Leni Ramberg (1973, Speech-Theatre and English) has been a writer for years, authoring plays, screenplays and short stories. “I thought it would be fun to write a mystery book, or series of books, aimed at middle-grade readers, ages 10-12,” she said.

She completed a final draft of Girlfriend Detectives: The Missing Photo Mystery, last year, but the manuscript needed an editor and proofreader. Leni remembered meeting Pamela Troumbly (1971, Elementary Education) at an alumni reunion at a restaurant in Los Angeles last summer. “Pamela and I sat near each other and we talked for some time that evening. She struck me as energetic, smart and someone who would be a stickler for good grammar, spelling and also a careful reader.”

Months after the reunion, Leni called Pamela, and the partnership began. Together, the MSUM alums worked on the manuscript page by page. “She was meticulous and clear,” Leni recalls.

Retired from a 30-year career working in law libraries in downtown Los Angeles, Pamela developed editing and proofreading skills as a subject editor for “A/V A-Z,” an entertainment encyclopedic dictionary authored by Richard Kroonan and published in 2010. She’s retired now, but edits and maintains a website for a chiropractic association, and works with Leni.

Girlfriend Detectives is now available for sale and download for the Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble’s Nook and other e-reading devices.  A second Girlfriend Detectives book is in the works. “I plan to have it ready for Pamela’s editing skills by the end of the year,” Leni says. Pamela is currently editing A Clown Dog’s Christmas, a book Leni wrote for children. She hopes to have it ready for sale on e-readers by Thanksgiving.

Two recent MSUM theatre department graduates nabbed leading roles in upcoming shows with professional theatre companies in Minneapolis.

Katie Adducci, ’10, debuts in a musical production of Pippi Longstocking, opening April 24 at the Children’s Theatre Company. The show runs through June 20. Adducci is featured in the April issue of Minnesota Monthly magazine.

Tyler Michaels, ’10, plays the role of Moritz in Theatre Latte Da’s updated musical production of Spring Awakening. The show, produced in collaboration with the University of Minnesota’s Department of Theatre and Dance, opened April 12 and runs through May 6 on the university’s west bank. A segment of a rehearsal featuring Michaels can be seen at http://latteda.org/1112-season/spring-awakening.

Shannon Warne, 2000, plays one of five leads in the musical Having It All, which was just picked up for a run at Laguna Playhouse in 2013. The show just completed a run at the NoHo Arts Center in North Hollywood.

Betsy Kruse Craig, 1991, is the sole performer in The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead, a seven-character, one-woman play at the Invisible Theatre in Tucson, Ariz., where she is also an associate director.

Paul Reyburn, 1986, is currently performing in I Hate Hamlet at the Minneapolis Theatre Garage. The show runs through May 5.

Tyler Michaels

Appearing in his first Minneapolis Musical Theatre production, Tyler Michaels stars as Bat Boy, a half boy/ half bat creature discovered in a cave and civilized by townspeople in this off-kilter comedy. Michaels, who appeared in various MSUM productions and won the Region V Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition his senior year, resides in Bloomington, Minn.

Read the full Minneapolis Musical Theatre Bat Boy release below.

BAT_BOY_Press_Release_2011.10.19-1

The show runs through Oct. 1 at 7:30, and two matinee shows are scheduled at 2 p.m. on Oct. 1 and 2.
The iconic musical is set in Germany in 1930. The Nazi Party is rising to power, but in the Kit Kat Klub everything is beautiful, according to the Emcee. CABARET explores both the private lives of the
characters and the public life of a country in a time that was glittering, illusory, unrestrained, decadent, electric and sensual, as it gives way to a world that is becoming increasingly frightening, tumultuous,
oppressive, and tragic. For tickets, call the Box Office at 218.477.2271, or buy online. Tickets are also available at the door.

David Wheeler

Each year, the Dille Fund for Excellence Committee and the President select one MSUM faculty member to receive the award, one of the highest honors MSUM bestows to its faculty. Honorees receive a $1,200 honorarium and commemorative desk clock in a brief ceremony before the lecture. A reception takes place immediately after the lecture.

