Apr. 19, 2007

Three MC Theatre students put their capstones on the stage
Jason E. Weber
weberj@marietta.edu

The capstone requirement at Marietta College is to demonstrate the abilities a student has achieved at the college as well as show their readiness for the world of work that they are about to enter into. For three theatre students, the best way to complete that requirement was to take the stage one last time.

Both this weekend and next weekend, the Marietta College Theatre Department will be presenting the capstone projects of Heather Keith and Dan May, a musical by Andrew Lippa and Tom Greenwald entitled, “john and jen;” and of Nicholas Gehlfuss, an original one-man show.

The first performance, “john and jen,” will feature two BFA Musical Theatre Majors, Heather Keith and Dan May, in a two-person musical that takes the audience on a journey through a changing American landscape as they watch the two actor reinvent themselves in new roles as brother/sister or parent/child. As they play goes on, the character names stay the same, but the characters themselves change again and again.

Working with theatre faculty member, Steve Rader, the two talented seniors developed this production of rare, but well-written, chamber musical from the ground up.

They believe that this experience will further prepare them for their careers. Starting next year, the two actors will embark on a journey that, they hope, will eventually lead to them to successful lives as theatre professionals.

Likewise, Senior Nicholas Gehlfuss, a BFA Theatre major, will be using all of his talents to present a completely original one-man show which he has developed, written, rehearsed, and staged. Truly an exercise in all of the talents Gehlfuss has learned at Marietta College, this production promises to be quite interesting.

“I had never written a script before, and that has been my biggest challenge,” Gehlfuss said, “The hardest part has been making sure that everything flows. I’ve spent the most time working with Steve [Rader] revising. But I know that editing this is really going to help me understand better what good theatre is as I continue in the future. I am learning so much.”

Gehlfuss also has hopes of breaking into the business, but before he ventures to Los Angeles or New York City to put it all on the line, he's off to The University of Missouri-Kansas City to earn his Master of the Fine Arts degree in Acting.

“john and jen” will be presented on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, April 20, 21, and 22 at 8:00 p.m. on the apron stage of the Friedrich Theatre in the Hermann Fine Arts Center.

Tickets are $8.00 for adults, $7.00 for seniors, and $6.00 for students. For reservations, call the box office at (740) 376-4678. Nicholas Gehlfuss' one man show will then be presented free of charge to the entire college and community on Friday, April 28 at 8:00 p.m. also in the Hermann Fine Arts Center.