Theater prepares to open
Despite a week delay, CSU’s Summer Cafe Theatre is scheduled to
open and run a full season of three different productions.
Several setbacks prevented the technical crew from painting,
rigging lights and continuing construction. After 28 years in
production, this is the first time that the summer theatre has been
delayed for any reason.
“The delays that are happening right now are due to this
wonderful precipitation we’re having, ” said Alana Minor, director
of publicity for the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance.
The past few years have been difficult for the summer
theatre.
“We’re 28 years old this year, we almost lost the theatre last
year due to budget cuts. My staff with high school volunteers and
two college students managed to get over $10,000 in donations for a
silent auction and we sold everything and we saved summer theatre,”
Minor said.
2004 is also a year of transitions for the resurrected summer
theatre.
“Dr. Burns, who is one of the founders of summer theatre, is
retiring and he has handed off this venue to Dr. Eric Prince, a
British playwright and Becket scholar, someone where very lucky to
have here in our department,” Minor said
This year the theatre will feature three different plays;
“Little Shop of Horrors,” “A Triumph of Love” and “The Last Five
Years.”
“The Last Five Years” is a two person musical production that is
a self-directed performance by CSU graduate music students Britta
and Travis Risner. Britta Risner also produced the soundtrack.
“The Last Five Years” deals with the divorce of a couple that
have been together for five years. Members of the CSU theatre
community have compared the musical’s soundtrack to the Broadway
production “Rent.”
As the new opening date looms near, the technical staff said
they will be ready and are currently preparing for the technical
rehearsal.
“In a technical rehearsal we add all the technical elements to
the show, the actors (had) been rehearsing with just tape marks on
the floor,” said Jimmie Robinson, the technical director and
lighting designer for Summer Cafe Theatre, “A tech rehearsal is
with a full set, all the props, the sound is added, we’ll have all
the sequencing and cues of when the lights come up.”
Robinson has good things to say about the upcoming season.
“I’ve seen rehearsals for two shows and they’re very good,
“Little Shop of Horrors” is going to be a funny, outstanding show.
“A Triumph of Love” is a clever, funny show.”
The theatre will be holding its annual reception on campus on
July 19. The event is open to the CSU public.
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