Playbill - NMSU Theatre Arts

FROM THE INTERIM DEPARTMENT HEAD
AND MANAGING DIRECTOR
It is astonishing to consider that William Shakespeare’s
Hamlet and Twelfth Night were produced within just two
or three years of each other, circa 1600. This is remarkable not only because of the stature of these plays, or that
Shakespeare had them in mind concurrently, but because
they are so different in style and sensibility. In France, not
long after Shakespeare’s day, Neoclassicism would prescribe that dramatists write tragedies or comedies, but not
both. This was the circumstance for Molière, author of The Misanthrope (seen
here last season). Shakespeare, of course, was a master not only of tragic and
comic genres but of both realms: in one, fateful circumstances lead to catastrophe and a cosmic order is violated; in the other, lovers find one another, mistakes are sorted out, and order is restored.
Either way, Shakespeare was drawn to exotic lands and often the supernatural:
ghosts and witches and signifying storms on the tragic side; enchanted islands,
forests, and magical spirits on the comic. He knew the ancient Roman dramatists, and comedic and tragic conventions were inherited from Plautus and Seneca, respectively. The mistaken identity plot, often with confusion between twins
or genders or both, dates to the Plautine farces. And, of course, all of Shakespeare’s female roles were played originally by boy actors, a convention that
could add significantly to more comic misreadings of gender along with farcical
mishaps and accidents of timing.
Twelfth Night rounds out an exciting season for NMSU Theatre Arts, and we
thank you again for joining us for a year that marked the tenth anniversary of
our High Desert Play Development Workshop. From West Highland Way
through The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Other Desert Cities, and on to Twelfth
Night, this has been a truly remarkable year.
And next season promises just as much enjoyment. We’ll open with the Pulitzer
Prize-winning The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds and
continue in fall with stage adaptations of A Wrinkle in Time (Theatre for Young
Audiences) and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Then, in spring, a beautiful rendering by Caridad Svich of Julia Alvarez’s novel, In the Time of the Butterflies, is
followed by the musical theatre favorite, The Drowsy Chaperone.
Season tickets are now on sale at our box office or by mail, so please do take
time now to select your favorite seats and dates. We look forward to seeing you
next year!
Dr. William Storm
American Southwest Theatre Company
at NMSU Theatre Arts
presents
DIRECTOR
LARISSA LURY
SCENIC DESIGNER JIM BILLINGS
COSTUME DESIGNER
DEBORAH BRUNSON
LIGHTING & SOUND DESIGNER MATT REYNOLDS
PROPS DESIGNER DAVID L. HEREFORD
ORIGINAL MUSIC BY
JOEY RODRIGUEZ & ISAAC LUCERO
STAGE MANAGER
MIKE WISE
The play will be performed with one 15-minute intermission.
Audiences are reminded to please silence all electronic devices
(cell phones and alarms) prior to the performance.
If you use your cell phone during the performance, you may be asked to
leave. Thank you for your consideration.
CAST
VIOLA
/CESARIOStephanie Drake
SEBASTIANNico Holguin
ORSINOJoshua Horton
CURIO Aaron Hernandez
VALENTINEKenneth Williams
TROUBADORJoey Rodriguez
ATTENDANTCameron Lang
OLIVIAMarianna Gallegos
FESTEIsaac Lucero
MARIAStephanie Vasquez Fonseca
MALVOLIORobby Sciortino
SIR TOBY BELCH
Mario Ragazzone
SIR ANDREW AQUECHEEK
Cruz Talamantes
FABIANJacob Grant
PRIESTCameron Lang
ANTONIOAustin Parrish
SEA CAPTAIN
Mario Ragazzone
OFFICERAaron Hernandez
OFFICERKenny Williams
Place: The coast of Illyria
Opening song: "Squealing Pigs" by Admiral Fallow
For Aidan Viscarra, who was originally cast in our production:
we dedicate the show to you and wish you many more
Twelfth Nights and a lifetime on stage.
ASTC at NMSU Theatre Arts invites you to our 2014 - 2015 Opening
Night Celebrations, every opening night this season,
sponsored by Dr. Christa Slaton, Dean of NMSU’s
College of Arts and Sciences. Thank you, Dean Slaton!
