vistatheater.org

Name(s)	Plays	Current Location	Current Theater Involvement/Occupation	Memories	Comments & Suggestions

Durfee, Alicia	Annie, 1998, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, 2000, Guys and Dolls Jr., 2000	Washington, D.C.	Graduated from Oberlin College in 2007 with a BA in English; at Georgetown University working on an MA in Communication, Culture, and Technology; employed part-time as a researcher for the National Council on Teacher Quality	What memories DON'T I have?! Seeing Little Shop of Horrors in June of 1998 and thinking, "YES, I want to be in a show like THAT!" (and totally crushing on Seymour)...running around drinking Surge with a bunch of other crazy 12-year-olds during Annie...playing a courtesan in Forum at the tender age of 15 (and wasn't my mother proud!)...and singing "Smelly Cat" as my first audition song.	Never give in! Don't let others' ideas of what constitutes a good actor (or a good career) prevent you from following your dream. Play whenever you can, wherever you can. All experience is good experience. And, most of all, enjoy yourself! Drama can be found offstage, too - try not to get sucked in. PAAC - I miss you!
Gladwell, Eliisa	High School Musical, 2008, Footloose, 2008	Negaunee, Michigan	School, and Theater	I have a lot of memories from the Vista. I especially remember HSM because that was the first play Ihave ever had a lead in. I remember having at least 15 little kids in my dressing room every night. I remember meeting a ton of new people in HSM.	Make sure you talk slowly and loudly. Have FUN! and Practice.
Graham, Paige	The Sound of Music, 2004, The Secret Garden, 2006, CATS, 2006, Kiss Me Kate, 2007, Alice in Wonderland, 2007, and High School Musical, 2008	Marquette, Michigan	Ummmm . . . going to school! And I definitely do a lot of theater!	I have a lot of memories from the Vista theater. I remember all of the many people I've met. And my favorite memory is during Alice in Wonderland, how Jessica and I would always ride together and talk constantly. I also, believe it or not, remember being on the STAGE at the Vista theater! Imagine that?!?!?	I suggest that you don't be too hard on yourself. I mean theater's supposed to be fun! True, you have to focus sometimes, but like if you don't get the part you wanted, just accept it. Your time will come. I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE THE VISTA THEATER!!! DON'T EVER CHANGE!!!!!
Grigg, Kelsey	CATS, 2006	Ishpeming, Michigan	I am currently involved in a number of activities such as drama club, the plays here at school, key club, action troupe and new kids on the rock Marquette Chapter	When paige, Chealsea, Caitlin and I got to hang out together and become good friends. Whoever thought they would get me interested in acting. Thanks to them I am not afraid to act now. ha ha	Don't rush, speak clearly and slowly, accentuate your words so the audience will understand you. Never have your back to the audience. Know your cues and lines and don't chew gum on stage. Most important - listen to the director and techies as hey know what is going on. Be yourself and do not stress out before the play 'cause in the end you know everything is going to come together and be all right. Have fun with what you are working with and in the end the cast and crew becomes like one big family. Don't talk in the wings during practice or performances because the audience can hear it too.
Halsey, Kristen	Rocky Horror, 2007, 2008	Marquette, Michigan	Going to school and definitely doing a lot of theatre	Everyone I ever worked with built my confidence (especially when you're in Rocky). The cast is always amazing.	Don't dwell on rejection, build off of it.
Kangas, Gabe	Fidler on the Roof, 1989 (?) through The Hobbit, 1994 (One or two shows per year plus summer writing and acting work shops	Oak Forest, I llinois	Making tunes, working for a communications company	All the great friends I made over the years. From a young age PAAC allowed me to come into my own with people I could relate to.	Remember, the crowd doesn't know the script. Oh, and if you can see the audience, the audience can see you. And all those other cliche theater phrases. Break a leg!
Keefer, Al	Worked with or was in plays from 1984 to present	Ishpeming, Michigan	Executive Director of the Vista Theater. Thrift Shop	I forgot them all. Wait.. I do remember hauling many heavy items.	Try to enjoy and learn from any and every experience.
LaChapelle, Dave	Cabaret Kiss Me, Kate, 2007 Rocky Horror, First got involved in second year, did light design for 2007	Marquette, Michigan	Currently, I am the Master Electrician at the Forest Roberts Theatre, and for the summer, I am the ligting intern at the Utah Festival Opera Company in Logan, UT	Kyle Martin, Rocky Horror callbacks, lighting mishaps, fly rail mishaps	None, I do not act. For technicians, work hard and stay committed. Donate to the Vista. It's a beautiful facility and I would hate to see anything bad become of it
Rogers, Chelsea	Chicago	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Have a BFA in Music Theatre Performance with an emphasis in Arts Adminstration and Casting.	The luxury dressing rooms! How absolutely outstanding our production of Chicago was -- having a blast with John Pann and Catherine Carter -- the floral costumes during Razzle Dazzle and the gorgeous lighting for the Cell Block Tango!	Be an intelligent actor. Avoid drama; it may be theatre, but one doesn't need to live their life as if it's a stage. Take the time to truly understand a role and have fun doing it -- don't take yourself so seriously, there is always more to learn. And dang, take it all in -- do everything, tech & otherwise.
Rudden, Mike	Alice in Wonderland, 2007 Hair, 2008	Marquette, Michigan	Senior at NMU, student teaching winter 2009 and graduating May 2009. Acting and teching at the FRT, Black Box, Lake Superior Theatre and Vista	It's a great place to just have fun doing a show with your friends. It's always great to have a venue to do less conventional shows. Never stop challenging yourself. There's always more to learn and things you can improve on, so be involved in as many productions as you can, in whatever capacity possible. And remember--fear is an actor's worst enemy.	Never stop challenging yourself. There's always more to learn and things you can improve on, so be involved in as many productions as you can, in whatever capacity possible. And remember--fear is an actor's worst enemy.
Sarkela, John	Kiss Me, Kate, 2007 Footloose, 2008 Kalevala, 2009	Ventura, CA & Marquette, Michigan	Writing software
Smith, Randy	Annie, Jungle Book, King and I, 2000	Grove Heights, MN	Work full time in a group home. Will be going back to school.	The awesome rehearsals and the time spent on stage with my fellow actors.	Go for it. Go to school, follow your dreams.
Weingartner, Dale	Anatomy of a Murder, 2003 The Full Monty, 2007	Gwinn, Michigan	Lobby manager for the Vista and treasurer for PAAC. Horologist	Every play and many actors bring back special memories.	There really is a sense of community at the Vista Theater, just like one big family.
Yearicks, Ryan	Anatomy of a Murder, 2003	Carthage, New York	Construction, general carpentry	How great it was to learn about theater work and how everyone made me feel welcome and helped me learn my part.	Just keep at it. I gave up after visiting some other theater groups, but hope to get back in it again. If you want to help out just let the Vista know. Ididnt know anything about doing spot lights, but after a few practices I was able to the spot light for "Chicago."

