Nov. 8, 2010

              Morningside College theatre department to present “Blithe Spirit”

The Morningside College theatre department will present Noel Coward’s comedy “Blithe Spirit” at 7 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, November 18-20, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, November 21, at Klinger-Neal Theatre, 3700 Peters Avenue

“Blithe Spirit” deals with the tribulations of Charles Condoman, whose life is disrupted after an eccentric medium and clairvoyant, Madame Arcati, conducts a séance in Charles’ home and inadvertently summons the ghost of his first wife, Elvira, who has been dead for seven years. Elvira attempts to disrupt Charles’ marriage to his second wife, Ruth, who cannot see or hear the ghost.

The play was written in 1941 and was made into a successful film in 1945 that starred Rex Harrison.

Cast members are Madalyn Mardesen, a junior from Elliott, Iowa, as Edith the maid; Brianna Carter, a senior from Sioux City, as Ruth; Michael Bryant, a senior from Farragut, Tenn., as Charles; Michael Stern, a freshman from Santiago, Dominican Republic, as Dr. Bradman; Athena Riesenberg, a junior from Sioux City, as Mrs. Bradman; Aimee Lynn Little, a freshman from Louisville, Ky., as Madame Arcati; and Melissa Richter, a freshman from Rock Valley, Iowa, as Elvira.

The stage director is Bette Skewis-Arnett, professor of theatre. Michael Rohlena, visiting assistant professor of theatre and dance, is the technical director and set designer.

Members of the crew include Jacob Sandvick, a senior from Sioux City, stage manager; Haleigh Pigott, a freshman from Sioux City, assistant stage manager; Andrew Curry, a junior from Urbandale, Iowa, backstage manager; Brittney Foxhoven, a junior from South Sioux City, Neb., house manager; Kelsey Saboe, a junior from Royal, Iowa, assistant house manager; Kailea Ewoldt, a freshman from Ute, Iowa, usher; Heidi Barrier, a freshman from Neola, Iowa, usher; Jason Vaith, a sophomore from Scotland, S.D., backstage; Matthew Hadley, a freshman from Sioux Center, Iowa, backstage; Cora Kugler, a sophomore from Watertown, Minn., backstage; Jessica Pendergrass, a freshman from Bentonville, Ark., wardrobe manager; Ronald Morton, a sophomore from St. Louis, Mo., wardrobe assistant; Mary Isabel Guzman-Muro, a freshman from Sioux Center, Iowa, wardrobe assistant.

Nancy Seeman, a freshman from Stanton, Neb., hair and makeup; Nathan Schwartz, a senior from Sioux City, lighting; Andrew Poeckes, a freshman from Remsen, Iowa, lighting; Erica DeWaay, a freshman form Sioux Center, Iowa, construction; Laura Krengel, a junior from Wyoming, Minn., construction; Cristina McCrystal, a sophomore from Sloan, Iowa, construction; Donna Habinck, a freshman from Mapleton, Iowa, paint; Sara Olson, a freshman from Marcus, Iowa, paint; Elizabeth Hanstein, a freshman from Le Mars, Iowa, prop master; and Juliene Brown, a freshman from Omaha, Neb., assistant prop master.