It is the mission of the BELHAVEN UNIVERSITY THEATRE DEPARTMENT to train servant artists in the use of the art of theatre to serve their Community, their Collaborators and their Creator. The Theatre Department at Belhaven University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre and a member in good standing with Christians in Theatre Arts Southeastern Theatre Conference United States Institute of Theatre Technology and the Theatre Communications Group
Belhaven University Theatre Presents Premiere Workshop Production The Mayfair Affair Written by Joseph Frost Directed by John Maxwell Assistant Director Ginny Holladay SCENIC & LIGHTING DESIGNER KRIS DIETRICH TECHNICAL DIRECTOR REBEKAH BERT COSTUME DESIGNER NADINE GRANT SOUND DESIGNER AMY GRABOW STAGE MANAGER ALEXANDER FORTIN ASST. STAGE MANAGERS ELLEN THOMBLEY & MAGGIE HOLLIS
Director s Notes Probably one of the most exciting experiences in theatre along with one of the scariest is working on new material. There is really no barometer like an audience, and with a completely new piece there is no really proven way to anticipate how they will react. And after all, isn t that how theatre productions are ultimately gauged? Certainly there are hints at how they may respond with the cast and crew s own reaction, but that reaction is not un-bias. It s only when you have an audience that you really know. THE MAYFAIR AFFAIR is virgin territory. It s been fun working on it. We ve sailed uncharted waters. I think it s been a wonderful learning experience for all of us, and we ll probably take away much more with this experience than if we had done a proven piece. So please sit back and enjoy the process. You are, more so than usual, the final chapter. - John Maxwell, director Joseph Frost Joseph Frost is a playwright, director and actor living in Jackson, Mississippi, with his wife Shannon, and their children Nina, Darby and Emory. His short play, The Great Play, won the 2000 Regent University One Act Competition, and was produced, along with his play, Braids, at Belhaven in 2005. His one act bio-play van Gogh was produced at an exhibit of the artist s work at the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, Virginia. Eight of his short plays were featured in the 2006 Malone College Playwright s Showcase in Canton, Ohio. His play Anathema was given a reading at the 2009 New Works Festival at the Square Top Repertory Theatre in Colorado. A set of three short plays, called The Memory Trilogy, has been given readings (either whole or in part) in VA, MS, NC, and New York City and was produced by Belhaven in 2006; while his play, Oz, was read at the 2004 Art Within Symposium and Showcase in Atlanta, and developed into the independent feature film Before We Close, produced by Tribal Cadence/ CineMoments films (CA). Joseph has penned several short films, including the Cine Award winning The Heart of Saturday Night, as well as And One for the Organizer with Yellow Line Entertainment (NY). Joseph is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, is the Mississippi State Representative to the board of the Southeastern Theatre Conference ( SETC) and is on the Board of Directors for the Fondren Theatre Workshop. He is a member of Christians in Theatre Arts (CITA), and is an Assistant Professor of Theatre and department chair at Belhaven University. Joseph is the artistic director of the floodlight theatre company.
Cast John Mayfair Samatha Mayfair Miles Gus Heckert Cassie Blaylock Roderick E. Mansfield Kitty Kensington Mansfield Sam Ingersoll/Ralph Jaqueline Poquelin/Val Ilsa/Bernice Chadwick Harman Jill Cromwell Andrew Dalton Matthew Hester Sarah Renick Daniel Wimberly Eleanor Baxter Dave Harris Stephanie Bishop Layne Yancey Intermission There will be a fifteen minute intermission between acts. Etiquette Please turn off all cell phones and other devices in consideration for actors and audience members. No photography or video is allowed during the performance. Please check with the house manager if you are interested in any production photos.