Name(s)

Plays

Current
Location

Current Theater Involvement/Occupation

Memories

Comments &
Suggestions

Durfee, Alicia

Annie, 1998, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, 2000, Guys and Dolls Jr., 2000

Washington,
D.C.

Graduated from Oberlin College in 2007 with a BA in English; at Georgetown University working on an MA in Communication, Culture, and Technology; employed part-time as a researcher for the National Council on Teacher Quality

What memories DON'T I have?! Seeing Little Shop of Horrors in June of 1998 and thinking, "YES, I want to be in a show like THAT!" (and totally crushing on Seymour)...running around drinking Surge with a bunch of other crazy 12-year-olds during Annie...playing a courtesan in Forum at the tender age of 15 (and wasn't my mother proud!)...and singing "Smelly Cat" as my first audition song.

Never give in! Don't let others' ideas of what constitutes a good actor (or a good career) prevent you from following your dream. Play whenever you can, wherever you can. All experience is good experience. And, most of all, enjoy yourself! Drama can be found offstage, too - try not to get sucked in.
PAAC - I miss you!

Gladwell, Eliisa

High School Musical, 2008,
Footloose, 2008

Negaunee,
Michigan

School, and Theater

I have a lot of memories from the Vista. I especially remember HSM because that was the first play Ihave ever had a lead in. I remember having at least 15 little kids in my dressing room every night. I remember meeting a ton of new people in HSM.

Make sure you talk slowly and loudly. Have FUN! and Practice.

Graham, Paige

The Sound of Music, 2004, The Secret Garden, 2006, CATS, 2006, Kiss Me Kate, 2007, Alice in Wonderland, 2007, and High School Musical, 2008

Marquette, Michigan

Ummmm . . . going to school! And I definitely do a lot of theater!

I have a lot of memories from the Vista theater. I remember all of the many people I've met. And my favorite memory is during Alice in Wonderland, how Jessica and I would always ride together and talk constantly. I also, believe it or not, remember being on the STAGE at the Vista theater! Imagine that?!?!?

I suggest that you don't be too hard on yourself. I mean theater's supposed to be fun! True, you have to focus sometimes, but like if you don't get the part you wanted, just accept it. Your time will come.

I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE THE VISTA THEATER!!! DON'T EVER CHANGE!!!!!

