Theatre students are among the most active students on the IPFW campus. In preparation for graduation, they are very involved in numerous theatrical and dance performances on campus, putting in shop hours either with the scene shop or costume shop, along with their involvement in local community and professional regional theatre.

We never run out of exciting things to report on regarding our theatre students.  If you have student success information to share, contact Susan Domer at domers@ipfw.edu or call 260-481-6025.

Academics: Each year, approximately 24% of VPA students make the dean’s list (3.5 GPA or higher), and six attained a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA in 2005-06. 

Student Successes: Theatre students prove their talent through their successes in academics, performance and research. Click on a recent semester to find out more about theatre student successes.

2012

Theatre major Amber Klinker the summer of 2012 working as a costume sempstress for the Theater at Monmouth in Monmouth, Maine. Her job included patterning, hat construction, cutting and alterations among other duties. Monmouth’s summer productions included Moliere's Tartuffe, Shakespeare's Henry IV Part 1, Two Gentlemen of Verona and The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams.

2009

Blane Pressler and Brett Tubbs were triple threats at Festival 56 in historic Princeton, Ill., during summer 2008. They had supporting roles in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Hamlet, City of Angels, The Odd Couple, and Jesus Christ Superstar. Festival 56 is a six-week professional theatre festival.

Brent Bruin built a variety of costumes designed by Bill Black, a regional costume designer from the University of Tennessee at the Utah Shakespeare Festival during summer 2008. His draper, who translates the designer’s drawings to paper patterns for each actor, was Joan Mathers. He built a number of Shakespearean garments including doublets, dresses, and robes for the actors in Othello.

IPFW theatre recently participated in the 2009 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KC/ACTF) Region III at Saginaw Valley State University in Saginaw, Mich., in January 2009. Josh Cerri advanced to the final round of the competition at KC/ACTF in the Realized Design Projects category for his sound design for Two Rooms.

Elizabeth Alberding was cast in Gun Metal Blue Bar for the Ten Minute Plays presentation at KC/ACTF. Chad Kennerk presented his costume design project for Dr. Faustus. Kat Wimer participated as costume designer on Team #2, designing Cat on a Hot Tin Roof for the Design Storm session.

The following students were Irene Ryan Acting Award nominees for this year’s competition at KC/ACTF, according to adjudicators who juried all of last year’s performances.

Waiting for Godot Aaron Mann & Greg Boyles
A Doll’s House Breona Conrad & Jessica Butler
Wonderful Town Chad Kennerk & Blane Pressler
How to Succeed… Brett Tubbs & Jessica Butler

Three of the nominees elected to be Irene Ryan Acting Award competitors and performed with their chosen partners at KC/ACTF Region III.

Jessica Butler & Blane Pressler (Partner)
Chad Kennerk & Elizabeth Alberding (Partner)
Brett Tubbs & Tamara Cummins (Partner)