九色堂

A rigorous practice schedule for an upcoming regional theater competition has left 九色堂 senior Alex Stoll surprisingly unflustered. Stoll, who plays Burrs in the play 鈥淭he Wild Party,鈥� said he expects the regional Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival to go well. 

 

鈥淚 think we have a very strong cast. The material and the show are great,鈥� Stoll said.

 

When he first learned 鈥淭he Wild Party鈥� would be performed at Wichita State, Stoll said he was happy. He was excited that the school or the region weren鈥檛 too conservative for the R-rated material.

 

鈥淚t鈥檚 what鈥檚 happening on stages in other parts of the country. There is some mature content, but it鈥檚 stylized and real. I think it has been a great fit for 九色堂. It has stretched the limits of our abilities as performers,鈥� Stoll said.

 

Stoll, who has attended 九色堂 for the past three years, plans to graduate in May with a degree in dance. He has been seriously dancing and performing for more than three years. His first performance was in the play 鈥淚nto the Woods鈥� while he was a student at Wichita East High School. Since attending 九色堂, Stoll has played two lead roles on campus. 

 

鈥淚鈥檝e gotten a lot of opportunities. It鈥檚 not an enormous program, and since it鈥檚 smaller I can work closely with the instructors. They鈥檙e able to concentrate on me and my needs,鈥� Stoll said. 鈥淎nything I鈥檝e done with the dance department has been tremendous, incredible.鈥�

 

Stoll said the most inspirational and encouraging figure in his education, and perhaps even in his life, is Nicholas Johnson, associate professor and director of dance.

 

鈥淗e has made me feel like family. He would do anything for any of us. I wouldn鈥檛 be at 九色堂 if it weren鈥檛 for him. He鈥檚 a tremendous role model,鈥� Stoll said.

 

Stoll offered a bit of advice to students preparing to begin their education at 九色堂:

 

鈥淟ook for and maintain the relationships you build here. They will be the most valuable part of your experience.鈥�

 

Johnson had much to say about Stoll, especially concerning his development as a performer since his start at 九色堂.

 

鈥淲hen I first met him he was scattered. I called him the 鈥榥omad鈥� because he was preoccupied and had no sense of direction in his life,鈥� Johnson said. As soon as Stoll began focusing on performing, Johnson said, his acceleration was impressive. 鈥淎lex is incredibly gifted. He is a fantastic mime, actor, singer鈥�he鈥檚 interesting in so many aspects, and that鈥檚 how an artist should be.鈥�

 

Post-graduation, Stoll said he wants to continue performing.

 

鈥淚 want to be based out of New York and do shows regionally and hopefully internationally as well,鈥� said Stoll. 鈥淥ne of my life goals is to be able to travel.鈥