Released:
3/19/04
Garrett Zuercher wrote “Quid Pro Quo” as part of his senior thesis
while a student at Marquette University. The play was performed
by fellow students under Zuercher's direction and it received
excellent reviews, surpassing the playwright's expectations and
gaining praise in the theatre community. Now, the student production
is getting national attention as part of the Kennedy
Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) where the
play will be performed for a national audience. What's more compelling
is that the playwright has never actually heard any
of the lines spoken in his play; Zuercher is deaf.
“Quid Pro Quo” chronicles the relationship between two college
students, Lucas and Lindsey, and is a character study of being
deaf in a hearing world. The actors on stage use only sign language
as two other actors speak the lines off-stage.
"I wanted to challenge myself by doing a drama since I had
neither written nor directed one before,” Zuercher said. “I wanted
to combine my training in theatre with my background as a deaf
man.”
Zuercher, who graduated last May, has been an actor, writer,
and director in other shows at Marquette and in Melbourne, Australia
.
"He is an amazing young man,” said Phylis Ravel, Director
of the Marquette Performing Arts Department. “He has a wonderful
command of language, more so than many who can actually hear the
beauty of dialogue."
"I am beyond thrilled to have this chance,” Zuercher said.
“Were it not for the boundless determination and talents of this
cast, this show would not have come this far.”
The cast of “Quid Pro Quo” is a quartet of Marquette students:
Colleen Foy (Lindsey), a senior from Whitefish
Bay, WI
Michael Miro (Lucas), a junior from Evanston
, IL
Joseph Fernandez (Voice of Lucas), a sophomore
from Tampa , FL
Anne Yatco (Voice of Lindsey), a sophomore from
Morris , IL
"Quid Pro Quo” was evaluated by a judge from KCACTF in an
October performance at Marquette and was selected to advance to
the Great Lakes Region festival in the “new student-written play”
category. The Marquette cast then performed for judges at Illinois
State University in January. Now, “Quid Pro Quo” has been invited
to be performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
in Washington, D.C in April. It is one of six productions to receive
all-expenses paid trips to the Kennedy Center to be show-cased
at the National Festival.
"This is the theater equivalent of going to the “Final Four,”
Ravel said. “ Marquette is very proud of Garrett and all of the
performers.”
There will be two encore performances of “Quid Pro Quo” on campus
to celebrate this prestigious accomplishment on Monday,
April 12th at the Weasler Auditorium. Admission is free and open
to the general public with performances at 5:00
and 7:30 p.m.
About the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival
KCACTF aims to identify and promote quality in college-level
theater production. To this end, each production entered is eligible
for a response by a regional KCACTF representative, and selected
students and faculty are invited to participate in KCACTF programs
involving scholarships, internships, grants, and awards for actors,
playwrights, designers, stage managers, and critics at both the
regional and national level. For more information, visit http://www.marquette.edu/theater/ACTF/
.
