Sideways Stories from Wayside School

La Crosse Community Theatre presents

Theatre G

JUNE 12–21, 2015

Coming Events at the Weber Center

July 10, 2015 Journey to the World’s Edge
The culmination of a one-week summer camp for
7:00 pm young people, this show will light up a fun folk
tale in the Irish tradition.
July 24, 2015

7:00 pm

July 16–Aug. 7 Postcards from Hollywood
Thu/Fri/Sat 7:30 pm A musical journey that follows the victories and
Sun 2:00 pm defeats, the comedy and the drama of life on the

silver screen.

July 19, 2015 “No Place We’d Rather Be” Tour
4:00 pm The Kids from Wisconsin performs a diverse

repertoire of morale-boosting musical

entertainment for audiences of all ages.

We Welcome Our Sara holds an MFA in acting from Minnesota State
New Education University–Mankato, where she was recognized with the
Director, Sara Nadine B. Andreas Teaching Assistantship, has interned at
Pillatzki-Warzeha the Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis, and presented
original research on American Indian Playwrights at
Sara is an actor, director, playwright, and theatre educator. conferences in New Mexico and Minnesota.

In addition to teaching at Northern State University, Favorite directing projects include Barefoot in the Park,
University of Minnesota–Morris, and Minnesota State A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Perfect Wedding, and
University–Mankato, she has worked with a variety of 11:11. Favorite roles include Toinette in The Imaginary
theatre and arts groups in Minnesota and South Dakota, Invalid, Opal in The Friendly Hour, Salamina in The
including Black Dirt Theater Company, Stages Children’s Syringa Tree and Mag in The Beauty Queen of Leenane.
Theater, Trompe L’oeil, Park Theater Company, SaMi
Productions, Inspiration Performing Arts Center, Northern Sara currently also serves as the associate artistic director
Fort Playhouse, Redfield Area Arts Council, and Northfield of the Northern Fort Playhouse. She is married to Brian,
Arts Guild’s Latino Play Fest, Purple Door Youth Theater, and they are the proud parents of a beautiful cat named
and A+ Art Club: Autism and the Arts. Dakota and sweet little dog named Peanut.

Sara will arrive in La Crosse in July 2015.

La Crosse Community Theatre presents

SIDEWAYS STORIES
FROM WAYSIDE SCHOOL

Adapted for the stage by

JOHN OLIVE

from the novels by

LOUIS SACHAR

Director

DAVID R. KILPATRICK

Set Designer Costume Designer Lighting Designer Sound Designer
KELSEY KRISSA ABBY OLIVIA
TAUNT
VALENTINE- KILPATRICK GOLDING
HARNISH (Youth) (Youth)

Instrument Designer Assistant Costume Designer Stage Manager
MELISSA JASMINE
D’ARLYNN KRATT ROLAND
(Youth) KRATT

(Youth)

SIDEWAYS STORIES FROM WAYSIDE SCHOOL ©2001, Louis Sachar and John Olive.
Performed by special arrangement with Susan Schulman: A Literary Agency,

454 West 44th St., New York, NY 10036
The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

Cast in Order of Appearance

Mrs. Gorf.............................. Rachel Schoenecker* Leslie’s Pigtails B....................................Annie Glise
Myron........................................Marty Backstrand Miss Zarves....................................... Lizzy Novotny
Bebe............................................... Kori Ann Baer* Mr. Pickle........................................Matthew Lind*
Louis...........................................Larsen Birdsong* Miss Waloosh........................................Faith Platt*
Leslie..........................................McKenzie Quillin* Mr. Gorf............................................Gino Angelini*
Rondi................................ Madelyn Mikshowsky* Miss Mush.............................. Julianna Bruemmer
Dameon.......................................... Kieran Harnish Mr. Kidswatter.....................................Jake Kaiser*
Mrs. Jewls..................................... Gwen Rodeberg Mrs. Kidswatter......................................Annie Glise
Sammy................................................Jake Kaiser*
Leslie’s Pigtails A.................... Julianna Bruemmer * = LCT stage debut

Setting: Over the course of a school year at Wayside School, on the 30th Floor
There will be one 15-minute intermission.

This production will include strobe lighting effects.

