AR
Aaron Ruder
  • Class of 2012
  • Park Ridge, IL

Aaron Ruder performs in classic family musical The Secret Garden

2010 Jan 18

The Augustana Theatre Arts and Music Departments are collaborating to bring the beloved family musical The Secret Garden to life in the Quad Cities. Performances will be held at the Potter Theatre in Bergendoff Hall (3701 7th Ave) on January 29, 30 and 31 at 7:30 p.m.; February 5 and 7 at 7:30 p.m. and February 6 at 1:30 p.m. These shows will be the first in ten years to reflect collaboration between the Theatre Arts department and Augustana's opera company, Opera@Augustana.

The Secret Garden follows the story of a young girl, Mary Lennox, who is suddenly orphaned and sent to live with her wealthy but deeply unhappy uncle. Despite her gloomy, oppressive surroundings, Mary maintains her natural spirit and is able to bring new life both to her uncle's household and a special, secret garden she finds dormant on his property. The musical was written in 1991 by Marsha Norman with music by Lucy Simon.

Robin Quinn, a first year student who plays the role of Mary, loves the show's family-friendly storyline. "This show is really special in that it appeals to all different ages and tastes. There's romance, tragedy, adventure and humor throughout the musical. Everyone can find something in it that they enjoy."

The Theatre Arts Department performs a musical every other year. However, this year's production is especially exciting because of the department's collaboration with Opera@Augustana. Jeffrey Coussens, the director of the musical, says the result of their joint efforts promises to be a show of very high caliber.

"Musical theatre presents a host of challenges that are different from non-musical productions. You need to cast actors who can sing, singers who can act and dancers who can sing and act. However, meeting these challenges produces great rewardsa"the students have a tremendous learning and training experience and audiences love them."

Coussens has been a professor of theatre for over 25 years and serves as the current theatre department chair. He also has experience as a professional actor and director. For this production, he will be assisted by musical director John Pfautz, who is the program director of Opera@Augustana.

Aaron Ruder, a sophomore from Park Ridge, IL majoring in business administration, is among the students performing in The Secret Garden. Ruder will play the role of Lieutenant Wright.

The complete cast of The Secret Garden includes first year students Robin Quinn (Mary Lennox), Corbin McGhee (Dickon), Samantha Bestvina (Colin Craven), Colleen Bartimoccia (Alice), Dylan Hinrichs (Lieutenant Wright), Sarah Pouls (Fakir) and Macy Hernandez (Ayah); sophomores Hannah Johnson (Mrs. Medlock), Kathryn Martin (Martha), Tyler Henning (Ben Weatherstaff), Jacqui Schmidt (Mrs. Winthrop), Jessica Leff (Rose Lennox), Aaron Ruder (Lieutenant Wright) and Kenzie Conner (Claire Holmes); junior Joseph Martinez-McWhorten (Captain Albert Lennox); seniors River Stanford (Lily), Jonathon Larson (Major Holmes) and Ben Webb (Dr. Neville Craven)and music department artist in resident Christopher Scott (Archibald Craven).

Tickets for The Secret Garden are available at $12 for the general public or $10 for senior citizens, full-time students and children. Please call the Ticket Office at (309)-794-7306 to place an order. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.augustana.edu/x15671.xml or at the door.

Augustana's production of The Secret Garden is part of the theater department's 2009-2010 season "Dreamscapes." At the end of April and beginning of May, Augustana's theater company will perform their own contemporary version of The Seagull, a classic tale about unrequited love by Anton Chekhov.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls nearly 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 60 majors and areas of study. Augustana employs 226 faculty and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it has always done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.