George Bernard Shaw’s
Saint Joan
Shannon Burke’s Independent Study
Female Mystics in the Visual Arts
Dedicated to the “witches” and “heretics”.
Castle Vaulcouleurs, Spring 1429
Chinon, Touraine, March 8 1429 th
Orleans, the Loire, May 29 1429 th
Scene One Scene Two Scene Three Scene Four
English Camp at the Loire
Cathedral Rheims, July 17 1429 th
15 Minute Intermission
Scene Six Epilogue
Castle at Rouen, May 30 1431 th
Charles’ Chateaux, June 1456
Cast
JOAN
Shannon Burke
Charles / An English Page / Joan U/S
Naomi Kriege
La Tremoille / Dunois / the Executioner
Christian Wood
De Baudricourt / the Chaplain
R. Rowan Estes
La Hire / Inquisitor
Miranda Croll
Steward / Archbishop / D’Estivet
Ellie Burger
A Page / Cauchon
Gabriela Shulman
Poulengy / Warwick
Taylor Landry
A Gentleman
John Schneider
Universal Swing - Fred Fitzsimmons
Creatives
Director
Caroline Norton
Stage Manager
Betsy Brill
Scenic & Prop Design
Anna Bechtdel
Sound Design Costume Design
Erin Cavender Eva Hesse
Special Thanks
To Marquette Theatre, for rehearsal space, costumes, and props.
To Next Act Theatre and Renaissance Theatre Works, for graciously allowing us to perform in this space.
To Rory Dwyer, for lighting assistance, photography, and general good vibes
To all who donated: Patrick Burke, Riley Bare, Natalie Murray, Cari Nelson, Joshua Zientara, Patricia León de la Barra, Isabelle Andress, David Burke, Lilly Parrott, Robert Dolan, Anna Kronenberger, Grace Kraus, and Anonymous.
To Dr. Deirdre Dempsey, Shannon’s instructor and inspiration for her independent study.
Biographies
Anna Bechtel (Scenic & Properties Designer) - Anna is so excited to be involved with design for her second student run production at Marquette. She is proud of the cast and crew of St. Joan for all their hard work on this show.
Betsy Brill (Stage Manager) is a sophomore studying Chemistry with a minor in Astronomy. She is from Minneapolis, MN. Betsy is thrilled to be stage managing her second senior production at Marquette, the first being Sophia Stockhausen’s production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead Betsy was ready to help with Shannon’s senior study from the glimmer of its conception and is so excited to finally share it with an audience Please enjoy the show!
Christian J. Wood (La Tremouille/Dunois/Executioner) is very honored and excited for this opportunity Coming from Milwaukee, WI, Christian is studying both theater and theology, making this play his first inter-major experience He is very thankful to Shannon for putting this project together, as well as his castmates, everyone involved, and, of course, everyone who has supported him throughout his life, whether they knew it or not.
Ellie Burger (Steward/Archbishop/D’Estivet) is a senior studying Theater Arts with a minor in Digital Media from Oshkosh, WI. She is so grateful to be a part of such an incredible show and to be playing characters so different from one another. She has had so much fun exploring these characters well working alongside such an amazing cast and crew.
Erin Cavender (Sound Designer) is a senior Theatre Arts and Communication Studies double major from Prospect Heights, IL. She is excited to be returning to sound design for St. Joan after previously sound designing Marquette Theatre’s The Importance of Being Earnest during her freshman year. She would like to thank Shannon for inviting her onto this project and the cast and crew for being so wonderful to work with.
