This page is no longer being updated and remains online for informational and historical purposes only. The information is accurate as of the last page update.
For questions about page contents, contact the Communications Division.
As playwright, actress, and stage manager, senior English major Katherine Rewinkel (Sunnyvale, Calif.) has done it all in Lafayette theater. During her accomplished career, she has acted in College Theater and Marquis Player productions, managed six productions, and written and directed a play of her own.
In her final act, Rewinkel is serving as stage manager for the College Theater production of Tom Stoppard’s The Real Inspector Hound, which premieres 8 p.m. April 23 in the Black Box theater of the Williams Center for the Arts. She managed three other College Theater productions this school year, including The Club, Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Mother Courage and Her Children.
“As a stage manager, I get to see the show grow from inception to performance,” says Rewinkel. “I’m involved in the rehearsal process; recording, blocking, and taking care of props; and scene and costume changes. What interests me most is that I get to see the show through its stages of development, not just the final product.”
Whether on stage or observing from the audience, Rewinkel has always loved theater.
“I started out acting in a College Theater show and a Marquis Players performance,” she says. “The summer before my junior year, English professor Suzanne Westfall asked if I would be interested in stage managing The Tempest. I thought it sounded fun and exciting. I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity and be involved with the show.”
As part of an independent study last fall with Margarete Lamb-Faffelberger, associate professor of foreign languages and literatures, Rewinkel researched the life of German playwright Bertolt Brecht and wrote a short play following his unique style guidelines. She directed her work at Lafayette’s 10th annual Fringe festival, which showcases original plays, music, poetry, performance pieces, scenes, dance, and improvisation by students, alumni, and faculty.
Rewinkel says that each new aspect of the theater has provided a learning experience.
“I have a great respect for actors because I remember what it was like to be in their shoes,” she explains. “Having written and directed my own play, I have great admiration for the talent, technical knowledge, and difficulties dealt with by directors also.
“Many of my very best memories have been made in Lafayette’s theater.”
Rewinkel has taken advantage of opportunities away from the stage as well. She got a glimpse of e-business and book publishing during an externship at the Seattle, Wash., headquarters of Amazon.com (see related story). She shadowed Lafayette alumna Mary Beth Rossetti ’92, a book buyer for all children’s, parenting, and cooking titles sold by the Internet retailer. In addition to learning about book buying, Rewinkel was introduced to the sales process, vendor relations, and marketing and advertising.
A writing associate, Rewinkel is a member of German Club and resides on the German Floor in Keefe Hall. She modeled ethnic costumes at this year’s International Students Association Extravaganza Grand Finale and has also been active in Lafayette Arts Society, Questioning Established Sexual Taboos, Association for Lafayette Women, and HAVEN, a group dedicated to substance-free living.
As a benefit of being a participant in Lafayette’s Marquis Scholars program, Rewinkel has traveled to Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and New York.
Rewinkel hopes to be a professional stage manager and will seek an internship in the field after graduation.
“The work schedule and time commitment for a stage manager in the professional world is difficult, but I love the work I’ve done so far and wish to pursue it further,” she says. “I also plan to continue my creative writing for enjoyment and in hopes of its publication.”