Grigg, Kelsey

CATS, 2006

Ishpeming,
Michigan

I am currently involved in a number of activities such as drama club, the plays here at school, key club, action troupe and new kids on the rock Marquette Chapter

When paige, Chealsea, Caitlin and I got to hang out together and become good friends. Whoever thought they would get me interested in acting. Thanks to them I am not afraid to act now. ha ha

Don't rush, speak clearly and slowly, accentuate your words so the audience will understand you.
Never have your back to the audience. Know your cues and lines and don't chew gum on stage. Most important - listen to the director and techies as hey know what is going on.

Be yourself and do not stress out before the play 'cause in the end you know everything is going to come together and be all right. Have fun with what you are working with and in the end the cast and crew becomes like one big family. Don't talk in the wings during practice or performances because the audience can hear it too.

Halsey, Kristen

Rocky Horror, 2007, 2008

Marquette,
Michigan

Going to school and definitely doing a lot of theatre

Everyone I ever worked with built my confidence (especially when you're in Rocky). The cast is always amazing.

Don't dwell on rejection, build off of it.

Kangas, Gabe

Fidler on the Roof, 1989 (?)
through The Hobbit, 1994
(One or two shows per year plus summer writing and acting work shops

Oak Forest,
I llinois

Making tunes, working for a communications company

All the great friends I made over the years. From a young age PAAC allowed me to come into my own with people I could relate to.

Remember, the crowd doesn't know the script. Oh, and if you can see the audience, the audience can see you. And all those other cliche theater phrases. Break a leg!

Keefer, Al

Worked with or was in plays from 1984 to present

Ishpeming, Michigan

Executive Director of the Vista Theater. Thrift Shop

I forgot them all. Wait.. I do remember hauling many heavy items.

Try to enjoy and learn from any and every experience.

LaChapelle, Dave

Cabaret
Kiss Me, Kate, 2007
Rocky Horror, First got involved in second year, did light design for 2007

Marquette,
Michigan

Currently, I am the Master Electrician at the Forest Roberts Theatre, and for the summer, I am the ligting intern at the Utah Festival Opera Company in Logan, UT

Kyle Martin, Rocky Horror callbacks, lighting mishaps, fly rail mishaps

None, I do not act. For technicians, work hard and stay committed.

Donate to the Vista. It's a beautiful facility and I would hate to see anything bad become of it

Rogers, Chelsea

Chicago

Kalamazoo,
Michigan

Have a BFA in Music Theatre Performance with an emphasis in Arts Adminstration and Casting.

The luxury dressing rooms! How absolutely outstanding our production of Chicago was -- having a blast with John Pann and Catherine Carter -- the floral costumes during Razzle Dazzle and the gorgeous lighting for the Cell Block Tango!

Be an intelligent actor. Avoid drama; it may be theatre, but one doesn't need to live their life as if it's a stage. Take the time to truly understand a role and have fun doing it -- don't take yourself so seriously, there is always more to learn. And dang, take it all in -- do everything, tech & otherwise.

Rudden, Mike

Alice in Wonderland, 2007
Hair, 2008

Marquette, Michigan

Senior at NMU, student teaching winter 2009 and graduating May 2009. Acting and teching at the FRT, Black Box, Lake Superior Theatre and Vista

It's a great place to just have fun doing a show with your friends. It's always great to have a venue to do less conventional shows.
Never stop challenging yourself. There's always more to learn and things you can improve on, so be involved in as many productions as you can, in whatever capacity possible. And remember--fear is an actor's worst enemy.

Never stop challenging yourself. There's always more to learn and things you can improve on, so be involved in as many productions as you can, in whatever capacity possible. And remember--fear is an actor's worst enemy.

Sarkela, John

Kiss Me, Kate, 2007
Footloose, 2008
Kalevala, 2009

Ventura, CA & Marquette,
Michigan

Writing software

Smith, Randy

Annie, Jungle Book,
King and I, 2000

Grove Heights, MN

Work full time in a group home. Will be going back to school.

The awesome rehearsals and the time spent on stage with my fellow actors.

Go for it. Go to school, follow your dreams.

Weingartner, Dale

Anatomy of a Murder, 2003
The Full Monty, 2007

Gwinn,
Michigan

Lobby manager for the Vista and treasurer for PAAC. Horologist

Every play and many actors bring back special memories.

There really is a sense of community at the Vista Theater, just like one big family.

Yearicks, Ryan

Anatomy of a Murder, 2003

Carthage,
New York

Construction, general carpentry

How great it was to learn about theater work and how everyone made me feel welcome and helped me learn my part.

Just keep at it. I gave up after visiting some other theater groups, but hope to get back in it again.

If you want to help out just let the Vista know. Ididnt know anything about doing spot lights, but after a few practices I was able to the spot light for "Chicago."