2 Wisconsin Lutheran

SET TING

Time: Circa 1990Location: Various locations in Florida and a mental institution in Ohio.

CAST

Bessie ...............................................................................................................MaryFran StefanichLee.............................................................................................................................Deanna StrasseRuth ............................................................................................................................Renee PottorffHank .................................................................................................................................Kyle BarteltCharlie .............................................................................................................................Joel JahnkeDr. Wally ..........................................................................................................................Josh SheibeBob.............................................................................................................................. Jacob RobertsMarvin ............................................................................................................................ Josh KneserDr. Charlotte ...............................................................................................................Rose MuellerRetirement Director ........................................................................................... Anastasia Wilde

STAFF

Director ...................................................................................................................... Jan GompperScene Design ...............................................................................................................Jay SierszynTechnical Director/ Shop Manager ..................................................................... Dana FralickCostume Design .............................................................................................Vincent PelligrinoLighting Design .................................................................................................. Kristen KraklowMake-up Design ................................................................................................. Erica OrtenbladStage Manager ...........................................................................................Lachrisa GrandberryAssistant Stage Manager ....................................................................................Erika PetersonCostume Assistant ........................................................... Brenda Kolell, Kimberly NeumanMaster Electrician ...................................................................................................... Ben AdickesDramaturg ............................................................................................................. Melody ShuetzProps Master ........................................................................................................Octavia MortonLight Board Operator ....................................................................................Lindsey WoelbingShop Staff ........................................................................................Martin Smith, Ben Adickes, Christine Wilde, Miracle Mills, Brenda Kolell, Lindsay WoelbingProps Shop Manager .......................................................................................... Renee PottorffCostume Shop Manager ...................................................................................Hannah StellickMedical Consultants ..................................Professor Rebekah Carey and Tiffani Rohan

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DIRECTOR ’S NOTE

I wrestled a lot with what show to choose for my final production at WLC (just ask Prof. Sierszyn). The reality that this is my last show still hasn’t fully sunken in – or maybe I just don’t want it to. After reading numerous scripts this summer, I kept coming back to Marvin’s Room. Not only did it afford several strong female roles into which some of our more seasoned female theatre majors could sink their teeth, but the themes of the play also resonated with me. Ultimately, Marvin’s Room is a play about something near and dear to the mission of WLC – “servant leadership.” For many in our world, this phrase sounds like an oxymoron, but to those of us who know and believe in the greatest model of servant leadership -- Jesus Christ – we know there is no contradiction in this term. The glue that bonds the servant-leader together is love – a love for the One who first loved us, and a love that, subsequently, moves us to put the needs of others before our own. As she faces her own mortality, Bessie says, “I am so lucky to have been able to have loved so much.” As I look back on my time here at WLC, I echo Bessie’s sentiments. It has been a tremendous blessing to have had this opportunity to teach, encour-age, laugh with, cry with and, hopefully, inspire (at least to some extent) the young adults who have crossed our theatre threshold these past 16 years. Most impor-tantly, however, I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to have loved them.

I also want to thank you, the audience, for supporting the students and the theatre program these past 16 years. I pray your support and love for what we do here will continue long into the future.

God bless.Jan Gompper

B IOGR APHIES

Ben Adickes (Master Electrician) decided to choose a tech position for this performance to learn more about the non-acting side of

the production process. It is a skill he hopes to develop further as the year progresses so that he’s not limited to only providing acting support for his comrades in the department. He has his tech friends to thank for that.

Kyle Bartelt (Hank) is a freshman this year at WLC. He has performed a few times on the high school stage, but this is his first production

at the college level and he is very excited about it. He has high hopes for the coming years, and hopes to continue performing.

Lachrisa Grand-berry (Stage Manager) is a sophomore Theatre Major, and is very happy to be stage managing for Marvin’s

Room. It is always a joy and a blessing to be involved in the theatre department. She looks forward to participating in many other productions at WLC. “Thanks for coming and I hope you enjoy the show!”

Joel Janke (Charlie) is a freshman at WLC this year, planning on majoring in Communi-cations. In the past, his favorite roles have been Lenny in Rumors

and Victor in Frankenstein 1930.

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B IOGR APHIES (c o n t.)

Josh Kneser (Marvin) is a sophomore at WLC and has been in several Rabbe shows. He has appeared in The American Clock, Lady Windermere’s

Fan, and J.B. “Have fun kids.”

Kristen Kraklow (Lighting Designer) is picking up her crescent wrench again for her now alma mater. She is a recent graduate of

WLC and after stage managing and designing lights at Sunset Playhouse, Summerstage, and Old World Wisconsin over the summer, she is thrilled to be back among her well-known Raabe rafters! Thanks go out to the Big Guy upstairs, her family and friends for their unwavering support, and to Jay and Jan for everything they’ve done and continue to do. We’ll miss you, Jan.