Eva Hesse (Costume Designer) is a senior at Marquette University from Sartell, Minnesota She is pursuing a double BA in English Literature and Theatre Arts and a minor in History Her work in the costuming includes costume design for an MU student capstone production of John Proctor is the Villain and Marquette Theatre’s All in the Timing: “The Universal Language” and costume assistant for Marquette Theatre’s Bright Star and in Skylight Music Theatre’s Fiddler on the Roof
Fred Fitzsimmons (Universal Swing) is over the moon to be making his official Marquette Theater debut in this remarkable capstone production of St. Joan! He is a freshman from Mequon, WI majoring in Film and Media Studies in the College of Communication. His other credits at Marquette are participating in a Marquette University Players Society (MUPS) Cabaret, along with various Digital Media and Film projects. He would like to thank Shannon for creating this opportunity and Caroline for working with him throughout the process. He would also like to thank the incredibly talented cast and crew for being so awesome to work with, and he can’t wait for everyone to see the result of all their hard work.
Gabriela Shulman (Cauchon/a Page) is thrilled to be part of this production of St Joan Gabriela is currently pursuing a BA in Theatre Arts at Marquette University. Her recent stage credits include The Tragedie of Ophelia (Ophelia - understudy), She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition (Tilly), & Taming of the Shrew (Anne). She has also appeared in several short films and is trained in improv, voice, and musical theater. Special thanks to her mentors and fellow actors for their support!
John Schneider (Gentleman) is enjoying his 26th year as an adjunct professor in Marquette’s Theatre Arts program Shannon is an excellent student, & was recently my colleague in the cast of Fiddler on the Roof at the Skylight Music Theatre I’m touched that asked me to join her capstone
Miranda Croll (La Hire/The Inquisitor) is a junior Theatre Arts major from the Quad Cities, Iowa Her recent roles at Marquette were Margaret in Horse Girls and Ben in Five More Minutes, both with Marquette University Players Society Miranda is so grateful to be part of such an incredible project with so many talented people! She hopes you enjoy the show just as much as she does.
Naomi Kriege (Charles/an English Page/Joan u/s) is a senior at Marquette University from Kansas City, MO studying Theatre Arts & Dance. Recent credits include “Chava” (Fiddler on the Roof) with Skylight Music Theatre and swing (Love’s Labour’s Lost) with Summit Players Theatre. At Marquette, she has also had the opportunity to nurture passions for stage management, scenic carpentry, and costume construction. She is honored to help her wonderful friend Shannon with their independent study.
Robert Estes (Baudricourt/Chaplin) (AKA Jake or Rowan to his family and friends respectively) is a junior studying Theater Arts and Creative Writing. He is so happy to be able to act on stage with his friends! His past credits include Understudying in Fairview, Claudius in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, and Jack Seward in Dracula. He would like to thank his dad for coming all the way up from Arkansas to see St Joan &to his Grandma who is so excited to finally see photos of him as a priest <3
Rory Dwyer (Lighting Coordinator) is a sophomore studying Psychology and Peace Studies from Lindenhurst, Illinois She has enjoyed working in technical theatre since high school and is so happy to continue doing so at Marquette Rory is excited to be helping out with St Joan, and is amazed by her peers who are participating in this project
Shannon Burke (Joan) is thrilled and overwhelmed to be performing as the famous mystic. Hailing from St. Louis, MO, she’s been engrossed in Catholic culture all her life &is excited to share it through one of her many loves, theatre. She wishes to thank all those who have supported her throughout this process, emotionally or otherwise. Finally, she wishes to thank the seniors of years past, who trusted her with their capstones. She performs this as a love letter to them, the ones who believed in her.
Taylor Landry (Poulengy/Warwick) is so grateful to be making her Marquette Theatre debut in this incredible capstone! She is a freshman studying Theatre Arts with a minor in Public Relations from Chicago, IL. She would like to thank her amazing family & friends, & all of the wonderful theatre directors and coaches who’ve supported her along the way.
What’s next?
For the second part of her project, Shannon will be designing and building a costume piece based on the life and writings of Saint Hildegard von Bingen.
The third part will be a choreographed modern dance piece based on the writings, Revelations Divine Love, by Julian of Norwich.
To stay updated, follow @femalemystics on Instagram!