Blithe Spirit

By Noël Coward      Directed by: Bruce Cohen

This smash-hit comedy offers up fussy cantankerous novelist Charles Condomine. While researching his next novel, Charles enlists the aid of Madame Arcati to conjure a séance at a small dinner party. To everyone’s surprise, she successfully brings back the spirit of his ex-wife, Elvira. As personalities clash, Charles’ current wife passes over, joining Elvira in otherworldly mischief to haunt their former husband.
"A world-class comedy" - TheatreMania.com

Seating is limited in Hicklin Studio Theatre, advance purchase is recommended.

---

Meet the Cast & Creative Teams

Lance Schroeder (Edie) recently graduated from UW-Whitewater in December of 2018 with a performance major in the BFA program and has been seen onstage in Rounding Third (Don), Strong Poison (Chief Inspector Parker), Street Scene (Vincent Jones) and Dear Ruth (Chuck Vincent). Lance hopes to find work as acting in the Chicago area after graduating.

Samantha Pinchard (Ruth) is in her senior year double majoring in Theatre Education and Music. Previous theatre credits include Angel Street, Street Scene, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, 12 Angry Jurors and Miracle on 34th Street.. She would like to thank her family and friends for all the constant support and hopes you enjoy the show!

Sam Bochat (Charles) is a BFA performance major at UW-Whitewater. He has worked in productions in the Whitewater, Janesville, and Eagle areas.

Nico Rojas (Dr. Bradman) is a transfer student from Eau Calire and he is really excited to be a part of his first production at UW-Whitewater. He is pursuing a vocal performance major, with minors in theater and Arts Administration. Past productions include The Kingdom Come (UWEC18), A Grand Night for Singing (UWEC18), Cinderella (EHS17) and The Drowsy Chaperone (EHS16). Nico wants to continue his education after college with a Masters in Vocal Performance to reach for opportunities in musical theater.

Kelsey Pacetti (Mrs. Bradman) is a junior at UW-Whitewater majoring in Special Education with a minor in Theatre. Previous credits include Metamorphoses (Baucis), Into The Woods (Sleeping Beauty), and Much Ado About Nothing (Dogberry). Technical theatre credits include one of the Assistant Stage Managers for Ghosts and Props Designer for Angel Street. In the future, she hopes to merge Special Education with the Performing Arts.
Alexa Farrell (Madame Arcati/Assistant Costume Designer) is a senior at UW-Whitewater with a major in BFA Theatre Performance. Previous production credits include Angel Street (Nancy), Love Loss and What I Wore (Gingy), Rare Birds (Janet), Spamalot (Lady of the Lake), Dear Ruth (Edith), and 1959 Pink Thunderbird (Hattie). Her design credits include Costumes for DanceScapes '19, and Hair and Makeup for Rare Birds. In the future Ms. Farrell would like to work professionally as an actress after graduation next May.

Jamie Love (Elvira) is a UW-Whitewater junior, and has been in previous university productions of Angel Street, Strong Poison and Devon's Hurt. Some of her favorite roles include Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker, Professor Nemur in Flowers for Algernon, and Mayor Matilda Hyde in All Shook Up. With her double major, she plans on becoming an English teacher and hopefully a future playwright.

Bruce Cohen (Director) Professor Cohen teaches Directing for the Stage, Theater History, Devised Performance and leads the BSE-Theater Education track. He has taught for Denison University, Weber State University, the New World School of the Arts and was Director of the Department of Theater at Arkansas State University-Beebe. A director, actor and produced playwright for close to three decades; Professor Cohen is a full member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, holds affiliation with Actors Equity Association and is a former Arkansas State Chair of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Prior to his career as a university professor and administrator, Bruce ran several professional theatre companies including the award-winning Utah Musical Theatre. Professor Cohen holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Acting from Adelphi University and a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Directing for the Stagefrom The University of Alabama. http://bruceevancohen.wixsite.com/portfolio

Abigail Smith (Stage Manager) is a junior BFA Design/Tech Major, Abigail has worked on every show during the academic school year at UW-Whitewater since 2017. She was previously the Assistant Stage Manager for Love, Loss, and I What I Wore.

Lilliana Gonzalez (Technical Director) is a theatrical designer and artist from Milwaukee, WI. She is a recent graduate of UW-Whitewater where she received her BFA in Theatre Design/Technology and a Spanish minor. Her most recent endeavors include an internship abroad in London, England at the Lyric Hammersmith as a Production Intern, and scenic designer for Freaky Friday the Musical at Fort Atkinson High School.

Eric Appleton (Scenic Designer/Props Master) is the Associate Professor of Scenic and Lighting Design in the UW-Whitewater Theatre/Dance department. Recent departmental work includes scenic design of Strong Poison and Street Scene. Milwaukee work includes lighting design for Theatre Gigante's April production of Tarzan, and an upcoming lighting design for Milwaukee Chamber Theatre's Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily.

Tracey Lyons (Costume Designer) has designed costumes and/or makeup for the CBC, Lincoln Theatre Guild, The Huron Playhouse, Madison Ballet, Madison Theatre Guild, American Folklore Theatre, UW-Madison Music Department and many other theatres. She has toured internationally with Sesame Street Live. Her professional scope includes classical and contemporary theatre, dance, opera, and musicals. Recently she co-authored Teaching Introduction to Theatrical Design (Focal Press). During the summer of 2017, she directed Rounding Third. Her MFA is in Costume Design and Technology from Wayne State University and BA from CSB/SJU.

Samuel Hess (Lighting Designer) is a Theatre Design Major at UW-W. This is his second design for the Department after DanceScapes'19. Much of Samuel's work has been mounted outside of the department including Sauk Prairie's River Arts Center, Fort Atkinson's Auditorium, and Young Auditorium. Samuel has designed lighting for All Shook Up, Into the Woods, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and more.

Owen Poskin (Sound Coordinator) As a sophomore BFA, design major, this is Owen's first time on a production team here at UW-W. He has previously been involved in Triumph of Love and, Angel Street, as a sound board operator. When he is not working here he will be back home working in the tech field. In the future he plans on being a Technical Director.

Colin Grice (Hair & Makeup Designer) is an Alumni of the UW-W Theatre Department and is thrilled to be back for the 2019 Summeround Season. Colin's work has most recently been seen in Triumph of Love as the hair and makeup designer. Colin will be continuing his studies towards his MFA in Costume Design and Technology at the University of Illinois.

Liz Bowen (Assistant Stage Manager) as a sophomore BFA Technical Theatre major this is her second show at UW-Whitewater. She worked on several performances in high school and is excited to continue. She would like to thank everyone who encouraged her.

Nathan Broege (Scenic Painter) is a senior pursuing a major in BSE Theatre Education and Special Education. He has been in multiple shows at UW-W including Mary, Mary; Dear Ruth; Triumph of Love; Putnam County Spelling Bee; and Poe Times Two. Nathan has designed sound and sets for UW-W, while currently working at a Lead Tech at Young Auditorium. Nathan directed and produced his first independent show Rare Birds in August of 2018.