SAU Represented in QCA Theatre

St. Ambrose was heavily represented this summer in local theatre. The Quad Cities offers an abundance of opportunities for theatre lovers, whether it be community or professional theatre. Ambrose students and faculty participated across the board.

Junior T.J. Green appeared in two shows back to back this summer. The first was Reefer Madness at the QC Theatre Workshop. He and alums Becca Brazel '16 and Michael Bryne '17 showcased the Ambrose-grown talent in the satirical musical. Directly following that production, Green moved on to The Music Guild, in Moline, IL, where he portrayed one of the three little pigs in Shrek the Musical. Also in Moline, first-year student Joe Lasher performed in the Tony Award-winning Next to Normal. Kelci Eaton, '18 Ambrose grad, stage managed this gripping show. 

The Mississippi Bend Players is a professional summer stock theatre located in Rock Island, IL, and was home to current Ambrose students, alumni and faculty over the summer. Graduates Zack Lawson '18 and Megan Clarke '18, along with current sophomore Ellie Larson spent their summer in the internship program for the company, helping and learning in all aspects of theatre.

"This summer was unforgettable," Larson said. "I learned more in a few weeks than I ever thought was possible."

The first show of the season was Big River, a musical about the wild adventures of Huckleberry Finn. First-year Keegan Harry and Kayla Lansing '18 appeared as The Young Fool and Miss Watson. The next show to open, The Glass Menagerie, was directed by the one and only Dr. Corinne Johnson and starred SAU theatre alumni Seth Kalthwasser and Megan Cox.  The Mississippi Bend Players' season rounded out with the original comedy, Beginner's Luck, in which Clarke starred as the wanna-be-actress, Amy.

The St. Ambrose Theatre department made a strong name for itself this summer in the Quad Cities, having representatives in more than five shows in three months. If you didn't catch any shows this summer, you can see productions of Rabbit Hole and Rumors at St. Ambrose this fall.