Several members of the Meramec theater department earned summer stock contracts. In honor of this achievement, administration honored them at the April board meeting.
Kurt Oberreither
– Staff Writer –
Five STLCC-Meramec theater department members were honored at the board of trustees meeting on April 28.
During the annual Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) in January, the theater department represented Meramec and brought home three awards. Several students earned summer stock contracts with repertory theaters throughout the country.
Theatre Director Michelle Rebollo said she was proud to be at the meeting and see their hard work acknowledged. She said she “felt like a mother.”
“For the students to have the ability to put on these productions at a two-year college, it’s unmatched,” Rebollo said.
Monica Zidaru was one of four actors and technicians to accept a summer contract with a repertory theater. She will travel to the Brownville Village Theatre in Brownville, Neb. She said it was “awesome” to be at the meeting and see her colleagues recognized for their hard work.
“The staff I see on the stage is equivalent to a professional production,” Zidaru said.
Rebollo was awarded a regional commendation for direction and said one way Meramec differs from a four-year school is people can take directing as a sophomore and get hands-on experience.
“These types of opportunities are a jump start for students that want to get into theater,” Rebollo said.
Darren Thompson, lighting director for the Meramec Theatre, said it was great being asked to attend the meeting.
“A lot of work leads up to awards like that and of course it’s great to be recognized,” Thompson said. “Being at a community college, a lot of times, we’re not held up to some of the standards that the universities are, and I think it’s nice to know that we can certainly play in that field. That goes for the whole department not just me.”
Thompson was honored for earning the KCACTF National Teaching Artist Grant. He was one of seven to get the award in January. This award allots up to $2,000 for professional development, tuition, travel, meals, and/or costs of a professional residency. Thompson said it will allow him to do further training in the field of lighting design, by studying with a professional designer in a formal class setting.
“I can’t do anything like that unless I’ve got support, and that’s not only from the people that I work with but from the administration as well,” Thompson said.
Thompson said Rebollo is the one who makes the opportunities possible and is “a major force” in Meramec theater.
“She’s a pleasure to work with and an extremely innovative director,” Thompson said.
The Meramec theatre will present the Summer Children’s Production of “Hyronomous A. Frog, the Frog Prince” at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on July 12 through 15 and at 7:00 p.m. on July 13.
Auditions for the play are May 18 and 19 at 1:
