KU News Release

Nov. 2, 2007
Contact: Paul Lim, English Alternative Theatre, (785) 864-3642.

Finalists in English Alternative Theatre’s writing contest to give readings Nov. 9-11

LAWRENCE — English Alternative Theatre has announced 24 finalists in its “How My Parents Met” writing competition. Finalists for three $100 cash prizes include Lawrence residents and students, faculty and staff at the University of Kansas.

The finalists have been divided into three groups of eight. They will read their entries at the upcoming performances of two new one-act plays by KU students Nov. 9-11 at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St. The cash prize will be awarded to a winner after each of the three performances.

Featured at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, will be Elizabeth Anne Dropek, Houston, Texas, junior; Robert Elliott, administrative assistant in the Department of English; Robert Nolan Knapp, Spring, Texas, junior; Dan McCarthy, academic adviser at the University Advising Center; Katherine Jo Oberthaler, Wichita sophomore; Maria Polonchek, Lawrence graduate student; Adam Suelter, Great Bend senior; and Kimberly Westphall, Andover junior.

Featured at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, will be Robert J. Baumann, Lawrence resident; Jena Borel, Lenexa freshman; Benjamin D. Cartwright, Lawrence graduate student; Rachel Haskins, research assistant at the Life Span Institute; Elizabeth Rain King, information specialist at the School of Education; Sara Langford, Lawrence resident; Karen Ledom, administrative director of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ Student Academic Services; and Michael Whitten, Eudora freshman.

Featured at 2 p.m. Sunday Nov. 11, will be Elizabeth Anne “Andy” Anderegg, Alexandria, Va., graduate student; Briana Arensberg, Leawood freshman; Samantha J. Bell, Lawrence graduate student; Jacob Allen Henshaw, Kansas City, Kan., freshman; Tahir Hussain Khan, Lawrence resident; Betty A. Laird, Lawrence resident; Young Han Lester, Roeland Park freshman; and Rebecca Ralstin, Shawnee junior.

The writing competition was held to help promote the double-bill of prize-winning plays by KU students.

“Please Take ... Seriously!” by Adam Brent Lott, Lawrence senior, traces the history of a couch from 1958, when it is first brought into a fraternity house, through the present, when its fate is being decided by two female professors who cannot decide whether to get rid of it.

“Lights Fade, Curtain” by Whitney Reece Rowland, Olathe junior, is about a playwright trying to understand his own life by attempting to write about his parents, including how they met and why their marriage fell apart.

The plays are participating entries in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and are eligible for the John Cauble Short Play Award, the Mark Twain Comedy Award and the Paula Vogel Playwriting Award.

Jeremy Wayne Auman, KU theatre and film alumnus, directs Lott’s play, and Paul Stephen Lim directs Rowland’s play. Lim is the Chancellors Club Teaching Professor of English and artistic director for English Alternative Theatre.

The casts include KU students John Volk, R. Troy Hirsch, Jakob Wozniak, Mackenzie Wiglesworth, Catie Provost, Dana Dajani, Chris Nelson, Sean Hall, Whitney Rowland; KU graduate Samantha Raines; and Lawrence resident Jerry Mitchell.

The stage manager is Megan Smith, Lenexa senior, the scene and lighting designer is Lee Saylor, the costume designer is Ione Unruh and the sound designer is Nick Mosher.

Tickets are $6 for students, $8 for seniors and $10 for the public and are available at the Lawrence Arts Center box office.

The student writing finalists and cast and crew members for the productions are listed below by hometown, level in school, major, parents’ names, high school (when available) and their role in the event.

ALLEN COUNTY
From Iola 66749
Samantha Starr Raines, 2005 KU graduate in theatre and film, daughter of Susan Raines; Iola Senior High School; E.A.T. actor

BARTON COUNTY
From Great Bend 67530
Adam Joseph Suelter, senior in English; Topeka High School; “How My Parents Met” finalist

BUTLER COUNTY
From Andover 67002
Kimberly M. Westphall, junior in journalism (news and information), daughter of Walter and Dorothy Westphall; Andover Central High School; “How My Parents Met” finalist

CHEROKEE COUNTY
From Galena 66739
Jeremy Wayne Auman, KU graduate in theatre and film, son of Tandy and Debbie Auman; Riverton High School; “Please Take … Seriously!” director

