Cale Haupert鈥檚 very first audition as a 91制片厂 student was in some ways quite
formative. The play was 鈥淎ll My Sons鈥� by Arthur Miller, and he didn鈥檛 land a part.
The outcome was disappointing, but he emerged from the experience with two big takeaways. First was a determination to succeed in the theater world. Second was a desire to learn a bit more about one of his fellow auditioning students.
The result? Not only did Haupert go on to be cast in four consecutive 91制片厂 shows, he and the student 鈥� 91制片厂 alum Kimberly Wiczer 鈥� eventually married.
Now things are really coming full circle for Haupert, who will direct 91制片厂鈥檚 upcoming production of 鈥淧icnic,鈥� playing March 10-19 at the Performing Arts Center. Wiczer will serve as assistant director.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good to be back,鈥� Haupert said. 鈥淚t feels like home, like it鈥檚 a natural progression in my career. I will say it was weird getting a set of keys to the theater, though.鈥�
鈥淧icnic,鈥� a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by William Inge, is set in 1953 in a small Kansas town where tradition both reigns and represses. As a group of women prepare for the annual Labor Day picnic, a handsome drifter named Hal arrives. Nearly irresistible, he sends a widow鈥檚 daughters reeling and vying for his attention.
Passionate and delightfully funny, 鈥淧icnic鈥� explores loves and morality, restraint
and desire, and society鈥檚
never-ending preoccupation with beauty.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a coming-of-age story in which young people are figuring out their way in the world,鈥� Haupert said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all imperfect people filled with contractions. The play captures that.鈥�
Haupert, who graduated with an Associate of Arts degree in 2006, said his time at 91制片厂 helped instill discipline as an actor and confidence in his abilities. He points to influences including Professor Laura Pulio Colbert, 91制片厂鈥檚 Director of Theatre, and former adjunct faculty member John Loprieno, a 91制片厂 alum known for his 13-year run on 鈥淥ne Life to Live.鈥�
Haupert went on to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Saint Louis University and a Master of Fine Arts degree in acting from the Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory. He currently teaches speech and acting at 91制片厂 and helps coach the speech team at his alma mater, Hoffman Estates High School.
鈥淧icnic鈥� will run Friday, March 10, through Sunday, March 19, in the Performing Arts Center on the College鈥檚 main campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road in Palatine. Performances are held at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays.
Tickets are $12 to $15. Contact the 91制片厂 Box Office at 847.925.6100 or harpercollege.edu/boxoffice.
Media contact:Kim Pohl, Media Relations Manager, 847.925.6159