The Nineteen Nineties
1990-91 “with experience comes confidence”
Autumn of the new decade marked 60 years of producing plays on campus. Charles Nolte was the Artistic Director, Marge Maddux and Maria Cheng joined the full-time dance faculty. Drew Gordon continued his position with the Dance Program as Musician-in-
Residence. Taming of the Shrew opened the University Theatre season in the Thrust directed by Wesley Balk. Waiting for Godot directed by guest artist Erin B. Mee played concurrently with Shrew in the Arena. These two productions ran in rep as part of the comprehensive final project for the MFA actors, giving them the opportunity to exhibit flexibility and skill in two (or more) contrasting roles in a rotating performance schedule. The workshop season had settled into a pattern of one workshop a quarter plus an evening of original one-act plays in spring. The fall presentation was Tango directed by Stephen Kanee with choreography by Robert Moulton.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead in the Arena began winter
quarter. It featured Howard Bickle and Matthew Guidry in the lead roles as directed by Barry Hamill. MFA designer Joe K. Leonard Anderson’s setting was one of the true mazes of platforming ever installed in that space. The University Theatre was honored to have celebrated designer Desmond Heeley in residence to design costumes and scenery for a Charles Nolte production of Oedipus Rex in February. Heeley’s stage creations were awe-inspiring and his tenure here was a rich educational experience for everyone involved. He was disenchanted with the orange seats in the Thrust and lighting designer Jean Montgomery negated them with lots of blue light substituting for the regular houselights. The winter workshop was Doctor Sganarelle adapted by director Bruce Simmons running with The Maids directed by Bill Sonnega. The Experimental Theatre production featured Lisa Kerekes and Susan Champion as the maids and Monica Scott as Madame.
Spring of 1991 opened with URepCo, featuring works of five Cowles artists: “All Things in Time” (LaVaughn Robinson), “Hornpipe” from Carousel (Agnes deMille as staged by Gemze de Lappe), “Left Over Angels” (Janet Lilly), “Wind Rise”-premiere (Susan McGuire), “Hurry Up”-premiere (Douglas Dunn), plus the premiere of Zoe Sealy’s “Jambalaya.” David Voss and Zoe Sealy served as Artistic Directors. Next up was a delicious Robert Moulton creation of A Night at the Operetta in the Thrust. This special gala 
celebrated in style the distinguished career of Professor Moulton who would retire at the end of the year. Miriam Monasch wrote an adult fantasy of Beauty and the Beast which Julia Fischer directed in the Arena in May. This was the first production that utilized upper body female nudity on a University Theatre stage. Bus Stop and the Original One-Act Plays rounded out the quarter on the workshop season.
Spring 1991 also marked the retirement of Wendell Josal, scene designer for over 90 University Theatre productions, the original Showboat interior, and a large chunk of Rarig Center. He also served as Director of Graduate Studies and succeeded David W. Thompson as Chair of the Department for a six-year term. It was so very fitting that Robert Moulton and Wendell Josal, long-time colleagues and friends, should retire at the same time having been a production team for so many years. Memorable collaborations include Beggar’s Opera, Anything Goes, and The Mikado, among many others. Jean Congdon, the last of the oral interp trio of faculty, also retired at the end of spring. Jean had served as Director of Undergraduate Studies, Honors advisor, and numerous other positions for the department and the University as well as directing several plays for the University Theatre. Gail Crellin resigned after 15 years as costume designer to pursue a career in the corporate world. Steve Thompson joined the staff in Middlebrook Hall for seven years, serving the latter part of it as partial replacement for Donna Refior as Graduate Studies Secretary.
A hilarious campy droll presentation of Dracula (number 2) directed by Charles Nolte was the Showboat’s offering for the summer. It featured Matthew Guidry as the Count, Claudia Hankin as Mina, Creighton Larson as Van Helsing, and the wonderful Thomas Houde, F.S.C., as Nurse Wakefield.
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