Crew PUBLICITY Advisor- Bonnie McNair Program Layout and Design- Liz Saeli & Carey Graham HOUSE MANAGENT Advisor- Bonnie McNair House Manager- AJ Buffinet Assn. House Manager- Ashley Elizabeth Murray BOX OFFICE Box Office Manager- Bonnie McNair Asst. Box Office Manager- Eleanor Baxter Box Office Staff- Anna Rebmann & Courtney Rodgers COSTUMES Head of Wardrobe- Murphy Wilson Costume Design Asst.- Murphy Wilson Stichers- Rachel Anderson, Andrew Dalton, Allison Horton, Matthew Hester, Anna Rebmann, AJ Buffinet, & Eleanor Baxter SCENERY Asst. Designers- Dave Harris, Ellen Thombley, & Alice Grimwood Construction Crew- John Alford, Maggie Hollis, Zak Blatche, Mia Barranco, Ashley Elizabeth Murray, & Dixie Lee Trimm PROPS Faculty Advisor- Rebekah Bert Properties Master- Alice Grimwood Construction Crew- Stephanie Bishop, Daniel Wimberly, & Ginny Holladay LIGHTING & SOUND Master Electrician- Grace Varland Lighting/Sound Crew- Lashunda Thomas Lighting Crew- Jill Cromwell, Amy Grabow, & Ellen Thombley RUN CREW Light Board Operator- Courtney Rodgers Sound Board Operator- Amy Grabow
Biographies Eleanor Baxter (Kitty Kensington Mansfield):Eleanor is a senior theatre performance emphasis here at Belhaven. She has also appeared on the Belhaven stage in Much Ado About Nothing, As it is in Heaven, You re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Murder in the Cathedral, The Bald Soprano, and two years in the One Acts Festival. She is excited to perform in her 9th show here at Belhaven as Kitty Kensington-Mansfield. Stephanie Bishop (Jacqueline Poquelin/ Val): Stephanie is a senior theatre major originally from Bellingham, Washington. During her time at Belhaven, she s had the pleasure of playing Mrs. Linde in A Doll s House, Gwendolen in The Importance of Being Earnest, Ensemble in Juliet and Her Romeo, Olga in The Three Sisters, Librarian/Ensemble in Everyone Knows What a Dragon Looks Like. She bids you, dear audience, to sit back, laugh a lot, and enjoy this affair as much as she has Soli deo Gloria. Jill Cromwell( Samatha Mayfair): Jill is a second year sophomore here at Belhaven University. She is excited to play in this original performance: Watching its creation has been so amazing. She has performed with Belhaven Theatre Department as Mrs. Martin in The Bald Soprano. She is excited to have her second comedic role and knows it will be just as much fun as her last. Andrew Dalton (Miles): Raised in Pearl, MS, Andrew is a 22-year-old theatre ministry major, and he is a transfer from Hinds Community College in Raymond, MS where he also focused in theatre. He has been involved in numerous plays and musicals in both academic settings and local community theatres. He is very blessed to have been cast, and he is extremely proud to have worked with such an exceptional group of people. Chadwick Harman (John Mayfair): Chadwick is the son of Tony and Melissa Harman. He has been actively involved in theatre sine his junior year of high school. Chad focuses most of his efforts on musical theatre, but has begun to explore other avenues of theatre. This exploration is what drew him to audition for the Mayfair Affair. He is grateful for the opportunity to be among such a talented cast and also for the opportunity to learn from this experience. Chad is a sophomore arts administra-
Dave Harris (Sam Ingersoll/Ralph): Dave is a senior theatre major from Fort Worth, Texas. He has been involved in several productions at Belhaven including The Importance of Being Earnest, The Bald Soprano, and The Three Sisters. After he graduates he plans on starting a theatre company in the DFW area. Matt Hester (Gus Hekert): Matt is a junior theatre ministry major. He has enjoyed the creative process of bringing this show together, and is convinced it s going to be one of the best shows since he s been here. When not in class, he enjoys getting coffee and walking his dog. He hopes to go on to seminary after graduation. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 Sarah Renick (Cassie Blaylock): Sarah is a junior transfer student from Denton, Texas and is very excited to be a part of the Mayfair cast! Sarah has over twenty years of performing experience, primarily through dance and dance ministry. She had the privilege of studying with Boca Ballet Theatre, Ad Deum Dance Company, and Ingredients Dance Company with Dance Revolution. She is excited to have shifted her focus and further her talents through Belhaven s Theatre Department as a theatre ministry major. Since attending Belhaven in the fall of 2010, she has performed in The 24-hour Theatre Festival, Juliet and Her Romeo, One-Acts Festival, The Bald Soprano, and Sister Calling My Name. Daniel Wimberly (Roderick E. Mansfield): Daniel is a freshman theatre major who has played supporting roles in Hello Dolly, Aida, Everyone Knows What a Dragon Looks Like, and a featured role in Phantom of the Opera. He writes an online blog, critiquing and reviewing movies. He enjoys reading, writing, theatre, acting, and occasionally bridge jumping. Oh, and his height is 6 8 to answer everyone s question. Layne Yancey(Ilsa/Bernice): Layne is a freshman theatre major at Belhaven. She is extremely excited to play the role of Ilsa in The Mayfair Affair. She looks forward to performing in many more shows in the future. She would like to thank her friends, family, and God for supporting her in her
