SMSU Spamalot a Combined Effort Between SMSU, Marshall High School

Published Monday, March 30, 2015

Southwest Minnesota State University’s theatre program, in conjunction with Marshall High School Tiger Theatre, will present Monty Python’s Spamalot, opening on April 23. Public performances will take place at both venues.

SMSU performances will be held in the SMSU Fine Arts Theatre on April 23 and 24 at 7:30 p.m., and April 25 at 2 p.m. Marshall High School performances on April 30-May 2 are at 7:30 p.m. at the Schwan’s Community Center for the Performing Arts. Dinner theatre will be offered on Friday, April 24, and a new dessert theatre will be offered on Saturday, April 25.

The performance celebrates the 10th anniversary of this uproarious musical, a comedic retelling of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Winner of the 2005 Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Musical, Spamalot is filled with clever references to classic Monty Python bits, and sly send-ups of other musicals and musical theatre in general.

Spamalot is directed by Mike Lenz, Theatre Arts alumnus from Cottonwood, Minn. Theatre Professor Sheila Tabaka is the Costumer and co-producer. Marshall High School Theatre Arts teacher Dan Smith is the Lighting Designer and co-producer. Assistant Theatre Professor Leazah Behrens is the Scenic Designer and Technical Director. Alexander Pikala, a senior Business Management major from Columbia Heights, Minn., is the Sound Designer. Turi Jystad, a junior Theatre Arts and Communication Studies double major from Zumbrota, Minn., is the Stage Manager.

The cast and crew includes:

Stephanie Asfeld, a sophomore Accounting major from Bertha, Minn., is the House Manager.
Emilie Baartman, a sophomore Theatre Arts and Broadcast and Digital Media double major from Brandon, S.D., as The French Taunter, Knight of Ni, and Tim the Enchanter.
Kevin Berg, a sophomore Marshall High School student, as Men’s Chorus and Minstrel.
Alexander Castro, a community member from Marshall, Minn., as Patsy.
Anna Belle Chamberlain, a junior Marshall High School student, is the assistant stage manager.
Marissa Condon, a junior Marshall High School student, as Historian, Laker Girl, and Knight of Ni.
Shania Deutz, a junior Marshall High School student, as Lake Girl and Knight of Ni.
Lauren Dopp, a senior Lakeview High School student, as Laker Girl and Knight of Ni.
Anna Gwendolyn Eben, a senior Theatre Arts major from George, Iowa, is the Props Master and Wardrobe Supervisor.
Kayli Ginocchio, a sophomore Marshall High School student, as Laker Girl and Knight of Ni.
Jacob Greathouse, a sophomore Marshall High School student, as Sir Lancelot.
Kyle Havlicek, a senior Theatre Arts major and Creative Writing minor from Redwood Falls, Minn., as Prince Herbert, Minstrel, and Men’s Chorus.
Oak Kelsey, SMSU alumnus from Marshall, Minn., as Prince Herbert’s Father and The Black Knight.
Thomas Knudsen, a sophomore Theatre Arts major from Tracy, Minn., as Sir Bedevere.
Sara Mills, SMSU Theatre and Communication Studies alumna from Thief River Falls, Minn., as Lady of the Lake.
Anna Polak, a freshman Theatre Arts major from Redwood Falls, Minn., as Mayor and Guard 2.
Ashley Schotzko, a junior Marshall High School student, as Lake Girl and Knight of Ni.
Sara Schroeder, a junior Marshall High School student, as Not Dead Fred, French Guard, and Laker Girl.
Payton Shively, a sophomore Theatre Arts major from Council Bluffs, Iowa, as Dennis Galahad’s Mother and Concorde. Shively is also the Publicity Manager.
Ariel Smith, a senior Marshall High School student, as Laker Girl and Knight of Ni.
Dan Smith, Theatre Arts teacher from Marshall High School, as King Arthur.
Sydney Stewart, a freshman Marketing major from Rockford, Ill., as Laker Girl and Knight of Ni.
Eukariah Tabaka, a junior Marshall High School student, as Sir Robin.
Isaac Thooft, a senior Marshall High School student, as Men’s Chorus and Minstrel.
Alex VanKeulen, a senior Marshall High School student, as Guard 1, Brother Maynard and Men’s Chorus.
Michael VanKeulen, a Marshal High School alumnus and community member from Marshall, Minn., as Sir Galahad.

The SMSU Student Hospitality Opportunities (SHO) Club is hosting dinner on Friday, April 24 at 5:45 p.m., and dessert with director Mike Lenz on Saturday, April 25 at 12:15 p.m. The menus for dinner and dessert theatre will be available after April 1st.

Dinner and Dessert tickets are optional, but require a five-day advance reservation. Dinner seating is from 5:45 – 6:15 p.m. and Dessert seating is from 12:45 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. in the Culinology Restaurant located in IL 117.

Tickets are available at www.SMSUtickets.com and at the door. Ticket prices are $10 for adults; $8 for senior citizens and students (K-college with ID). Dinner tickets are $22; dessert theatre, $10.

Performances are free to SMSU and Marshall High School students on Thursday, April 23 and Thursday, April 30 with a valid student ID.

For more information, please call the Theatre Office at 537-537-7103.