Theatre and Dance

MACHINAL
by Sophie Treadwell

MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY (in alphabetical order)

Monroe Ayers
Stephen Blotzke
Mena Carrara-Ackermann
Tyler Glowinski
Joshua Griffith
Sara Kutz-Yeager
Makay Loran
Karlee Palagi
Daria Porter
Gracie Ruiz
Blake Sowers
Emma Swartz
Veronica Jade Ware
Madalyn Wellman                 

MUSIC:
Piano and Composition: Joshua Griffith
Piano Accordion: Mena Carrara-Ackerman

DIRECTOR'S NOTE

MACHINAL, by female American playwright Sophie Treadwell, was first written and produced in 1928. A damning commentary on modern life, this expressionist play remains intriguingly relevant to our times. 

According to the playwright herself, “The Plot is the story of a woman who murders her husband—an ordinary young woman, any woman. The Plan is to tell this story by showing the different phases of life that the woman comes in contact with, and in none of which she finds any place, any peace. The woman is essentially soft, tender, and the life around her is essentially hard, mechanized. Business, home, marriage, having a child, seeking pleasure—all are difficult for her—mechanical, nerve nagging. Only in an illicit love does she find anything with life in it for her, and when she loses this, the desperate effort to win free to it again is her undoing.”

The style of the play serves its story in the rhythms of mechanical sound effects and spoken word.  Treadwell wrote, “The story is told in nine scenes. In the dialogue of these scenes there is the attempt to catch the rhythm of our common city speech, its brassy sound, its trick of repetition, etc. Then there is, also, the use of many different sounds chosen primarily for their inherent emotional effect but contributing also to the creation of a background, an atmosphere.”

Lighting, projection, performance, movement, scenery, color, costume and sound come together here to stage Treadwell's brilliant play. We are thrilled to be bringing this once-forgotten American theatre classic to Montana audiences as part of our comeback season. 

SPECIAL THANKS TO YOU, OUR AUDIENCE, FOR SUPPORTING LIVE THEATRE AS WE EMERGE FROM THE PANDEMIC. WELCOME BACK—IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU!

~Bernadette Sweeney, Machinal director

PRODUCTION STAFF

Production Manager: Jason McDaniel

Assistant Directors: Gabriella Giordano, Elsa Horgan

Intimacy Choreographer/Vocal Coach: Mark Plonsky

Intimacy Captain: Makay Loran

Dramaturg: Min Sun

Young Woman Coordinator: Veronica Jade Ware

Assistant Scenic Designer: Michael Esparza

Assistant Lighting/Projection Designer: Peter Fedock

Properties: Laila Sisson, Audrey Sylling

Assistant Stage Manager: Caleb Boelman

Technical Director/Scene Shop Manager: Brian Gregoire

Charge Artist: Aaron Chris

Scenic Artists: Ashley Milleson, Jay Michael Roberts

Scene Shop Staff: Aaron Chris, Mike Esparza, Ashley Milleson, Jay Michael Roberts

Carpentry and Paint Crew: Arwen Baxter, Chase Collins, Justin Freeny, Brady Grenfell, Jamie Howard, Maille Moynahan, Valance Lausch, Chayten Pippin, Laila Sisson, Aurrora Watkins, Cheyenne Watts, Zach Yoswa

Prop Shop Manager: Laila Sisson

Costume Shop Manager: Paula Niccum

Cutter/Draper: Sarah Sizemore

Costume Shop Staff: Morgan Brooks, Elise Clayton, Ember Cuddy, Marcee Murphy, Sarah Sizemore, Aurrora Watkins

Costume Construction Crew: Jack Broadway, Morgan Brooks, Kinsey Church, Amber Crabtree, Zoe Dehline, Elizabeth Ellsworth, Dani Hoyer, Natalie Renk, Ren Shepherd, Ben Wambeke

Head Dyer: Lara Berich

Wig Consultant/Stylist: Starla Carrara

Light/Sound Shop Manager: Mike Post

Master Electrician: Sawyer Fairbanks

Light Shop Staff: Peter Fedock, Aurrora Watkins

Light Hang and Focus Crew: Jason Bernardi, Sawyer Fairbanks, Jaiden Hettick, Sierra Niehus, Daphnie Sowa, Lizzy Wensley

