Artistic Staff

Director - Spencer D Christensen

Asst. to the Director - Dan Motz

Technical Direction - Jamie Nathan

Asst. to the Tech Director - Scott Lumley

Scenic Design - Jamie Nathan

Lighting Design - Scott Lumley

Sound Design - Scott Lumley, Jamie Nathan,

Paige King, Spencer Christensen

Costume Design - Lauren T Roark

Poster Design/Program Illustrations -

Benjamin Bryer

Technical Assistance and Set Construction - Joe Dutcher, Maranda Semig, Tyler Baushke,

Michaela Titus, Chantelle Adkins, Michael Oakes, Paige King, Tomantha Sylvester

Box Office - Jody Kapuscinksi

Sound Operator and Backstage Crew - Dan Motz

Ushers - Marin Pline, Charlie Hunter, Maranda Semig

boom is presented in special arrangement with Dramatist Play Service, Inc. New York

Welcome Back to the Arts Center Stage!

From the outset of this 75-minute show, you’ll encounter words and ideas that might

challenge your beliefs and the way you choose to interact with the world around you. It may

indeed challenge the way you think young people should talk and what they should be talking

about in a public space. It may make you angry, and you may want to leave, or it may make

you stand up and cheer. It might even be something more nuanced - imagine that! However

the play strikes you, I hope you embrace the conversation. We’ve forgotten how to do that.

We’ve forgotten how to talk with other live human beings - especially those who disagree

with us - and we’ve lost the art of engaging in difficult conversations.

The show you watch tonight doesn’t give you answers but it does asks lots of questions -

questions about the stories we value and to those which we give preference. What stories do

we tell each other? What stories allow us to sleep easier at night? What stories do we banish

and try to keep buried? What stories do we make sure our children don’t know? What stories

scare you? And most importantly, why?

In today’s world, ideas that challenge us rarely appear in the social media feed of our choice.

Our political leanings and curiosity about the human experience often determine what we see;

and if we don’t agree with it, we troll it, downvote it, mock it, rail against it, and much

more.

Let’s do better than that.

I ask that as this story unfolds you listen, enjoy, and laugh - it is a comedy, after all. And if

what you see and hear tonight upsets you, please stay and support the students anyway. They

believe in the story they are telling. They are passionate. They have invested their hearts and

souls into the telling of it. And for that, they deserve your respect. I couldn’t be prouder.

Artistic Staff

Director - Spencer D Christensen

Asst. to the Director - Dan Motz

Technical Direction - Jamie Nathan

Asst. to the Tech Director - Scott Lumley

Scenic Design - Jamie Nathan

Lighting Design - Scott Lumley

Sound Design - Scott Lumley, Jamie Nathan,

Paige King, Spencer Christensen

Costume Design - Lauren T Roark

Poster Design/Program Illustrations -

Benjamin Bryer

Technical Assistance and Set Construction - Joe Dutcher, Maranda Semig, Tyler Baushke,

Michaela Titus, Chantelle Adkins, Michael Oakes, Paige King, Tomantha Sylvester

Box Office - Jody Kapuscinksi

Sound Operator and Backstage Crew - Dan Motz

Ushers - Marin Pline, Charlie Hunter, Maranda Semig

boom is presented in special arrangement with Dramatist Play Service, Inc. New York

Welcome Back to the Arts Center Stage!

From the outset of this 75-minute show, you’ll encounter words and ideas that might

challenge your beliefs and the way you choose to interact with the world around you. It may

indeed challenge the way you think young people should talk and what they should be talking

about in a public space. It may make you angry, and you may want to leave, or it may make

you stand up and cheer. It might even be something more nuanced - imagine that! However

the play strikes you, I hope you embrace the conversation. We’ve forgotten how to do that.

We’ve forgotten how to talk with other live human beings - especially those who disagree

with us - and we’ve lost the art of engaging in difficult conversations.

The show you watch tonight doesn’t give you answers but it does asks lots of questions -

questions about the stories we value and to those which we give preference. What stories do

we tell each other? What stories allow us to sleep easier at night? What stories do we banish

and try to keep buried? What stories do we make sure our children don’t know? What stories

scare you? And most importantly, why?

In today’s world, ideas that challenge us rarely appear in the social media feed of our choice.

Our political leanings and curiosity about the human experience often determine what we see;

and if we don’t agree with it, we troll it, downvote it, mock it, rail against it, and much

more.

Let’s do better than that.

I ask that as this story unfolds you listen, enjoy, and laugh - it is a comedy, after all. And if

what you see and hear tonight upsets you, please stay and support the students anyway. They

believe in the story they are telling. They are passionate. They have invested their hearts and

souls into the telling of it. And for that, they deserve your respect. I couldn’t be prouder.

Spencer D Christensen

Bios

Tomantha Sylvester (Barbara) is a General Studies

student with concentrations in Fine Arts and Business.

She hails from New Orleans, but was raised mostly in

Sault Sainte Marie, MI. This is her third production at

Lake State having been seen previously in “Almost,

Maine” as the Waitress and Marcie and she also

provided live guitar music for “Lonely Planet”.

Tomantha would like to thank God, her friends and

family for helping her along her journey. She would

also like to give a shout out to Spencer Christensen for

helping her discover things that will help her with her

journey on and off the stage.