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
Stephanie Drake (Viola/Cesario) Stephanie is a junior majoring in Theatre Arts.
Her previous experience includes Second Nun in The House of Blue Leaves,
Anna in a the CMI film Barreling Dawn and Christie in the Counter Productions
film The Low Lives.
Marianna Gallegos (Olivia) Marianna is a senior majoring in Theatre Arts. Her
previous experience includes Sophia in Nine, Rebecca in Our Town, Laurie Morton in Brighton Beach Memoirs, Babette in Beauty and the Beast, Jojo in Seussical, Cherry in The Beaux’ Stratagem and Belle in A Christmas Carol. She has
also directed Almost Maine and Glengarry Glen Ross for CSTC.
Jacob Grant (Fabian) Jacob is a sophomore at NMSU. His previous roles
include John Rice in Will Shakespeare, Land of the Dead, James Lingk in Glengarry Glen Ross, Maurice in Beauty and the Beast, Butler in Little Mermaid, and
Mayor in The Music Man.
Aaron Hernandez (Curio/Officer) Aaron is a junior Theatre Arts major. His previous roles include John Jasper/Clive Paget in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Joel
in Aunt Raini, Solicitor #2/Ebenezer in A Christmas Carol, Helicanus in Pericles,
Daniel Kaffee in A Few Good Men, Shelley Levene in Glengarry Glen Ross,
Horatio and Player King in Hamlet, and Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew.
Nicholas Holguin (Sebastian) Nico is a junior majoring in Individualized Studies, with minors in Theatre Arts and Journalism. Audiences may recognize him
from his work earlier in this semester playing Trip in Other Desert Cities. His
previous roles include Richard Roma in Glengarry Glen Ross.
Josh Horton (Orsino) Josh is a junior majoring in Theater Arts. His previous
roles include Alceste in The Misanthrope, Dave/Jimmy in Almost Maine, The
Director in Aunt Raini, Ghost of Jacob Marley / Butcher in A Christmas Carol,
Stanley in One Man, Two Guvnors, Freddy in Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Horace/
Ensemble in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and Jack in the staged reading of For
The Falls.
Cameron Lang (Priest/Orsino’s Court) Cameron is a junior majoring in Theatre Arts. His previous roles include Nick Cricker/Durdles in The Mystery of
Edwin Drood, Chad in Almost Maine, Old Joe in A Christmas Carol, Reg in The
Full Monty, Aggie in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Albert in A Thousand
Clowns, Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, and The Clown in Co-Ed Prison Sluts.
Isaac Lucero (Feste) Isaac is a sophomore majoring in Theatre Arts. His previous roles include Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Show, Benedick in Much Ado
About Nothing, Various in Twilight L.A. 1992, Juror #5 in Twelve Angry Men,
Benny in The Language of Flowers, and Mortimer in Arsenic and Old Lace.
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
Austin Parrish (Antonio) Austin is a junior at NMSU majoring in Theatre Arts.
His previous roles include Bazzard in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Oronte in
The Misanthrope, Ellard Simms in The Foreigner, James Trotter in James and
the Giant Peach, Rocky in The Rocky Horror Show, Ensemble in Carousel, Keno
in The Full Monty and Ronnie Shaughnessy in The House of Blue Leaves.
Mario Ragazzone (Sea Captain) Mario is a junior majoring in Theatre Arts. His
previous roles include Throttle/Stage Manager in The Mystery of Edwin Drood,
Corey Palmer Sr. in Back to the 80’s, Beadle Bamford in Sweeney Todd, Phil in
Almost Maine, and Bayler in Glengarry Glen Ross.
Joseph Rodriquez (Troubador) Joseph is a junior at NMSU, majoring in Education. His previous acting experience includes Neville Landless/Victor Grinstead
in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Solicitor #1/Fishmonger in A Christmas Carol,
Harold Hill in The Music Man, Anthony in Sweeney Todd, Corey Palmer in Back
to the 80’s and Ensemble in Les Miserables.
Robby Sciortino (Malvolio) Robert is a sophomore Theatre Arts major. His previous roles include Deputy/Nick Cricker in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Clitandre
in The Misanthrope, Aunt Sponge/First Officer in James and the Giant Peach,
Max in The Sound of Music, and Douglas Aberdeen in Go Ask Alice.
