Last week we talked about party preferences, but who are these people, really? Here's a more in-depth look at the lovely and talented people who have worked hard to bring our new show to life. Don't forget, you can reserve tickets to Emma Woodhouse Is Not A Bitch over at Brown Paper Tickets! -Candy

Blake E. Bolan (Director) is a founding member of SU, and is grateful for the warm welcome she received after her stint as an English teacher in Korea.  Originally from Manhattan, KS, she received an education in theater from the Manhattan Experimental Theater Workshop and the University of Kansas.  She's had the pleasure of working in various capacities with Bedlam, Jeune Lune, Nautilus, Nightpath, and Skewed Visions in the Twin Cities, as well as Seoul Players in South Korea.  She is consistently amazed at the talent and hard work of the people involved in this show. Also, she is glad that sometimes the actors call her Blake Teacher and give her hugs, just like her Korean pre-schoolers.

Name: Claire Louise Nadeau - Stage Manager

Hometown: Big Lake, MN

Go to Party Tune: You Make My Dreams by Hall & Oats

Go to Party Ensemble (Outfit): Dresses....sundresses weather permitting

In our take on Jane Austin’s Emma money and socioeconomic power take center stage. Being that we like to have conversations around here AND being that money can get so darn ishy to talk about, we’re going to get the ball rollin’. Right. Now. I asked Company Members Tanner Curl, Hannah Holman,and Mason Mahoney along with Sound Designer and Composer Ted Moore a few questions about money and here’s what they think. – Heidi

1. Why do you think money and socioeconomic power are still such difficult topics to discuss?

Ted: “I think there are strong stereotypes about values assigned to different economic classes. It’s often assumed that wealthy people regard earning and keeping money as a priority in their life, which can make them seem shallow, so sometimes wealth is downplayed. Also, people who pursue passions in lieu of money (ahem, artists) tend to be thought of as being rewarded in “invaluable ways,” and therefore don’t need as much financial compensation.”

Tanner: “Yeesh. This is a loaded question. My character, George, has a line in the play about how "money makes people weird." Very true, for almost everyone. I think that money leads to freedom. And people want more freedom. From hunger, from stress, from you-name-it. And then there's this recognition that life and money in our society are inherently unequal and, in many instances, unfair. I also think biology plays into this mix, but I'm not smart enough to write about it articulately.”