playbill vip

A note from our Co-Director, Mr. Colin Dabkowski:

Certain pieces of art arrive in your life at precisely the right moment.  

For me, one of those moments came in the spring of 2009 in a small Los Angeles theater, where a low-key production of a classic American play quietly shattered my preconceptions about theater and reordered my priorities in life. 

You will notice that our production, as Thornton Wilder intended, is light on scenery and special effects. The black cinder blocks that make up the back wall of the theater remain in plain view. We make no effort to hide the members of our stage crew. You can see the wires and the bowed 2x4s and the benches that will shortly be repainted and repurposed for another show. Across the play’s three acts, you will notice that scenery itself begins to disintegrate and costumes become simpler, leaving more space for you to fill in the surroundings yourself.  

Cole Ertel, one of our cast members, put it this way in an early rehearsal: “Everything that makes it different isn’t really there. So you have to add it in your mind.” We know your imagination still works, and we hope this production will flip the switch. 

This production, in nearly every aspect, is the result of students’ ideas, drive and ingenuity. I want to especially recognize the work of senior set designer Mason Brody, whose own imagination and work ethic was on full display in this production. Likewise, I am grateful to Nathaniel Bartsch, who balanced his lead role in the show with his duties as a student costume designer, and to Alex Lysiak, who handled the challenging role of student vocal director with aplomb. 

I would like to thank my co-director, Miss Paige Rzepka, for her support, ideas, energy and enthusiasm during the entire production process. Her return to Alden and to the theater department from which she emerged is a godsend for which we are all lucky. My thanks go also to Mr. Chris Clark, our indefatigable tech director, and to Ms. Jennifer Simpson and Mrs. Shelley Stoffel, our costume director and assistant, whose work lends this production its simple style, elegance, and grace. 

Finally, to the cast and crew: Thank you for your energy, passion, ideas, jokes, and personalities during this production process. I am honored to be part of this theater family, and I hope you are as proud of this production as I am of each of you. 

Sincerely, 

Colin Dabkowski 

Co-Director