Cruz Talamantes (Sir Andrew Aguecheek) Cruz is a senior Theatre Arts major.
His previous theatre roles include playing Sagot in Picasso at the Lapin Agile,
Andrew in the staged reading of For The Falls, and C#@t in Poona the F#!@dog
for CSTC.
Stephanie Vasquez Fonseca (Maria) Stephanie is a sophomore Theatre Arts
major. Her previous roles include Princess Puffer in The Mystery of Edwin
Drood, Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing, Spider in James and the Giant
Peach, Basque/Guard/DuBois in The Misanthrope, Zombie in Land of the Dead,
and Cookie in Rumors.
Kenneth Williams (Valentine/Officer) Kenneth is a junior Theatre Arts major
and his previous roles include Acaste in The Misanthrope, George Gibbs in Our
Town, Ensemble in The Rocky Horror Show, Nicely Nicely in Guys And Dolls,
and George in Sorry, Wrong Number.
SPECIAL THANKS
Dean Christa Slaton, Aiden Viscarra, Tracy Miller-Tomlinson , Bob
Wofford, Megan McQueen, Claudia Billings, Tiffini Reimann, and
Richard Rundell
DIRECTOR’S NOTES
We’re cast by a shipwreck into the story of Twelfth Night. When I thought about
creating this production with a group of university students, that shipwreck came
to life for me as a powerful metaphor. Our students are in that thrilling and terrifying time between life under a parent’s roof and full-fledged adulthood (whatever
that means). The characters too, have had the structure of life as they’ve known
it overturned, and they must step into roles of leadership and adulthood before
they feel entirely ready.
Shakespeare positions orphans at the center of the play. Viola and Sebastian
have lost their father, and their mother is never mentioned; Olivia has recently
lost both her father and brother, and her mother too seems non-existent in her
world. From a place of wreck and loss, the characters try on different roles and
test different relationships — sometimes carefully, sometimes carelessly, sometimes lovingly and sometimes cruelly, until they land on their feet in a way that
somehow feels more secure.
There’s a way in which we can see life as a series of shipwrecks and re-builds.
We coast along in a structure we’ve established (or someone’s established for
us), then something comes along to poke a hole in our “boat,” or to blow that
structure to pieces, and what can we do but gather the pieces and build a new
boat, or a home, or a friendship, or a marriage — a new structure to hold onto, at
least until the next storm comes along?
During the first week of rehearsal, I asked the actors to name either a moment
when they first felt like an adult, or some aspect of “adulthood,” for which they
still felt unprepared. We talked about doctor appointments and filling out insurance forms, parents moving away or getting sick, losing family members, and the
lighter side of eating whatever we wanted to for dinner. We began from who we
are, and all of the insecurities and hopes we share with these characters whom
Shakespeare created more than four hundred years ago.
In the play, Olivia encourages Cesario more wisely than she realizes:
“take thy fortunes up/
Be that thou know’st thou art, and then thou art /
As great as that thou fear’st.”
Yet how can you “be that thou know’st thou art” when you don’t really know who
you are, or when you are afraid that revealing who you think you are will not be
acceptable to the world around you?
Well… you just try I guess. You make a fool of yourself. You make a fool of others. You keep yourself hidden until you feel safe or until someone calls you out.
Along the way, maybe you discover you’re different than you thought you were.
Maybe you decide you don’t like the boat you’re on, and it’s time to build something new. Maybe you end up shipwrecked, lost and not knowing what or who to
turn to… and then you start again.
