Stritch
DO BLACK PATENT
LEATHER SHOES REALLY
REFLECT UP?
2014 – 2015 SEASON
PERFORMING ARTS: THEATER
Book by John R. Powers
Lyrics by James Quinn & Alaric Jans
April 17th – 26th
Nancy Kendall Theater
www.stritch.edu | (414) 410-4171
Based on a novel by JOHN R. POWERS | Produced on Broadway by
Mavin Productions, Inc., Libby Adler Mages and Daniel A. Golman
Directed by MARK BOERGERS
C A S T O F C H A R AC T E R S
THE FACULTY
Father O’Reilly......................................................................................................................... Tristian Demos
Sister Lee.................................................................................................................................. Kristen Landaal
Sister Helen............................................................................................................................ Roxanne Dobbs
Sister Monica................................................................................................................. Ashley Mulholland
Sister Mary Patrick........................................................................................................................ Hope Letko
Sister Robert Ann....................................................................................................................Indigo Beilfuss
Mrs. Bronski/Nurse...................................................................................................................Alyssa Schall
THE GIRLS
Becky.............................................................................................................................................. Erin Schilder
Nancy......................................................................................................................................... Alex Bouchard
Virginia........................................................................................................................................Natasha Laws
Mary.................................................................................................................................................Anna Hecht
Theresa......................................................................................................................................Symone Seyler
Cindy.............................................................................................................................................Mikayla Penn
THE BOYS
Eddie................................................................................................................................................ Sam Koenig
Felix............................................................................................................................................ Monty Sanford
Louie..........................................................................................................................................Chadwick Hunt
Mike Depki.............................................................................................................................Donnie Williams
P R O D U C T I O N S TA F F
Scenic Designer...........................................................................................MAUREEN CHAVEZ-KRUGER
Lighting Designer.....................................................................................................................BEN GOLDEN
Costume Designer...................................................................................................................... KATIE GRAY
Movement Director............................................................................................ CATEY OTT THOMPSON
Music Director................................................................................................................... ANNA HEMMING
Sound Designer.....................................................................................................................SETH HALLETT
Technical Director...................................................................................................................ALLYN WEBER
Stage Manager.............................................................................................................KATELYN LINDGREN
Assistant Stage Manager.................................................................................................. JACK HURTGEN
Dance Captain......................................................................................................................NATASHA LAWS
Production Pianist...........................................................................................................DONNA KUMMER
Production Percussionist.......................................................................................................COLIN O’DAY
Program Layout................................................................................................................. Karen Mihopulos
Promotional Material.......................................................................................................... Brianna Dorney
Photographs.........................................................................................................Tim Abler, Celene Bonilla
Master Carpenter......................................................................................................................Jonelle Ritger
Run Crew.........................................................................................................................................Seth Hallett
Set Construction Crew.............................. Haleigh Gill, Thomas Gust, Seth Hallett, Jack Hurtgen,
Natasha Laws, Katelyn Lindgren, Diana Nunez,
Arlyn Reynolds, Jonelle Ritger
Light Board Operators..............................................................................................................Thomas Gust
Sound Board Operator.................................................................................................... Amani Lawrence
Prop Master/Fly Operator/Stage Crew...............................................................................Jack Hurtgen
2
Cardinal Stritch University
SYNOPSIS OF SCENES AND MUSICAL NUMBERS
ACT ONE
Elementary School
Scene 1: St. Bastion’s School: The Present
GET READY, EDDIE.................................................................................................................. The Company
Scene 2: Second Grade at St. Bastion’s
THE GREATEST GIFT.............................................................................................. Sister Helen & the Kids
Scene 3: Confession at St. Bastion’s
Scene 4: The Playground – Fifth Grade
LITTLE FAT GIRLS..................................................................................................................... Becky & Eddie
IT’S THE NUNS.............................................................................................................. The Kids & the Nuns
Scene 5: Fifth Grade at St. Bastion’s
COOKIE CUTTERS............................................................................................................ Sister Lee & Becky
Scene 6: Confession at St. Bastion’s Church
Scene 7: Eighth Grade at St. Bastion’s
HOW FAR IS TOO FAR?................................................................................................. Nancy, Girls & Boys
FINALE: Act 1........................................................................................................................... The Company
ACT TWO
High School
Scene 1: Freshman Mixer – Gym of St. Patrick Bremmer High School for Boys
DOO-WAA DOO-WEE.............................................................................................Louie & The Company
I MUST BE IN LOVE...................................................................................................................................Eddie
Scene 2: The Front Yard of Becky’s House – A Year Later
FRIENDS, THE BEST OF.......................................................................................................... Becky & Eddie
Scene 3: Confession at St. Bastion’s Church
Scene 4: Playground – Senior Year
MAD BOMBER.......................................................................................................Felix, Virginia & the Kids
Scene 5: The Night of the Senior Prom
LATE BLOOMER & PROM MONTAGE............................................................................Eddie & the Kids
Scene 6: Becky’s Hospital Room
FRIENDS, THE BEST OF (REPRISE)...................................................................................... Becky & Eddie
Scene 7: The Present
THANK GOD.............................................................................................................................. The Company
There will be one 15-minute intermission.
Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?
3
AC TO R B I O G R A P H I E S
Indigo Beilfuss
Sister Robert Ann
Indigo is a freshman
Psychology major. She
has been in numerous
productions through
Sheboygan Theater
Company. She has
starred in SEUSSICAL, THE MIRACLE WORKER,
AND BYE BYE BIRDIE. She has also been
involved with Theater for Young Audiences
starring in CINDERELLA, and productions
such as AIDA, and ANNIE. She has also done
choreography for Theater for Young
Audiences. Indigo is very excited to be in her
first production through Stritch Performing
Arts. She’d like to thank her friends and
teachers at Stritch and also her family for
being so supportive!
Roxanne Dobbs
Sister Helen
Roxanne is a junior
Theater major. She is
enthusiastic to be acting
again, as she hasn’t
acted since SHOEMAKER
AND THE ELVES. She has
stage managed the past couple of
productions and even gone off to Milwaukee
Chamber Theater to be the stage
management intern for GOOD FATHER. She
truly missed being on stage and would like to
thank Mark Boergers for the wonderful
opportunity. She would also like to thank her
family for being supportive in her decisions.
She would especially like to thank Sister Mary
Lea Schneider who sat down and discussed
what it meant to be a Sister. Enjoy the show!
Alex Bouchard
Nancy
Alex is a fourth year
Theater major. She is
excited to perform as
Nancy Ralansky in DO
BLACK PATENT LEATHER
SHOES REALLY REFLECT
UP? Past roles have included Helga in
KINDERTRANSPORT, Cinderella’s Stepmother
in INTO THE WOODS, and the dual role of Miss
Grouchstick and the Witch in TOY CAMP
recently. She would like to thank her parents
(stepmom included), her grandparents and
her sisters for their support and give a shout
out to all of her friends for helping to keep
her sane. And most importantly, she would
like to thank YOU for supporting the arts.
Anna Hecht
Mary
Anna is a sophomore
majoring in Theater and
Writing. She comes to
CSU from St. Louis,
Missouri. This is her
seventh production at
CSU. Previously she has played M’Lynn in
STEEL MAGNOLIAS, Lil Miller in
KINDERTRANSPORT, Saw in TOY CAMP, Becca
in RABBIT HOLE, Woman Four in
SHAKESPEARE’S WOMEN, and Matilda
Cobblestone in THE SHOEMAKER AND THE
ELVES. A few of her favorite roles outside of
Stritch include Renee in THE ODD COUPLE
(female version), The Wizard in ONCE UPON A
MATTRESS, and Rosemary/Chief Elder in THE
GIVER. Anna would like to thank her parents
for their continued support as well as her
friends and family who took the long seven
hour car ride to be here! She would also like to
thank the wonderful cast and crew for all the
hard work and dedication. Enjoy the show!
show!
4
Tristian Demos
Father O’Reilly
Tristian is a sophomore
Theater major. He has
been involved in
multiple school and
community productions.
He hopes you enjoy the
Cardinal Stritch University
Chadwick Hunt
Louie
Chadwick is a
sophomore at Nicolet
High School. Most
recently, you could have
seen him as Gilbert in
HAIRSPRAY at Nicolet. He
is very thankful and excited to be a part of
this production!
AC TO R B I O G R A P H I E S
c o n t.
Sam Koenig
Eddie
Sam is acting in his first
show at Cardinal Stritch.
He has previously played
a multitude of roles,
including Seymour
Krelborn in LITTLE SHOP
OF HORRORS, Sheridan Whiteside in THE MAN
WHO CAME TO DINNER, Teen Angel & Vince
Fontaine in GREASE, Richard in MOON OVER
BUFFALO, Michael in DANCING AT
LUGHNASA, and a homeless cockney man in
MY FAIR LADY. Sam would like to thank the
directors and cast for their tireless effort to
bring this story to life. In addition, he would
like to thank his parents for his existence.
Kristen Landaal
Sister Lee
Kristen is a senior
Communications major/
Religious Studies minor.
She is very involved on
campus as a Stritch
Student Ambassador
and a member of the Stritch Spirit Squad
Dance Team. Her previous show experiences
include THE LITTLE MERMAID, THE
SHOEMAKER AND THE ELVES, and LITTLE
WOMEN: THE MUSICAL. Thanks to Mark for
pushing me to try out for the show. She is
very lucky to be a part of an amazing cast and
crew.
Natasha Laws
Virginia
Natasha is a junior
Musical Theater major.
This is Natasha’s 11th
production at Cardinal
Stritch, having played
Minnowmaid in THE
LITTLE MERMAID, Lily Pepper in AN EVENING
WITH NOEL COWARD, Amy March in LITTLE
WOMEN, Izzy in RABBIT HOLE, Female Four in
SHAKESPEARE’S WOMEN, Schwartz in
SHOEMAKER AND THE ELVES, Percy Talbott in
THE SPITFIRE GRILL, Shelby in STEEL
MAGNOLIAS, Faith in KINDERTRANSPORT, and
recently Ted E. Bear in TOY CAMP. She would
like to thank the theater department for
giving her this wonderful opportunity, her
parents for their support, the cast for being
amazing people, and her friends for dealing
with her busy schedule. Don’t tell the priest,
don’t tell the nun, but the show you’re seeing
is a lot of fun!
Hope Letko
Sister Mary Patrick
Hope is a freshman
Business major. She is
delighted to be a part of
her first every
performance with Stritch
and its production DO
BLACK PATENT LEATHER SHOES REALLY
REFLECT UP? She is so humbled by the
change from small town high school
performances to this college’s mighty
Performing Arts Department and by the
amount of dedication shown through the
duration of her time here. Coming from a
large family, her goals are set to become a
person to be remembered, set apart from her
family. Through this experience, she feels as
though she is that much closer to her dream.
Ashley Mulholland
Sister Monica
Ashley is a freshman
Music (Voice)/Computer
Science major. She has
enjoyed being part of
the theater arts since she
was 11. She finds it an
escape from reality and a sense of exploding
passion. This is her third show with Stritch;
one being on wardrobe crew for STEEL
MAGNOLIAS and the other betrays her
character as the funny, yet cowardly Jack-inthe-box in TOY CAMP. As Sister Monica in DO
BLACK PATENT LEATHER SHOES REALLY
REFLECT UP? she is both elated and honored
to be a part of it. She would like to
acknowledge her dad (Donald) for being a
great idol in theater and getting me involved
with the love of theater, Katie Lindgren for
being an awesome stage manager and
helping me continue theater, and the cast,
crew and Mark for making this possible for
my journey through each show.
Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?
5
AC TO R B I O G R A P H I E S
c o n t.
Mikayla Penn
Cindy
Mikayla is a sophomore
at Nicolet High School.
She has been performing
in school musicals and
participating in amateur
theater for six years.
Before moving to Milwaukee, she was an
active member of Star Bright Player’s
children’s theater in Nashville. Her most
recent shows are HAIRSPRAY and THE
DROWSY CHAPERONE presented at Nicolet,
and First Stage’s A MIDNIGHT CRY. She is
extremely excited to have the opportunity to
participate in DO BLACK PATENT LEATHER
SHOES REALLY REFLECT UP?
Monty Sanford
Felix
Monty is a sophomore
Theater major. His
theater bloodline can be
traced all the way back
to elementary school,
where he performed in
school plays such as THE WIZ as the
Scarecrow. He was involved with every
production possible throughout his years of
school. Other past roles include Johnny Walsh
in an anti-drug infomercial for drug
awareness production of Anti-Fact and the
Cowardly Lion in THE WIZARD OF OZ at the
Milwaukee Rep. Monty considers himself a
thespian in the making.
Alyssa Schall
Mrs. Bronski/Nurse
Alyssa is a junior Writing
major. She is excited to
be a part of DO BLACK
PATENT LEATHER SHOES
REALLY REFLECT UP? This
is her first show at
Stritch. In high school, she had the role of
Laury in OKLAHOMA!, Scheherazade in a one
act version of ONE THOUSAND AND ONE
NIGHTS, and Hera in JASON AND THE
ARGONAUTS. She would like to thank her
friends and family for always supporting her.
6
Cardinal Stritch University
Erin Schilder
Becky
Erin is a senior Writing,
English, and Theater
major. This is her last
show at Cardinal Stritch
University. Her first
appearance on the
Stritch stage was as a member of the
ensemble in LITTLE WOMEN. That fall she lent
her voice to Danny Corbet in RABBIT HOLE as
well as serving as assistant stage manager.
She returned to the stage this year as Annelle
Dupois-Desoto in STEEL MAGNOLIAS. Erin
would like to thank her mom and dad as well
as her sisters, Liz and Jordan for always being
there. She would also like to thank her
extended family and best friend, Lindsay for
their love and support. Thanks to the cast and
crew, especially Mark, Katie, and Jack. All her
love to Warren and Golliath Schilder.
Symone Seyler
Theresa
Symone is a sophomore
Music Performance
major/Creative Writing
minor. She is an active
Stritch athlete and is on
the golf team. Her
previous credits include Rita in THOROUGHLY
MODERN MILLIE, and ensemble roles in GUYS
AND DOLLS, LES MISERABLES, and BEAUTY
AND THE BEAST. She is very grateful to be a
part of this show. She has had the
opportunity to meet so many new people
and is very thankful. Enjoy the show!
Donnie Williams
Mike Depki
Donnie’s previous credits
include THE WIZ at
Milwaukee High School
of the Arts and The
Proud Theater 15th
Anniversary Anthology
show. He is very excited to be a part of DO
BLACK PATENT LEATHER SHOES REALLY
REFLECT UP? He dedicates every performance
to his best friend, JuanCarlos Aguila who was
one of the most talented actors he knew. R.I.P.
buddy! Love you!
P R O D U C T I O N S TA F F B I O G R A P H I E S
Mark Boergers
Director
Mark is thrilled to be directing his third
production (and first musical!) here at
Cardinal Stritch with such an amazing team
and new faculty collaborators. He is the
Artistic Director and full-time faculty member
in the new Performing Arts Department at
Stritch. He is also the Artistic Director of The
Arc Theatre in Chicago where he co-founded
SHAKESPEARE ON THE RIDGE in Evanston
as well as a freelance casting associate for
Paskal Rudnicke Casting in Chicago. He holds
his MFA in Acting from The Theatre School
at DePaul University and his BS in Business
and Theater from Marquette University.
