Concordia theatre presents a Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder

Seward, NE (10/25/2019) — Concordia University theatre will perform its fall musical: A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, based on a novel by Roy Horniman, Nov. 1-3 and 9-10 in Weller Auditorium on Concordia's campus. Friday and Saturday shows begin at 7 p.m., and Sunday shows begin at 2 p.m.

Tickets are on sale in the Concordia Bookstore, with general admission tickets for $10, and Concordia community tickets for $5.

In this Tony Award-winning musical comedy, Monty Navarro learns after his mother's death that he is related to the royal D'Ysquith family. When he figures out he is ninth in line for earldom, he decides to expedite the process and eliminate those in front of him.

"Everyone involved with the show, students and staff, have worked hard over these last couple months to bring the show's many moving parts together to work as one unifying production," said Bryan Moore, professor of communication and theatre arts. "After a fun and challenging process, we are excited to share this entertaining story with audiences."

The show presents Monty's encounters with and the unique deaths of the many members of the D'Ysquith family, along with an equally unique and surprisingly relevant love triangle. It is an exaggerated look at the lengths people will go to get what they want. The characters, including the entire D'Ysquith family as played by one performer, are eclectic and fun to watch, and it's hard not to laugh at the way these many circumstances conclude.

"Concordia's theatre program produces a variety of shows each semester, from mainstage and student-produced plays to improvisation and staged reading events," said Moore. "While some shows provide family entertainment, others entertain while encouraging dialogue between participants and audiences about important issues. Any student can audition for acting roles or volunteer to help out 'behind the scenes' regardless of major."

Concordia theatre cast and crew include (alphabetical by state with Nebraska first, city, last name):

Garret Drews, sophomore, Fremont, Neb., as Monty Navarro

Haleigh Fitzsimmons, sophomore, Lincoln, Neb., choreography

Emma-Rose Grothaus, sophomore, Lincoln, Neb., assistant director and props

Jonathan Kisker. Senior, Lincoln, Neb., sound design

Cecilia Minchow, sophomore, Lincoln, Neb., ensemble

Matthew Murphy, senior, Seward, Neb., ensemble

Tabitha Ristvedt, sophomore, Utica, Neb., as Miss Shingle

Keziah Bruns, junior, Waco, Neb., ensemble

Laura Hellwege, freshman, Edmonton, Ala., ensemble

Samantha Pietanza, senior, San Diego, Calif., as Sibella

Bethany Schilling, senior, Littleton, Colo., as Phoebe

Mikayla Lowe, sophomore, Atchison, Kan., assistant stage manager

Sarah Johnson, senior, Waconia, Minn., assistant director

Linnea Buchholz, junior, Saint Charles, Mo., choreography

Dana Simpkin, senior, Saint Peter, Mo., stage manager

Joseph Greenmyer, senior, Stirum, N.D. as The D'Ysquith Family (nine roles total)

Christopher Kasparek, senior, The Woodlands, Texas, light design

Gideon Baumgarn, freshman, Holmen, Wis., ensemble

Professor Bryan Moore, Seward, Neb., stage director

Anne Gray, Lincoln, Neb., soloist vocal director

Dr. Kurt von Kampen, Seward, Neb., chorus vocal director

Robert Olson, Dorchester, Neb., scenic design supervisor

About Concordia University, Nebraska

Concordia University, Nebraska, founded in 1894, is a fully accredited, coeducational university located in Seward, Nebraska, which currently serves more than 2,500 students. Concordia offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in an excellent academic and Christ-centered community that equips men and women for lives of learning, service and leadership in the church and world. For more information, visit cune.edu.

###