Prairie Rep alumni to host event

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Prairie Rep alumni to host event

BROOKINGS – Prairie Repertory Theatre alumni are hosting a reunion event for members of Prairie Repertory Theatre Companies and friends Oct. 7-8 at the Performing Arts Center at South Dakota State University. They are also inviting contributions to complete expansion of the PAC, a project now under construction.

The first PRT company was established in 1971 when students and faculty set up a system of 4 plays presented at SDSU in Brookings and at Prairie Village near Madison. After 46 continuous seasons PRT has been maintained and expanded. Two members, Marie Louise Tesch and Rita Satzinger Edwards (former actors with the group) of the PRT board of directors, will be hosting the “Repper Reunion.”

“We have not had an alumni get-together since 2010,” Tesch said. “It’s important that we pass down our history to the new generation of performers. That last celebration was rather long, so we are setting up these Repper Reunions by the decade.” Tesch, a member of the first company as a college freshman, is now retirement age and realized that alumni numbers are dwindling.

“Having a Repper Reunion at this time is important,” Edwards said. “We want to invite alumni and friends to contribute to the PAC expansion because all new contributions, up to a maximum of $750,000, will be matched by First Bank & Trust. These contributions through April 2018 will automatically be doubled by the generous matching challenge issued by First Bank & Trust.”

Registration is from 9 a.m. until noon Oct. 7, in the PAC lobby. Members will have an opportunity to tour the original PAC building, view the ongoing construction and examine the expansion plans. “We are leaving the afternoon open so folks can tour the campus and community and see how much both have grown in 40 years,” Tesch said. Attendees can choose to attend the 6 p.m. SDSU/Southern Illinois football game or see current theater students in a production of “Rent” at Doner Auditorium.

On Oct. 8, there is a matinee performance of “Rent” at 2 p.m. Afterward, visitors can return to the PAC to see the 70s Repper Revue featuring returning faculty and PRT alumni from the 70s performing in the Fishback Studio Theatre. Tickets for the show are $10.

A no-host cast party will follow at The Pheasant Lounge with live music provided by the Johnson/McKinney Quintet.

For more information, contact marietesch@gmail.com.

– From SDSU Marketing & Communications