Life long Minnesota resident Dr. Clair Haugen has been the Director of the Concordia College theater program since 1960. He discusses the theaters history, growth and development, recollections of people and productions and the philosophy that governs the Concordia College theater program.
Dr. Delmar Hansen is director of the theatre program at Moorhead State University for 30 years, gives his assessment of a number of regional and local literary figures. He also describes some of the changes since he came to Moorhead State University in 1958 such as there was no real theatre program. He is the Chairman and a professor in the Department of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts.
Dr. Frederick Walsh discusses his years as a theatre teacher at North Dakota State University, Fargo. Dr. Walsh discusses his interests in outdoor drama, production at Medora, old and new theaters at NDSU, and his philosophy on the role of the theater in the lives of students.
Hazelle and George Nassif were prime movers in Fargo-Moorhead Community Theater. George discusses his early interest in acting, his support of the F-M Community Theater and how some of the financial difficulties were overcome. The construction of the new theater building in Island Park, with labor donated by the Labor Union, is discussed by Hazelle.
H.B. Teichmann was 89 years old at the time of this interview. He describes his love of theatre and his training at the Academy of Theatre Arts in New York. He is famous for his character bits and has been in 20-30 Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre productions, working under a number of our resident directors.
Mrs. Hildergarde Kraus, a well-known local organist, describes her musical training at a boarding school in Bismarck, North Dakota, and at the Dakota Conservatory of Music in Fargo. She discusses playing for silent movies and vaudeville and traces the events in her twenty-eight year career as organist for WDAY.
James ORourke was born in Langdon, North Dakota in 1933. He went to Concordia College for history and art and spent 1957-1960 in Europe. Mr. O'Rourke opened the Rourke Gallery in 1960. It later merged with the Red River Arts Center to form the Plains Art Museum. He discusses community support for the gallery, participating artists, and the growing collection.
June Dobervich describes her activities with both the Little Country Theatre at North Dakota State University and the Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre. She discusses such factors as the costs of theater production, the types of productions, participants in the program, and the achievements of Alfred G. Arvold.
Ken J. Frolund tells of his introduction to the Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre and his involvement in set building and administration not only for the theatre but also for the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony.
At age eighty-three, Mrs. Mildred Heifort discusses a variety of topics related to her home business as a seamstress, including needlework, spinning, natural dyes, needle weaving, wall hangings, lamp shapes, and the collecting, repairing and dressing of dolls. Mrs. Heifort is the creator of the Red River Historical Dolls, a major collection of dolls with historic and ethnic costumes, now a part of the Clay County Historical Society collection.
Mrs. Rhoda Hansen teaches English at Fargo North High School. She discusses her involvement in the Moorhead State University theatre program which her husband directs, Dr. Delmar J. Hansen. She discusses how she became involved with the theatre programs, the role she sees theatre playing in the community, and some of the problems the students and program have encountered.
Ted Larson, Assistant Professor of Speech/Director of Critical Film Studies, has been teaching at MSU since 1968. He is also the managing director for the Straw Hat Players. Mr. Larson discusses his family background and how this background influences his career. He also evaluates some major films.