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Eudora 66025
Michael Louis Whitten, freshman in architectural engineering, son of Thomas and Arlene Whitten; Eudora High School; “How My Parents Met” finalist

From Lawrence 66044
Samantha J. Bell, doctoral student in English; “How My Parents Met” finalist

Benjamin D. Cartwright, master’s degree student in creative writing; master’s degree from Kansas State University; “How My Parents Met” finalist

Adam Brent Lott, senior in English; Garden City Senior High School; “Please Take ... Seriously!” playwright

Maria Ann Polonchek, master’s degree student in creative writing; bachelor’s degree from KU; Marysville (Mo.) High School; “How My Parents Met” finalist

From Lawrence 66046
Nicholas Mosher, 2005 KU graduate in theatre design, son of Paul and Kathy Mosher; Lawrence High School; E.A.T. sound design.

From Lawrence 66049
Christopher Nicholas Nelson, master’s degree student in creative writing, son of Stephen and Dianna Nelson; E.A.T. actor

ELLIS COUNTY
From Hays 67601
R. Troy Hirsch, senior in theatre and film, son of John Hirsch and Amy E. Massaglia; Hays High School; E.A.T. actor

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Leawood 66206
Briana Arensberg, freshman in pre-business and pre-nursing, daughter of Mark and Renny Arensberg; Shawnee Mission East High School; “How My Parents Met” finalist

From Lenexa 66216
Jena Marie Borel, freshman in English; daughter of Gary and Cindy Borel; Shawnee Mission Northwest High School; “How My Parents Met” finalist

Megan Kathleen Smith, senior in theatre and film, daughter of Mary Buckmaster and Kevin Smith; Shawnee Mission Northwest High School; E.A.T. stage manager

From Mission 66205 and Kansas City, Mo.
Jakob Joseph Wozniak, freshman in music education, son of John Wozniak of Mission and Cheryl Behrends of Kansas City, Mo.; Shawnee Mission North High School; E.A.T. actor

From Olathe 66061
Whitney Reece Rowland, junior in English, daughter of Susie Rowland; Olathe North High School; “Lights Fade, Curtain” playwright

From Olathe 66062
Mackenzie L. Wiglesworth, sophomore in theatre and film, daughter of Russell and Carol Wiglesworth; Olathe East High School; E.A.T. actor

From Overland Park 66213
Dana H. Dajani, junior in theatre and film, daughter of Rabab and Hassan Dajani; Blue Valley Northwest High School; E.A.T. actor

From Roeland Park 66205
Younghan Caleb Lester, freshman in English and journalism (news and information), son of Teri and Graham Lester; Shawnee Mission North High School; “How My Parents Met” finalist

From Shawnee 66216
Rebecca L. Ralstin, junior in theatre and film, daughter of James and Mary Ralstin; Shawnee Mission Northwest High School; “How My Parents Met” finalist

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Leavenworth 66048
Sean Michael Hall, sophomore in atmospheric science, son of Danny Hall; Leavenworth Senior High School; E.A.T. actor.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita 67212
Katherine Jo Oberthaler, sophomore in English, daughter of Peter and Diane Oberthaler; Maize High School; “How My Parents Met” finalist

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66614
Catherine “Catie” Sarah Provost, senior in theatre and film, daughter of Janice Provost, Hayden High School; E.A.T. actor

John Volk, senior in creative writing, son of Tim and Lisa Volk, Topeka West High School; E.A.T. actor

WYANDOTTE COUNTY
From Kansas City 66012
Jacob Allen Henshaw, freshman in pre-medicine, son of Pat Henshaw; Bishop Ward High School; “How My Parents Met” finalist

MISSOURI
From Kansas City 64114 and Mission, Kan.
Jakob Joseph Wozniak. SEE JOHNSON COUNTY

TEXAS
From Houston 77079
Elizabeth Anne Dropek, junior in English and theatre and film, daughter of Ken and Gail Dropek; Stratford High School; “How My Parents Met” finalist

From Spring 77379
Robert Nolan Knapp, junior in creative writing, son of John and Catherine Knapp; Escola Americana Rio de Janeiro; “How My Parents Met” finalist

VIRGINIA
From Alexandria 22310
Elizabeth Anne Anderegg, master’s degree student in creative writing; bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma; “How My Parents Met” finalist

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