Goshen College Winter One Act plays explore misconceptions of identity
GOSHEN, Ind. – Goshen College’s 2012 Winter One Acts will feature a playful opera and a modern drama, each about the misconceptions of identity, directed by two December 2011 graduates. The Goshen College Players will present “Haiku,” by Katherine Snodgrass and directed by Josh Hofer, and “La Serva Padrona (The Servant Turned Mistress),” by Giovanni Pergolesi and directed by Patrick Ressler, on Saturday, Feb. 3 and Friday, Feb. 4 at 8 p.m., and on Sunday, Feb. 5 (ASL interpreted) at 3 p.m. in Goshen College’s Umble Center.
Snodgrass’ “Haiku” features Louise, a severely brain-injured girl who, at times, has intervals of being miraculously “normal.” Sometimes, she is so super normal that she speaks in beautiful haiku poetry. Her mother has published the poems under her own name. When an older daughter visits, she refuses to believe that her sister Louise composed the extraordinary poems.
Event Info
Winter One Acts: “Haiku,” by Katherine Snodgrass and “La Serva Padrona (The Servant Turned Mistress),” by Giovanni Pergolesi
Date and time: Feb. 3, 4 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 5 (ASL interpreted) at 3 p.m.
Location: Goshen College’s Umble Center
Cost:Tickets cost $3, available through the Goshen College Welcome Center by calling (574) 535-7566, emailing welcomecenter@goshen.edu, online at goshen.edu/tickets or at the Umble Center Box Office an hour before the show.
“La Serva Padrona” is a one-act opera about a maid who schemes to marry her master. This comedic intermezzo by Pergolesi employs disguises, trickery and witty banter through recitative to tell the story of Uberto, Serpina and the mute page, Vespone.
“Both of these plays have their way of connecting to our “Strangers No More'”season in that the characters are trying hard to figure out the real identity of other characters,” said Doug Liechty Caskey, professor of theater. “Many questions and misconceptions about true identity are revealed along the way.”
“Haiku” will feature Jenna Grubaugh ’10 as Nell, Josh Hofer ’11 as director, junior Vanessa Jones (Dolton, S.D.) as Billie, sophomore Sarah Lake-Rayburn (Champaign, Ill.) as Louise and junior Gwen Stephan(Goshen) as the stage manager.
“La Serva Padrona” will feature senior Aaron Kaufmann (Tiskilwa, Ill.) in his senior theater recital, as Uberto. The opera will also feature junior Brook Hostetter (Harrisonburg, Va.) as Serpina, senior Sarah Lerch (Spring Valley, N.Y.) as stage manager, Patrick Ressler ’11 as director and senior Phil Weaver-Stoesz (Goshen) as Vespone. Senior Lisa Horst (Goshen) is the music director for the opera, overseeing junior Hannah Bartel (Iowa City, Iowa) on cello, sophomore Phillip Bontrager (Goshen) on viola, junior Ben Breckbill (Lincoln, Neb.) on harpsichord, senior Laura Krabill (Tiskilwa, Ill.) on violin and senior Elspeth Stalter (Iowa City, Iowa) on violin.
Professor of Theater Doug Liechty Caskey is the producer for the show and Assistant Professor of Theater Andrew Moeggenborg is the technical director. Other members of the production team for the Winter One Acts include: junior Hannah Bartel (Iowa City, Iowa) as photographer, senior Alisha Bender (Pittsburgh, Pa.) as house manager, senior Emma Brooks (Littleton, Colo.) as poster/program designer, Josh Hofer ’11 as light designer, junior Sam Jones (Goshen) as sound designer, senior Aaron Kaufmann (Tiskilwa, Ill.) as light designer and master electrician, senior Matt Lehman (Kidron, Ohio) as costume shop manager, senior Sarah Lerch (Spring Valley, N.Y.) as stage manager, senior Rebecca Lintz (Sylvania, Ohio) as ASL interpreter, senior Paul Manickam (Portland, Ore.) as set designer and set constructer, senior Jay Mast (Goshen) as house manager, junior Clare Maxwell (Winchester, Mass.) as hair and make-up designer, junior Saralyn Murray (Orrville, Ohio) as ASL interpreter, Sandy Slabaugh as production assistant, first-year Cody Steele (Albion, Ind.) as light board operator, junior Gwen Stephan (Goshen) as assistant stage manager, junior Marshal Watson (Goshen) as props manager, senior Phil Weaver-Stoesz (Goshen) as master carpenter and sophomore Natasha Weisenbeck (Clifton, Ill.) as costume designer.
Tickets for the show cost $3, and are available through the Welcome Center by calling (574) 535-7566, emailingwelcomecenter@goshen.edu, online at goshen.edu/tickets or at the Umble Center Box Office an hour before the show.
Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College Acting News Bureau Coordinator Alysha Bergey Landis at (574) 535-7762 or alyshabl@goshen.edu.
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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S.News & World Report‘s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.