Saint Mary’s to stage musical comedy ‘Urinetown’ March 20-23

WINONA, Minn. — Water is scarce, but corruption flows freely in the Saint Mary’s University musical comedy production of “Urinetown,” March 20-23.

In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. Water is worth its weight in gold. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity’s most basic needs.

A hero plunges forward, deciding he’s had enough, and he plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom! Inspired by the works of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, “Urinetown” is an irreverently humorous satire in which no one is safe from scrutiny. For added fun, the show spoofs well-known musicals and itself. Director Dr. Gary Diomandes and musical director Judy Myers are flushed with excitement about bringing the hilarious tale of greed, corruption, love and revolution to life.

Books and lyrics for “Urinetown” are by Greg Kotis; music and lyrics are by Mark Hollmann.

The show will run 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, March 20-22, and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 23, in Page Theatre.

Tickets are $10 for adults or $5 for students and seniors and are available at the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

SMU to stage play written by student

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University will present “Monsters,” an original play written, performed and designed by members of the senior class, Jan. 17-19.

“Monsters” — written by Alex Green and directed by Lydia Munroe — explores the absurdities surrounding the development of mental health care at the turn of the last century. The institution, run by an unsavory physician and his lovely assistant, welcomes a visiting member of the certification board. As the visitor meets the “crazy” patients, each one reveals their story.

Admission is free, but seating is limited in the studio theatre of the SMU Performance Center. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 17-18, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19.

SMU students to stage chaotic comedy ‘The Government Inspector’ Nov. 7-10

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Department of Theatre and Dance will present the satirical comedy “The Government Inspector” Nov. 7-10 at Page Theatre. Shows run 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 7-9, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10.

The news that a government inspector is due to arrive in a small Russian town sends its bureaucrats into a panicked frenzy. A simple case of mistaken identity exposes the hypocrisy and corruption at the heart of the town in this biting moral satire. Witty, smart and wildly satirical, this timely and spirited adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s classic play exposes the corruption of a provincial town with biting hilarity.

Guest director Gale Childs Daly has served as the text coach for the Great River Shakespeare Festival since its inception in 2006. The actor, director, teacher, writer and dialect/text coach is from Milwaukee, Wis.

The play was selected to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the Romanov Dynasty. Although Russian comedies are known to be dreary and heavy, “The Government Inspector” — adapted by Minnesota playwright Jeffrey Hatcher — is both modern and funny.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and area available at www.pagetheatre.org or at the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

SMU students to stage drama about women, war

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Theatre and Dance Department will present a groundbreaking play about women and war Sept. 25-26 and 28-29.

In “Necessary Targets,” two American women, a Park Avenue psychiatrist and an ambitious young writer, travel to Bosnia to help women refugees confront their memories of war. Based on interviews with numerous women who survived the civil war in the former Yugoslavia, “Necessary Targets” is a timely reminder of how America struggles to define its relationship to the rest of the world. Witness the violence of dark memories and the enduring resilience of the human spirit.

Written by Eve Ensler, and directed by Judy Myers, “Necessary Targets” will run 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, Sept. 25-26 and 28 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, in the Valéncia Academy Theatre, 10th and Vila streets.

Tickets are $10, $5 for students and seniors and are available at www.pagetheatre.org or at the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715, Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

This is just one of a number of arts offerings occurring at Saint Mary’s University during Family Weekend Sept. 27-29.

Saint Mary’s alum returns to direct modern version of ‘Hamlet’

Andrew Russell (Claudius) and Sarah Anderson (Gertrude) watch over Aaron Pepple (Hamlet) and Taylor Marshall-Miernicki (Ophelia) in the Saint Mary’s University Department of Theatre and Dance’s modern adaptation of “Hamlet,” to be staged April 4-7.

WINONA, Minn. — This is isn’t your grandfather’s “Hamlet.”

Saint Mary’s University alum and Winona native Ann Keen ’94 has returned to her alma mater to direct students in a modern — and rockin’ — version of the familiar Shakespearean tragedy, “Hamlet” April 4-7.

Keen, who now lives in St. Charles, Ill., had originally set the classic play in the modern and edgy setting of rock superstardom with her theatre company, Polarity Ensemble Theatre, in Chicago, back in 2008.

