Thursday, April 10th, 1-1:50pm

Location: Wright-Curtis Theatre, Center for the Performing Arts

Director Joseph Hanreddy spoke about Kent State University’s production of Pride and Prejudice.  The production will run from April 18th through 27th at Kent State University's Wright-Curtis Theatre; for tickets, contact the box office at 330-672-2497.

As the Artistic Director of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater from 1993 - 2010 Joe directed classical and contemporary plays, wrote stage adaptations of literature and acted in productions. Under his leadership the company created over 50 new American plays, translations and adaptations, many of which have subsequently been produced in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and the nation’s leading regional theaters. Joe has also led the Madison Repertory Theater and founded the Ensemble Theater Company in Santa Barbara, California. Since leaving the Milwaukee Rep, Joe’s Off-Broadway production of Moliere’s THE MISANTHROPE was nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award for Best Revival and his Chicago production of THE BLONDE, THE BRUNETTE AND THE VENGEFUL REDHEAD for the Writer’s Theater earned a Solo Work Jeff nomination for actress Deborah Staples. Other recent work includes directing productions of RICHARD III for the Idaho and Great Lakes Shakespeare Festivals, PRIVATE LIVES and MACBETH for the Utah Shakespeare Festival, O BEAUTIFUL for the Connecticut Repertory Theater and OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD for the REP/Delaware. His stage adaptations of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (with JR Sullivan) has been performed at several major regional theaters, including the Oregon and Utah Shakespeare festivals, the South Coast Rep and the Cincinnati Playhouse. 2014 projects include directing the premiere of Lillian Groag’s AIMÉE AN JAGUAR for Northwester University, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE for Kent State University and the premiere of his and Mr. Sullivan’s adaptation of SENSE AND SENSIBILITY for the Utah Shakespeare Festival.

February 17th, 9:45-10:30am

Location: EZ Black Box Theatre, Center for the Performing Arts

Director Amy Fritsche spoke about Kent State University’s production of Legally Blonde.  The production will run from February 21st through March 2nd at Kent State University's E. Turner Stump Theatre; for tickets, contact the box office at 330-672-2497.

Amy Fritsche earned her Master of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from San Diego State University graduating Phi Kappa Phi. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Southern California where she received the James and Nony Doolittle Award. She has also studied at Yale University, American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Beverly Hills Playhouse. Amy has taught acting, directing, and musical theatre at Southeast Missouri State University, acting at San Diego State University and The La Jolla Playhouse, and dance at numerous dance studios in Arizona and California.
She has directed a number of plays and musicals including Anything Goes, Into The Woods, Lend Me a Tenor, and The Crucible.

Amy has performed in films, commercials and on stage. She has worked with Fox Animations Studios, Phoenix Theater, Lyric Theater of Oklahoma, Star Light Theater of San Diego, Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, the Odyssey Theater in Los Angeles, and toured with Theater League. Favorite roles include Rosalind in As You Like It, Cindy Lou in The Marvelous Wonderettes, Baker’s Wife in Into The Woods, Grace Farrell in Annie, Jenny in Chapter Two, Juliet in Madly in Love and Countess Charlotte in A Little Night Music. Amy is a proud member of SAG/AFTRA and AGVA.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013, 1:00-1:45pm

Location: Wright Curtis Theatre, Center for the Performing Arts

Director Terri Kent spoke about Kent State University’s production of Plain and Fancy.  The production will run from October 25th through November 3rd at Kent State University; for tickets, contact the box office at 330-672-2497.

Terri Kent (pictured on the left) is the director of the musical theatre program, as well as serving as the artistic director of Porthouse Theatre, the professional summer theatre affiliated with the School of Theatre and Dance. Her local professional acting and directing credits include the following venues: The Cleveland Playhouse, Great Lakes Theater Festival, Cain Park, the Ensemble Theatre, the working Theatre and Weathervane Playhouse, among others.

Thursday, October 3, 2013, 9:45-10:30am

Location: Wright Curtis Theatre, Center for the Performing Arts

Director Eric van Baars, scenic designer Ben Williams, costume designer Susan Williams and lighting designer David Ruggles discussed Kent State University’s production of She Stoops to Conquer.  The production will run from October 4th through 13th at Kent State University; for tickets, contact the box office at 330-672-2497.

As Associate Professor in the School of Theatre and Dance, Eric teaches Movement and Acting and has directed productions of Oklahoma, The Diviners, Lysistrata, On The Verge, Honk!, The Wild Party, and A New Brain. He serves as Assistant Artistic Director of Porthouse Theatre where he has directed Pump Boys and Dinettes and Dames at Sea and choreography for Once On This Island, Big River, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and The Fantasticks. On the Porthouse stage, he has appeared in The Music Man ( Harold Hill), The Odd Couple ( Felix) Anything Goes ( Lord Evelyn), Sweet Charity ( Oscar), Jesus Christ Superstar ( Herod), Guys and Dolls (Benny), and Oklahoma! (Will Parker). As a choreographer/director, Eric’s work has been seen at the Halle Theater, St. Louis Rep, Connecticut Rep, Berea Summer Theatre, Weathervane Playhouse and Cain Park. His performance credits include Walnut Street Theatre, GEVA, Theatre Virginia, Radio City Music Hall, St. Louis Rep, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Cherry County Playhouse and Cincinnati Playhouse, as well as National and International tours. He is a member of Actors Equity Association and the Society of Directors and Choreographers.