Light Board Operator: Anthony Matury

Projection Operator: Elise Clayton

Sound Board Operator: Hannah McLean

Scenery/Props Crew: Kinsey Church, Sarah Hibbard, Marcee Murphy, Auna Noah, Chayten Pippin

Wardrobe Crew: Jamie Howard, Xideka McTague, Cubby Rodda, Paige Wisneski

House Manager: Mike Painter

Audio Description: Hudson Therriault

SPECIAL THANKS

Starla Carrara
Erin McDaniel
Mark Plonsky
Kendall Skoog
Spencer Stern
the Sweeney Ferriter family
Missoula Children’s Theatre

REMEMBERING DR. RANDY BOLTON

The School of Theatre and Dance remembers Emeritus Professor of Theatre Randy Bolton. Randy came to UM to head the Acting and Directing programs in 1977 and stayed until he retired in May 2020. Over his 43 years of service he taught thousands and thousands of students, directed hundreds of productions, and made an indelible impact on arts education in Montana. He devoted most of his professional life to UM, serving in various capacities including Chair of the Drama/Dance Department and Director of the Creative Pulse, which he founded with his dear friend, Dr. James Kriley. Randy held a special place in the hearts of many of our alumni. He will be missed.

TALENT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT 2021-2022

Ember Elizabeth Cuddy (they/them/theirs) is a junior in the Design and Technology concentration of the BFA Theatre program, focusing in Costumes, and is honored to be the 2021-2022 Talent Scholarship recipient. Raised in East Helena, MT, they have always loved clothing. Originally wanting to be a fashion designer, Ember discovered their love of theatre and costumes when they were in high school working on several different plays as an actor, assistant stage manager, props designer, and costume designer. As a senior in high school at the Montana State Thespian Festival, they saw UM’s production of White Christmas and knew that the University of Montana was the school for them. Since arriving at UM in Fall 2019, Ember has been involved with many shows. They were one of the props designers for Pride & Prejudice, pre-COVID, and then one of the props designers for She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms. They also were the assistant costume designer for Welcome to the Void. They also greatly enjoyed working as one of the costume designers for Fabled last semester.

Ember has taken many classes in costume design, rendering, flat patterning, draping, textiles, and period patternmaking here at UM. They love creating beautiful pieces of clothing and coming up with interesting and socially aware design concepts. Not only is Ember a Theatre major, but they are also getting a minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. They are fascinated by the way gender can influence clothing and the way sexuality and identity can affect people’s presentation. They hope to someday work on developing a more nuanced understanding of gender in theatre and to help create affirming clothing for people of all identities.

In addition to their love of theatre, Ember also loves to read and write. They love writing poetry and short stories. They have been published in Helena’s 2019 edition of Pen & Ink and The Make It Safe Project’s newly released anthology book First Love. They also were given the opportunity to perform a poem in Verbatim: Celebrating Resilience this year. Ember also runs an Etsy shop where they sell earrings and art prints.

Ember is so grateful to their mentor and advisor, Assistant Professor Lara Berich, for their constant encouragement and support. They are also grateful to Costume Shop Supervisor Paula Niccum and Professor Alessia Carpoca for all of their advice and lessons. Ember is thankful to the rest of the Theatre and Dance faculty/staff for their support and instruction. They also wish to thank the audience and donors for their support and appreciation of the performing arts.

UM THEATRE AND DANCE STUDENTS SUPPORTED BY

Ballet Beyond Borders Scholarship; Charles Ross Capps, Sr., and Agnes Ranjo Capps Scholarship; George & Louise Caras Scholarship; James Caras Family Scholarships; Sarah Crump Memorial Scholarship; Alexander & Virginia Dixon Dean Scholarships; William P. Gillespie Scholarship; Riki Gordon Scholarship; Donal Harrington Scholarships; Jim Kriley Memorial Scholarship; Mary Cardell Moore and Robert & Florence Cardell Awards; Mott Ranch Scholarship; Odyssey of the Stars Scholarships; Sarah Ottley Memorial Scholarship; Rachel Sprunk Smith Scholarship; Sheila M. Sullivan Scholarship; Talent Scholarship; Thespian Scholarships; UM Dance Days Scholarships; Steve Wing Scholarships; May Carol Zeman Award 

PICK-WHAT-YOU-PAY Supported by
Anonymous; UM President’s Office