Despite taking some serious risks, the play garnered the theatre company (which she founded 10 years ago), the title “Best Emerging Theatre Company in Chicago” by The Chicago Reader.

“I Love Hamlet, but I found that even when it was done with exotic settings, there was still something that dated it,” she said. It was a heavy rock song that sparked Keen’s decision to create a modern, rock-related setting, complete with an original rock score. Hamlet wears black leather; Gertrude is a real cougar in five-inch heels; and Horatio … is a woman.

“In modern times, more roles are filled by women,” she explains.

Her goal is to not only make “Hamlet” accessible but also resonant to larger audiences. “People will know these characters,” she said. “It’s a universal story, with breakups and family tensions, and revenge. Shakespeare makes people nervous because of the language. I’ve had people tell me after seeing our show, ‘I finally understood it, and I loved it.’ And that’s exactly the reaction we were hoping for.”

Keen admits her version is undeniably more violent and “in your face” than the traditional “Hamlet,” reflecting the realities of society today.

While staging the show with her theatre company, Keen had thought that it would be perfect for college students as it’s set in their world. Faculty in the SMU Department of Theatre and Dance agreed and are happy to welcome Keen back.

The show runs 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, April 4-6, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 7, in Page Theatre.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and are available online at www.pagetheatre.org or by calling the box office Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at (507) 457-1715.

SMU students to stage ‘Spitfire Grill’ Feb. 20-24

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Department of Theatre and Dance will present the musical drama “Spitfire Grill” Feb. 20-24 at the Valéncia Arts Center, located at 10th and Vila streets.

Under the direction of Dr. Gary Diomandes, “Spitfire Grill” is centered around a feisty parolee (Percy) as she follows her dreams — based on a page from an old travel book — to a small town in Wisconsin and finds herself working at Hannah’s Spitfire Grill. Although it’s for sale, there are no takers in the struggling little town. Percy suggests to Hannah that she raffle off the business. Entry fees are $100 and the best essay about why you want the grill wins. Soon, mail is arriving by the wheelbarrow full, and things are getting hot at the Spitfire Grill. This musical triumph is an inspiring celebration of fresh starts and the power of what one person can do.

The show is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, Feb. 20-23, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24.

Tickets are $10, $5 for students and seniors and are available at the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715, Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Saint Mary’s students to stage ‘Our Town’ Nov 8-11

WINONA, Minn. — Audiences will get a gentle reminder to not take the little things in life for granted as the Saint Mary’s University Theatre and Dance Department presents “Our Town” 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8-10 and 3 p.m. Nov. 11 in Page Theatre.

Written by Thornton Wilder and directed by Judy Myers, “Our Town,” is set in the small town of Grover’s Corners, N.H., in the early 1900s, as told through the eyes of the stage manager. Set in three acts: daily life, love and marriage, death and eternity, the play presents universal ideas about family, love and life that are essentially the same as they were more than 100 years ago.

This work was especially selected by the Department of Theatre and Dance to celebrate the Saint Mary’s University Centennial season.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and are available online at www.pagetheatre.org or at the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Saint Mary’s to offer three plays through ‘SPLaSH’ March 28-April 1

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Theatre and Dance Department invites the public to the spring “SPLaSH” series — three one-act plays produced by students — March 28 through April 1. The plays will be held at the Valéncia Arts Center’s Academy Theatre, 1164 West Howard St.

SPLaSH, which stands for “short play showcase,” will feature three one-act plays:

• “The Swing Set,” written by senior Tom Conry of Waunakee, Wis., and directed by theatre faculty Judy Myers, is a play about two intertwined people who just missed each other. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be.

• “So, I Wrote This Play…!” is a zany comedy about a man trying to write a play that doesn’t want to be written. This piece is written and directed by senior Rick Baustian of Dell Rapids, S.D.

• “Blackout” by Davey Anderson is adapted and directed by junior Mary Doctor of Aurora, Ill., and is a portrayal inspired by a true story of what happens when young minds are exposed to dangerous ideas.

Shows are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, March 28 through 31, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 1.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and are available at the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

‘Guys and Dolls’ on stage Feb. 23-26 at Saint Mary’s

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Department of Theatre and Dance will present the classic Broadway musical “Guys and Dolls” from Feb. 23-26.