Cast Biographies

LUIGINO ANGELINI* (Mr. Gorf) JULIANNA BRUEMMER (Miss
goes by “Gino.” He is 12 years old Mush/Leslie’s Pigtails A) is happy to
and is entering seventh grade at return to the LCT stage. She was last
Onalaska Middle School. He is seen in last summer’s youth

excited to be taking part in his first theatre production, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.
experience. She also was the Queen of Hearts in Logan
KORI ANN BAER* (Bebe) is an Middle School’s production of Alice in Wonder-
land Jr. Julianna also enjoys tennis, basketball,
eighth-grader at Aquinas Middle family game night, and driving her brother crazy.
School. Her interest and love of She thanks her mom and dad for being awesome
performing began in first grade, and for their love and support. She also thanks
when she played the grandmother in Little Red Mac, for the rides.
Riding Hood. Since then, she has had many ANNIE GLISE (Leslie’s Pigtails B/
performances opportunities, such as with the St.
Louis Metro 8 Honor Choir and the Mozingo Mrs. Kidswatter) just completed
Center for Creative Arts, located in the St. seventh grade at SOTA II. This is her
Charles, MO, area. She would like to send her third LCT production; she also
love and gratitude to her family and friends for appeard in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
their encouragement and endless support. and The Wind in the Willows. Other theatre
MARTY BACKSTRAND (Myron) is credits include UW-La Crosse’s 2013 production
in sixth grade at the School of of A Christmas Carol and Chanhassen Dinner
Technology & Arts II. Marty Theatre’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor
demonstrated an interest in acting Dreamcoat.
at a very young age by continuously re-enacting KIERAN HARNISH (Dameon) will
a movie scene. Unfortunately, his parents be entering seventh grade at Lincoln
misinterpreted this and considered seeking Middle School. He likes to sing and
psychiatric help. Marty is thrilled to be partici- dance and has been in several plays.
pating in his third LCT production. He has also He would like to thank his friends and family,
appeared in film, TV, and commercials. and his friend Caidan“for being awesome.”
LARSEN BIRDSONG* (Louis) is JAKE KAISER* (Sammy/Mr.
thirteen years old. Next year he will Kidswatter) attends Aquinas Middle
be a freshman at Onalaska High School. He loves cake and wrote two
School. He enjoys acting, singing, books in English class in fifth and
dancing, logrolling, French horn, and math. In sixth grades: Professor Cake’s Adventure to
his free time he likes reading and listening to America, Volumes I and 2. He’d like to thank you,
music. He is interested in the brain and wants to the viewer, and his friends.
be a therapist in the future. Larsen is very excited
to participate in his first show with La Crosse (continued on page 6)
Community Theatre.

* = LCT main stage debut

p. 4

Director’s Note

Before you go . . .

Get a book for a new friend and get one FREE
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Sideways Stories Exciting Youth Programming
from Wayside School for 2015-2016

June 12–21, 2015 • Fall and Spring classes
LCT’s 51st season – 350th production Ways to learn great skills, make new friends,
and have a lot of fun
We have a motto in theatre—“Anything is possible,
and can and will happen on the stage”—and • Summer and day camps
knowing this has been very freeing. Week- or day-long experiences that conclude
with performances open to the public—what a
This play gives a lot of freedom to the performers wonderful sense of accomplishment!
because of all of the craziness that happens.
Nothing is very normal at Wayside School, so • Youth productions
the production can’t be too normal, either. The Shows based on classic children’s literature
weirdness has allowed new approaches in coaching
the middle and high school students working on
the play. By worrying less about making things
“natural,” the young performers can focus more on
the acting process and learning their craft.

Along with opportunities for the actors to grow
and learn, a number of students have taken on
leadership roles in the production team, giving
them greater opportunities to explore the world of
theatre. Students are designing the costumes, the
lights, and the sounds.

I am glad to see us develop to that level where
youth can be given this free range. Youth rise up
to or down to the level you set for them. The kids
have really risen to this challenge, and for that I am
grateful.

