Esbjornson tapped to direct first production at new Guthrie The first mainstage production in the Guthrie Theater’s new, $125 million riverfront complex in Minneapolis will be directed by David Esbjornson ’75, a Broadway director who was appointed artistic director of the Seattle Repertory Theatre a year ago. Breaking from conventional expectations, the theater has selected a new adaptation of St. Paul native F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby—not a Shakespearean play—for the first production in its new facility, which is slated to open in the summer of 2006. Esbjornson says he’s happy to be doing “Gatsby” for what it means to American theater and to the Guthrie. “It’s a real vote of confidence,” he says, “that the Fitzgerald estate gave the rights to what many consider to be the ‘great American novel.’” The choice of “Gatsby,” which was adapted from the book by Californiabased playwright Simon Levy, makes a significant statement about the broadening mission of the Guthrie. The playhouse originally opened in May 1963 with Hamlet, and classic repertory has been its staple and its forte. A new production of Hamlet closed the original space on Vineland Place on May 7. “Given Fitzgerald’s connections to St. Paul and given that we’re opening a new American theater center, we want to be a strong voice for the American writer, the American actor, and the American director,” says Guthrie artistic director Joe Dowling. “It just felt right.” Director Esbjornson maintains that the Guthrie’s production of “Gatsby” will be faithful to the novel. “What you get in the stage version that you don’t get in a movie [three film versions were made, the last in 1974] is a real sense of Fitzgerald’s prose. Nick is narrating here, speaking to the audience, in a way that movies don’t.” Esbjornson’s credits include several Guthrie productions, including the world premiere of Arthur Miller’s Resurrection Blues and a memorable staging of Tennessee Williams’ Summer and Smoke. He has also directed works by Edward Albee, Suzan-Lori Parks, and Tony Kushner. He received a Distingiuished Alumni Citation from Gustavus in 2001.
Junkert is new North Star Opera manager The St. Paul-based North Star Opera has announced the appointment of Mark Junkert ’75 as its new managing director, responsible for operational oversight of this expanding opera company, which was founded in 1980 to present English performances of opera, operetta, and musical theater to regional audiences. He will work alongside artistic director Steven Stucki, with Stucki overseeing all artistic areas and Junkert overseeing all staff and support functions. Junkert is concurrently serving as executive director of Joy in Singing, a New York-based organization dedicated to helping young concert singers. Junkert has been executive director of the Collegiate Chorale in New York. As that organization’s first full-time executive director, he coordinated program, finances, and management of a non-profit choral ensemble with a budget of more than $1.4 million. During his tenure with the Collegiate Chorale, he planned, promoted, and provided oversight for three Carnegie Hall concerts, one Lincoln Center concert, other concerts, radio broadcasts, and two gala benefits per year. Prior to joining the Collegiate Chorale, Junkert had served as director of marketing for Augsburg Fortress Publishers (1994–1999) and executive director/general manager of the National Lutheran Choir in Minneapolis (1990–1993).
