DWU Theatre
Playbill
ON THE EXHALE is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.
Cast
Rian Douvier
Rian Douvier is a senior who wanted to branch out from her usual roles and try performing a serious, dramatic piece. For her senior project, she worked hard alongside her director, Troy Thompson, to bring to life the story of a mother haunted by gun violence. Working on a one-woman show was difficult for her and provided many challenges: memorizing an entire script herself, finding time to practice alongside other responsibilities, and most of all, trying to emotionally connect to a role she’s never been in before. But despite these challenges, she’s proud of what she has accomplished in two short months and is excited to share it with all of you.
Production Team
Director: Troy Thompson
Scenic Design: Troy Thompson
Technical Director: Daniel L. Miller
Light Board Operator: Brylee Goff
Sound Design: Troy Thompson
Sound Board Operator: Troy Thompson
Director’s Note
Every day approximately 330 people are shot in the United States, 117 of which will die due to their injuries. Moreover, every day 23 minors are victims of said gun violence, and unfortunately, these statistics are only growing. Nobody is exempt from gun violence. Gun violence does not discriminate.
When Rian Douvier and I first came together to begin this endeavor, we were both drawn to “On the Exhale” by Martin Zimmerman almost instantly. This show gives us a firsthand account of how a senseless act of violence can send someone’s seemingly comfortable life into complete and utter disarray.
We wanted to do this story justice, especially with the subject matter, so Rian has been working tirelessly to bring this complex and nuanced character to life. Grief can take on many forms, and I believe that Rian does a phenomenal job showing us that healing is not linear and can look very different for everyone.
I hope that you can all leave the show having taken a piece of the character with you in some way.
“Sharing your joy doubles it; sharing your pain halves it.”
This production is entered in the American College Theatre Festival (ACTF), a national educational network founded in 1969 to identify, promote, and celebrate college and university theatre production and training.
ACTF seeks to:
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Encourage, recognize, and celebrate the finest and most diverse work produced in university and college theatre programs;
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Provide opportunities for participants to develop their theatre skills and insight, and achieve professionalism;
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Improve the quality of college and university theatre in the United States; and
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Encourage colleges and universities to give distinguished productions of new plays, especially those written by students; the classics, revitalized or newly conceived; and experimental works.
Through ACTF participation, each production is eligible for a response by a regional ACTF representative. Selected students and faculty may also be invited to participate in regional and national ACTF programs, including scholarships, awards, professional development opportunities, and educational initiatives for actors, directors, dramaturgs, playwrights, designers, stage managers, critics, and arts leadership.
Productions entered at the Participating level are eligible for invitation to a regional ACTF festival and may be considered for regional or national recognition for outstanding achievement in production, design, direction, and performance, in accordance with current program guidelines.
Each year, ACTF engages hundreds of productions and thousands of students nationwide. By entering this production, our theatre department joins a national community committed to artistic rigor, educational excellence, access, and professional development in collegiate theatre.
Additional support for the American College Theatre Festival is provided through national and regional partners committed to advancing excellence in collegiate theatre education.
Meet the DWU Chair of Theatre
Daniel L. Miller is the chair for the Ron and Sheilah Gates Department of Theatre and is professor of the theatre at Dakota Wesleyan University.
Dan Miller, MFA
Want to be a theatre major at DWU?
Friends of The Performing Arts
The Dakota Wesleyan University Friends of The Performing Arts is a society of music and theatre supporters organized to raise funds for music and theatre scholarships. These funds aid the DWU directors to offer scholarship opportunities to music and theatre students, as well as provide opportunities to purchase new instruments and equipment.
Donor List
Impresario: $2,500 and Up
Ron and Sheilah Gates
Terry and Diana Nebelsick
Brad and Teresa Pratt
Director: $1,000-$2,499
John and LuAnn Clarke
Terry and Lori Kueker
Robert McWhirter
James and Roxane Follett
Lori and Curt Wehlander
Joel and Linda Black
Pat Breidenbach
Tom and Charlys Dice
Carol Grode-Hanks and Eric Hanks
John Jacoway and Linda Kropenske
Dan and Ashley Kittle
Rowena Nebelsick
Patron: $500-$999
Taya and Alan Sazama
Fredel and Jason Thomas
Kitty and Joel Allen
Daniel L. Miller and Melissa A. Vatter-Miller
David Aslesen
Steve and Tammy Bamberg
Dan and Trudy Gabel
Julie Hart Schutte and Brett Schutte
Jacquelyn and Dusty Johnson
Thomas and Sherri Patzer
Mary Puetz
Puetz Design + Build
Artist: $250-$499
Clinton and Erin Desmond
Joan Pflugrath Lubben and Tim Lubben
Melissa and Steve Weber
Mike and Pam Catalano
Ensemble: $100-$249
John Lasher
Anthony and Emile Purcell
Corbin and Sydnee Kramer
Katherine Caldwell
Ashley and Jared Digmann
Jessica and Scott Dollahon
Sean and Deborah Flynn
Laurie Langland
Steve and Carmen Mach
Mickie and Troy Metzinger
Marilyn Vatter
Tim Ziegenhagen and Pat Gott
Kyle and Ashley Herges
Prodigy: Up to $99
Tatum Dean
Jan and Tate Larson
S&M Printing: Bob and Pat Miller
Angie Sewell
Randi and Charlie Christensen
Janet and Doug Greenway
John and Mary Larson
Leah and Cory Mellegaard
Lori and John Solberg
Jasmine Krempges
Want to join the Friends of Performing Arts?
