Repertory Theater earns
world-class reputation
THEATER from page 1
“But, at the same time, the level of
professionalism at this university is
higher than a lot of other places that I
have seen.”
“Sylvia” provides a good example
of youth and experience working
together. The title character is played by
Ashley West, an actress who has per
formed in various companies nation
wide, as has actor Richard
McWilliams, who plays Greg in the
play.
1 The university faculty also takes
part. Virginia Ness, an alum of the
Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in
London and a former teacher at the Yale
School of Drama, brings a sense of tra
dition to the production. Ness is cur
rently a teacher of voice, clowning and
acting here at UNL and joins a great
number of fellow faculty members who
have been a part of the Rep’s extensive
company. -
Moyer has a resume of 15 produc
tions and exemplifies the role that stu
dents play at the Rep. After graduation
Moyer plans to move west to Los
Angeles to pursue a career in film.
Apart from his studies here, Moya* said
he has learned a great deal from his
work with the professional actors and
directors.
Brant Pope, the director of Sylvia is
also the director of the FSU/Asolo
Conservatory for actor training and the
associate artistic director of the Asolo
Theatre Company. By being removed
the UNL theater program, Pope offers
an outside perspective. He sees The Rep
as a significant transition between stu
dent productions and the professional
theater.
“I think that there’s a certain stan
dard level of production that the Rep
requires,” Pope said. “Someone finish
ing there work here at Nebraska like
Eric (Moya:) can step in and play a role
alongside professionals from the out
side is tiie idea of the Rep.”
One fact actors have to learn to
accept about a career in acting is that
instant fame is seldom found. When
asked what roles he would expect in
Hollywood, Moyer jokingly responded
that he would most likely be the “third
henchman'from the left.”
This sense of practicality is vital to
those who wish to pursue a career in
theater. The simple truth remains, a
career in the theater is far from being an
assured profession as “Sylvia” Stage
Manager Jeff Allen explains.
“No matter how much talent you
have, no matter how much somebody
can put on stage, unless somebody likes
you or unless you have that niche often
times it doesn’t work,” Allen said.
“Professional versus educational, it all
becomes a blurry line and they do a nice
job of teaching that here at the Rep.”
While the cast and crew are indica
tive of those involved in the Rep’s pro
ductions, “Sylvia” is not. This is
because of die Rep’s tradition of diver
sity. Including William Shakespeare,
Neil Simon, intimate productions and
lavish musicals, the Rep has run the
gambit. Also, from the determination
by those involved with the Rep, it does
n’t look like this theater company will
be taking thejr final curtain call any
time soon.
Page 6 |, Daily Nebraskan Summer Edition M Thursday, July 8,1999
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