Wilson and Fielder-Bey
they had only half the normal time to prepare since
rehearsals were split between them. Even Taylor Patterson
and Jacob Hacker (Mom and Saul) found they needed to
adapt to the different Austins.
I am extremely proud of the hard work this cast has put into
this production. I encourage you to come and see both
versions of our True West.
~ Gil Cooper
we need your help!
We will be accepting donations
for the Wesley House throughout our
production. Help us by donating
in the lobby before or after the play,
or during our intermission.
Thank you for helping support
the Wesley House.
Austin Curtright, Lee, and the guys had way
too much fun rehearsing with this
antique typewriter.
true west
Play by Sam Shepard
Directed by Gil Cooper
Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.
cast
Lee....................................................Austin Curtright
Austin (Thursday and Saturday).......Robert Wilson*
Austin (Friday and Sunday)........Rashid Fielder-Bey
Saul........................................................Jacob Hacker*
Mom................................................Taylor Patterson*
No flash photography or video recording is permitted during the
performance. For the comfort of other audience members, please take
crying or fussy children to the lobby.
* indicates members of Alpha Psi Omega, Theatre Honor Society
production
crew
Technical Director.................................Doug Bennett
Scenic & Lighting Director...................Doug Bennett
Stage Manager.........................................Micah Black*
Costume Designer.................................Lisa Quinteros
Properties Manager...................................Amie Beggs
Props Crew..............................................Natalie Black
Logan Qualls*
Austin VanBecelaere
Robert Wilson
Rashid Fielder-Bey
Sound Board Operator.............................Nathen Goff
Light Board Operator.............................Jesse Gregory
Lighting Master Electrician....................Noelle Amor
Set Construction Crew.............................Ken Slattery
Jacob Hacker
Zach Jonson
Phil Lierz
Public Relations Director.......................Meagan Linn
Advertising Manager.......................Catherine Graber
Poster/Program Cover Design...................Corey Hine
“I’m on intimate terms with this couch!” ~Rashid Fielder-Bey, Austin
We would like to note Corey Hine, our poster/
program artist, who will hand over the reins to
one of his students for next season. For over 10
years, Corey has created the poster and
program art for us here at PSU Theatre.
Starting as an undergraduate student and
carrying on as a professional artist he has helped
us connect with you.
Thank you Corey for all your work and vision.
Redfern’s Appliance
1709 N Walnut St. Pittsburg KS
620-235-1840
“I had the BEST experience working with Redferns! They are honest and
fair and truly care about YOU! Catch a great deal and really meet truly
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104 E 1st St. Pittsburg KS
(620) 231-6500
Serving All of Southeast Kansas
special thanks
Steve Billingsly
Tina Gregory
Linden Little
Lindsey Lockhart
Pittsburg Community Theatre
Communication Deptartment
SEK Recycling Center
We give a tremendous thanks
to our family and friends,
whose love, patience, and
support made this
production possible.