The Tony-Award-winning musical, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, was first presented in 1950 and has enjoyed many revivals. It's considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy.

Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, “Guys and Dolls” soars with the spirit of Broadway as it introduces us to a legendary cast of vivid characters: Sarah Brown, the upright but uptight missionary out to reform the evildoers of Time Square; Sky Masterson, the slick, high-rolling gambler who woos her on a bet and ends up falling in love; Adelaide, the chronically ill nightclub performer whose condition is brought on by a 14-year marriage engagement; and Nathan Detroit, her devoted fiancé, desperate as always to find a spot for his infamous floating craps game.

“Guys and Dolls” is directed by Gary Diomandes with music direction by Judy Myers and choreography by Christine Martin. Showtimes in SMU’s Page Theatre are 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 23-25, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. They’re available online at www.pagetheatre.org or at the Performance Center Box Office, (507) 457-1715, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saint Mary’s to stage tragic tale in ‘Machinal’ Nov. 16-20

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Department of Theatre and Dance will present the tragic story of a woman driven to murder after being dominated by men, marriage, motherhood and machines in the 1928 expressionist play “Machinal” Nov. 16-20.

The story revolves around the predestined main character, Helen, who lives a life that has been dictated to her. She follows the rituals that society expects of a woman, however resistant she may feel about them, and subsequently marries her boss, whom she finds repulsive. After having a baby with him, followed by an affair with a younger man who fuels her lust for life, she is driven to murder her husband. She is found guilty of the crime and meets her end, ironically, in a machine — the electric chair.

“Machinal” is inspired by the real-life case of convicted and executed murderess Ruth Snyder — the first woman ever to be executed in the electric chair in New York State after she, along with her lover, murdered her husband. The play’s author, Sophie Treadwell, covered Snyder’s murder trial as a reporter.

Under the direction of Judy Myers, “Machinal” will take to the stage at the Valéncia Arts Center, 10th and Vila streets, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, Nov. 16-19, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and are available online at www.pagetheatre.org at the Performance Center Box Office, (507) 457-1715 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saint Mary’s theatre students to perform in London

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University theatre majors will stage the comedic satire “Greater Tuna” Oct. 18-22 at TARA Studio in London.

In this hilarious satire of small-town American morals, audiences will meet the upstanding citizens of rural Tuna, Texas (the state’s third smallest town). The long-running Off Broadway hit features eight actors creating the entire population of Tuna — men, women, children and animals — in a tour de farce of quick-change artistry, changing costumes and characterizations.

It’s eight actors, 20 characters and a barrel of laughs, y’all.

Qualified theatre majors at Saint Mary’s are studying theatre in London, England, this semester through the Stefannié Valéncia Kierlin Theatre in London Program. Under the guidance of Saint Mary’s faculty, the program will include a variety of classes in theatre, as well as courses focusing on broader enrichment. Students will have the unique opportunity to attend numerous performances at London’s West End, Off-West End, and Fringe theatres.

Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French Inc., “Greater Tuna” is directed by Dr. Gary Diomandes. Also participating are: Christian Garcia, stage manager; Rachel Kwiecinski, set design; Kit Mayer, lighting design; Kalinn Bangasser, sound design; Rachel Kwiecinski, props; and performers Sarah Anderson, Mary Doctor, Samantha Gibson, Tina Gonzalez, Aaron Pepple, Andrew Russell, Philip Soulides and Clarissa Thompson-Matthews.

Saint Mary's to stage classic Irish play ‘The Playboy of the Western World’ Oct. 6-9

SMU students Katie Sapper, Alex Bush and Joanna Mills rehearse a scene from "The Playboy of the Western World."

John Millington Synge’s classic Irish comedy/tragedy, “The Playboy of the Western World” — to be staged Oct. 6-9 — is sure to touch the hearts of lads and lasses alike.

For this production, students from the Department of Theatre and Dance are under the guest direction of Patrick Sutton, who has served as director of The Gaiety School of Acting-the National Theatre School of Ireland in Dublin for the past 18 years.

The Gaiety School of Acting boasts such well-known graduates as Olivia Wilde, Colin Farrell and Stuart Townsend.

