“Dead Man Walking” performed March 2007
Issues of violence, forgiveness, punishment and the Gospel were examined on stage as Concordia University, Nebraska’s theatre department performed “Dead Man Walking” in Weller auditorium Friday, March 23 and 24, 2007. Following each performance, a panel discussion gave audience members the opportunity to ask questions and discuss issues raised by the play.
Based on the book of the same name, the stage play for “Dead Man Walking” was written by Tim Robbins. The story is based on real events in the life of Sister Helen Prejean as she became a spiritual advisor to Matt Poncelet, a prisoner on death row, and reached out to the families of the murder victims.
“As citizens and as Christians we need to make informed decisions about how we respond to violence in our culture,” said Professor Mira Wiegmann, director of the theatre program, when asked about her choice of this production. “This includes examining the roles of punishment, restitution and rehabilitation in our current criminal justice system. The cast and I have found that these are not simple issues and that violence impacts the lives of many people, not just the victims, but also their families and the families of perpetrators.”
Sophomores Ashley Panwitz and Matthew Wait headed up the large cast as Sister Prejean and Matt Poncelet, respectively. More than 30 other students rounded out the cast, including Seward eighth-grader Alex Bainter, who is in his second production at Concordia.
The discussion panelists included Esther Pfabe, Nebraskans for Peace; Pastor Bud Christiansen, retired prison minister and Lincoln’s Bridge Program; Bill Roundey, retired criminal investigator; Dr. Matt Phillips, assistant professor of history; and Larry and Coni Johnson, parents of Lisa Bryant, a bank teller killed in the Norfolk bank robbery. Dr. Bruce Creed, associate professor of communication, moderated the open-format discussion time.
“The purpose was to give students and others attending a chance to ask questions since so many issues are raised about the death penalty and justice and give them a chance to begin talking through them,” said Dr. Kathy Miller, associate professor of sociology and coordinator of the panel. Miller is leading a humanities study of criminal justice involving classes in several disciplines this year. Students in selected classes are also reading the book “Dead Man Walking.”
Cast and crew of “Dead Man Walking”
Troy: Alex Bainter, eighth grade, Seward, Neb.
Hope Percy: Emily Coppersmith, freshman, St. Louis, Mo.
Reporter 3 and Secretary: Melissa Fick, sophomore, Ogden, Iowa
Sr. Neal and Reporter 4: Elaine Filter, sophomore, Maumelle, Ark.
Pardon Board Chair Mirabeau and Mitch: Derek Gaschler, freshman, Imperial, Neb.
Lucille Poncelet: Kelly Gibbons, junior, Phoenix, Ariz.
Reporter 1 and Woman 3: Allie Hanson, freshman, Osceola, Neb.
Man 3 and Jim: Matt Harre, sophomore, Nashville, Ill.
Guy Gilardi (Asst. DA) and Guard Trapp and Man 2: Adam Hengeveld, junior, Hartley, Iowa
Clyde Percy and Man 1: Chris Hinde, sophomore, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Female Guard and polygraph operator: Lindsey Howell, junior, St. Peters, Mo.
Carol Delacroixs: Daniel Huth, freshman, Lafayette, Ind.
Marybeth Percy: Nikki King, freshman, Algona, Iowa
Reporter 2 and Warden Hartman: Jon Laufer, freshman, Renault, Ill.
Woman 2: Bethany Maddick, sophomore, State Center, Iowa
Nurse Hartman: Melanie Maxson, freshman, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Woman 1 and Pardon Board Member: Sarah McClelland, freshman, Nottingham, N.H.
Walter Delacroix: Justin Metcalf, freshman, St. Louis, Mo.
Gov. Fredericks: Nathan Neugebauer, freshman, Gering, Neb.
Guard 1 and Pardon Board Member: Brandon Odom, junior, Omaha, Neb.
Sister Prejean: Ashley Panwitz, sophomore, Douglas, Wyo.
Herbie: William Pendarvis, sophomore, Aurora, Colo.
Sister Colleen: Hannah Pieper, sophomore, Green Bay, Wis.
Emily Percy: Margaret Ruehle, sophomore, Beacon, N.Y.
Hilton Barber: Andrew Schultz, sophomore, Houston, Texas
Radio Announcer: Jocelyn Sloan, freshman, Friend, Neb.
Mrs. Delacroix and Voice: Karla Stahlecker, junior, Silverton, Ore.
Guard 2 and Beliveau: Kyle Strecker, freshman, Falls City, Neb.
Matt Poncelet: Matt Wait, sophomore, Brownsburg, Ind.
Chaplain Farley: Luke Weidner, junior, Aurora, Colo.
Mother of Sr. Helen: Katelyn Wollman, freshman, Kingsville, Md.
Luis Montoya & Purvis Slade: Joshua Youngberg, freshman, Shawnee Mission, Kan.
Phil Adcock, set crew, assistant technician, freshman, Orange, Calif.
Heidi Bartlett, set crew, sophomore, Lincoln, Neb.
Danielle Bauer, lighting crew, freshman, Omaha, Neb.
Ben Carson, set crew, freshman, Wisner, Neb.
Dustin Cotter, lighting crew, sophomore, Lewisville, Texas
Calodonia Gerth, costume crew, freshman, Seward, Neb.
Heidi Graham, costume crew, lead technician, junior, Littleton, Colo.
Zach Gunzelman, set crew, senior, Wichita, Kan.
Amanda Hehn, set crew, lighting crew, senior, Fort Collins, Colo.
Chris Heins, set crew, junior, Higginsville, Mo.
Lindsey Himmelberg, costume crew, freshman, Friend, Neb.
Chris Hinde, lighting crew, sophomore, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Justin Koopman, lighting crew, assistant technician, sophomore, Kearney, Neb.
Jon Laufer, set crew, freshman, Renault, Ill.
Sarah McClellend, costume crew, freshman, Nottingham, N.H.
Priscilla Pietz, costume crew, assistant technician, senior, Foresthill, Calif.
Becca Resner, set crew, junior, Arkansas City, Kan.
Margaret Reuhle, set crew, sophomore, Beacon, N.Y.
JonRoss, lighting crew, lead technician, junior, Clinton, Iowa
Bryan Schranz, set crew, sophomore, Utica, Neb.
Amber Schwartz, set crew, freshman, Greeley, Colo.
Kyle Strecker, set crew, freshman, Falls City, Neb.
Daniel Uden, set crew, freshman, Kenesaw, Neb.
Luke Weidner, set crew, lead technician, junior, Aurora, Colo.
Joshua Youngberg, set crew, freshman, Shawnee Mission, Kan.