Peoria Theatre People Sarah Hall

*Content note: Today on Peoria Theatre People, Sarah and Nyk discuss issues surrounding mental health, depression, eating disorders, and more. Please know that you are not alone and see the resources below for support.

Nyk Sutter-Downs is currently the Campus Director at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture and was recently the Theatre Manager at Corn Stock Theatre. Nyk and Sarah initially worked together when he choreographed Great Expectations show choir through the Peoria Park District circa 2007. Audiences in Peoria have seen Nyk in shows like Grease, Spring Awakening, and Footloose. Peoria audiences have also seen his directing and choreographing work with shows like Heathers, Bring it On, and Carrie. He's done a little bit of everything, basically! Today on Peoria Theatre People, Nyk and Sarah discuss Nyk's time at AMDA, the importance of mental health, some of Nyk's professional roles, his love of darker-themed musicals, and navigating theatre at a nonprofit during a global pandemic.

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Corn Stock Theatre
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*Content note: Today on Peoria Theatre People, Sarah and Lisa discuss some of Lisa's early roles in shows like The King and I. As white people, Lisa and Sarah are both committed to aiming for better representation for people of color in theatre and working toward being more inclusive. Peoria theatre needs to make an effort to be welcoming to people of color. Now, Sarah and Lisa absolutely value roles being appropriately cast in shows such as The King and I.*

Lisa White is no stranger to the Peoria theatre scene. She has experience in early childhood education and is a "teacher at heart" (in her own words), but does theatre as much as she can. Peoria theatre will miss her as she and her husband just moved out of state! Audiences in Peoria have seen Lisa in roles like Ren's mom in Footloose and have seen her directing work with shows like 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, [Title of Show] and You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (she directed Sarah in this). Peoria audiences have also seen her costume work in shows like Big Fish, The Robber Bridegroom, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. She's done a little bit of everything, basically! Today on Peoria Theatre People, Lisa and Sarah discuss why she costumes her own shows, her wonderful husband Kurt, how the pandemic has affected theatre, Metamora Thespian Society, discuss her love of doing a show at the tent in the heat, her time as a hip hop dancer, and why her auditions as a director always include improv.

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Metamora Thespian Society
Metamora Thespian Society websiteMetamora Thespian Society FacebookCorn Stock Theatre
Corn Stock website Corn Stock FacebookCorn Stock InstagramCorn Stock TwitterCommunity Children's Theatre (get updates here about CCT's upcoming Big Fish and get tickets here when they're on sale- the cast and production team has changed slightly since the pod was recorded, but we're still so excited to bring this to the Peoria area)
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*Content note: Today on Peoria Theatre People, Sarah and Connie discuss some of Connie's early roles in shows like The King and I. As white people, Connie and Sarah are both committed to aiming for better representation for people of color in theatre and working toward being more inclusive. Peoria theatre needs to make an effort to be welcoming to people of color. Now, Sarah and Connie absolutely value roles being appropriately cast in shows such as The King and I.*

Connie Tumminelli is a private voice teacher and retired music educator. Audiences in Peoria have seen Connie in roles like Maria in The Sound of Music and Rapunzel in Into the Woods. Often, Connie music directs and teaches in the Peoria area. Connie is Sarah's current voice teacher and was Sarah's choir director in high school! Connie and Sarah have developed such a meaningful relationship in the last few years and always love to geek out about their favorite performers and musicals. Today on Peoria Theatre People, Connie and Sarah discuss healthy singing, playing the flute, doing sketches as a kid, traveling, singing in cathedrals all over Europe, and the time she got to hang out with Kelli O'Hara.

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Favorite Kelli O'Hara Performances:
Kelli O'Hara- The Light in the Piazza
Kelli O'Hara- The King I
Kelli O'Hara- The Bridges of Madison County

Confronting Our Complicity: Music Theory and White Supremacy by Dave Molk

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Alex Hunt is a music teacher in Wisconsin. After growing up doing theatre in Peoria with shows like Joseph and The Jungle Book (Sarah and Alex's first show together) he attended VanderCook in Chicago and became a music teacher. Whenever he can, he does theatre in the Peoria area and also currently runs competitive theatre at Dunlap High School with his mom. Peoria audiences have seen Alex in shows like Ragtime, Newsies, and Something Rotten. You can even watch Alex play video games on Twitch! Today on Peoria Theatre People, Alex and Sarah discuss Alex's love of escape rooms, teaching music, Alex's experience in the Macy's Day Parade, his time at VanderCook, working with closely his mom Robin, and they nerd out about music theory.

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Alex's Twitch stream: Twitch.tv/alephunt

Confronting Our Complicity: Music Theory and White Supremacy by Dave Molk

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Joel Shoemaker is the Library Director for the Illinois Prairie District. Joel grew up in the Champaign area and came to the Peoria theatre scene by way of Eureka College (where Sarah went, too)! Joel's experience with Peoria theatre involves both acting and directing with productions like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (director), Godspell ("We Beseech Thee" soloist/Disciple), You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Schroeder), Shrek (Lord Farquaad), Pippin, and many more. Joel even directed Sarah in August: Osage County at Eureka College! Today on Peoria Theatre People, Joel and Sarah discuss Joel's time in banking, magic, libraries, and his love of August: Osage County and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

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Taylor Walters Greer is no stranger to the Peoria theatre scene. Taylor balances many aspects of her life, including her upcoming meditation and self-love projects, and she still makes time for theatre when she can. Even though she currently doesn't live in Peoria, her connection to Peoria theatre runs deep. Peoria audiences have seen her in a variety of productions such as Tarzan (Terk), West Side Story (Francesca), Cinderella (Stepsister), and many others. Taylor even has an award named after her! Today on Peoria Theatre People, Taylor and Sarah discuss Rocky Horror Picture Show, the importance of representation in theatre, Taylor's love of character acting, Taylor's time playing hockey, and much more!

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