Past directing credits include TOP GIRLS,
OEDIPUS REX, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING,
TWELFTH NIGHT, ROMEO & JULIET, MERRY
WIVES OF WINDSOR and A MIDSUMMER
NIGHT’S DREAM for The Arc Theatre, and
SLOW DANCE ON THE KILLING GROUND for
Athena Theatre in Los Angeles. He returns for
his sixth year at Shakespeare on the Ridge in
Evanston to direct MACBETH this summer. A
special thanks to his program co-hort Allyn
for amazing accomplishments this year and
looking forward to fantastic things to come.
markboergers.com
Maureen Chavez-Kruger
Scenic Designer
Maureen’s regional design work includes
productions at the Milwaukee Repertory
Theatre, First Stage Milwaukee, and Next
Act Theatre. She is an Assistant Professor of
Art at Cardinal Stritch University where she
has previously designed TARTUFFE for the
theater department. She also teaches on an
adjunct appointment at Carthage College,
serves as a guest designer, and has teamtaught J-term study tours in New York and
Greece. Maureen’s scenic designs at Carthage
include LYSISTRATA, CABARET, ALMOST
MAINE, SPRING AWAKENING, NO NAME, and
DAY AFTER NIGHT. She holds an MFA in Scene
Design from Boston University. Maureen is an
active advocate for the arts in the Milwaukee
theater scene serving as a board member for
Milwaukee Chamber Theatre.
Ben Golden
Lighting Designer
Ben J. Golden is excited to be a part of his
first show with Cardinal Stritch! Ben is a
professional lighting and sound designer and
educator based in Madison, WI. He has served
as the lighting designer or assistant lighting
designer for theater and opera companies
across the Midwest. Highlights include: UWMadison, Madison Opera, Children’s Theatre
of Madison, Music Theatre of Madison,
The Heartland Theatre Festival, and St.
Olaf College. Ben has worked as a Master
Electrician at the Des Moines Metropolitan
Opera, Theatre Lila, UW-Madison, and
UW-Platteville. He holds a BA in Theatrical
Production from St. Olaf College, and will
receive his MFA in Theatre with a Lighting
emphasis from UW- Madison this May.
Katie Gray
Costume Designer
Katie is thrilled to be a part of the DO BLACK
PATENT LEATHER SHOES REALLY REFLECT UP?
team. This is Katie’s fourth show at Cardinal
Stritch. Past designs include TOY CAMP,
KINDERTRANSPORT, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, THE
25TH…SPELLING BEE, MA RAINEY’S BLACK
BOTTOM, TRAIN SONG, and THE ROCKY
HORROR SHOW. Katie received her MFA from
the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2012
and a BA in Theatre Arts from Susquehanna
University in 2003. Many thanks to Mark and
Allyn for fantastic collaboration, constant
support, and for keeping work fun! Even more
thanks to Chel Lundin for his voice of reason,
project management, and ad-libbed song
lyrics.
Anna Hemming
Music Director
Anna is thrilled to join the Cardinal Stritch
Theater Arts Production team! Previously
she earned her Bachelors of Music Education
from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and
taught in the Duluth, Minneapolis, Saint Paul,
Luxemburg-Casco, Waukesha, and Grafton
school districts directing vocal music and
performing arts programs. In addition to
being an active clinician and accompanist
for the Wisconsin School Music Association
Solo and Ensemble Contests and Choral
Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?
