Meet the Exec Board
2009-2010
PRESIDENT
Name: Andrea Schwander
Year: Senior
Major: Geography
Minor: Environmental Inquiry, GIScience
Hometown: Newark, DE
My responsibilities as President include forming committees and production staff, conducting general membership meetings, and serving as ex-officio member of all Thespian committees. This year we are trying something different in selecting committee chairs and production staff, while it will be the President's job to appoint the position all members of the exec board included in the decision. Besides the duties of President as outlined in the Constitution, I believe the President is also responsible for making sure all committees stay on track and encouraging members and pledges to get involved with the different aspects of the show and the other activities the club participates in (such as THON and MasquerAIDS). My goal as President is to keep all members involved and informed on activities in the club. I am hoping this year will prove to be successful in getting people interested in Thespians (both members and the general Penn State community) and that a lot of new ideas will be tried and built upon in the future.
Thespians experience: run crew for The Rocky Horror Show (fall 2006), assistant stage manager for Crazy for You (spring 2007) and Assassins (fall 2007), stage manager for Once Upon a Mattress (fall 2008), MasquerAIDS committee co-chair (2007-2008 and 2008-2009), Thespians secretary (2008-2009), stage manager for Behind the Fairytales (Children show Fall 2006), assistant stage manager The Lorax (Children show spring 2009), Thespian President (2009-2010)
Favorite Thespians moment: "This is really broad, but I love when we are in production week of a show and strike. When we get into production week there is a feeling of synergy and all the hard work finally coming together. It's always sad when we strike a set, but it makes way for a new show and there is always something to learn and take to the next show."
VICE PRESIDENT
Name: Nick Mittereder
Year: Senior
Major: Broadcast Journalism
Minor: English
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
As vice president of Penn State Thespians, I am both the parlimentarian and pledgemaster (no, not like fraternities, so don't be scared) of the club. As palimentarian of the club, I am responsible for knowing the ins and outs of our constitution, as well as proper procedures for voting, and various unofficial rules and regulations of the club. As pledgemaster, I have way too much fun for being a poor college kid. I am in charge of recruiting and overseeing the pledging process, which more or less means I get to make people smile, laugh, and enjoy themselves, all while teaching about Thespians. I'm looking forward to the 2009-2010 school year, and spending way to much time in Schwab for one reason or another.
Thespians experience: Assistant Lighting Designer for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat (Spr 09), Cylde Scalefish for Childrens Show Rainbow Fish (Spr 09), Narator/ Corny Collins for MasquerAIDS (Feb 09), Narrator for Childrens Show Amelia Bedelia (Fall 08), Run Crew member for Once Upon a Matress (Fall 08), Baby Bear for Childrens Show Behind the Fairtales (Fall 06), Build Crew member for Rocky Horror (Fall 06)
Favorite Thespians moment: I don't think its happened yet, so you're more then welcome to be a part of it ;)
TREASURER
Name: Bram McGinnis
Year: Sophomore
Major: Management
Minors: Labor and Employee Relations and Business Law
Hometown: DuBois, PA
My job as treasurer is to handle all of the financial transactions for the club, including getting check requests, preparing budgets and working with the club to make sure that the club will continue to thrive financially after I leave the position. I wanted this position because I wanted to combine my love of theatre with my career interests of business. I also wanted to contribute back to the club with something that I am confident in.
Thespians experience: production manager for Jekyll & Hyde (spring 2008), assistant production manager for Once Upon a Mattress (fall 2008) and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (spring 2009), director for Paddington Bear (fall 2007), advertising coordinator for Prelude to a Kiss, member of the marketing committee, Thespians treasurer (2008-2009)
Favorite Thespians moment: "My favorite Thespians moment was during Communion and Inductions weekend, where I bonded with my fellow pledges. The friends I have made in Thespians have become my family here at Penn State."
SECRETARY
Name: Evan Smith
Year: Senior
Major: Marketing
Minor: Theatre, Economics
Hometown: Scknecksville, PA
My established duties include keeping the club informed and up to date through a variety of mediums. I take notes during the meetings and send out the meeting minutes via e-mail to the entire club through our listserve. I also work with our new G-Calendar to post upcoming Thespian/Thespian related events for all subscribers to have access to (join our G-Calendar...it's a great way to see what's upcoming for our club!). I am also the keeper of the lists...the key list, computer access, and the list-serve. I update these lists 3 times throughout the year; once in the summer to take off graduated seniors, once after fall inductions to add our newly members and once after our spring inductions, again to add our newly inducted members
A newer aspect of my position is the spirit sales. As a club we're proud of our Thespian-ness and we like to show it. In the past we have had hoodies, pint glasses, and yes, even boxers with our logo. Finally, I work closely with our Historian/Alumni Liason on the archieving of past Thespian programs, show lists, attendence, newspaper articles, etc...This is a very important part of the job because the longest running student organization on campus better have it's history in tact!
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, as Secretary I work with the other members of the Executive Board throughout the year as we help guide the club in the direction that the club best sees fit through making a variety of decisions.
Thespians experience: "Narrator" in Lyle, Lyle Crocodile (Spring 2007), Build/Paint Crew for Assassins (Fall 2007), "Mr. Brown" in Paddington Bear (Fall 2007), Run Crew for Jekyll and Hyde (Spring 2008), Director of The Lorax (Spring 2008), Marketing Co-Chair (2008-2009), "Boss" in Amelia Bedelia, Secretary (2009-2010).
Favorite Thespians moment: "(Serious) Working with Alicia and the rest of our fabulous Marketing Committee to have an 18.2% attandence increase for our 2008 fall show (Once Upon a Mattress). (Funny) Coming up with the most ridiculously random ad-libs with Steve Levine in our scene in Amelia Bedelia. Between hot sauce, DIET Coke, fake deliciousness sounds and random one-liners mocking our fellow cast-members (Alex Jones), it was always interesting, funny, and Sabrina (our Director) probably hates us until this day."
HISTORIAN AND ALUMNI LIAISON
Name: Kendall Ireland
Year: Senior
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Doylestown, PA
Historian takes pictures and collects documents to keep a record of the shows and other activities the club takes part in. The Alumni Liaison tends to stay in touch with the alumni and share their viewpoints with the club or express the clubs problems to the alumni. Last year was the big 110th reunion for the alumni. This year we're more just staying the course. Keeping scrapbooks up-to-date and staying in touch with alumni. The only big changes this year is the addition of a small book to be passed from Historian to Historian with notes about some of the (previously) unwritten rules, traditions, taboos of the club that would also include notes about problems the club experienced each year.
Thespians experience: Build crew for "The Rocky Horror Show", New york girl in "Crazy for You!", ensemble in "Blood Brothers", Ensemble/Prostitute in "Jekyll and Hyde", Ensemble/Ishmaelite in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", Ensemble in "Sweeny Todd", headshot coordinator on marketing team
Favorite Thespian Moment: There are way too many favorites to pick just one, however if I had to pick I would probably say its a tie between communion and when Evan and I got two pins down in a split during bowling...I first bowled and then jumped out of the way. Evan ran up behind me and bowled and while the balls were rolling down the lane they crossed in front of each other and knocked down both pins on either side. Its hard to explain...but it was epic.