Patti Celek said the motto of the Theatre Department is, “live theatre won’t kill you.”
Celek, the marketing director of the Theatre Department, is currently promoting the February production of “The Foreigner,” a comedy by Larry Shue and directed by Nelson Sheeley. Celek said that Sheeley has directed plays at Sinclair previously.
The play is entirely performed by locals, including Sinclair students and alumni. The show itself is about a man named Charlie who, while visiting a bed and breakfast, convinces others that he doesn’t speak English. The play then shows Charlie and his interactions with the people staying.
“He makes up a language,” Celek said. “A nonsensical language. Nelson likes satire and farce, he has a propensity towards those things.”
In the past, Sheeley has directed “Taking Steps” and last year’s “Little Shop of Horrors.”
The cast includes Chris Hanh, Issac Hollister, Melissa Kerr, Nick Moberg, Sarah Parsons, Travis Clyburn and Steven Brotherton. The play runs from Feb. 18-26 and all seats are reserved. Adult tickets are $15, student and senior tickets are $10 and all tickets can be purchased online at www.sinclair.edu/arts.
“The Foreigner” is more of a traditional play, according to Celek. The Theatre Department will do any type of play, however, and will accept submissions from anyone.
“We’ll choose anything,” Celek said. “We get plenty of submissions. Sometimes a director will come in and really champion something.”
Students are given priority during casting. Celek said that being a student will break any tie between two competing actors, should one of them not be a student. Also, students are often stage managers, set designers and involved with every part of the play. A stage manager can be the most important part of a performance, according to Celek.
Also, having experienced actors work with inexperienced ones is helpful, because the older actors can teach the younger ones. Celek said the more experienced actors lead by example.
A live performance is a different experience, according to Celek.
“If you go see a movie five times, it’s the same movie every time,” Celek said. “But if you go see two live performances, it’s not the same. The live element is incredibly awesome. Go see a play. It brings these beautiful words to life off a page.”
Student Showcase
Celek said that Sinclair participated in a Student Showcase recently where performances were written, produced and directed entirely by students.
The four performances occurred in December and lasted only 10-15 minutes. Celek said the events were exciting. The students worked on the performances over break and also performed in East Lansing, Michigan at Michigan State University the first week of winter quarter.
One challenge of the performance is the quick “load-in”. Celek said a load-in is the setting up of all equipment for the performance, and this normally takes “10-12 hours, usually.”
“Now, the kids have to do it in four hours,” Celek said.
The performances are all judged and Celek said “schools from all over” will participate against Sinclair. The Student Showcases are a success, though, according to Celek. She said that the performers gain experience and learn to work under pressure.