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UHEF & Uni News

24

Apr, 2017

Marvelous turn-out for Uni’s “Shrek the Musical”

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[Posted April 24, 2017] Audiences filled the Stivelman Theater last week for the four performances of “Shrek the Musical.” Starring one of the largest casts in Uni history, the special Student program last Wednesday opened to a full house and folks who came on each of the next three days were treated to a rousing show, produced under the direction of Uni alum Ronnie Sperling ‘76. “‘Shrek’ did really well,” said Sperling afterwards. “Every since I came aboard, we’ve been raising the bar every show. We had fabulous costumes and […]

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5

Feb, 2017

Uni to let its “Freak Flag” fly with “Shrek the Musical” opening April 19

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[Posted Feb. 5, 2017] Nasty will be nice and West Los Angeles will be “ogre-the- moon” when Uni Theater Arts troupe presents its production of “Shrek The Musical” beginning April 19th, 2017. The family-friendly musical comedy follows the adventures of an ogre named Shrek who sets off on a quest to save Princess Fiona from a dragon. However, it turns out that in order to ultimately succeed, Shrek must battle an even bigger obstacle: learning how to believe in himself and open his heart to others. Setting off with his […]

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4

May, 2016

Smash success for Uni production of Disney’s “High School Musical”!

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[Posted May 2, 2016] Roaring crowds and a high-energy cast made the Uni production of Disney’s “High School Musical” a great success from April 26-29. Pictured above: The entire cast does the Wildcat cheer! (Photo courtesy Ronnie Sperling/UHEF) With one of the largest casts ever for a Uni show, there was plenty of action on the stage for all four performances, including a 3:30 p.m. matinee on April 27 which included students from Uni-area middle schools! Attendance was excellent, including a full house on Friday evening for the closing performance, […]

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22

Apr, 2016

Disney’s “High School Musical”coming to Uni April 26-27-28-29: Be There or Be Square!

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[Posted April 22, 2016] If you haven’t been back to Uni in a while, now is the time to plan your trip to the intersection of Texas and Westgate for Disney’s “High School Musical”! The show will premiere at Uni’s Stivelman Theater on April 26, with three additional performances on the 27th, 28th and 29th. Uni’s Director of Theater Arts, Ronnie Sperling, is excited about this show! “Disney’s ‘High School Musical’ is our most ambitious production to date,” he notes. “Exciting choreography, a large cast, awesome sets, contemporary costumes, some […]

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7

Dec, 2015

Gallery: “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown”

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[Posted December 7, 2015] Lots of laughs, singing and enthusiastic stagecraft added up to four marvelous performances of “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” at Uni’s Stivelman Theater last weekend. Pictured above: The happy cast of “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” (All photos courtesy Ronnie Sperling) “The show rocked,” noted Ronnie Sperling ‘76, Uni’s Director of Theater Arts, who oversaw the production, and was able to share some of the following moments from the show: Coming up next: “Disney’s High School Musical,” in performance from April 26-29! Mark your […]

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15

Aug, 2015

“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”Coming December 3-4-5

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[Posted August 15, 2015] Two beloved musicals are on tap for Uni’s Theater Arts program this year, starting with “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” set for four performances over three days in December: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, December 3-4-5. “Great songs, huge laughs and memorable characters will make this a show that audiences of any age are going to fall in love with,” enthuses Uni Theatre Arts director Ronnie Sperling ‘76, coming off a marvelous spring production of “Into the Woods.” Sperling has already announced the spring show, coming […]

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8

May, 2015

Spirited Opening Night for “Into The Woods”

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[Posted May 8, 2015] An enthusiastic cast and an equally-happy audience enjoyed the debut of Uni’s Spring 2015 production of “Into The Woods” at the Stivelman Theater on campus on Friday evening. Pictured above: Billy Ortiz as Cinderella’s Prince, pines for the girl who fits the golden slipper (Photo courtesy UHEF) From the energetic opening that filled the stage to Sarai Benitez’s charming portrayal of Little Red Riding Hood, the program moved briskly through the tale of the Baker (Ryan McNeil) and his wife (Alex Strong) who were childless due […]

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25

Feb, 2015

Stunning turnout for “Into The Woods” Auditions at Uni

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[Posted February 25, 2015] Thanks to the wide success of the motion picture version of “Into The Woods,” Uni Director of Theatre Arts Ronnie Sperling ‘76 expected good interest for parts in his Spring 2015 version when auditions opened in mid-January. But 70 applicants for only half as many parts? “Huge turnout!!!,” noted Sperling. “Three days of auditions.” The lengthy casting process involved not just reading for parts, but singing and movement trials to fit into the show. The number of auditions is the most in recent memory, signaling high […]

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2

Dec, 2014

Big laughs coming to Uni in December!

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[Posted December 1, 2014] Uni students have many talents. Now we’re going to find out who’s funny! The school’s irrepressible theater-arts impresario Ronnie Sperling ‘76 has lined up his newest attraction, “Comedy Improv at UNI,” a series of eight open-mike programs to give Uni students a chance to impress classmates, peers and friends of Uni by reducing them to tears . . . of laughter. The sessions are scheduled from 3:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. in classroom 384 on: December 3: Wednesday December 4: Thursday December 8: Monday December 10: […]

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18

Nov, 2014

Uni’s Theater Arts Troupe Works Over Shakespeare; Two More Performances Left!

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[Posted November 17, 2014] It takes some theater-goers a lifetime to see all 37 of William Shakespeare’s plays. Uni’s theater arts group ran through all of them – more or less – in less than 90 minutes last weekend in “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged).” Pictured above: The Uni cast’s version of “To Be Or Knot To Be” . . . Get it? (Photo courtesy Ivan Finkle/UHEF) “The show was a complete smash this last weekend,” exulted Uni Theater Arts director Ronnie Sperling ‘76. “The Friday [school] Assembly […]

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