All students can benefit from theater experience

-- Margaret A. Pribel

“The arts are at least as basic to us as the sciences; they’re not luxuries, it’s a basic need,” states Gail Smogard, the director of the theater arts department. She easily points out the benefits when discussing the importance of the theater program. “Working on a play creates empathy, it demands active choices, connects you to other people. And trust is built quickly when you have to depend on each other to put on a show.” Smogard is passionate about her work, and her warm and inviting personality make joining in especially tempting.

“The theater program at Metropolitan State University is different because of all the non-traditional and diverse students we have. These students bring their life experience and we can focus on doing more experimental work than a more traditional school,” says Smogard. “We have produced plays by people from diverse backgrounds: Japanese, Irish, Paraguayan, American, business majors, English majors.” There are opportunities for everyone.

The new co-location of the theater department at the Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) not only allows the department a lot more space, it enables university professors to focus on upper-level courses. The freshman- and sophomore-level classes are offered through MCTC, and junior and senior levels are offered through the university.

The two schools will share the 300-seat, semi-thrust stage and a planned, black-box theater. A black-box theater offers a smaller, more intimate setting, and is less intimidating for actors. Construction of the smaller theater is scheduled to begin this summer. Traditionally, black-box theater has been a perfect setting for experimental productions.

Smogard is pleased with the new location of the theater department. MCTC and Metropolitan State University students may audition for theater produced by either school. And MCTC theater doors open directly onto Loring Park. She looks forward to holding classes outdoors in warm weather and making the most of the advantageous downtown Minneapolis location. Smogard also notes that the great coffee sold at MCTC is an added bonus.

For students new to theater, Smogard says a voice class is a good place to begin. The class can help any student get in touch with their vocal presentation. Voice class can benefit students who give presentations as well as people who might be unaware of their vocal shortcomings. Smogard assures this is a gentle class where people learn more about how to use their voice as a tool. The Directed Readings class is an online course that allows students to read and see plays and learn to boil down play content to a specific purpose. Smogard points out, “This class is an exercise in thinking.” Playwriting is Smogard’s area of expertise and these classes are the core of the program.

All of the professors in the theater department have worked professionally in theater and continue to do so. Camille D’Ambrose and her husband, Alan Hamilton will be performing in Honesty at the Jungle Theater this month. Hamilton performed with Brian Dennehy in Death of a Salesman on Broadway. Scott Rubsam was recently nominated for the Teacher of Excellence Award. Reggie Phoenix’s specialty is musical theater, and he has performed in A Chorus Line on Broadway. Phoenix is a Metropolitan State University graduate.

In the tradition of other professors at Metropolitan State University, Smogard has real-life experience and is deeply involved in her field. Over the past three years, Smogard has served as the chair of playwriting for region five of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. She has worked with the Playwrights Center, the Guthrie Theater and other local theaters, she has done work for Minnesota Public Television, and she has worked in theaters in New York and Texas.

MCTC will produce the Bertolt Brecht play, The Good Woman of Sezuan. The production will run Feb. 23-26. This May, Metropolitan State University will produce a play by Nestor Amarilla. The play is about the affect of the war on Iraqi people.

The annual playwriting competition takes place in the fall. Students who have a directed reading of their play are eligible to compete in a variety of college competitions.

Metro Theater Underground is a student organization that welcomes students of all majors. Call Anthony Verdeja at 651-778-8110 or Nestor Amarilla at 651-793-1556 for more information about Metro Theater Underground.

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