Sutton, a renowned acting coach, director and writer, has also been garnering international attention for spearheading the renovation of the historic Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin’s first theatre (1662). He is also the director of COMMUNICATE, a communications company working in politics, industry and the arts. As such, for 11 years, Sutton worked on speeches for Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.

“The Playboy of the Western World” was first performed in Dublin on Jan. 26, 1907. It begins with a young Christy Mahon who has just quarreled with his father and leaves him for dead. Mahon finds his way to the village pub where he is lauded as a hero for his deed. In a classic Irish twist, his father is not dead and comes looking for his cowardly son. The quarrel continues with extremely tragic — yet sometimes humorous — results.

“There’s something we can all identify with in this play: truth, lies, bravery and valor,” Sutton said before explaining how this play can be both tragic, yet comedic. “It’s a folk play that ends in misery but there’s also dancing, slapstick and Irish comedy along the way ... . We don’t play it for laughs, but we have great fun telling the tale.”

The show runs 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 6-8, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9.

Tickets for all shows are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students and can be purchased at www.pagetheatre.org or at the SMU Box Office, (407) 457-1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saint Mary’s University mourns loss of freshman Millie Harrison

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is mourning the loss of freshman Millie Harrison, who died unexpectedly Saturday, April 2, on campus, due to apparent natural causes.

Harrison, 19, of Colorado Springs, Colo., was known as an outgoing and charismatic student on the Saint Mary’s campus. A theatre major studying stage management and communications, she was active with theatre productions and was a member of the student Second Page Comedy Troupe. She also served as an Admission Ambassador and played an active role with KSMR, the campus radio station.

“It is heartbreaking to see a young person, so filled with spirit, taken from us too soon,” said Brother William Mann, Saint Mary’s president. “We join together in gratitude for the gift of life Millie so freely shared, and in remembrance of the joy and impact of her life. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Millie’s family and friends as we all try to come to terms with such a tremendous loss.”

Gary Diomandes, professor of theatre and dance, said, “Millie was an excellent student. She worked hard and earned top-notch grades. But the best thing about her was her sense of humor and fun-loving personality. She instantly made friends; everyone who met her, adored her.”

“She was a theatre major and wanted to be a stage manager,” Diomandes said. “She was very talented in the technical aspects, and she was interested in every aspect of theatre. She was good at everything she tried.” Diomandes said Harrison was the production stage manager for Saturday’s planned performance of student-produced one-act plays. “We canceled that performance, but (her classmates) all wanted to do it (for her) on Sunday as scheduled.”

A prayer service was held Saturday night at Saint Mary’s with several hundred students attending. A memorial service to honor Harrison’s life is planned for 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, in Page Theatre.

Counselors will continue to be available to students in the Saint Mary’s Wellness Center.

Saint Mary’s Concert Band, Wind Ensemble to perform March 27

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Concert Band and Wind Ensemble, both directed by Dr. Janet Heukeshoven, will present a “Music in Our Schools Month” concert Sunday, March 27, in Winona.

The performance — scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. in SMU’s Page Theatre — will include works from Bach to Bencriscutto, and will feature SMU clarinet faculty member Sylva Hanson performing the “Concertino for Clarinet and Band” by Frank Bencriscutto. Other compositions to be performed include two very different compositions by Frank Ticheli; the first being his beautiful setting of “Loch Lomand,” and the second being his popular “Cajun Folk Songs.” The Wind Ensemble will perform a movement from J.S. Bach’s The Art of the Fugue, the majestic “Contrapunctus,” arranged for Wind Ensemble by Jack LaBauve. Other pieces include Shostakovich’s powerful “Festive Overture” and “Scenes from the Louvre” by Dello Joio.

The band will present this concert at two Twin Cities high schools on Friday, March 25, before bringing the performance to Winona audiences on March 27.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and are available by calling the Box Office, (507) 457-1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Saint Mary’s to offer three plays through ‘SPLaSH’ March 30-April 3

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Theatre and Dance Department invites the public to the spring “SPLaSH” series — three one-act student plays directed by students — March 30 through April 3. The plays will be held at the Valéncia Arts Center’s Academy Theatre, 1164 West Howard St.

