KEARNEY – More than a dozen alumni will join current University of Nebraska at Kearney students for the musical theater program’s final performances this weekend.
The farewell production – “… and Happily Ever After” – is a musical revue featuring selections from 23 popular shows, including “South Pacific,” “Phantom,” “Movin’ Out” and “Jagged Little Pill.” It’s directed by UNK professors Janice Fronczak and Anne Foradori, with choreography by UNK alumna Melanie Epps of Omaha.
The ensemble includes 10 current UNK students and 12 alumni. Two more UNK graduates are featured as musicians. Scott Unruh, assistant to the senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, serves as emcee for the celebration.
Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the Miriam Drake Theatre on campus. Admission is free; however, advance reservations are encouraged. For reservations, call 308-865-8417 or email boxoffice@unk.edu.
Although this is the final musical theater production at UNK, the theater program has another year remaining as students complete their degrees. Events and/or shows could be scheduled in 2025-26.
PHOTOS BY ERIKA PRITCHARD, UNK COMMUNICATIONS
Student Ensemble
Cairo – Brianna Linden
Fairfield – Carter Lipovsky
Kearney – Emma Jahn
Kearney – Isabelle Kathol
Kearney – Marissa Wright
Lincoln – Chloe Bohaty
Mitchell – Zane Blomenkamp
Omaha – Victoria Nimneh
Papillion – Makayla Strosnider
Tokyo, Japan – Tetsuhito Tsutsumi
Alumni Ensemble
Steven Boldt (2023)
Brette Ensz (2006)
Kami Graves (2003)
Benjamin Hill (2018)
Eileen Jahn (1996)
Amy Martin (2011)
Dillon Nelson (2015)
Matthew Nicholson (2006)
Elizabeth Peters (2013)
Jordan Michael Peterson (2012)
Katie Ridder (2017)
Chris Terry (2023)
Community/Alumni Musicians
Todd Thalken, pianist (1980)
Greg Tesdall, reeds (1988)
Robert Heck, double bass
John Ross, percussion
Student Artistic and Production Staff
Alliance – Donna LeMunyan, lighting designer
Hastings – Isabelle Stroot, assistant stage manager
Kearney – Aspen (AJ) Girard, lighting designer
Lincoln – Steele Hayes, properties manager
Mitchell – Zane Blomenkamp, lighting designer
North Platte – Hannah Sims, lighting and costume designer
Omaha – Keegan Spence, assistant stage manager
Weskan, Kansas – Bethany Rother, stage manager
Faculty/Staff/Alumni Artistic Team
Janice Fronczak, director
Anne Foradori, musical director
Melanie Epps, choreographer (2000)
Shawn Deiger, lighting designer
Darin Himmerich, scenic designer
Bridget Klein, costume designer
Giovanni Flores, audio engineer (2022)