Faculty Biographies John Maxwell (Director) is best known for his one-man play on Willaim Faulkner titled OH, MR. FAULKNER DO YOU WRITE? He also is the founder of FISH TALE GROUP, a non-profit organization dedicated to illuminating scripture through original drama. He served as the Artistic Director for New Stage Theatre and as Drama Coordinator at Galloway United Methodist Church where he still maintains an office. He is the proud father of Townes, who recently graduated from the University of Mississippi Law School and is married to Katie Laird. Rebekah Bert (Technical Director) has worked for several professional and educational venues including Tri-Cities Opera, Endicott Performing Arts Center, The Cider Mill, and a few other local theatres in the Binghamton area. She has had the opportunity to work in multiple capacities throughout undergraduate and graduate work. Her most recent design work was done at Millsap s College for their production of Actors Nightmare and Sister Mary Ignatius explains it all. Rebekah has a passion for theatre and looks forward to continued work with Belhaven University. Kris Dietrich ( Scenic & Lighting Designer) has worked at numerous professional and educational venues across the U.S. including the Durango Shakespeare Festival and the Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts Camp both in Colorado, Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA, Clinton Area Showboat Theatre in Clinton, IA, and the Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Camp in upstate New York. Kris has a passion for theatre and design and looks forward to the new design opportunities he will have at Belhaven. He is a University of Missouri at Kansas City graduate and had the privilege of being taught by the distinguished Scenic Designer John Ezell. Nadine Grant (Costume Designer) is an Assistant Professor/ Costumer for the Belhaven University Theatre Department. She holds an MFA in Costume Design from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and received a BA from Bethel College. She has worked for the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, and is designing for the world premiere, Kingdom Undone, with Theatre for the Thirsty in Minneapolis this spring. Nadine lives in Jackson with her husband, Ken, and her dog, Javier.
A Special thank you!
Want to read more? Sam Ingersoll Adventures Check out his Blog: http://samingersolldiaries.blogspot.com/
The Art Factory Project The Theatre Department is making plans to take a team to Germany in May 2012 to visit the Art Factory, a mission dedicated to promoting artists of faith in Europe and worldwide. Please consider supporting with our team with prayer and if possible financial support. Checks may be made out to The Art Factory Project, and can be sent to : Belhaven University Theatre Department, 1500 Peachtree St. Box 333, Jackson, MS, 39202. For more info on our trip, visit: http://germanytrek.blogspot.com
The Art Factory "Unleashing the individual to impact Creation by revealing, restoring and strengthening God-given abilities and talents." Imagine a place where dreaming big is encouraged! A place with lots of space, where one can explore and find hidden treasures just waiting to be used to create something special. The Art Factory, in Kandern, Germany is such a place. It is here that paintings, set designs, ceramics and much more become a reality at the hands of their creators. It is a place to discover and strengthen the abilities and talents that God has given each person. Learn More About the Art Factory: http://www.theartfactory.co/
601-862-0221/ info@meriannedietrich.com/ merriannedietrich.com peartreepro@gmail.com 601.720.0707
ΑΨΩ Alpha Psi Omega This nationally recognized Honors Society is not a fraternal organization but rather a society organized by those who believe that a dedication to the theatre and good academic standing deserves recognition and acknowledgement. Alpha Psi Omega is a National Honors Society. We have been honored at Belhaven to have had our cast, Iota Upsilon, in place since 1938. President Ginny Holladay Secretary Rachel Anderson Historian Amy Grabow Vice President Grace Varland Treasurer Anna Rebman Chaplain Sarah Renick
Upcoming Performances Eleemosynary by Lee Blessing Directed by Eleanor Baxter March 29- April 3 Belhaven Theatre Festival April 9-14 Theatre Department Faculty Joseph Frost, MFA Associate Professor of Theatre, Chair of the Theatre Department (601) 974-6148 jfrost@belhaven.edu Kris Dietrich, MFA Associate Professor of Theatre, Faculty Designer (601) 974-6475 kdietrich@belhaven.edu Rebekah Bert Specialty Instructor of Technical Direction (601) 974-5497 rbert@belhaven.edu John Maxwell Assistant Professor of Theatre (601) 974-6479 jcmaxwell@belhaven.edu Nadine Grant Assistant Professor of Theatre Costuming and Production ngrant@belhaven.edu