SPLaSH, which stands for “short play showcase,” will feature three one-act plays:

• “The Interrogation,” written and directed by Tom Conry of Waunakee, Wis., is a suspenseful performance where a single word and its results are judged.
• “Bang, You’re Dead!” is a zany comedy written by Paul Reakes and directed by Matthew Gorgone of Greenville, R.I., that will keep audiences guessing as Lydia and her boyfriend Marcus rehearse the murder of her husband.
• “Inner Thoughts,” a drama written and directed by Lindsay Christensen of Brooklyn Park, is about five high school students in a school hostage situation.

Shows are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, March 30 through April 2, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 3.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and are available at the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

SMU Department of Theatre and Dance presents comedy ‘25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’

WINONA, Minn. — Can you spell hilarious? The Saint Mary’s University Department of Theatre and Dance will present the “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” Feb. 24-27.

Catchy musical numbers combine with colorful characters filled with youthful angst and yearnings in this one-act musical comedy directed by Dr. Gary Diomandes and music director Judy Myers.

Feel the anxious anticipation at this fictional spelling bee set in a geographically ambiguous Putnam Valley Middle School. The contestants include a Boy Scout, an allergy-plagued student, an over achiever, a tentative newcomer, the wide-eyed offspring of hippie parents, and a politically aware contestant — six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grownups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves.

“25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” spotlights the unlikeliest of heroes: a quirky yet charming cast of outsiders for whom a spelling bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time.

With the underlying theme that losing doesn’t make you a loser, anyone who sees this show is a winner.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 24-26, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and are available at the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or online at www.pagetheatre.org.


* This show includes adult language and subject matters.

SMU Department of Theatre & Dance to stage new version of Greek myth ‘Eurydice’

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Department of Theatre and Dance will present a fresh reflection on the timeless Greek love story “Eurydice” Nov. 11-14.

“Eurydice” — by the recently Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award nominated playwright Sarah Ruhl — is a modern reinterpretation of the Greek myth of Eurydice and Orpheus from a woman's point of view. The original story focuses on Orpheus and his journey into the underworld to save his wife, Eurydice, who he lost just moments after their wedding. Ruhl instead focuses on Eurydice’s descent into the underworld and imagines what her journey might have entailed. “I am interested in any woman who dies twice,” Ruhl has commented.

Director Steven Bouler describes “Eurydice” as a 90-minute play of rare beauty about memory and loss, faithfulness and undying love. “It promises to be a disconcerting drama that will bring a tear to the eye, a lump to the throat and a smile to the face,” he said.

Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 11-13, 9:30 p.m. Nov. 12-13 and 4 and 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in the Studio Theatre, located upstairs in the SMU Performance Center.

Although the performance is free, tickets are required as seating is limited. Tickets can be obtained through the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715. A donation of a canned item for a local food shelf is encouraged.

Saint Mary’s theatre students to perform in London, Ireland

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University theatre majors will stage the highly theatrical disturbing docu-drama “God’s Country” from Oct. 19-23 at TARA Studio in London and Nov. 29-30 at Smock Alley Studio Theatre in Ireland.

Written by Steven Dietz, the emotionally gripping plot takes a close look at the shocking history of the white supremacist movement in the USA. “God’s Country” revolves around various right-wing organizations that, collectively, comprise the so-called “Identity Movement.” The play covers all bases of the right-wing lunatic fringe, but essentially it focuses on three narrative spines: the trial in Seattle of a paramilitary group which calls itself “The Order”; the career and murder of Denver talk-radio personality Alan Berg (outspoken, controversial and Jewish) “assassinated” by The Order; and, finally, the hate-filled career and death of The Order’s founder, Robert Matthews. These narratives are not presented in a linear fashion, but are interwoven, sometimes non-chronologically, amongst a barrage of statistics and facts into a kaleidoscopic and highly theatrical vision. It’s presentation couldn’t be more timely — and, sad to say, timeless.

Qualified theatre majors at Saint Mary's are studying theatre in London, England, this semester through the Stefannié Valéncia Kierlin Theatre in London Program. Under the guidance of Saint Mary’s faculty, the program will include a variety of classes in theatre, as well as courses focusing on broader enrichment. Students will have the unique opportunity to attend numerous performances at London’s West End, Off-West End, and Fringe theatres.

Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French Inc., “God’s Country” is directed by Dr. Gary Diomandes. Also participating are: Michael Dold, stage manager; Josh Lentner, lighting designer; Greg Freeman, sound designer; and performers Darrell Fair, Maggie Allexsaht, Annie Ivansek, Regina Harris, Joanna Mills, Jarod Boltjes, Tom Conry, Rick Baustian, Jacob Rivet, David Dean, Matthew Gorgone, Laurence Alliston-Greiner and Shane Nippard.

SMU Department of Theatre & Dance to stage ‘The Lightning Bug’ Sept. 30-Oct. 3

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Department of Theatre and Dance will begin its season with the giggle-inducing comedy, “The Lightning Bug” Sept. 30 through Oct. 3.

This world-premiere performance capitalizes on superhero silliness and involves fast-paced dialogue and non-stop action. The family-friendly show, written by award-winning playwright Rand Higbee, takes place in 1939 at the Magnopolis Daily News as the evil genius Dr. Kasady emerges from hiding. The plot combines the elements of a 1930s screwball comedy with those of an old-time comic book adventure.

Rand, who received a 2009 Wisconsin Wrights award for “The Lightning Bug,” has written several popular plays including “Next!” which is currently one of the most often performed high school one-acts in the country. A question-and-answer period with Rand — who currently lives near Red Wing — will be held following Friday evening’s performance.

The show’s director Judy Myers discovered “Lightning Bug” when she attended the Last Frontier Theatre Conference in Valdez, Alaska in June of 2009. “Rand’s piece was read on the last day and I was so impressed that I asked him immediately following the reading if he would allow us to produce it at SMU,” Myers said. “I believed it would be a great piece for our students, as well as the Saint Mary’s and Winona communities.”

“Lightning Bug” — just one of SMU’s Family Weekend arts offerings — will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 30 through Oct. 2, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and are available at the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

SMU Theatre and Dance Department present ‘All’s Well That Ends Well’

WINONA, Minn. – Saint Mary’s University’s Theatre and Dance Department is presenting their rendition of William Shakespeare’s infamous play “All’s Well That End’s Well” Thursday, April 8, through Sunday, April 11. The play, a lesson of love and social class, will begin at 7:30 p.m. on April 8-10 and at 3 p.m. on April 11 in the Page Theatre, located in the SMU Performance Center.

This comedy, set in the 1630s, takes the stage with full period costuming, supported by a beautiful, romantic setting and luscious lighting. The bawdy tale centers around a young nobleman named Bertram and an orphaned commoner named Helen. The King of France grants Helen the hand of Bertram, because she cured the king of an illness. Bertram reluctantly agrees, but immediately runs off to the wars in Italy. Helen, ever persistent, follows him to Italy and — with the help of a widow woman and her virtuous daughter, Diana — tricks him into consummating their marriage and exchanging rings. Upon hearing of Helen’s death (which she faked), Bertram returns to France only to find Diana and Helen waiting to confront him about his lies and schemes. The charming Bertram learns his lesson and vows to love Helen forever.

“Every four years the Department of Theatre and Dance produces one of Shakepeare’s plays as an essential component of the theatre training program,” said director Judy Myers. “This allows students in the Saint Mary’s community — and the Winona area — the opportunity to engage in Shakespeare’s work in conjunction with their classroom experience.”

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and are available at the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

High school performance offered

Area high school students are invited to a matinee performance of “All’s Well that Ends Well” at 12:30 p.m. Friday, April 9, at SMU’s Page Theatre. The play is approximately two and a half hours long with an intermission. A discussion will follow. The cost is $2 per student or chaperone. Please call Jennifer Fanello, box office manager, at (407) 457-1716 to reserve room for your school.

“Though the play may seem extraordinarily bawdy at times, its main objective is to promote the value of virginity and that the loss of that virginity should happen with marriage,” Myers said. “The main characters are young (15- to 17-years-old) and the contemplation of sexual relationships is a hot topic among young people. We know your students will enjoy this lighthearted production, and we invite them to stay for a talk-back session at the end of the performance.”