JoJo Brinkhoff
Managing Editor
For the summer, Crowder College’s theatre department will be performing two plays. The first play, A Couple of Blaguards will be held at 7:30 p.m. on June 19-21 with a matinee at 2 p.m. on June 21.
According to Shirley Gollhofer, director of the June play, A Couple of Blaguards is a light-hearted play that tells the immigration, trials, hardships and love between two Irish brothers and those around them.
The reason she chose this play was because of her family history.
“Part of my family background is Irish-Carmichael and Scotoch-Irish-Kirley…this play just struck a note with me.”
As for Logan Messersmith, who is going for an electric arc welding certificate, he decided to audition for A Couple of Blaguards because he enjoyed the plot.
“After reading it, I thought it was pretty funny,” said Messersmith.
Gollhofer is no stranger to theatre directing. According to Gollhofer, she has been directing plays for high schools, Joplin Little Theatre and other community theatres. When she first directed a Crowder play, Crowder didn’t have a theatre stage for their production.
“My first play at Crowder was directing a production of Grease back when plays were presented in the Crowder gym,” said Gollhofer.
The second summer play is Cinderella Cinderella which will be performing on July 17-19. The times and prices will be posted on the Crowder theatre Facebook page closer to the performance.
According to Natasha O’Brien, theatre instructor, the selection committees chose this play because it still tells the Cinderella story, but with a new twist to the plot.
Since the fall of 2013, this will be O’Brien’s fourth production here at Crowder. For 10 years, she has worked as a director, professional actress and teaching artist in numerous cities before becoming theatre instructor for Crowder. Although being here for a year, she’s been pleased with both her students and the staff.
“I truly enjoy working with the students and staff at this institution,” said O’Brien.
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