7
P R O D U C T I O N S TA F F B I O G R A P H I E S
Festivals, she has also directed and coached
at multiple music camps, including the
Wisconsin Ambassadors of Music European
Tour, Wisconsin Choral Directors Association
All-State Vocal Jazz, Lakeland Summer Camp,
UW-Green Bay Jazz on the Bay, and North
Shore Music Experience. Anna is currently
working as a private voice and piano
instructor in the Milwaukee area while she
completes her Masters in Education. Anna
would like to thank Mark Boergers and the
cast for this wonderful experience!
Jack Hurtgen
Assistant Stage Manager/Prop Master
Jack is a sophomore Psychology and Theater
major. He has recently rediscovered his love
of theater after transferring to Cardinal Stritch
this year. His recent show involvements
include the role of Jig in TOY CAMP, run crew
for KINDERTRANSPORT, and run crew and
prop master for STEEL MAGNOLIAS. He would
like to thank all of the theater faculty, most
especially Mark Boergers and Allyn Weber for
helping him rediscover his love of theater. He
would like to thank his family and new found
friends in the theater department for all of
their support along the way. Lastly, he would
like to thank the cast and crew of DO BLACK
PATENT LEATHER SHOES REALLY REFLECT
UP? for making this show experience so
wonderful and enjoyable.
Donna Kummer
Production Pianist
Donna Kummer is, has been, and will always
be a musician. She tried to deny it for 10
years of her life by getting a law degree (from
Marquette) and practicing law, but that’s
water under the bridge. Donna serves as the
Director of Music for Plymouth Church UCC
in Milwaukee, conductor of the Wauwatosa
Community Band, and director of the
Schoolhouse Players in Waukesha County.
She has been involved in 180 productions
over the past 25 years with numerous
professional, community, and school theaters
in the Milwaukee area, including two
productions at Marquette University.
Katelyn Lindgren
Stage Manager
Katie is a sophomore Theater and
Communications major. She is thrilled to
be a part of yet another production here in
8
Cardinal Stritch University
c o n t.
the Stritch Theater Department. Her recent
credits include props master for TOY CAMP,
the role of Eva in KINDERTRANSPORT, and
the stage manager of STEEL MAGNOLIAS.
She would like to thank her family and
friends for all of their amazing support and
encouragement. She would like to thank
Allyn, Mark, and Katie G. for being a fabulous
group of individuals and encouraging and
challenging her to grow on and off stage. A
huge thank you to Jack for being her right
hand man during this whole process. And
most importantly a thank you to the cast and
crew for being a group of truly wonderful
people that have made this show a complete
joy and pleasure to work on. Enjoy the show!
Catey Ott Thompson
Movement Director
Catey spent 14 years dancing, performing,
choreographing, and teaching in NYC. Ott
received a MFA and BFA in Dance from UWM.
Since 2005, her dance company, Catey Ott
Dance Collective, has performed all over NYC
and Milwaukee. In NYC, she performed with
Heidi Latsky Dance, Allyson Green Dance,
Soundance, Sean Curran Company, and Molly
Rabinowitz, among others. She currently
teaches at Danceworks, Milwaukee Ballet,
Cardinal Stritch University, and Marquette
University. www.cateyott.com
Allyn Weber
Technical Director
This is Allyn’s second year as Technical
Director for Cardinal Stritch University
Theater. His recent work includes TOY CAMP,
KINDERTRANSPORT, STEEL MAGNOLIAS,
RABBIT HOLE, SHAKESPEARE’S WOMEN, THE
SHOEMAKER AND THE ELVES for Stritch, THE
CRADLE WILL ROCK, THE MOUSETRAP, TWO
GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, and EURYDICE for
University of Wisconsin-Madison, University
Theatre, WERTHER for Washington National
Opera (as Assistant Technical Director),
and GREASE and THE MUSIC MAN for The
Heartland Festival at the University of
Wisconsin Platteville. Allyn would like to
thank his loving wife Anne Marie, daughter
Katelyn, and his family for their support. He
would also like to thank his fearless Boston
Terriers, Guinness Stout and Jude, for keeping
his yard squirrel free.