4 students involved with professional theatre production

Four Cornell College students—three seniors and one junior—are taking part in the Old Creamery Theatre’s production of “The Matchmaker,” which runs April 30-May 21.

Junior Nick Barnes is playing Barnaby Tucker, senior Haley Karlson is playing Ermengarde, and senior Meghan Kuhn is playing Minnie Fay. Senior Kira Gaudynski will be the assistant stage manager for the production.

Old Creamery, which is one of only two professional theatre companies in Iowa, was founded in 1971 and is located in Amana, Iowa, about 30 miles from Cornell College. The opportunities for the students came about through the ongoing relationship between members of the Cornell College theatre department faculty and Old Creamery’s management. Janeve West, associate professor of theatre, said that Sean McCall, the artistic director for Old Creamery, wanted to broaden the range of audition opportunities for “The Matchmaker.”

“He spent an afternoon on campus and offered an ‘Auditioning 101’ Q and A session, then auditioned a number of our students,” West said. “This is a huge boon for our department and an excellent continuance—and strengthening!—of a relationship we’ve had for years.”

“The Matchmaker,” written by Thornton Wilder and first performed on Broadway in 1955, but based on much older plays, tells the story of delightful professional busybody Dolly Levi. With more than a few potential lovers needing a little push toward the altar, she’s got her work cut out for her as she plots and plans a course to bring true happiness to everyone, including the matchmaker herself.