A trip to Wisconsin affirmed Tricia Stogsdill’s belief that big things — especially in the performing arts — can be found in small communities.
Stogsdill, theater and film instructor at Allen Community College, returned this week with a group of seven students who spent three days at the American Players Theatre, one of the country’s foremost classical theater companies.
On top of seeing four professional productions, the students were given special access to a number of ATP offerings from participating in an audition monologue workshop, getting a backstage tour of the company’s facilities, watching one show from the booth and meeting several actors and tech crews after their performances.
“Just getting to talk with professionals and hear their tips and their tricks and their inspiration was good to hear, especially for us young students,” ACC student Kendall Glaze said.
Ashley Shaughnessy, Allen’s costume shop manager, met with Scott Rott, the company’s director of costumes, while the students also met with APTs artistic director Brenda DeVita.
First year student Gabriel Wolf appreciated the opportunity to fully immerse himself in one of the nation’s biggest theaters when it comes to classical Shakespearean productions.
“It’s such a gift to be given this opportunity,” Wolf said. “It really helped strengthen my connection to theater and knowing this is where I want to be.”
Sophomore Brigham Folk said the students were given a true red carpet experience.
“There were so many things we got access to,” Folk said. “It was really cool to see how they worked behind the scenes, and to notice the things we do here that Tricia has brought back.”
Stogsdill works summers at the American Players Theatre. John Leahy, Allen’s technical theatre instructor and Stogsdill’s husband, also joined the venture to Wisconsin.
Perhaps most pleasing, Folk said, was to see the professionalism offered by their hosts, realizing just how similar Allen’s film and drama programs operate.
“It’s so cool to see we’re running the theater in the same way,” he said. “It’s really inspired me to come back to Allen and work even harder.”
“I’ve been around the theater a lot,” freshman Cole Moyer added. “Just seeing the high bar of a good show — a great show — and the effort they put into it was a good experience. All of us got to see what it takes to make a great show, and try to reset ourselves to reach that same level. And I think we will reach it.”
It should be noted the American Players Theater is situated in Green Spring, Wisconsin — population 1,500.
“You don’t have to go to New York or L.A. or a big city, to experience great art,” Stogsdill said. “It’s something we said on the trip. Hopefully you feel inspired to bring it back to your community.
“It’s a gift to have great art in our community,” she continued. “And Iola really is a flourishing arts community.”