Octavia Morton (Props Master) is a junior Theatre major at WLC. It has been very exciting for Octavia to learn more about the technical

side of theatre. She was the stage manager for Lady Windermere’s Fan, and past on-stage credits include May (Last Train to Nibroc/Gulf View Drive) and Melody Lane (Curse of the Aching Heart). Thanks go out to family and friends for all their love and support.

Rose Mueller (Dr. Charlotte) is a senior and is very grateful for the opportunity to be on the Raabe Stage for the third time. She was also in

Anything Goes! and played Saturday/Dr. Bull in The Man who was Thursday. When not on stage, Rose can be found

in the library, where she is probably having way too much fun writing a German paper. Special thanks to the cast, crew and techies, who are all amazing! AMDG.

Erica Ortenblad (Hair and Make-up Design) is happy to be returning as the hair and makeup designer for Marvin’s Room. Faced with some

interesting challenges, she was able to try out new techniques and get creative for the special effects involved in the show. Hope you enjoy the performance!

Vincent Pelligrino (Costume Design) is a 2010 graduate of WLC Theatre. Last season he had the honor of costuming every show at WLC, while working

with Sunset Playhouse and Miller and Campbell Costume Service. He has also delighted audiences as an actor in New Hampshire, Los Angeles, Detroit, Milwaukee and soon Wichita, Kansas. He is blessed to be a part of this year’s season. Visit him at www.ghostofbanquo.com and www.vincentpelligrino.com

Erika Peterson (Assistant Stage Manager) started acting, singing and directing (!) at age 5 and she hasn’t stopped since. Her

favorite roles include Baloo, Jungle Book, Wicked Witch of the West, Wizard of Oz Willy Wonka, Wonka Jr, and The White Rabbit and Assistant Director in Alice. She thanks her mom and dad for all their support and God for this wonder-ful opportunity.

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B IOGR APHIES (c o n t.)

Renee Pottorff (Ruth) a senior Theatre major is honored to be participating in her tenth show on the Raabe stage. As she

nears the end of her college life, it is appropriate that she plays a character who is also in the last stretch. Renee would like to thank her family for the 115 hours (approximately) that they have spent on the road to come see her performances.

Jacob Roberts (Bob) is quite thrilled to invade the stage with a few humorous lines; he is a peculiar character, both in the world of the play and

in life itself. Jacob pursues his love of acting and linguistics with zeal. This is his second performance at WLC, and he thanks the many that have fostered his growing passion.

Josh Scheibe (Dr. Wally) is a freshman this year. He appeared in eight shows on the high school stage. After playing Jed in

Wisconsin Lutheran College’s production of New York earlier this year, he is very excited to be involved in his second Raabe production as Doctor Wally.

Melody Schuetz (Dramaturg) a junior, is excited to be involved in this theater production at WLC. She has previously worked in

the costume crew in The Seagull. As a dramaturg, she enjoys the opportunity to develop understanding of the play through research, real life experiences, and expert information. Melody would like to thank Professor Rebekah Carey, Professor Casey Holtz, and Cheryl Figueroa for sharing their knowledge and experiences.”

MaryFran Stefanich (Bessie) is a senior Theatre major participating in her eleventh produc-tion here at WLC. She would like to

thank Hannah for being her sanity this last year, her family for their constant love and support, and Jan for all the knowledge and wisdom she has shared with her over these last four years.

Deanna Strasse (Lee) As a wee freshman three years ago Deanna Strasse met a plethora of amazing theatre practitioners here at

WLC—two of them being MaryFran

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B IOGR APHIES (c o n t.)

Stefanich and Jan Nelson-Gompper. As a senior now she couldn’t ask for a better “beginning of the end” than working in such a remarkable play alongside those two fabulous women yet again. “It has been one marvelous ride, ladies. Words can’t express how grateful I am to have shared the laughs. tears, call-backs and cast parties of the past three years with you.” Other WLC Theatre credits include J.B. (Zuss), See Rock City (Mrs. Brummett) and The Seagull (Polina) to name a few.

Anastasia Wild (Retirement Home Director) is a junior who is majoring in Theatre and Business. She is thrilled to be a part of Marvin’s

Room, her fifth production here at WLC. She sends out a huge Thank You!! to her family for their support and to Jesus for all the blessings he has given her in both theatre and life.

Lindsey Woelbing (Light Board Operator) is a junior this year and enjoys working with the theatre department. She was the

Lightboard Op. for Lady Windermere’s Fan, and New York. Sound Board Op. for Gulf View Drive, and Lighting Crew for J.B. She has also done some stage and spotlight work at Union Grove High School. She is excited to be working on another production here at WLC. She thanks her friends and family for their love and support and God for giving her these talents and dedica-tion. Enjoy the show!

THEATRE DEPARTMENT PHILOSOPHY

Our theatre Department’s position on show selection and content is that the greatest moral responsibility in dramatic art is to be truthful. Therefore, while plays are not presented that deliberately seek to offend Christian sensibilities, truthfulness in portraying the sinful condition of man may, in good conscious, be represented on stage.

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