theater
The Tempest
Patrick Tomkins / KANSAM
In Act 1 of William Shakespeare's "The Tempest," William Kuhike as Proproso, center, listens to one of his spirit servants, Stacy MacFarlane as Aleti, right, as she describes her past service to him. The production is Kuhlake's retiring role from KU theater.
By Janice Swinton Kansan feature writer
Don't let the name Shakespeare scare you away from the 1992-93 KU Theatre's season opening of "The Tempest." Performances are at 8 p.m. Thurs, Fri, and Sat., with added matinees for students at 1 p.m. today and tomorrow, in Crafton-Preyer Theatre in Murphy Hall.
"It is a story that is very sensible and is as accessible as a tale of knights in armor or fairy tales. "Niven said. "The reason that this play has lived for 500 years is because it is tremendously entertaining.
"The Tempest," Shakespeare's final play is being directed by Kip Niven, broadway actor and KU alumnus, and starring KU professor of theatre and film William Kuhlke, in his retiring role, as Prospero, the magician.
"This is not a show that is highfalutin, Shakespeare, Elizabethan and distant. There is a timelessness to this piece that speaks to everyone."
"very simply, this magician lives on a desert island with his daughter," Niven said. "He conjures up a storm at sea, trying to seek revenge on his enemies but when the shipwreck victims come on shore, there is a young prince who falls in love with his daughter. He decides it's more important to see the lovers united than to get his revenge."
Student tickets for "The Tempest" are $3.50 and some English classes offer credit for attending the performance.
"The Tempest" is replete with clowns drinking, jesters romping, spirits spiriting, monsters monstering, beautiful princesses, handsome princes, evil dukes and wizards.
personalities
For almost 20 years, Kip Niven has made a name for himself on the stage, big screen and small screen. Now, he returns to his alma mater to direct 'The Tempest.'
By Janice Swinton Kansan feature writer
Kip Niven's acting career may not have been an overnight success, but for almost 20 years, this KU theater graduate
has been succeeding in his own way.
Niven's mother, Elizabeth Niven, who is 81 and lives in Kansas City, instilled this in her children.
"My mother, who is a remarkable woman, used to send us off to school everyday, or if it was off to some important event, she would put a lucky penny in our hands, and she would give us this little homily that she got from her mother, simply 'Do your best, your very best.'" Niven said.
Niven said he tried to follow this advice everyday.
"I am just trucking along and trying, and sometimes I am not the Kip Niven that I want to be, and I am not the Kip Niven that I hope to be, but I am trying to be the best Kip Niven that I can be, a day at a time," he said.
Niven said that didn't mean he had to be the best at everything he did.
"You don't have to blow everybody away, you don't have to score 100 all the time, as long as you are prepared for whatever it is and show what you can do on that particular day."
Niven has been showing what he can do with acting roles in feature films such as "Earthquake," "Airport 1975," "In Cold Blood," "Magnum Force," "The Hindenburg," "Midway," "Swashbuckler" and "New Year's Evil." Some television roles include "How the West Was Won," "Kate and Allie," "One Life to Live," "The Waltons," "Simon and Simon" and "Hart to Hart." He has also acted in a series of movies for television and miniseries.
Kip Niven, a 1968 KU graduate, is directing "The Tempest."
Photo courtesy of Klp Niven
"When I started out I thought I would be a household word in five years and be in everybody's living room, but it turns out that I don't have the arc of what I would call a career," Niven said.
"But happily, there has been, in now over 20 years of doing this, a nice rise, if not a mediocre rise or a rocket like rise.
At least I've been able to keep the wolf from the door and I've been moving along and I've done some work that I am extremely proud of."
Niven said he was proud of his KU roots, as well. Niven graduated from KU in January of 1968 with a bachelor's degree in theater.
Niven, who is a very active alumnus and one of the founding members and the current president of KU's department of theatre and film's professional advisory board, has returned this time to direct KU Theatre's production of "The Tempest." Performances began Oct. 16 and will continue Oct. 22 through 24.
"I loved going to school here. I have always felt connected and back home here, as I did when I was a student," he said.
After graduating from KU, Niven's acting career was temporarily sidetracked by Uncle Sam. He spent three years in the service, two years as an officer, including a six month tour in Vietnam.
upon finishing his military duty, he and his wife, Susan Tisdall, his college sweetheart and fellow KU theater grad, headed for LA to seek their fortune.
After six months, Franklin Murphy,
who was the chancellor at KU for many
Niven, 47, lived in Los Angeles for fifteen years, acting primarily in television and film. For the past six years, he has lived in New York, working mostly in theater.
But Kansas is home. He was born in Kansas City, grew up in Prairie Village and went to Shawnee Mission East high school.
"I got an audition and I was signed to a contract with Universal that lasted five years," he said. "I did nine feature films and I was on pretty much every television show that Universal did at that time."
years, sent Niven's resume and picture to someone who sent it to the right person at Universal Studios.
Most of what Niven calls his career highlights have been theatrical rather than television and film.
"In the theater, there is a more mystical thing called the empathic response. It is a relationship that exists between the actor in the production performing his role and the audience who is connecting with what that actor is doing."
"The real creative moment in film and television happens after the actor is done," he said. "It is in assembling of the pieces to make the final product."
Niven has been connecting with audiences with theatrical roles in "Two By Two," "Nick and Nora," "Follies."
"Camelot," "Oh Coward!" and many others.
But while acting is fun and enjoyable, Niven warns that there is a down side to having a career in the acting and directing profession — the constant rejections.
Niven handles these rejections and life in general with two philosophies:
"One is the golden rule, which I strive to live by," he said. "It is a way to cut through the hatred and bigotry and narrow small-mindedness that exist in the world today."
The other is the serenity prayer.
"So often, I think, and not just in my profession but in our lives today, we feel like we are pushing that ball up hill and it just keeps rolling back down on us. I think, a lot of times we push against things we can't affect, that are beyond our control."
nonetheless, Kip Niven continues to be his best.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PAGE 7
OCTOBER 20,1992
KU Campus
People and places at the University of Kansas.
calendar
Exhibitions
Spencer Museum of Art
864-4710
Hours: Closed Monday; 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday; Saturday; noon - 5 p.m. Sunday.
An Exhibit of Navajo Textiles. Ends Oct. 25.
"A Noble Collection: Old Master Prints from the Spencer Albums." Ends January 3, 1993
"Heritage of the Brush: The Roy and Marilyn Papp Collection." Starts Sunday, ends December 27.
KU Museum of Natural History 2014.15.10
Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Saturday; 1-5 p.m. Sunday.
An exhibit titled "Milestones: The University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, 1866-1992." Ends March 14, 1993
KU Museum of Anthropology
264.1245
Hours; 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Saturday; 1 - 5 p.m. Sunday
The Fourth Annual Indian Arts Show: A Juried Competition. Ends Oct. 25
Continued on Page 8.