Willamette University Presents New Farce Written by Alumna

Willamette University Theatre presents “W(h)acked, an Immorality Play,” written by Willamette alumna Stephanie Timm, as its third show of the 2006–07 season.

Performances are Feb. 16–17 and 22–24 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 18 and 25 at 2 p.m., with a preview Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. They will be held at Arena Theatre in the Theatre Playhouse at Willamette University, 900 State St.

“W(h)acked, an Immorality Play” is a new farce with classic style where the members of the Underground Very Secret Hush Hush Ladies Serial Killer Club invite you to step into the ladies’ room and peek into the world of the followers of Sister Lottie Limerick, a serial killer of the days of old. Haunted portraits, hot janitors, evil plots and naughty secrets combine to make one wickedly hilarious evening. “W(h)acked, an Immorality Play” has received two staged readings at ACT Theatre in Seattle and premiered at Live Girls! in Seattle in October.

Playwright Stephanie Timm’s most recent work, “Crumbs Are Also Bread,” will premiere at Washington Ensemble Theatre in February. Timm, a 1999 Willamette graduate, also wrote “Frankenocchio,” which opened the 2004–05 season at the Empty Space Theatre in Seattle. Her short play, “Lil Heroes,” is a finalist for the 2006–07 Heideman Award. Timm is a principal playwright with Seattle Dramatists and a recent recipient of a GAP (Grants for Artists Projects) award from Artist Trust. She teaches at the Hugo House in Seattle and with the Young Playwrights Program through ACT Theatre.

Willamette student Kyle McBroom, a senior theatre and rhetoric major, will design lights for the production. Designers include department co-chair Chris Harris (set) and resident costume designer Bobby Brewer-Wallin. Their tasks include creating an ornate powder room that can be transformed into the covert meeting place of the club, as well as outfitting the femme fatales and their unfortunate victims.

The cast features Willamette students Corinne Becker as Abhorabelle, Sarah Hamilton as Detesta, Sarah Jo Kendall as Crueliet, Britt Lauer as Lottie Limerick, Tara McLauchlan as Revengaline, Annie Rimmer as Tormentina, and Aaron Smith as the many unfortunate men who come in contact with the Underground Very Secret Hush Hush Ladies Serial Killer Club.

To purchase tickets, contact the Willamette University Box Office at (503) 370-6221 or reserve tickets by email at thtr-tix@willamette.edu. Opening night is $12 for general admission and $8 for students and seniors. Most other evening performances are $10 for general admission and $6 for students and seniors; matinees are $8 general admission and $6 for students and seniors. Contact the box office for specific pricing and details.

For more information contact the theatre department at (503) 370-6222 or go to www.willamette.edu/cla/theatre.

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Willamette Leaders Rising in the Pack

Four Willamette alumni were named in the January 2001 Oregon Business magazine article "Leaders of the Pack: 20 who are rising to the top."

Willamette had the most alumni listed of any Oregon school, with four out of 20.

• Brian Cole M'87
• Grace Crunican M'79
• Eric Friedenwald-Fishman '88
• and Mitchell Taylor '83 were all listed as up-and-coming Oregon leaders.

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Willamette Alumni Honored Homecoming Weekend

The Distinguished Alumni Citations, the Young Alumni Leadership Award and the Lestle J. Sparks Awards were given out at the alumni banquet held on Sept. 23, during homecoming weekend.

The recipients of these awards include:

• Distinguished Alumni Citation Award – Leslie Ann Wickman, Ph.D ’80
• Distinguished Alumni Citation Award – Justice Faith Ireland ’69
• Distinguished Alumni Citation Award –Vic Backlund ’58 E’61
• Distinguished Alumni Citation Award – Dr. Charles Foster ’60
• Distinguished Alumni Citation Award – U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder ’75
• Young Alumni Leadership Award – Ore. Rep. Rob Patridge ’90 L’93
• Lestle J. Sparks Award – Tom Yates ’50
• Lestle J. Sparks Award – Russ Tripp ’50
• Lestle J. Sparks Award – Betty Starr Anderson ’40 & Robert F. Anderson ’38

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Willamette Alum Competes for Gold

Andrew Hermann '93 will compete in the 2000 Olympic Games in racewalking on Friday, Sept. 29, while his parents, brother and friends cheer on the sidelines.

"My goal is to finish in the top 10 at the Olympics," said Hermann. "Right now I'm 30th, but I turned heads in my recent competitions in Europe. I'm the dark horse, but I prefer it that way. It has been my goal to be in the Olympics since I graduated. I put my social life and career on hold, so it's very satisfying to be going.

"Hermann has been competing full-time in racewalking since 1993. He races in the 50-kilometer (31 miles) event and hopes to finish around 3:45, which means he has to walk 7-minute-miles.

Racewalkers must follow two rules: one foot must remain on the ground at all times and when the heel strikes the ground the knee must be locked through the support phase, when the leg passes beneath the torso.

"The challenge of racewalking is the technique," said Hermann. "In our event, no matter how tired you get, you need to keep the technique going or you'll be thrown out of the race."

A typical practice day preparing for the Olympics included four to seven hours of training per day. He also meets with two sports psychologists weekly to discuss racing pressures, relaxation, mental visualization and outside factors, such as the media.

Hermann has three corporate sponsors - adidas, Enhance Performance Systems and Multnomah Athletic Club. The sponsors help cover his travel costs and fulfill Hermann's equipment needs.

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