The Nineteen Eighties
1989-90 “Balance Does It!”
University Theatre’s Artistic Director Charles Nolte stated his belief that the season “strikes a fine balance between classic and modern, the old and the new.” Wes Balk opened the season with Shaw’s 
Back to Methusela, playing in repertory with Stephen Kanee’s production of Old Times in the Arena. Three of the MFA actors (Sue Kenny, Nelson Williams, and Krista Scott) were in both productions. Stephen’s program note provided context for the wonderful opportunity afforded by educational theatre to be able to experiment in this fashion: “The pairing of a didactic and theatrical Shaw with this mysterious and subtle Pinter provide a challenging showcase for both actors and audience.” Barry Hamill directed Elmer Rice’s Street Scene in the Experimental.
Winter quarter brought Flea in Her Ear back to the Proscenium stage, directed once again by Lee Adey. Buchner’s classic Woyzeck
directed by Kit Brady and designed by Steve Draheim performed in the Thrust. URepCo entered its second year, and featured the following pieces: “Concerto for Dancers” (David Voss); “Drugari” (Erin Thompson) featuring music of the Bulgarian State Women’s choir; “Sonatine” (Carolyn Brown); “Blocs” (Douglas Dunn); and the classic “Esplanade” (Paul Taylor, staged by Susan McGuire). A Triple Bill of One-Act Plays was the winter workshop in the Arena with The Intruder (directed by Sarit Cofman), Offending the Audience (directed by Ross Willits), and The Seduced (directed by Paul Newman).
Spring brought A Little Night Music co-sponsored with the School of Music, directed by Vern Sutton and choreographed by Robert Moulton, followed by Measure for Measure directed by Catherine Weidner in the Thrust. The spring workshops again comprised the Original One-Act Play Festival and The Rover directed by Julia Fischer in the Thrust.
The Moonstone, a thriller based on the first “detective” story by Wilkie Collins, brought together two guest alumni: director Jeff Steitzer, Artistic Director of A Contemporary Theatre in Seattle, and adaptor Barbara Field. We continued with H.I.T. and hosting the Midwest PlayLabs Conference.
