Senior Colloquium is a class reserved specifically for Loyola Theatre Arts & Dance Seniors. It meets once a week and provides the Seniors with learning opportunities to understand and explore the world outside the theatrical classroom setting. Recently, they were visited by Karl Lengel.
Having worked as an actor, announcer, manager, director, administrator, and teacher, Lengel was the perfect theatrical jack of all trades to come speak to the class. In broadcast, he has worked with WWNO as a sub announcer for NPR and classical music programming, WWNO’s All Things Considered anchor, and has recently returned to that position after having left post-Katrina. On top of all these impressive credits, Lengel is also a New Orleans-based equity stage manager. Some of his Broadway stage management credits include Miss Saigon and Minnelli on Minnelli as well as national tours of Les Miserables, Cats, Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Annie.
The Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) is a labor union that protects both actors and stage managers, offering them healthcare benefits, weekly hour limits, and a minimum wage. Being a member of AEA can be incredibly beneficial to a young professional. Lengel shared such benefits with the Senior Colloquium class, providing first-hand experience about the life of a professional Equity artist. This was an eye-opening experience for the Seniors, particularly those looking to professional theatre as a career beyond college.
By Madeline Taliancich