The Nineteen Eighties
1983-84
Wayne Hamilton directed the musical Something’s Afoot, based on Agatha Christie’s 10 Little Indians to open the season. Scott Latendresse provided the setting and Jean Montgomery provided the storm. Kevin Olson directed the much acclaimed production of Translations in the Arena (green scoop time again). The production received the Twin Cities equivalent of a Tony. The Little Swan, an original script by PhD student Warren Green, was the workshop production in the Experimental.
Dan Huizenga’s modern interpretation of Major Barbara was nicely complimented by Lance Brockman’s ultra-suede décor. The 
Learned Ladies directed by Jean Congdon played the Thrust and Reynard the Fox graced YPUT. Theatre of the Word produced Down All the Days adapted and directed by Lee Stille; the workshops were Waiting for Godot and Pylos (original script by Jon Berry). The department began hosting the State High School One-Act Play Festival in winter quarter – all grad students and faculty spent two days with very early starting times watching some fascinating high school theatre from all around the state of Minnesota.
John Loprieno was featured in the title role of Richard II in spring. And the season ended with Gemini in the Arena -- a new play dealing with modern themes and bizarre characters. The production had to warn its patrons about “explicit language” (and we had already excised every third four-letter word!). Workshops in spring were Working directed by Amy Silverberg and The Wager by Tim Willey. Working was to appear again on the mainstage a year later – the second time we took a workshop production from the Experimental stage to a remounted full production on the mainstage. Theatre of the Word: Touchstones adapted and directed by Cynthia Elmquist.
The Showboat crowd enjoyed The Count of Monte Cristo, featuring David Connor as the Count with Julie Yugend as our heroine. Of course the grand finale olio was “The Marseillaise” featuring Elizabeth Ebel as La Belle France.