June 28–July 1, 7:30 p.m.
Gaede Stage / Musical / PG

It’s the atomic 1950s at Enrico Fermi High. Pretty senior Toffee loves Jonny, the class bad boy, but family pressure forces her to end the romance. Distraught, Jonny charges off on his motorcycle to the nuclear waste dump. He returns, glowing with radiation determined to reclaim Toffee’s heart. Don’t miss this rockin’ collection of original songs in the style of 50s hits.

For more information or to purchase tickets, go to the Straw Hat Players website or view the attached poster.

Read more.

Nunsensations!

June 7–10 & 1 –17, 7:30 p.m.
Gaede Stage / Musical / PG

The sisters of Hoboken are back! This time, they’re taking their show to Vegas. It’s the most feather-filled and sequin-studded Nunsense show ever! “It’s a whole lot funny and a little bit naughty, but there ain’t nothin’ dirty goin’ on!”

The 70s Show

June 21–24, 7:30 p.m.
Hansen Theatre / Musical / PG

With more than 30 classic seventies floor-fillers, this show celebrates the decade that brought us flared trousers, platform shoes and more glitter than Liberace. A show for all the family, whether it’s your first experience of the 1970s or you were there when it all began.

Zombie Prom

June 28–July 1, 7:30 p.m.
Gaede Stage / Musical / PG

It’s the atomic 1950s at Enrico Fermi High. Pretty senior Toffee loves Jonny, the class bad boy, but family pressure forces her to end the romance. Distraught, Jonny charges off on his motorcycle to the nuclear waste dump. He returns, glowing with radiation determined to reclaim Toffee’s heart. Don’t miss this rockin’ collection of original songs in the style of 50s hits.

The Compleate Workds of [abridged] William Shakespeare

July 12–15, 7:30 p.m.
Gaede Stage / Comedy / PG

All 37 plays in 97 minutes—an irreverent, fast-paced romp through all of the Bard’s plays! Join a trio of madcap men in tights as they weave their wicked way through Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories and Tragedies in a wild ride that will leave you breathless and helpless with laughter.

The Sound of Music

July 21–22 & 26–29, 7:30 p.m.
Hansen Theatre / Musical / PG

When a postulant proves too high-spirited for the religious life, she is dispatched to serve as governess for the seven children of a widowed naval captain. Filled with memorable music and characters, the motion picture version remains the most popular movie musical of all time. See it live and onstage!

Straw Hat Poster ’11

Kimberly Miller

From the 18th through the 23rd Kimberly participated in master classes and workshops taught by Joy Zinoman of the Studio Theatre in D.C., Laura Eason of the Looking Glass Theatre in Chicago, and John Dillon of SDC, among other professional directors, playwrights and artistic directors from around the country. Also as a result of competing at the regional festival, Kimberly is now an associate member of the SDC union.

The video titled “Message Sent” is a cautionary tale about what can happen to a very personal image once the “send” button is pushed for a text message.

Adam Brant made the video with two friends, Torrey Halverson and Caroline Stommes, who also acted in the video.

Brant said their reason for entering the contest was twofold:

“If we can use what we like to do for fun to maybe earn some extra money and spread some good words, then, why not?” Brant said.

The video earned a $500 prize from the Internet Safety for Kids & Family program sponsored by Trend Micro, an international computer security company with U.S. offices in California.

The program’s “What’s Your Story” video contest challenges youths to make positive choices.

The video produced by the MSUM students won in the “using a mobile phone wisely” category.

Brant said there are few safeguards when it comes to protecting privacy on the Internet, and he said one way to prevent problems is to increase awareness of the dangers.

“They (young people) just don’t realize how fast it can spread,” Brant said, referring to electronic information, including images.

“The only way we are able to lower the numbers of this happening is by educating our peers,” he added.

The video can be seen at Trend Micro’s “What’s Your Story?” website.

STOP KISS
ONE NIGHT ONLY–Glasrud Auditorium, Weld Hall, Wednesday, April 20th at 7:30 p.m.

