Theatre & Dance Presents Senior Showcase

Northern Michigan University Theatre & Dance will highlight the talents of the department's 21 graduating students with its second annual Senior Showcase at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 24. A second performance will be held on Mackinac Island for industry professionals from New York, Los Angeles and Chicago on Tuesday, May 5.

NMU Assistant Professor Kristen Beth Ludwig, who heads the bachelor's degree program in theatre and entertainment arts (performance), is directing the Senior Showcase.

"For anyone familiar with our Wildcat Theatre Follies, it follows a similar, 'variety show' format," she said. "We have group numbers, solo songs, monologues, scenes and even some stage combat all rolled into one show. There's no through-line or plot to follow. We invite audiences to just come along for the ride."

While showcase presentations are quite common, most universities either have students travel to New York-often at their own expense-or invite industry professionals to campus. Producer and Department Head Bill Digneit wanted Northern to adopt a unique approach to the event, so he came up with the idea of hosting it on Mackinac Island.

A generous gift from NMU Trustee Steve Young and his wife, Tricia Kinley, made it possible for the department to provide significant support to students for the first Mackinac Island experience last year, helping to ease the financial burden as they prepare to launch their professional careers. The couple is continuing its support this year as well.

Ludwig said casting directors from the three major "entertainment cities," along with regional theatre producers and other industry professionals are scheduled to attend.

"Last year's event was very successful," she added. "The goal is to foster relationships between our graduating class and these industry professionals, so that when they leave NMU and Marquette, they are able to call on these pros and build on those relationships. The response from our industry pros was overwhelmingly positive last year, and several are returning again this year. For the few that aren't able to return due to scheduling, we've been able to set up workshops with them for our Field Studies trip to New York City later in May."

This year's 21 graduating seniors represent three Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) programs in musical theater, acting, and theater technology and design; two Bachelor of Arts (BA) programs in dance and theater/entertainment arts; and an Associate of Arts in theater performance.

Tickets for the Senior Showcase in Forest Roberts Theatre are $25 for the general public; $22 for NMU employees, seniors and military; $15 for youth; and $5 for NMU students. They are available at nmu.edu/tickets.