Archive: Arts & Entertainment

While major productions are produced on the main stage at the Hangar Theatre a parallel season is offered in The Wedge.  The Wedge is, well... a wedge in the floor plan of the Hangar, a small space off stage right from the main stage where there is barely room to fit a small stage and audience.  It is a flexible space where the 'hallway' to the main theater's house left doubles as a balcony when The Wedge fills up.


This year the Wedge season wrapped up with an updated production of Jean Baptiste Poquelin Moliere's 'Tartuffe,' the 1664 French satire that depicts a religious hypocrite who ingratiates himself with the pious Orgon.  Meanwhile he attempts to seduce Orgon's wife and almost suceceds in bilking him of all his wealth and possessions.  Set in the 1980s, the production featured Next Generation Theatre Lab students, including Lansing actress Allysa Wasenko.

Next Generation is the Hangar's theater school that includes a camp, a school and the Theatre Lab.  The Lab is an intensive program for high school students who immerse themselves in rehearsals and master classes for three weeks.  In its third year, more than 25 students auditioned for the 12 spots in the program.  The audition included an essay, an application, and an interview with the Hangar's Associate Artistic Director and the Education and Outreach Coordinator.

Wasenko says she loved working with people who share her interest in theater, and that she she learned a lot in the three weeks.  "My favorite part was hanging out with theater people like myself and learning all this new stuff with these people," she says.  Learning from professionals and putting what she learned into practice made the experience exciting.


The program ran from 10 am to 10 pm every day for three weeks, with several hours spent rehearsing with director Pesha Rudnick.  Students attended master classes that included a contemporary scene study class with the Hangar's artistic director Kevin Moriarty, who directed 'Hello Dolly,' which continues to run through this Sunday (9/3).  Lab Company Director Pirronne Yousefzedah also taught a class on Shakespearean acting.  "This summer they studied musical theater singing with 'Hello, Dolly!' conductor John Bell and musical theater dance, including learning actual show choreography from "Dolly" from cast member Johnathan Burke," says Moriarty.  "The Hangar's Associate Artistic Director, Wendy Dann taught classes focused on 'Viewpoints,' which focuses on ensemble-building exercises and visual composition."  

Lab students also attended Hangar productions and participated in joint master classes with the casts of 'Art,' 'Hello Dolly,' 'Flag,' 'Bluebeard,' and 'Stuart Little.'   "It was interesting to see how they used the space (in the Wedge)," Wasenko says.  "For 'Flag' they didn't have that much space.  It was interesting to see how the two different plays used the space, and how it gave a different feel for each play."  She says the cast had to adjust their performance style to adapt to the unusually shaped theater.

Wasenko says she learned a lot and wants to do it again in a couple of years.  "I'll be a different age and perhaps I'll bring something more to it after being in a couple more plays," she says.  This year she is auditioning for '42nd Street,' Lansing High School's musical, and recently auditioned for the Kitchen Theatre season.  For the future she is considering an acting career, but doesn't feel pressured to decide at this point.  "As long as my career doesn't involve intense math!" she says.  For now, she adds, "Theater is my sport of choice."

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