David R. Kilpatrick, Director p. 5

Cast Biographies

(continued from page 4) Nothing at LCT. She also appeared in Cactus
MATTHEW LIND* (Mr. Pickle) has Pass, The Princess King, and The Castaways
with the La Crescent School District. Lizzy has
participated in the LCT summer always been obsessed with the stage and acting.
acting camp for the last two years She found her first opportunity to act onstage in
and played the role of Jim Smiley in fifth grade when she moved to La Crescent. She
last year’s performance of Twain’s Tales. He would like to thank “Camden Ellingson for
currently is in the seventh grade at Coulee always supporting me and being my best friend
Christian School, where his friends call him and my amazing father for bringing me to and
“Cashew.” He loves to perform and play cello from practice without fail (as well as putting up
with the La Crosse Youth Symphony Orchestra, with my yelling at home and crazy schedule).”
as well as playing soccer, practicing martial arts FAITH PLATT* (Miss Waloosh) is
at the YMCA, drawing, and do “techy stuff.”
MADELYN MIKSHOWSKY* (Rondi) entering ninth grade at Onalaska
is a freshman at Aquinas High School. Middle School, where she held the
She loves to draw and also loves roles of Winifred in Romeo and
listening to her Show Tunes station on Winifred and Judith/Narrator in The Legend of
Pandora and pretending that she is the characters Sleepy Hollow. Faith now is in the high school
singing those songs. She would like to thank her summer musical Grease. She has loved the idea
family for giving their love and support and her of being on stage for as long as she can
choral director for pushing her to work as hard as remember. She wasn’t in plays until she was in
she can. “Oh, yeah, and also Abbey. Lastly, I hope seventh grade, but she always used to put on
you all enjoy the show and God bless!” plays that she made up, for her family. Ever since
LIZZY NOVOTNY (Miss Zarves) is The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Faith knew that
entering tenth grade at La Crescent she wanted to do more with acting. She loves it
High School. She appeared in last with a passion and knows that it’s something
year’s Tales of a Fourth Grade she will want to do her whole life.

* = LCT main stage debut

Production and Design Staff

Director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .David R. Kilpatrick Backstage Mentor. . . . . . . . . . . . Stacy Bruemmer
Artistic Director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Greg Parmeter Sound Board Operator. . . . . . . . . . . Olivia Golding
Technical Director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dillon McArdle Light Board Operator. . . . . . . . . . Abby Kilpatrick
Set Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelsey Taunt Projectionist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Josh Kaiser
Costume Designer. . . . . . Krissa Valentine-Harnish Running Crew. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lauren Horton
Lighting Designer. . . . . . . . . Abby Kilpatrick (youth) Running Crew. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Katie Kaiser
Sound Designer. . . . . . . . . Olivia Golding (youth) Running Crew. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jasmine Kratt
Instrument Designer . . . . . . . . . Melissa D’Arlynn Running Crew. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Teagan Kratt
Properties . . . . Melissa D’Arlynn, Kelsey Taunt Running Crew. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rubie Stetzer
Asst. Costume Designer. . . . . Jasmine Kratt (youth) Running Crew. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alex Yeiter
Stage Manager. . . . . . . . . . Roland Kratt (youth)

Cast Biographies

McKENZIE QUILLIN* (Leslie) is RACHEL SCHOENECKER* (Mrs.
entering ninth grade at Onalaska Gorf) is“super excited”to be part of
High School. She appeared as Parish her first LCT production. She is
in last year’s summer camp entering eighth grade at Onalaska
Middle School. Some of her hobbies include
production of Twain’s Tales. McKenzie enjoys singing, dancing, playing piano and trumpet,
waterskiing and snow skiing. She would like to and swimming. She is extremely passionate
thank her parents, friends, and extended family about acting and show choir. What she loves
for supporting her in all her plays. about theatre is becoming someone else, seeing
GWEN RODEBERG (Mrs. Jewls), a the world as someone else would. She would like
to thank Jenny Saner and DJ Ehrike for introduc-
sophomore at La Crescent High School, ing her to the world of performing.“Enjoy the
is thrilled to be a part of the production show!”
of Sideway Stories from Wayside * = LCT main stage debut
School. Most recently Gwen was seen as Sarah in
the Missoula Children’s Theatre production of The Our season is made possible,
Pied Piper. Other credits include Tales of a Fourth in part, by:
Grade Nothing (LCT); A Christmas Story; and
Shrek, the Musical (Horizon/Main Stage Theatre).
Outside of theatre Gwen enjoys skiing, reading, and
music. She likes theatre because of the different
characters it allows her to play. She wishes to thank
her mother and father for their support.

p. 7

LCT Staff & Board

STAFF MEMBERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Executive Director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David R. Kilpatrick President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scott Horne
Artistic Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Greg Parmeter First Vice-President. . . . . . . . . Nancy Wigdahl Sedbrook
Education Director . . Sara Pillatzki-Warzeha (July 2015) Second Vice-President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sara Battison
Technical Director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dillon McArdle Treasurer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dar Isaacson
Costume Supervisor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mandy Parmeter Secretary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan McDonald-Conroy
Director of Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eric Severson Past President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kenna Christians
Office Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jessi Davidson Nancy Flottmeyer, J. Michael Hartigan, Mary Isaacs,
Box Office Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ryan Puffer Charles Link, Gary Mundinger, Brian K. Murphy,
Box Office Staff. . . . . . . . . April Brown, Quinn Masterson, Randy Nelson, Karl Noll, Wayne Oliver
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lewis Youngren
Bookkeeper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Hofer

