With Heathers: The Musical freshly in the works as Hamline’s first musical in over six years, changes and new faces are making their Hamline theater debuts in the technical side of the department, where they are making this world of high school cliques and gas station slushies come to life.
Kim Lartz, technical director and production manager, is one of the two new personalities this year. She has had a close connection to theater for over seven years. Lartz studied scenic design at Maryland State and received her bachelor’s in technical theater, then obtained her Master’s of Fine Arts at Illinois State.
“I have done theater from the mountains of West Virginia, to the shores of Lake Michigan, to the vineyards in California,” Lartz said. “I moved here from Illinois, [and last year] I was a professor at Concordia University, just down the street.” Lartz is eager to continue her work in the state of Minnesota.
Steven Read, scene shop supervisor, is the other prominent figure new to the stage this year. Read acquired his Bachelor’s of Fine Arts at the University of Duluth, and additionally his Master’s in Sculpture at the University of Pennsylvania.
“The comment that I always got the most was that my work was theatrical,” Read said.. “It was artwork that invited the viewer to sit and take some time, to project their own thoughts into the work,then the actual art piece was when the viewer and the art work together.”
Read spent some time teaching in Pennsylvania and then decided to return to Minnesota.
“It’s got one of the healthiest art scenes in the entire country,” Read said.
Both Lartz and Read are on the same page concerning their main goal for this school year; they have a strong desire to rebuild the collective within the theater department and bring new life to its circle.
“I really want to bring this aspect of community [into] our department,especially after the pandemic,” Lartz said.“I think a lot of people are looking for community and connection again.”
As a result of COVID-19, connections between students, staff and faculty have been limited. Theater had taken a big hit, as theater is about working together. Without these ties, theater has lost a good portion of what makes it successful.
“Theater is a team sport,” Read said. “Every role is as important as the rest.”
They encourage people to get involved as the skills learned in technical theater are universally transferable, whether it be painting, woodworking, or simply using one’s imagination to the fullest.
“If you’re a creative person, tech is a place [where] you can get your ideas heard for sure,” sophomore Lindsay Fulton, Lartz’s Teaching Assistant said.
Hamline has been notorious for its staff changes as of late. However, they have brought in a few talented and experienced scholars who are passionate about their craft. Lartz and Read are both overjoyed to provide a safe space for students to explore and experiment creatively in theater. They are looking forward to what the future holds here at Hamline and what will be created.
They inspirit everyone to come see Heathers: The Musical on Nov. 10, 11, 17, and 18 at 7:30 p.m. or on Nov. 12 at 2:00 p.m.