“A poignant and funny play about the ways, both sudden and slow, that lives can change irrevocably,” says Variety. After Callie meets Sara, the two unexpectedly fall in love. Their first kiss provokes a violent attack that transforms their lives in a way they could never anticipate.musi

An entirely student produced play from directors and actors, to stage   management and design. See MSU Moorhead students put theory into practice in this contemporary play performance.

THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS (The Musical!)
ONE NIGHT ONLY — Gaede Stage, Dille Center for the Arts, Thursday, April 21st at 7:30 p.m.

The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!) is a musical about musicals! In this hilarious satire of musical theatre, one story becomes five delightful musicals, each written in the distinctive style of a  different master of the form, from Rodgers and Hammerstein to Stephen  Sondheim. This comic valentine to musical theatre was the longest running show in the York Theatre Company’s 35-year history before moving to Off-Broadway.

“Witty! Refreshing! Juicily! Merciless!” — Village Voice.

An entirely student produced play from directors and actors, to stage management and design.  See MSU Moorhead students put theory into  practice in this unique musical theatre performance.

One of the greatest comedies of the French Theater, Tartuffe is an astonishingly, delightful romp which focuses on a con-man’s attempt to turn a household on its ear. Is Tartuffe as extremely pious and religiously devout as he appears, or is there something else lurking just below the façade? MSUM Theatre presents this comedy April 13-16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Roland Dille Center for the Arts Gaede Stage.

Tickets are available online or call the MSUM Box Office at 218.477.2271 Monday-Friday from noon to 4 p.m.

Tartuffe Ad 10.25×8

Tom had an amazing resume. He was promoted to general manager and managing director of the Guthrie Theater when its new complex was being planned and built. After several years in senior management, he left the Guthrie to lead the Minnesota State Arts Board. In 2008 he left his beloved state to serve as administrative director for the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Last summer he returned to the Twin Cities to serve as the producing director of the theater arts and dance department at the University of Minnesota. He was recently appointed to the MSUM Alumni Foundation Board of Directors.

Read more on the Dragon News Area Voices.

Caroline Stommes

MSU Moorhead Theatre Arts major Caroline Stommes has been selected to participate in the highly selective summer program with the British American Drama Academy (BADA).  BADA was founded in 1983 to enable students from across the world to study classical theatre with leading actors and directors of the British and American theatre, and its programs are based on its unique and very close relationship with leading practitioners of the theatre. The Dean of the Program is Ian Wooldridge, former Artistic Director of the Royal Lyceum Theatre Company, Edinburgh. BADA teachers have included many of Britain’s most distinguished actors and directors. Sir Derek Jacobi is the Academy’s Patron, and those who have participated in BADA’s programs include: Simon Callow, Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company and star of many films; Brian Cox, leading actor of the Royal National Theatre; Jeremy Irons, leading stage actor and star of the movies Damage and Reversal of Fortune; Fiona Shaw, leading actress of the Royal National Theatre; Miriam Margoyles, one of Britain’s leading character actors; Katie Mitchell, Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company; and Henry Goodman, leading actor for the Royal National Theatre.

[TITLE OF SHOW] is the hilarious and bittersweet tale of two struggling writers named Jeff and Hunter who race to write and submit a show to a theatre festival – with the deadline just weeks away. In the span of 90 minutes Hunter, Jeff and their friends write and perform their show at the festival and learn lessons about themselves as people, friends and artists. Chronicling the backstage story of its own creation, [TITLE OF SHOW] is, above all, an original love letter to the musical theatre—a uniquely American art form—and to the joy of collaboration.

MTFM’s cast of [TITLE OF SHOW] features MSUM professor Craig A. Ellingson, Kathy Hanson, Adam Pankow, and Carolyn Schmitz. Julie Adams provides musical direction and accompanies.

Tickets for this PG-13 rated musical are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for students. For ticket reservations, or for additional information about the production, call the MTFM/FMCT Box Office at 701-235-6778.