-- Larissa Lury
SYNOPSIS OF TWELFTH NIGHT
PROLOGUE: A shipwreck
ACT 1 -- VIOLA, saved from the wreck by a sea CAPTAIN, is left stranded on the coast
of Illyria, mourning the likely death of her brother SEBASTIAN.  ORSINO, the Duke of
Illyria wants to find some way to get rid of the tangled-up-want-to-wretch and yet somehow still sweet feeling of unrequited love for the Countess OLIVIA. CURIO arrives to tell
ORSINO that OLIVIA refuses to see anyone for the next seven years, while she mourns
the loss of her brother, who has recently died.  MARIA gets OLIVIA’s uncle TOBY to
wake up and get dressed. SIR TOBY convinces SIR ANDREW (a knight whose money
TOBY has been scrounging) to stay. ANDREW is in Illyria to woo OLIVIA, but realizing
that OLIVIA is swearing off men and that his competition is the Count, he’s doubting his
chances.  VIOLA (now disguised as a young man named CESARIO) has been accepted into ORSINO’s household, and has quickly become ORSINO’s favorite. ORSINO,
confiding in CESARIO/VIOLA asks her to woo OLIVIA on his behalf.  FESTE returns
to OLIVIA’s house after having run off for months. MARIA tries to prepare him to see
OLIVIA. CESARIO/VIOLA comes to woo OLIVIA for ORSINO. It does not go as planned;
OLIVIA rejects ORSINO, but… invites CESARIO to return (you know, just to let her know
how ORSINO feels about being rejected, so she says.) In fact, she sends MALVOLIO to
chase after CESARIO/VIOLA with a ring that she says “he” gave to her from ORSINO. 
MALVOLIO “returns” the ring to CESARIO/VIOLA (who never gave it in the first place)
insisting that she bring it back to ORSINO as a sign of OLIVIA’s rejection.
ACT 2 -- SEBASTIAN, VIOLA’s brother (who is not dead after all!) reveals his identity
to ANTONIO, who saved his life and has been spending day and night with him for the
past few months. He does this just before he departs for Illyria, where he hopes to get
himself back on his feet.  TOBY keeps ANDREW, FESTE and MARIA awake with
him. MALVOLIO, awoken by their noise, reprimands them, and threatens that he’ll try to
get OLIVIA to throw them out of the house. MARIA comes up with a plot to get back at
MALVOLIO.  ORSINO calls in FESTE to sing a song that FESTE had played for him
the night before. ORSINO claims that there is no woman in the world (including OLIVIA)
who can feel the kind of love that he does. VIOLA/CESARIO, now secretly desperate
for the ORSINO’s love herself, begs to differ. ORSINO sends CESARIO/VIOLA back to
OLIVIA’s house once again to make his case.  MARIA, FABIAN, TOBY and ANDREW
play a trick on MALVOLIO. MARIA’s written a fake love letter from OLIVIA, and leaves it
for MALVOLIO to find.
ACT 3 -- VIOLA/CESARIO returns (following ORISINO’s request) to OLIVIA’s, where
she’s confronted by FESTE, who seems to know more than he should. OLIVIA confesses
her love to CESARIO/VIOLA, who says “he’ll” never come to see her again.  ANDREW,
having seen OLIVIA throw herself at CESARIO/VIOLA, threatens once again to go home.
FABIAN and TOBY convince him that OLIVIA did it to make him jealous. They suggest
that he challenge CESARIO/VIOLA to a fight to show off his valor.  ANTONIO catches
up with SEBASTIAN near the entrance to Illyria. He confesses that he once stole goods
from Illyrian ships, and is not welcome or safe in Illyria, but he offers to secure a place for
them to stay and to hide out there, while SEBASTIAN explores the city.  OLIVIA has
invited CESARIO/VIOLA back yet again. MALVOLIO, following the requests spelled out
in the fake love letter, comes to woo OLIVIA. MARIA, TOBY and FABIAN pretend they
believe he’s been driven mad by the devil. TOBY suggests binding him up in a dark room
and gagging him. TOBY and FABIAN spur CESARIO/VIOLA and ANDREW on to fight.
ANTONIO, mistaking CESARIO/VIOLA for her brother, threatens ANDREW and TOBY, in
defense of SEBASTIAN. VALENTINE and CURIO spot ANTONIO and arrest him.
SYNOPSIS OF TWELFTH NIGHT (Continued)
ACT IV -- FESTE chases after SEBASTIAN, thinking he’s CESARIO/VIOLA, because
OLIVIA has sent FESTE to fetch CESARIO/VIOLA. ANDREW, making the same mistake,
attacks SEBASTIAN, which does not end well for ANDREW. OLIVIA, also thinking that
SEBASTIAN is CESARIO/VIOLA, comes to his defense, asks him to forgive TOBY’s behavior and invites him to come inside... SEBASTIAN says yes.  TOBY and MARIA ask
FESTE to pretend he is a priest named Sir Topas, and to speak to the bound MALVOLIO,
accusing him of madness. MALVOLIO pleads for help.  SEBASTIAN, in OLIVIA’s bedroom alone, questions his sanity, since the events of the past day have been so unbelievable. OLIVIA arrives with the PRIEST, ready to get married.
