LORAS PLAYERS

LORAS PLAYERS. Iowa's oldest amateur theater group was founded at LORAS COLLEGE in 1876. Their first performance on record was "The Merchant of Venice" performed at ST. JOSEPH COLLEGE in 1876. In 1910 the first drama club led by the Rev. Isidor J. Semper enjoyed the new chapel/auditorium of St. Joseph Hall which offered seating for 1,100. It was at this time that the theatrical group was named the Loras Players."

In 1926 the Rev. Edward O'Hagan led the Loras Players in his direction of "Treasure Island." The direction shifted to the Rev. George Stemm who hed the position from 1931-1939. The Players presented their most monumental performance, "Hid Battlements," thirty-six times during the centennial of the ARCHDIOCESE OF DUBUQUE for a total audience estimated at 21,000. The production required two hundred seventy costumes and had four hundred twenty roles performed by one hundred thirty six actors.

The theater group became the source of direction for the Rev. Karl G. Schroeder. By the time he retired in 1968 an estimated 6,000 students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members had been active during his tenure.

Don Stribling joined the Loras faculty in 1970 and became the leader of the players. He was later joined by his wife, Lauretta who served as costumer and co-director. A children's theater was added to the repertoire and the Loras Players Fall of Fame and membership in the Alpha Psi Omega National Honorary Theatre Society was established.

The Striblings retired in 2000 and Doug Donald became the director of the Loras Players and director of the theater. He established the "Wayy Off Broadway" one-acts and revived the L.O.R.A.S. Radio series. (1)

Perhaps the Players best-known graduate was television and movie star Don AMECHE who, in 1922, starred in The Shepherd in the Distance as a prince. He went on to make hundreds of MOTION PICTURES.

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Source:

1. Voight, Sandye, "Feel the History," Telegraph Herald, October 21, 2010, p. 13