Hermantown, is a school nurse for Hermantown ISD #700 Todd K. Johnson, Eden Prairie, is co-president-owner/manager of Micron Molding, Inc. Paul Jokela,
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The Gustavus Quarterly
Omaha, NE, is senior manager of field operations for Scantron Service Group David Jorstad, Hayfield, is an insurance agent for Safeway Insurance Agency Diane Moen
Jungbluth, Owatonna, is parish nurse at Trinity Lutheran Church Kathy Knudson-Mestnik, St. Cloud, is high school English, speech, and theater instructor at Sauk Rapids High School David Kroog, Bloomington, is vice president for sales and corporate payments at US Bancorp June Holmstrom Kroog, Bloomington, is self-employed in a party planning business Brad Langmo, Boca Raton, FL, is president of CTI, Inc. John Livers, Chaska, is senior training consultant for Fairview Health Services Dave Martens, Lakeville, retired as chief of police in Lakeville and is regional security director for Associated Banc-Corp Bonnie Bergs Morcomb, Dayton, is national account executive for Concentra JoAnn Brage Newland, Minneapolis, is a staff nurse at the Hennepin County Medical Center Gail Norell, St. Peter, is a special education teacher for Sibley East ISD #2310 Jeff Odgren, Nescopeck, PA, is pastor at Faith United Evangelical Lutheran Church Scott E. Olson, Winona, is pastor of wholeness and healing at Central Lutheran Church Jeffrey Parks, Sioux Falls, SD, is a sales and marketing representative at Parks Insurance Lee Petersen, Stillwater, is owner of L.M. Petersen, Co. Mark Pfundstein, Crofton, MD, is research & analysis element head for the Office of Naval Intelligence John Pillman, Sheboygan, WI, is a nurse anesthetist at Sheboygan Clinic Becky Pyle, Arvada, CO, is a regional nursing practice leader for Kaiser Permanente Health Plan Todd Rapp, Burnsville, is a self-employed attorney Gary Seline, Apple Valley, is a broker at Erickson & Larsen Allan Sorenson, Cokato, is a software engineer for Cross Roads Technology Kent Sorenson, Inver Grove Heights, is president/owner of Sorenson Associates Appraisals Amy Stark, Santa Ana, CA, is a selfemployed psychologist Nancy Reko Steinke, Blue Earth, is library/media associate in the Blue Earth Area School District Lynn Strand, Ham Lake, teaches high school physical education at Johnson High School in St. Paul Jenny Steiner Tongen, Waconia, is a special education teacher for Waconia School District #110 John Trawick, La Mesa, CA, is a principal scientist at Genomatica Cathy Cleys Tryggestad, Esko, is a special education teacher in the Moose Lake Schools Susan Tall Velasco, Burnsville, is a book receiv-
er at Northwestern Bookstore Monica Welwert, Luxembourg, Luxembourg, is a Swedish translator at the European Commission Pat West, Alpharetta, GA, is in benchmarking sales at the Hackett Group Mark Willcox, Minnetonka, is president of Data Helper, Inc. Steve Williams, Maple Grove, is EDI program lead for Ucare Minnesota Barbara Zust, St. Peter, is associate professor in the nursing department at Gustavus.
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Class Agents: Al Behrends, Terri Novak Delebo
e-mail: 1977classagent@gustavus.edu
Thomas Bolke, Eden Prairie, is a consultant at Ing Financial Partners, LLC Brian Bostrom, St. Paul, works in facilities management at University of Minnesota Kathryn Sullivan Distel, Phoenix, AZ, is a business consultant at Information Network Corp. Jeff Lahay, Vadnais Heights, is vice president and general manager at Trans Union Nick Legeros, Edina, is creating sculptures for the Life Touch Studio headquarters and the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Bette Ostlund Miller, Pequot Lakes, retired as a special education teacher at Westwood Elementary Craig Miller, Pequot Lakes, is a district marketing manager at Federated Insurance Pam Borden O’Brien, New Prague, is a learning-solutions account manager at MotivAction Gayle Hanson Olson, North Easton, MA, is a trainer at Newton-Wellesley Hospital Robert Rudelius, McLean, VA, is founder/managing director for Noble Ventures Carol Neuhaus Scheel, Richfield, works at Lifeworks Services.
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Class Agent: Mike Stanch
e-mail: 1978classagent@gustavus.edu
Kay Moulton Hawkins, Plymouth, is a self-employed piano teacher and teaches voice at Crown College Patti Houston, Stillwater, is a flight attendant for Northwest Airlines Steve Ledin, Superior, WI, is a lawyer at Maki, Ledin, Bick & Olson Debby Lindemann Lee, Lindstrom, is a community health nurse for Washington County Ray Lewis, Minneapolis, is a researcher at Adapt, Inc. Mark Pearson, St. Paul, received a master’s degree in law enforcement education, management, and leadership from University of St. Thomas Ronald Reinmuth, Gaylord, is a self-employed dentist, was named Sertoman of the Week,