Musical swan song for NE dramatist
by Ashley Clark, entertainment editor

    Stacy Schronk’s Swan Song with NE Playhouse on NE Campus will be Annie Get Your Gun running Tuesday, April 17- Saturday, April 21 with current and former students.

    Schronk, who has taught drama 33 years on NE Campus, retires this year.

    The play begins when rough, tough and unrefined sharp shooter Annie Oakley meets champion sharp shooter Frank Butler; it is love at first shot. Stealing his heart and his title, Annie stumbles into an off-beat romance with Frank.

    The romance leads to power plays, ego bruising and a love/hate relationship remembered through songs such as You Can’t Get A Man With a Gun, Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better and They Say Falling in Love Is Wonderful.

    Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show is intrigued with the little lady skilled enough to out-shoot its champion shooter and sets out to make her a star, proving There’s No Business Like Show Business.
To play his leading rustic spitfire, Schronk invited former NE Player, Lisa Sharer-Schnider, who worked with Schronk six years ago.

    Being petite and feminine, Sharer-Schnider was asked if Annie was a stretch for her.

    “Not at all,” she said. “I love being the tomboy. She’s a funny character and a lot of fun to do.”

    The actress teaches music at an elementary school, and her students have been studying the play.

    Sharer-Schnider is excited about presenting the live show to her students and being a part of Schronk’s final production.

    Bob Olsen, who plays Buffalo Bill, is extremely impressed with Sharer-Schnider’s performance.

    “Everyone needs to come see this show just to see her. She is awesome,” the fellow former NE Player said.

    Having known Schronk for 26 years, Olsen feels his contribution to Annie Get Your Gun is an honor.

    Olsen is one of eight returning students involved in the musical. Schronk is equally excited about the show and the players involved.

    “I’ve always wanted to do this show,” he said,

One cast member and returning NE Player who put her education with Schronk to work with such credits as TV’s One Life to Live and Law and Order is Dana McLoud, who plays Dolly Tate.

“Dolly’s obnoxious; she’s pouty; she’s conniving when she needs to be,” the actress said. “But it’s not her fault! She was born in show business.”

    McLoud said the show is detail oriented, and Schronk agreed.

     “This is the costume show from hell,” he said. “There are more than 30 people in the cast, and everyone has at least four costumes.”

    Other than that, Schronk feels that the show runs pretty easy.

    However, “easy” is not exactly the word most audience members will think of when they see The Indian Dance, brilliantly choreographed by Kiesha Haliburton or hear Sharer-Schnider lead the company in I Got the Sun in the Morning or out-shoot, out-wit and out-sing Doug McCollum in Anything You Can Do.

    Schronk did not plan as elaborate set to celebrate his retirement. The set design consists of backdrops, available for rehearsals only two days before the opening.

     “The leads are wonderful and the ensemble, though young, is great,” he said.

    Schronk is also proud of the shooting matches, the music and the three children featured in the show.

    Andrew Shields, Kelcie Rolen and Kate Bristol play Little Jake, Nellie and Jessie, respective siblings to Annie Oakley.

    McCollum, plays the charismatic, skillful sharp shooter and Annie’s love interest, Frank Butler.

    A returning student, he is now a successful actor, singer, songwriter and guitarist.

    McCollum reflects Schronk’s accomplished goal to teach his students to really work toward their dreams.

    Other visiting alumni are John Tittor as Pawnee Bill, Tommy Tennery as Chief Sitting Bull, Patti Tennery as Mrs. Sylvia Potter-Porter and Sherilyn Bornheim as Mrs. Black Tooth.

    McLoud credits Schronk with preparing her to reach higher goals.

    “He let us know right off it’s not easy and you better be prepared to adjust at any given moment. He taught us to be flexible,” she added.

    Current student players are Ember Harris as Little Girl, Erik Preston, Charlie Davenport; Derek McElvian, Iron Tail; Stephen Francis, Yellow Foot; Kenny Crymer, Foster Wilson, Traysa Waak as Mrs. Little Horse; Mike Kraft, Conductor; Stephen Leval, Wild Horse; James Cates, Footman; Rob Hosner, Dr. Percy Ferguson.

    Kathryn Tyrone, Andrea Kile, Michelle Velarde, Amber Rolen, Tonya Stapleton, James Behlen, Vanessa Mercado, Kate Borne-mann, Jessica Bornheim, Katerina Grab and Tara Shumate are members of the ensemble.

    Schronk also invited friends to take part in his final production, including Jeffery Ashlock as Mac and Stefani Dudley as Mrs. Percy Ferguson.
    “One thing I’ve come to realize with this show is how many friends I have that started out as students,” Schronk said.

     The musical begins at 8 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee Saturday. Ticket prices are $5 general, $3 for seniors and students under 18, and free for TCC faculty, staff and students. Call 817-515-8847 for reservations.