ACT V -- FESTE now has a letter written by MALVOLIO to OLIVIA, pleading his case;
FABIAN tries to get it from him. ORSINO arrives (with CESARIO/VIOLA) to woo OLIVIA
himself this time. OLIVIA rejects him and tries to get CESARIO/VIOLA to speak up. She
calls in the PRIEST to attest to their marriage (since she thinks she married CESARIO/
VIOLA, when really she married SEBASTIAN). ANDREW arrives accusing CESARIO/
VIOLA of attacking him; TOBY arrives with a bloody head too. SEBASTIAN arrives, apologizing to OLIVIA for having beaten up ANDREW and TOBY, claiming he had to do it in
self-defense. Everyone, now gazing upon two people they thought were the same person,
grows astounded. SEBASTIAN and VIOLA reunite, and VIOLA reveals her true identity.
MALVOLIO’s letter is finally delivered to OLIVIA, MALVOLIO is brought in, and the trick
played upon him is brought to light. FABIAN asks for the trick to be excused as a joke, so
as not to dampen anyone’s fun.
The party and wedding preparations continue … for some.
ASTC at NMSU 2015-2016 SEASON
The Effect of Gamma Rays on
Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds
By Paul Zindel
Sept. 24 - Oct. 11, 2015
A Wrinkle In Time
Adapted from the novel
by Madeleine L’Engle
Oct. 30 & 31, 2015
Frankenstein
By R.N. Sandberg
Nov. 19 - Dec. 6, 2015
In The Time of the Butterflies
A play by Caridad Svich
based on the novel by
Julia Alvarez
Feb. 25 - March 13, 2016
The Drowsy Chaperone
Book by Bob Martin and
Don McKellar
Music and lyrics by
Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison
April 21 - May 8, 2016
Tickets: 646-4515 or www.nmsutheatre.com
PRODUCTION STAFF
Technical Director
David L. Hereford
Production Coordinator
Mike Wise
Theater Manager
Matt Reynolds
Scene Shop Foreman
James Jaworski
Costume Shop Manager
Guenevere McMahon
Assistant Director
Victoria Castillo
Assistant Stage Manager
Daniel De La Rosa
Assistant Costume Designer
Juneice Robinson
Wardrobe Supervisor
Madison Miller
Assistant Sound/Lighting Designer
Levi Morgan
Assistant to the Scenic Designer
Nicole Bartlett
Master Electrician
Matt Reynolds
Assistant Master Electricians
Ashley Barrera, Drew Kelley, Shay
Harris and Brandon McCormick
Lighting Electricans
THTR 347 students
Light Board Operator
Shay Harris
Sound OperatorJamie Smith
Stage Crew Head
Daniel De La Rosa
Stage Crew
Clay Andrews, Rachel Edwards, Joel
Fisk, Heather Hosford, Sam Monrreal,
Mozart Pierson, Juenice Robinson,
Ashley Vantiger, Alex Wheeler
Set Construction
Garrett Bensley, Rachel Edwards,
Kelsey Gentile, Jarad Van Natta, and THTR 141L & THTR 346 students
Costume Crew
Kia Ashley, Zac Brown, Anthony For-
rester, Rick Gonzalez, Xavier Gonzalez,
Josh Horton, Kathleen King, Miranda Lukens, Taylor Pena, Megan Thompson,
Ashley Vargas, Aylin White
Costume Construction
Courtney Bishop, Xavier Gonzalez, Ting
Ting Laub, Danya Linares, Miranda
Lukens, Luke Null, Paloma Pavar, Sara
Pavia, Beka Rubacalva, Megan Thomp
son, and THTR 345 & THTR 142L
students
House Manager
Micheline Halloul
House Crew
Victoria Castillo, Pari Cox, Nicole Hol-
guin, Danya Linares, Mike Manning,
Alonso Ontiveros, Palma Tavenner,
Isaiah Torrez
PhotographerMichael Wise
RESIDENT COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES
Claudia Billings holds a B.S. in Theatre and Dance from the University of
Wyoming and an M.A. in English Literature from NMSU. She currently teaches
Introduction to Theatre and Acting. She also acts and directs for ASTC at NMSU.
