Students perform "Marat/Sade" at Concordia University, Nebraska
Concordia University, Nebraska, will present “The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade,” Nov. 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. The performance will be held in the Studio Theater of the Music Center on Concordia’s campus.
“This ‘play within a play’ asks our actors to portray patients in a mental institution performing a play about events following the French Revolution,” says associate professor of communication and theatre Bryan Moore. “These university actors and collaborators have done an admirable job working with this challenging and mature material to push beyond potential stereotypes and to show the complexities of these patients, as well as the impact of presenting such an intensely emotional message. We hope to encourage a dialogue to explore questions about the roles of mental institutions and the societal importance and potential sources of revolution that is, speaking up for your beliefs and seeking change.”
The drama depicts French writer and aristocrat Marquis de Sade directing a performance while institutionalized in an asylum. The play, also starring de Sade, sees the disturbed mental patients become increasingly unruly over the course of the story. It was written by Peter Weiss and was adapted into a film in 1967.
Tickets are $4 for Concordia faculty, staff and students and $8 for general admission. Tickets are available for purchase at the Concordia University, Nebraska, bookstore or at the door. This play contains raw depictions of true historical events and mature images that may not be suitable for all audiences.
Students on the cast and crew (alphabetical by state, city, last name):
- Joseph Pierson, senior, Van Buren, Ark., assisting with the scenery
- Allison Caudle, senior, Greeley, Colo., assisting with light design
- Bethany Schilling, freshman, Littleton, Colo., playing the role of patient
- Ben Leeper, senior, Thornton, Colo., acting as Herald
- Brianna Bossle, senior, Coral Springs, Fla., playing the role of Rossignol
- Kaleb Busche, post-baccalaureate, Fort Wayne, Ind., playing the role of Kokol
- Emily Patton, senior, Hartley, Iowa, assisting with props
- Emily Jensen, senior, Sioux City, Iowa, playing the role of Simonne
- Cole Humble, freshman, Leavenworth, Kan., acting as male guard
- Sarah Johnson, freshman, Waconia, Minn., playing the role of Corday
- Megan Woodruff, junior, High Ridge, Mo., helping with costumes
- Victoria Kobak, freshman, Jackson, Mo., playing the role of sister
- Andrew Crist, senior, Springfield, Mo., playing the role of Duperret
- Erin Rowland, sophomore, Saint Peters, Mo., helping with costumes
- Dana Simpkin, freshman, Saint Peters, Mo., playing the role of patient
- Ann Spilker, junior, Ashland, Neb., acting as Cucurcuc
- Elizabeth Larson, senior, Aurora, Neb., playing the role of sister
- Jade Rowe, sophomore, Cozad, Neb., playing the role of Roux
- Brook McNiel, junior, Holdrege, Neb., acting as sister
- Michael Duffy, junior, Kenesaw, Neb., playing the role of Sade
- Andrew Daughton, freshman, Norfolk, Neb., performing on the flute
- Paul Nelson, senior, Norfolk, Neb., playing guitar and the role of Polpoch
- Stephanie Barry, freshman, Omaha, Neb., playing the role of Columier’s Wife
- Abigail Schroeder, sophomore, Schuyler, Neb., acting as Columier’s daughter
- Joshua Brumm, sophomore, Seward, Neb., acting as Marat
- Danielle Harstad, senior, Seward, Neb., helping with props
- Melonie Kotschwar, senior, Seward, Neb., playing the trumpet
- Brodie Oshel, freshman, Seward, Neb., playing the role of Coulmier
- Peyton Wallage, sophomore, Seward, Neb., playing the clarinet
- Chris Genszler, junior, Oregon, Ohio, assisting with the scenery
- Alberto Barrientos, junior, El Paso, Texas, acting as male guard
- Abby Wisniewski, sophomore, Withee, Wis., performing on the percussion
Additional contributors to “Marat/Sade”:
- Bryan Moore, associate professor of theatre and communication at Concordia, director of play
- Emily Kollbaum, assistant director
- Alexa Kirchgasler, staff member assisting with costume design
- Robert Olson, staff member assisting with scene design
- Emily Fehn, stage manager
- Andrea Wiese, assistant stage manager
- Caleb Staehr, helping with musical arrangement
