SMU launches Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre

Danny Pancratz, as Bellhop, Ashley Dillard, as Maggie, JoLeen Davis, as Julia and Chris Kernan, as Saunders, rehearse a scene from “Lend Me a Tenor”




Chris Kernan, as Saunders, and Andy Greene, as Max, rehearse a scene from “Lend Me a Tenor”





WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University’s Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre will have audiences laughing and dancing in their seats during this summer’s light and lively presentations of “Lend Me a Tenor” and “Showtune: Celebrating the Words & Music of Jerry Herman.” The shows run in repertory four times a week from July 5 to Aug. 5 in Page Theatre.

“Lend Me a Tenor,” a farce by Ken Ludwig, tells the story of a world famous opera singer who is poised to perform his greatest role at a gala season opener. A series of mishaps, including the accidental tranquilizing of the guest star, lead to hilarious consequences as the cast and crew try to save the show.

“Showtune…,” a musical revue, showcases the range of composer/lyricist’s Jerry Herman’s work, which includes “Hello Dolly” and “Mame.” Herman’s repertoire spans the Golden Age of Broadway musicals and focuses on the comic and romantic aspects of life and relationships.

“ ‘Lend Me a Tenor’ and ‘Showtune’ are great pieces to work on for the summer,” said artistic director Judy Myers. “They are definitely audience pleasers. ‘Lend Me a Tenor’, due to the energy it takes to perform a farce, demands total commitment from the actors. Rehearsing the comic timing is crucial in this type of show. It requires a lot of physical and vocal skill from the performers. But they thrive on it. They love it and are exhausted by it at the same time.

“You’d think they’d be worn out after four hours of strenuous rehearsal for Tenor, but then they turn around and rehearsal for four more hours on ‘Showtune,’ exhausting them even more with the singing and dancing required for that show. This is where their training really shows. Getting through a demanding eight hour day really tests their ability to go the distance.”

The talented cast and crew hail from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

“Most of our actors, directors, and designers come from diverse university training programs including Ithaca College in New York, Baldwin-Wallace College in Ohio, Southeast Missouri State University, Viterbo University in Wisconsin, Southwestern Illinois College, Indiana State University, Bradley University of Illinois, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Minnesota, and Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota,” Myers said.

Make it dinner and a show for a full evening of enjoyment; pre-show dinners are offered every Friday and Saturday. Choose from several delicious entrees, including beef, chicken or vegetarian options (along with children’s dinners). Additionally, concessions are offered before every performance and at intermission. Beer and wine concessions are also available every Friday and Saturday.

Dinner reservations and show tickets are available at the Performance Center box office, (507) 457-1715, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and online at www.pagetheatre.org. The regular ticket price for either show is $15, $12 for senior citizens. Preview nights will be held Thursday, July 5, for “Lend Me a Tenor” and Thursday, July 12, for “Showtune” and all tickets will be $12.

Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre Co., Performance Schedule includes:

“Lend Me a Tenor,” 7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 5, Preview Night Discount
“Lend Me a Tenor,” 7:30 p.m., Friday, July 6
“Lend Me a Tenor,” 7:30 p.m., Saturday, July 7
“Lend Me a Tenor,” 3 p.m., Sunday, July 8
“Showtune,” 7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 12, Preview Night Discount
“Showtune,” 7:30 p.m., Friday, July 13
“Showtune,” 7:30 p.m., Saturday, July 14
“Showtune,” 3 p.m., Sunday, July 15
“Lend Me a Tenor,” 7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 19
“Showtune,” 7:30 p.m., Friday, July 20
“Lend Me a Tenor,” 7:30 p.m., Saturday, July 21
“Showtune,” 3 p.m., Sunday, July 22
“Showtune,” 7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 26
“Lend Me a Tenor,” 7:30 p.m., Friday, July 27
“Showtune,” 7:30 p.m., Saturday, July 28
“Lend Me a Tenor,” 3 p.m., Sunday, July 29
“Lend Me a Tenor,” 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 2
“Showtune,” 7:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 3
“Lend Me a Tenor,” 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 4
“Showtune,” 3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 5

SMU to offer training for boards July 14

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University is offering the interactive workshop “Creating and Sustaining an Effective Board for your Organization” Saturday, July 14, at the Winona campus.

Boards of all sizes, for-profit and not-for-profit, could benefit from a lesson in governance and implementation of legal and moral accountability. Participants will learn what it means to be a board member, how to recruit the best board members, ways to organize and support the board, skills to ensure effective board meetings, and how to improve boards through evaluation.

The event, sponsored by the Master of Arts in Philanthropy and Development program, will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Salvi Lecture Hall, located in Saint Mary’s Hall.