Michael Oakes (Jules) is a sophomore General Studies

major with a concentration in Fine Arts and a minor in

Marketing. He hails from Corunna, Michigan. Michael

appeared in Lake State’s productions of “The Trip to

Bountifu l “ as Ludie Watts and “Almost, Maine” as

Lendell. He would like to extend a sincere thank you to

those that have helped him develop his talent while

supporting him however they can. Finally, he'd like to

give a shout out to his family who is willing to drive 5

hours to see a show of which he's in one scene. He

promises to make it a fantastic so they won't regret the

Spencer D Christensen

Bios

Tomantha Sylvester (Barbara) is a General Studies

student with concentrations in Fine Arts and Business.

She hails from New Orleans, but was raised mostly in

Sault Sainte Marie, MI. This is her third production at

Lake State having been seen previously in “Almost,

Maine” as the Waitress and Marcie and she also

provided live guitar music for “Lonely Planet”.

Tomantha would like to thank God, her friends and

family for helping her along her journey. She would

also like to give a shout out to Spencer Christensen for

helping her discover things that will help her with her

journey on and off the stage.

Michael Oakes (Jules) is a sophomore General Studies

major with a concentration in Fine Arts and a minor in

Marketing. He hails from Corunna, Michigan. Michael

appeared in Lake State’s productions of “The Trip to

Bountifu l “ as Ludie Watts and “Almost, Maine” as

Lendell. He would like to extend a sincere thank you to

those that have helped him develop his talent while

supporting him however they can. Finally, he'd like to

give a shout out to his family who is willing to drive 5

hours to see a show of which he's in one scene. He

promises to make it a fantastic so they won't regret the

trip. Thank you guys for coming and supporting me, I love you all.

Paige King (Jo) is a junior General Studies student with a

concentration in Fine Arts and a minor in theatre. She hails

from Corunna, MI. Paige appeared in “Almost, Maine” at

LSSU as Gayle and Hope and has previously been seen as:

Cha Cha in “Grease” , Sadako in “Sadako and a Thousand

Cranes” , Elaine Harper in “Arsenic and Old Lace” , Ellen

Dierwold in “Robin Hood” , and Juanita in “Dearly

Departed” . Additionally, Paige has danced since she was

seven years old, and has been a very active participant in the

Lake State Dance Program.

trip. Thank you guys for coming and supporting me, I love you all.

Paige King (Jo) is a junior General Studies student with a

concentration in Fine Arts and a minor in theatre. She hails

from Corunna, MI. Paige appeared in “Almost, Maine” at

LSSU as Gayle and Hope and has previously been seen as:

Cha Cha in “Grease” , Sadako in “Sadako and a Thousand

Cranes” , Elaine Harper in “Arsenic and Old Lace” , Ellen

Dierwold in “Robin Hood” , and Juanita in “Dearly

Departed” . Additionally, Paige has danced since she was

seven years old, and has been a very active participant in the

Lake State Dance Program.

trip. Thank you guys for coming and supporting me, I love you all.

Paige King (Jo) is a junior General Studies student with a

concentration in Fine Arts and a minor in theatre. She hails

from Corunna, MI. Paige appeared in “Almost, Maine” at

LSSU as Gayle and Hope and has previously been seen as:

Cha Cha in “Grease” , Sadako in “Sadako and a Thousand

Cranes” , Elaine Harper in “Arsenic and Old Lace” , Ellen

Dierwold in “Robin Hood” , and Juanita in “Dearly

Departed” . Additionally, Paige has danced since she was

seven years old, and has been a very active participant in the

Lake State Dance Program.

Spencer D Christensen

Bios

Tomantha Sylvester (Barbara) is a General Studies

student with concentrations in Fine Arts and Business.

She hails from New Orleans, but was raised mostly in

Sault Sainte Marie, MI. This is her third production at

Lake State having been seen previously in “Almost,

Maine” as the Waitress and Marcie and she also

provided live guitar music for “Lonely Planet”.

Tomantha would like to thank God, her friends and

family for helping her along her journey. She would

also like to give a shout out to Spencer Christensen for

helping her discover things that will help her with her

journey on and off the stage.

Michael Oakes (Jules) is a sophomore General Studies

major with a concentration in Fine Arts and a minor in

Marketing. He hails from Corunna, Michigan. Michael

appeared in Lake State’s productions of “The Trip to

Bountifu l “ as Ludie Watts and “Almost, Maine” as

Lendell. He would like to extend a sincere thank you to

those that have helped him develop his talent while

supporting him however they can. Finally, he'd like to

give a shout out to his family who is willing to drive 5

hours to see a show of which he's in one scene. He

promises to make it a fantastic so they won't regret the

LOOK OUT!

The Arts Center will

start showing family

friendly, first run

films (still in theatres)

starting on March 4th

with the smash hit

“Sing”.

Dr. Gary Balfantz

will be directing a

spring show slated for

April 5th - 8th.

The LSSU Band and

Choir will perform

their spring concert

Friday, April 21st in conjunction with the annual 5 X 7 show in the Art Gallery.

The Arts Center at Lake Superior State is working on the 2017-2018 season now -

please stay tuned for the exciting announcement coming soon!

Thank You! - Dr. Thomas Pleger, Dr. David Finley, Dr. Donna Fiebelkorn, Mr. Morrie Walworth, Mr.

George Carlisle, Mr. Joseph Gallagher, Dr. Jason Swedene, Mr. Lloyd Eddy, Ms. Deb Cook, Mr. John Shibley.