Jim Billings received an M.F.A. in Scenic Design from the California Institute of
the Arts. He has worked as a freelance designer around the country, and came
to NMSU in 1985. Design credits include dance, theatre, opera, industrials and
museums. Jim was awarded the Ralph B Crouch Award for “Outstanding contributions to the life of the NMSU community.”
Deborah Brunson received a B.F.A. in Costume Design from The University of
Alabama in 1977, and an M.F.A. in Costume Design from the University of Texas
at Austin in 1980. She has been Resident Costume Designer at NMSU since
1988. She designs and fabricates for a variety of artistic areas.
Josh Chenard teaches Acting and Vocal Production. An Associate Teacher of
Fitzmaurice Voicework® and a Certified Instructor of the Michael Chekhov Technique, Josh teaches Master Classes and workshops all over the country including
in New York City, Boston, Atlanta, Baltimore, and Los Angeles. As a director, Josh
has worked in a variety of educational and professional settings most recently
directing The Mystery of Edwin Drood and The Misanthrope for ASTC at NMSU,
and the Chicago Premiere of Michael Lluberes’ Peter Pan: The Boy Who Hated
Mothers for Stage B Theatre Company. MFA - Virginia Commonwealth University,
BA – University of Southern Maine.
David L. Hereford received his B.F.A. in Theatre from UNM in 1978. He spent
five summers at the Santa Fe Opera and a summer in the props shop at the
Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon, as well as being the Props
Master at the Manitoba Theatre Centre in Winnipeg, and a scenic carpenter at
the Denver Center Theatre Company.
James Jaworski comes from Buffalo, NY. Jim is a regionally-recognized artist
and bowl maker and spends his “free time” making bowls and finding lumber.
Larissa Lury is a director, actor, acrobat, and teacher. At NMSU, in addition to
teaching and directing, she heads the American Southwest Children’s Theatre
Company. She directs and workshops plays in NYC and regionally, focusing
primarily on the development of new works, two of which were nominated for
(and one of which won) Best Play from the San Diego Critics Circle following
the productions she directed. She was a Resident Director at Ensemble Studio
Theatre from 2008-09, is a member of the Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab,
and an Affiliated Artist with New Georges. She was recently selected to be of five
awardees nationwide of the National Directors Fellowship. MFA, UC San Diego.
BS, Northwestern University.
RESIDENT COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES
Guenevere McMahon has worked as an independent artist and craftsperson in
the areas of fine art, art-to-wear garments for galleries and private clients, and
has designed and produced her own line of handbags. She holds a B.A. in Government and a Master of Public Administration, both from NMSU.
Megan McQueen is a proud graduate of NMSU, earning a Bachelor of Music
degree with a minor in theater and a Master of Arts in Education. During her
undergraduate studies, she began professional work for various theater companies and arts organizations as an actress, producer, director, stage manager,
and arts administrator in New Mexico, Texas, and Pennsylvania. After graduating,
she continued this work, largely in Massachusetts. Megan has been teaching
music and theater in Las Cruces since 2004, notably at Alma d’Arte Charter High
School and Centennial High School.
Matt Reynolds designs lighting and sound for theatres around the country. In
addition to his alma maters, Indiana University (B.A. ’08) and Michigan State
University (M.F.A. ’12), his work has been enjoyed at Phoenix Theatre, Cardinal
Theatre, and Brown County Playhouse, among others. He has taught theatrical
practices for Indiana University, Michigan State University, Michigan Educational
Theatre Association, Lansing Media Theatre Project, and Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Outside of teaching and design, Matt dedicates his
time to his loving wife of thirteen years, Mollie, his 6-year-old daughter, Lucy, and
to his one year old son, Hugo.
Tom Smith received his B.A. from Whitman College and his M.F.A. from Univer­
sity of Missouri-Kansas City. He is the author of numerous plays produced na­
tionally and internationally, and has directed productions from New York to Walla
Walla, Washington. He is a proud member of both Dramatist’s Guild and Stage
Directors and Choreographers Society.
