Sam Mandelbaum (left) as Wayne Mooreland and Stephen Ivey (right) as Dr. Tom Martinson in TRIGGER WARNING.  

It is with mixed emotions that TLU Dramatic Media announces the resignation of Scott Spidell, who blessed us with his contributions this past year.  Scott, our "Big Beautiful Canadian" has accepted a position in his native land with MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  Though our time together was short, we were blessed to collaborate with Scott on a number of successful productions and initiatives.  We hate to see him go, but are excited that he and his wonderful wife June will be reunited for a new adventure in their lives.  Best wishes to you both, and remember to send us an occasional care package of Nestle Coffee Crisp bars.  

Anton Antonovich Skvoznik Dumakhanovsky, at right, the Mayor of Supgorod (Soup Town) in Russia, presents Mayor Don Keil of Seguin with an honorary riding crop.  Dumakhanovsky was overheard saying, “It’s how I keep the peasants in line!”  The two dignitaries met at Seguin’s City Hall during a whirlwind tour to discuss a possible trade agreement.  Mayor Dumakhonovsky pitched the following to Keil, “We are known for our delicious cabbage soup.  Plus, my personal vineyard produces wine that is both viscous and bubbly.  By the end of the next decade we want to be able to say that ours will be one of the finest small family-owned vintners in this part of the western south-central section of our district!  Would you be willing to trade for your big pecan?”  At that point, Mayor Keil quickly wielded his new riding crop, chasing Dumakhanovsky out of the building.  The Russian escaped in his troika, racing west down Court Street as fast as his six horses could carry him.  As the carriage disappeared, Keil yelled, “Go back to Siberia!”   

In an effort to thaw the icy diplomatic tensions, the public is invited to meet Mayor Dumakhanovsky and the other fictional citizens of Supgorod this weekend, November 14—16, at Texas Lutheran University.  The department of Dramatic Media will produce The Government Inspector, a comic farce adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher from the original play by Nikolai Gogol.  This classic comedy, updated for a modern audience, promises to bring reconciliation through laughter.  Evening performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM, with matinees on Friday and Sunday at 2:30 PM.  General admission tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for senior-citizens and student ages, and free with a TLU ID.  

TLU Dramatic Media is pleased to announce the hiring of Professor Scott Spidell.  Professor Spidell will serve as our new Production Designer/Technical Director, beginning August of 2014.  

Professor Spidell brings a tremendous background of experiences to our program.  His recent M.F.A. in Performance Design from York University in Toronto, Canada, comes after a career of 30-plus years in theatre, film, and television.  He was most recently the Head of Production at the University of Waterloo in Canada where he has taught and served in a variety of capacities for the past nineteen years, including many as Technical Director.  He has a long list of credits in scene design and stagecraft, lighting design, video design, props, special effects, and sound.  His research interests deal with the integration of media in live performance.  He is a union stage manager with the Canadian Actor’s Equity Association.  If that weren't enough, he’s also been a working actor.  We are thrilled with this diversity of skills and look forward to our collaborations with Professor Spidell.