Presenting will be Simone Joyaux, ACFRE, of Joyaux Associates in Rhode Island and a faculty member in SMU’s Philanthropy and Development program. Joyaux is recognized internationally in the philanthropic sector. She is an expert in fund development, board and organizational development and strategic planning. Her book, “Strategic Fund Development — Building Profitable Relationships that Last” is a standard in the profession. Her newest book, being co-authored with Tom Ahern, focuses on relationship building and fundraising communications. Joyaux had presented around the world, including the International Fundraising Congress in the Netherlands.

The cost is $100 for an executive director and one board member, plus an additional $35 for each additional board member. An on-site lunch will be provided. Registration and payment is due June 28.

Register online at www.smumn.edu/phildev. Click on “board governance workshop.” For more information, call Deborah Ward, (507) 457-1977.

Four alumni to be honored during SMU Homecoming

Joseph Ross ’67











Brother Paul Grass, FSC ’57, Ph.D











Walter Jungbauer ’87











Michael Panicola ’92











WINONA, Minn. — Each year during summer Homecoming festivities, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota honors outstanding alumni.

This year's Distinguished Alumni Award recipient is Joseph Ross ’67 of Naperville, Ill. Receiving the Religious Service Award is Brother Paul Grass, FSC ’57, Ph.D., of Winona. The Alumni Appreciation Award will be presented to Walter Jungbauer ’87 of St. Paul. And the Outstanding Young Alumni Award will be given to Michael Panicola ’92, Ph.D., of St. Louis, Mo. All four will be honored during a reception Saturday, June 16, on the Winona campus.

Five hundred alumni, family and friends will return to their alma mater for Saint Mary's Homecoming festivities, which begin Friday, June 15, and will run throughout the weekend. In addition to the alumni awards ceremony, highlights include a golf outing, the Gilmore Gallop 5K, a 50+ anniversary social, and the alumni picnic.

Conservatory announces children's dance day camps

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts at the Valéncia Arts Center will hold summer dance day camps for children, June 11-15 and June 18-22.

“Dance Me A Story,” — to be held 1 to 4 p.m. Monday, June 11, through Friday, June 15 — is a week-long dance day camp for children ages 4-8. Students will participate in technique classes including ballet and creative movement. Additionally, students will learn the story and choreography of a classical ballet, fairy-tale, or fable, which will be performed in a showcase for family and friends at the conclusion of the camp. The final showcase performance will be Friday, June 15, at 4 p.m. Tuition for this camp is $100.

“Dance the Day Away,” — to be held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, June 18, through Friday, June 22 — is a week-long dance day camp for children ages 9-12. Students will participate in technique classes (ballet, modern, and jazz) and theory classes (makeup and costuming, program design, dance vocabulary, dance history and traditions, and anatomy), as well as learn and create choreography for a final showcase performance. The final showcase performance will be 4 p.m. Friday, June 22. Tuition for this camp is $150.

Showcase performances are free and open to the public. These informal demonstrations will be held at the Valéncia Arts Center’s Academy Theatre, located at Howard and Vila streets.

Instruction for both dance day camps will be provided by MCA dance faculty: Christine Martin, Jennifer O’Neill, Juliana Piscitiello and Jennifer Severson. Financial need-based scholarships are available.

For a complete listing of all MCA summer dance and theatre camps, workshops and classes for youth and adults, visit www.smumn.edu/mca, e-mail dance@smumn.edu or call (507) 453-5500. Registration for all MCA summer programming is currently being accepted.

Saint Mary’s announces new dean, award renaming

Tim Gossen, new dean of students

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University is announcing a promotion and the renaming of an annual award in the area of Student Development.

Tim Gossen has been named dean of students at Saint Mary's Winona campus, effective June 1. Gossen held the position of assistant dean of students, but has twice served as interim dean in the past two years. Gossen has worked at the Winona campus since he graduated in 2001. He also earned an M.A. degree from SMU in 2006.

“We're very fortunate to have Tim, with his experience, dedication and knowledge of the university serving in this vital role.” said Chris Kendall, vice president for student development. "Tim is a young and talented educator.”

The Resident Assistant of the Year Award has been renamed the Char Tjaden Outstanding Resident Assistant Award. Tjaden currently serves in the newly created position of student development resource specialist. She has worked for SMU since 2004.

“Char has given many dedicated years of service to Student Development in many capacities but most significantly, she's been a great mentor to young residence life staff,” Kendall said. “You will find Char attending hundreds of events on campus and she has been instrumental in creating many new and successful programs.”

The Office of Residence Life presents the award yearly to a resident assistant in recognition and appreciation of outstanding service and contribution to community life at Saint Mary’s.