Where to Turelu? Company Bios

 

Jeanne Klein (Director) has been director of the KU Theatre for Young People since 1987 and has directed more than 18 productions for young audiences. Her recent directing credits include Tomato Plant Girl, Afternoon of the Elves, Selkie, The Ugly Duckling, Wolf Child, Ramona Quimby, Pippi Longstocking, and Little Monster. Jeanne’s studies with and about child audiences have been published in the Youth Theatre Journal, Stage of the Art, TYA Today, Theatre Research in Canada, Canadian Theatre Review, and the Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism. Before coming to KU, where she earned a doctorate in theatre in 1987, Jeanne taught and directed at Ohio Northern University and Gladwin High School in Michigan. She holds degrees from Michigan State University and Western Michigan University.

Aaron Dyszelski (Scenic, Costume, and Makeup Designer) a second-year graduate scenography student, was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI. Last season he designed costumes and make-up for South Pacific. He attended Cardinal Stritch University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in sculpture. At Cardinal Stritch he worked on and acted in such shows as A Midsummer Night's Dream, Juno and the Paycock, and Good. After graduation, he spent a year as free lance scenic and props artisan around Milwaukee, working with the Skylight Opera, Theater X, Modjeska Youth Theater, and Creative Services International.

Brent D. Lind (Lighting Designer) is a junior from Overland Park.

Jeremy Schropp (Music Composer) is a KU graduate student in music composition. His previous compositions include La Orage, a programmatic work for concert band; Reverence, a work for solo saxophone and piano; assorted art songs for soprano voice; and a solo piano sonata. Jeremy plans to complete his master's degree this summer and begin studying for a doctoral degree next fall. He is currently in the initial stages of composing a ballet for his master's thesis.

Leslie Bennett (Movement Coach) is in her first year as assistant professor of theatre and film and resident movement coach for the University Theatre. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre education from the Boston University School for the Arts. Leslie previously taught acting movement and improvisation at Emerson College and was a movement instructor for the Boston University School for the Arts Opera Department. An accomplished vocal performer and choreographer, Leslie is recognized as an Actor Combatant by American Society of Fight Directors in Rapier and Dagger, Knife Fighting, and Unarmed Combat.

Paul Meier (Vocal Coach) is professor of theatre and film and has worked as the department’s voice, speech, and dialects specialist for over a decade. Last spring he directed Othello for the "Main Stage" series. He has directed many productions at KU and has dialect-coached productions at KU and elsewhere, including Ang Lee’s film Ride with the Devil, Tim Robbins’ Arlington Road, and Billy Baldwin’s Elmer Gantry. Meier was trained in his native London at the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama.

Julia Elise Hardin (Césarine) is a junior from Lawrence, majoring in theatre and voice. Last season she appeared in The Cherry Orchard and Lear's Daughters. She has also performed in the 715 productions of Hamlet and Three Sisters as well as in productions for EAT and the Lawrence Free State High School Theatre. This summer Julia was part of the KU Summer Theatre in Greece program. Julia holds a KU voice scholarship as well as a Claire Reinhold Scholarship in theatre.

Lauren Marshall (Didiche) is a freshman theatre and voice major from Salina, appearing in her first KU production. While at Salina South High School, she appeared in productions of Fools and Children of Eden.

Stephen Moles (Gégé) is a freshman theatre major from Lawrence. This is his first KU production although he has appeared in several shows for the Lawrence Summer Youth theatre and at Free State High School.

Joe Plese (Turelu) is a senior education major from Overland Park. He previously appeared in the KU Theatre for Young People's production of The Ugly Duckling. A National Merit and Rock Chalk Scholar, Joe has performed for Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park and is a cantor for the St. Lawrence Catholic Student Center.

Holly Rauch (Rascale, a Parrot) is a junior theatre and dance major from Coffeyville. Where to, Turelu? is her first KU production. Holly holds both Phi Theta Kappa and KU Theatre scholarships, and is a member of the Student Alumni Association and SUA.

Bobby Sloan (Mac-Bluff) is a junior theatre and film major from Great Bend. A transfer student from Barton County Community College, this is his first production at KU. At Barton County, he appeared in productions of Ka, Oliver, and Deathtrap.