William Storm teaches theatre history, dramatic literature, and theory. He is
the author of After Dionysus: A Theory of the Tragic and Irony and the Modern
Theatre, along with plays and essays in literary criticism and drama theory. He is
co-director and dramaturg for the High Desert Play Development Workshop and
was literary manager of the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.
Michael Wise received his B.A. from UC-Santa Barbara, and has been working
professionally in theatre for the past 35 years. He has worked for the Oregon
Shakespeare Festival, The Bathhouse Theatre Company, A Contemporary Theatre, The Seattle Group Theatre, Intiman, lo-fi productions, The Las Cruces Community Theater, The Empty Space Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park,
Mt. Hood Repertory Theater, The Player’s Guild, Long Island Ensemble and the
Seattle Childrens Theatre. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
SPONSORS and DONORS
GUILDS
Center Stage Society
Philip Benson
Chuck and Sally Bisbee
James Gerwels and Tiffini Reimann
Janet and Mellow Honek of Sunspot
Solar Energy
NMSU College of Arts and Sciences
Mary Rogan and Tony Swart
Denise Welsh and Robert Pirtle
Marquee Club
David Arnoldy and Linda Lee
Nancy Baker
Curtis Blais
Al and Pat Cooper
Rod and Bea Gajewsia
Richard Hoekstra
Timothy and Diana Lawton
Megan McQueen
Mary F. Morris
Heather Osterreich and Sarah Finke
Beth Preston
Ted Ramirez
Barbara and Irwin Ross
Jim and Brenda Shannon
Tom and Beverly Stiles
Richard Radick and Margaret
Suzukida
Norman Todd and Georgette Malooley
SPONSORS AND DONORS
Impresario ($3,500+)
NMSU College of Arts and Sciences/
Dean Christa Slaton
Director’s Circle ($3,499 - $2,000)
Show Stoppers ($1,999 - $1,000)
Ovation ($999 - $500)
Dean Christa Slaton
Spotlight ($499 - $250)
Mike Cook
Marc and Gina Eidel
Deborah Storm
Leading Players ($249 - 1)
Samuel and Donna Alden
In Memory of Patricia L. Andrew
In Memory of Robert C. Andrew
Ben Baca
Dr. Patrick and BG Gwendolyn Bingham
Bonnie and Bob Burn
Cheryl Fallstead
Megan McQueen
George Jr. and Kaye Miller
Nina and Jim Mulhauser
Eleni Philippou
Robert Pirtle & Rio Grande Guns, LLC
Les Smith
In Memory of Ronald K. Smith
Kelly Sitzer
Lynda Tyson
Tom and Karen Warren
Denise Welsh
Gail Zimmer
Broadway Today
Sponsors
Anonymous
Chuck and Sally Bisbee
Mike Cook
Caryl Kotulak
Janet McQueen
Fred and Caroline
Thompson
William and Deborah
Storm
In Kind Donations
Donna Alden
Ben Baca
Mike Cook
James Gerwels
Ann McCullough
Tiffini Reimann
Roanna St. Clair
Jamie Sells
Deborah Storm
William Storm
Denise Welsh
Fashion Show
Sponsors
Mike Cook
Janice Forrest
James Gerwels and
Tiffini Reimann
Jennifer Hodges
Barb Elliott Ross
William Storm
Denise Welsh
Michael Wise
Jim and Madeleine
Woodward
From the ASTC Board President
The American Southwest Theater Company is proud to support the New
Mexico State University Theatre Arts Program. The “best live theatre
in the Southwest” may be a well kept secret in our community, but word
keeps on getting out to the world. As we end this year of plays and get
ready for the 2015-2016 season, please do let your friends and neighbors
know about the delight of coming to see our NMSU students perform and
to watch their progress as they grow in their craft.
And, speaking of watching NMSU students develop their talents, we hope
you were able to attend our ASTC spring fundraiser, Broadway Today.
This fantastic show, created and directed by Board and NMSU faculty
member Megan McQueen, featured more than 15 NMSU theatre arts and
voice students along with members of the local and El Paso communities.
If you had to miss this show, just plan to attend next year!
Season tickets are now on sale, and we are looking forward to an
exceptional 2015-2016 season. And, as a reminder, if you are a current
member of one of our Guild Programs, your seating request will be prioritized before all others! If you would like to donate to the NMSU Department of Theatre Arts or the American Southwest Theatre Company, or
simply be placed on our mailing list, please fill out the information page
in your program. Contributions to ASTC go, almost exclusively, to hiring
guest artists to work on NMSU productions and for outreach programs in
the community.