Weber Center Staff & Board

STAFF MEMBERS Concessions Staff. . . . . . . . Stephanie Canales, Cassie George,
Executive Director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David R. Kilpatrick . . . . . Kelly Krieg-Sigman, Glenna Krzyzanowski, Dorina Lukins
Weber Center Technical Director. . . . . . . . . . . Tim Harris
Office Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jessi Davidson BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bookkeeper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Hofer President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard B. Artman
House Managers. . . . . . . . Kendra Andreska, April Brown, Vice-President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J. Michael Hartigan
. . . . . . . . . Sharon Dawidowski, Lisa Keyser, Quinn Masterson, Secretary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kenna Christians
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lewis Youngren Treasurer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Ranscht
. . . .David Amborn; Mary Ann Gschwind, fspa; Jim Warren

Production Staff Biographies

DAVID R. KILPATRICK (Director) marks OLIVIA GOLDING (Sound Designer) is a
sophomore at Central High School. She was
the end of his fifth season at La Crosse sound designer for LCT’s Theatre for Youth
Community Theatre with this production. He is productions Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
grateful of the opportunity to direct a Theatre
for Youth production. Although he directed and costumed for and A Wrinkle in Time. She has been seen on the LCT stage in
Peter and the Wolf with LSO, this is his first full-length youth Our Town, The Wind in the Willows, and The Phantom
production with LCT. David’s recent directing productions Tollbooth. She likes theatre because she gets to meet new
include A Charlie Brown Christmas and Some Enchanted people. Olivia wishes to thank her friends and family“for
Evening. In addition to his production work as lighting designer supporting what I love.”
and most recently performing, David also serves as executive
director for both LCT and Weber Center for the Performing Arts. MELISSA D’ARLYNN (Instrument
His generous and supportive family, Barbara and Abigail,
patiently wait for a day of rest. For this production, David also Designer/Properties) began working with LCT as
wants to thank his #1 fan and #1 critic, his mom, for all that she hair and makeup designer in The Wind in the
does in support of his theatre dreams. Willows. She has since participated in
Thoroughly Modern Millie, The 39 Steps and Tales of a
KELSEY TAUNT (Set Designer) is a freelance Fourth Grade Nothing.
theatrical teacher and designer. Recent
productions include A Charlie Brown JASMINE KRATT (Asst. Costume Designer)
Christmas, as Lucy (LCT) and recent set designs
is homeschooled and in eleventh grade. She has
include The Nerd (Appleseed), Brigadoon (LaCrescent HS), previously been seen on the LCT stage as the
and The Heiress (Aquinas HS). Kelsey would like to thank her Barge Lady/Mother Rabbit in The Wind in the
friends and family for their love and support. Willows, Titania/Poins in William’s Window, Professor Willard/
Josie Stoddard in Our Town, and Ethel’s Legs in Thoroughly
KRISSA VALENTINE HARNISH Modern Millie, and Mrs. Whatsit in A Wrinkle in Time. Her
hobbies include drawing, sketching, and reading. She likes
(Costume Designer) is an assistant photographer theatre because she gets to pretend she’s someone she’s not.
and office manager for Theresa M Smerud,
Visual Consultant and Arts Photographer. ROLAND KRATT (Stage Manager) is in
She has appeared onstage and offstage in many local theatre
productions. She resides in La Crosse with her husband and twelfth grade. Some of his favorite roles at
her two sons. LCT include Simon Stimson in Our Town,
Grandfather in Peter and the Wolf, and
ABBY KILPATRICK (Lighting Designer) is Father in A Wrinkle in Time. This is his first stage
management experience, and he is very grateful for the
in sixth grade at SOTA 2/Lincoln Middle School. opportunity.“The cast and crew for this show is wonderful,
She has been in Tales of a Fourth Grade and I hope to work with them again in the future.”
Nothing (Sheila), and The Phantom Tollbooth
(Spelling Bee). She loves theatre, school, and Netflix. She likes
theatre“because I get to meet new people and learn new
things. I want to thank my Dad for teaching me about theatre,
my teacher for understanding my theatre ways, and all my
friends who help me through tough times.”

Special Acknowledgments

Thank you to all who made this production possible, including Theresa Smerud, Kyle Backstrand and
Viterbo University, Coulee Christian School, Kelsey Taunt and the Olson-Taunt family, CBS Graphics, and
Dynamic Recycling.

p. 9

Please support the organizations that support La Crosse Community Theatre.
p. 10

p. 11

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