TL suitcase stories visits area schools

November 15, 2024

New program brings student stories to life

Theatre Lawrence has been packing our suitcase and heading out. No, we’re not running away to join the circus. We have been visiting area schools with our new outreach program, Suitcase Stories.


What is Suitcase Stories?


It all started with a simple suitcase. Theatre Lawrence’s Educator Director Emily Giles and local playwright Debra A. Cole filled the suitcases with interesting items to inspire young writers. During three class periods, the students created characters, locations, and plots for the perfect stories, and then…they wrote. Next, Emily and Deb read the stories and picked a few to adapt into original shorts plays. Add a talented group of local actors, and Suitcase Stories comes to life. Young students can see what their creative writing efforts can produce.


The Theatre Lawrence Suitcase Stories Project spurs students’ imagination, sparks creativity, and empowers students with tools for artistic self-expression and communication.


While all of the children’s stories cannot be performed, all can be compiled into a booklet for the young authors to treasure. We are quite proud of the work of our young students! We also want to extend a hug thank you to our actors who are bringing these stories to life!


Sponsored by


It is due to generous donations to the DCCF "Giving for Good" campaign that we are able to offer this program to five classrooms this fall free of charge. We appreciate their support of our work to go into the community and share our love of storytelling and live theatre with Lawrence area children.


Look for the 2024 "Giving for Good" campaign beginning Dec. 1.

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Theatre Lawrence News & Announcements

April 25, 2025
Thank you to everyone who auditioned! We are so excited about this cast and getting to work with all of you! Cast List Percy Jackson...........................James Green Annabeth ....................................Katie Mastrosimone Grover.............................................Elliot Polson Luke .................................................Walker North Sally Jackson ............................Eva Farmer Clarisse .........................................Lily Davis Mr. Brunner aka Chiron.......Nolan Stewart Charon ..........................................Lily Stewart Mrs. Dodds .................................Audrey Shull Gabe Ugliano ...........................Liam Melendez Ares .................................................Silas Warrior Poseidon ......................................Coleman Hodges Hades ............................................Megan Peterson Mr. D aka Dionysus ...............Oscar Gnojek Selena Beauregard ..............Alaina Shipley Kate Gardner ............................Adelaide Kiene The Oracle ..................................Atticus Lauer Aunty Em .....................................Ida Hegeman Squirrel...........................................Abby Horn Greyhound Passenger 1.....Annie Dahlstrand Greyhouse Passenger 2....Ellie Strickland Train Conductor......................Lydia Beat Echidna.........................................Olivia Fritz Newscaster ...............................Edward LaPlant Farmer ..........................................Aiden Toms Bianca ...........................................Megan Rinnert James Brown ............................Nelson Lewis Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.......Oliver Jepsen Pike Kurt Cobain ...............................Ezra Nelson Janis Joplin.................................Ash Palmateer DJ Cerebus.................................Spencer Carroll Nancy Bobofit...........................Sapphire Comfort Young Thalia ............................Madelyn Phillips Young Annabeth ...................Bridget Kirkpatrick-Tripler Young Grover...........................Micah Shipley Young Luke.................................Luca White Mrs. Dodd’s Furies ................Evie Thiessen and Eva Gammill Echo’s, the Oracle Chorus Eden Gehri Sam Hamill Eloise McKeever Alayna Terfler Vienna Children’s Choir Olivia Clifford Leanna Deitrich Elise DeVader Grace Goodison Annie Leahew Kinley Thiessen Statues for Medusa Molly Black Karianna Hall Evelyn Hurst Lucy Kneidel Willow Terfler The Dead Harper Cordt Izzy Hoskinson Aria Hutchinson MJ Kramer Sloan Spader
By Jamie Ulmer April 22, 2025
Nothing says "fun family night" like solving a murder. Judging by the enduring popularity of the board game Clue, one could surmise that’s exactly the case. The 1985 movie, while not a hit at the time, has since become a cult classic. This stage adaptation has proven to be a success for theatres across the country. So, we must deduce that solving a murder is fun. The evidence backs this up. The board game, conceived in the UK in 1943, was originally called Cluedo—a play on words combining “clue” and the Latin word ludo, meaning “I play.” Due to wartime shortages, the game wasn’t produced commercially until 1949. When released in the U.S., the Latin wordplay was dropped, and it became simply Clue, distributed by Parker Brothers. The game continues to be produced and updated, but the basic premise has remained the same. The 1985 film featured an all-star cast of comedic actors, including Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, and Christopher Lloyd. It famously had three different endings, and which one you saw depended on the theater you attended. Though it wasn’t a financial success at the time, it has since developed a major cult following. In 2017, the first version of this stage play debuted, drawing heavily from the 1985 film. The script has undergone several revisions and adaptations through 2021. The show has proven wildly popular, often landing on lists of the most-produced plays in community, professional, and academic theatres. It’s also popular with actors—our auditions saw the largest turnout for a play in many years! So what makes it so beloved? It’s a combination of many factors: the familiar title and premise, the classic over-the-top characters, and the chance to don our detective hats and solve a mystery. It creates a kind of “comfort food” feel. We know what to expect, we can relax and enjoy the ride, and maybe even pat ourselves on the back when we think we've solved the mystery before the characters do. Sometimes, you just need to take a break and enjoy some good, old-fashioned fun—solving a murder. Enjoy the show! Jamie Ulmer Executive Director
April 21, 2025
Theatre Lawrence is currently accepting applications for creative positions for the 2025-2026 regular season. To apply please send an email to julmer@theatrelawrence.com stating what show and position you are interested in being considered for, along with a resume. For consideration please apply by May 2. Shows and positions are: NEXT TO NORMAL (Sept. 19-28, 2025): Music Director, Choreographer WHITE CHRISTMAS (Dec. 5-21, 2025): Director, Music Director, Choreographer THE MOUNTAINTOP (Jan. 30-Feb 8, 2026): Director THE COTTAGE (March 13-22, 2026): Director DIAL M FOR MURDER (April 17-26, 2026): Director THE ADDAMS FAMILY (June 5-21, 2026): Director, Music Director, Choreographer
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