If you enjoy the plays we do and are interested in helping us bring remarkable guest artists to work on our stages, we are seeking new board
members to serve on the ASTC Board of Trustees. If you are would
consider serving, or would like to know more, please contact Dr. William
Storm at 646-3180 or Barb Ross at 522-9748.
We hope you take great pleasure in this performance of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
Enjoy! And, don’t forget to purchase your season tickets!
Barb Elliott Ross, President
ASTC Board of Trustees
ASTC Board of Trustees
President:
Barb Elliott Ross
Managing Director/
Treasurer: William Storm
Vice President:
Denise Welsh
Producing Director:
Tiffini Reimann
Secretary:
Gina Eidel
Donna Alden
Ben Baca
Nicole Bartlett
Mike Cook
Lila LeCuyer
Megan McQueen
James Gerwels
Dr. Jennifer Hodges Roanna St. Clair
Deborah Storm
ASTC RESIDENT COMPANY / NMSU
THEATRE ARTS FACULTY / STAFF
Dr. William Storm
Interim Department Head/Managing Director/
High Desert Co-Director
Claudia Billings
College Associate Professor
Jim Billings
Scenic and Lighting Designer
Deborah Brunson
Costume Designer
Josh Chenard
Assistant Professor
Cumy Gower
Fiscal Assistant
David Hereford
Technical Director
Jim Jaworski
Technical Director
Larissa Lury
Assistant Professor
Guenevere McMahon
Costume Designer
Megan McQueen
College Assistant Professor
Tiffini Reimann
Administrative Assistant/Producing Director
Matt Reynolds
Theater Manager/Sound and Lighting Designer
Tom Smith
Professor/High Desert Co-Director
Michael Wise
Production Manager
EMAIL:
PHONE:
ADDRESS:
NAME:
ASTC (checks payable to ASTC)
Theatre Arts Endowed Scholarship
Contributions to the Theatre Arts Endowed Scholarship fund will go to support theatre arts students.
American Southwest Theatre Company
Contributions to this fund go to the American Southwest Theatre Company, are undesignated, and are used
for ASTC current-year expenses. Almost all of ASTC’s budget is used in hiring guest artists for productions.
Department of Theatre Arts
Contributions to the NMSU Department of Theatre Arts go through the NMSU Foundation and are designated
for Theatre Arts Department use. The Department of Theatre Arts funds all the production costs including sets,
costumes, lights, props, and makeup. This fund also supports scholarships.
Theatre Arts Endowed Scholarship
(checks payable to NMSU)
I would like to donate to:
Dept. of Theatre Arts (checks payable to NMSU)
AMERICAN SOUTHWEST THEATRE COMPANY
NMSU THEATRE ARTS
MSC 3072/P.O. BOX 30001
LAS CRUCES, NM 88003-8001
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE TO NMSU’S DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE ARTS
OR THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST THEATRE COMPANY,
PLEASE FILL IN THE INFORMATION BELOW, AND MAIL TO:
THEATRE ARTS SCHOLARSHIPS
Thomas A. Erhard
Scholarship
Sutherland-McManus
Scholarship
Sharon Beth Kallick
Memorial Scholarship
Theatre Arts Endowed
Scholarship
Mark and Stephanie
Medoff Endowed
Scholarship
Caroline L. and Frederic
C. Thompson Endowed
Scholarship
Kimberly Ming Theatre
Arts Scholarship
Eve Yoquelet Scholarship
for Theater Arts
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Caitlin Artrip
Veronica Bissell
Nicole Bartlett
Cassidy Benson
Rachel Edwards
Joel Fisk
Marianna Gallegos
Shay Harris
Aaron Hernandez
Heather Hosford
Josh Horton
Lila LeCuyer
Danya Linares
Isaac Lucero
Madison Miller
Levi Morgan
Austin Parrish
Stacey Ramirez
Robert Sciortino
Jamie Smith
Palma Tavenner
Tiffany Tyson
Ashley Vargas
Stephanie Vasquez
Fonseca
Alex Wheeler