SMSU Theatre Opens 55th Season

Published Wednesday, October 05, 2022

SMSU Theatre’s 55th season opens with not one, but two shows: The Taming by Lauren Gunderson, and The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. The two shows will alternate performances. The Taming runs October 20, 28, and 29 at 7:30 pm, and Oct. 22 at 2:00 pm. The Taming of the Shrew runs October 21 and 22 at 7:30 pm and October 29 and 30 at 2:00 pm. All performances are in the SMSU Fine Arts Theatre, with free parking available in lot B-1. Tickets are $10 and available at www.SMSUtickets.com as well as at the door. All performances are free to SMSU students with valid student ID.

In The Taming, a comedy with a message, Miss America contestant Katherine wants to be President someday, and knows our national political dysfunction must change in order for our country to live up to the promise of its founding ideals. She kidnaps two other women, a conservative senator’s aide and a liberal social media activist, and locks them in a hotel room until they can find a way to work together, and with her, to remake America and the Constitution. The Taming contains adult language and humor.

In Shakespeare’s popular comedy The Taming of the Shrew, everybody wants to marry Bianca because she seems sweet and gentle, but nobody wants to marry Bianca’s mean and argumentative sister Katherine. Their father decrees that Bianca can’t get married until after Katherine does. Enter Petruchio, a confident guy in search of adventure and a rich wife, who decides to “tame” Katherine and marry her. Meanwhile, three people disguise themselves as other people so that they can pursue Bianca – what could possibly go wrong??

Both shows are directed by Professor Nadine Purvis Schmidt of Estelline, So. Dak., who is also the producer. Assistant Professor Tetta M. Askeland of Marshall, Minn., is the scenic and lighting designer for both shows. Professor Sheila Tabaka of Marshall, Minn., is the costume designer for The Taming.

The cast and production team includes:

Tailer Benson, a senior Theatre Arts and Communication Studies double major from Elk River, Minn., as Patricia in The Taming, and the costume designer for The Taming of the Shrew.
Brady Berg, a senior Theatre Arts major and Literature minor from Wells, Minn., as Petruchio and the sound designer for The Taming of the Shrew.
Laura Bradley, a freshman History Education and Theatre Arts double major from Brooklyn Park, Minn., is the assistant stage manager for both shows.
Brooke Burns, a junior Theatre Arts major and Entrepreneurship minor from Russell, Minn., is the stage manager for The Taming of the Shrew.
Alexander Castro, a junior English/Creative Writing major from Iron River, Wisc., as Baptista and Curtis in The Taming of the Shrew, and the voice of the Miss America Announcer in The Taming.
Amanda Castro, a community member from Marshall, Minn., as Hortensio and the Merchant in The Taming of the Shrew.
Kayla Clemons, a community member from Cottonwood, Minn., as Vincentio, the Widow, and a Servant in The Taming of the Shrew.
Molly Green, a senior Theatre Arts major from Silver Lake, Minn., as Lucentio in The Taming of the Shrew, and the props manager for both shows.
Kelsey House, a freshman Elementary Education major from Becker, Minn., as Bianca in The Taming.
Colton Jensen, a senior Theatre Arts major from Sanborn, Minn., is the stage manager, assistant director, and the voice of the Stage Manager in The Taming.
Makayla Kennedy, a sophomore Early Childhood/Elementary Education major from Stewartville, Minn., as the voice of Victoria “The Knife” Castelliano in The Taming.
Bryn Mongeau, a junior Theatre Arts and Music double major from Beaver Creek, Minn., as Katherine in The Taming, and Katherine and Biondello in The Taming of the Shrew.
Jim Radloff, an SMSU English Literature and Acting/Directing alum and current graduate student in Education, from Lynd, Minn., as Gremio in The Taming of the Shrew.
Brenna Springborg, a freshman from Marshall, Minn., as Tranio and the Clothier in The Taming of the Shrew.
Emma Stringer, a senior Theatre Arts major in the SMSU-Normandale BA Partnership Program, from Belle Plaine, Minn., is the sound designer for The Taming.
TJ Tjeerdsma, a senior Broadcast & Digital Media major and Public Relations minor from Cherokee, Ia. as Bianca and Grumio in The Taming of the Shrew.