Dancescapes 2025-26 | Feb. 19-21
On February 19th through the 21st, the WSU Dance Department showcased their Spring show “Dancescapes,” directed by Jeffrey Peterson, on the main Vivian Fusillo stage.
The show featured 12 different pieces, some student-directed pieces, some works from previous WSU Alums, and two conference-ready works, all with the intent of letting “memories, emotions, and images wash over you” (Peterson 2026). In a letter from the director, Peterson wrote, “As a dance’s ripples reach you, I encourage you to honor your own unique self when responding. The lens each of us employs when viewing a dance is as important and individualized as the dance itself. I welcome you to embrace your autonomic reactions, interacting personally with the performance…” (2026).
A few standout pieces from the show included Director Jeffrey Peterson’s 2018 work “H2Overture,” featuring dancers Kris Domek, Rayna Gruenes, Lillian Opie, Katelyn Princl, Izzy Schmidtz, Shea Stollenwerk, Emily Swartling, Ella Toso, and Meghan Westerberg, as well as the premiere of Shea Stollenwerk’s 2026 “To Be Continued,” featuring dancers Katelynn Bukovich, Kris Domek, Olivia Freiheit, Sophia Riedel, Izzy Smith, Emily Swartling.
For more information about the Dance Department, contact Jeffrey Peterson at jeffrey.peterson.2@winona.edu
“Godspell” Production | Apr. 15-18
From April 15th to the 18th, the WSU Theater Department performed Stephen Schwartz’s breakout 1970 musical Godspell, directed by Professor Jim Williams on the main Vivian Fusillo stage.
The musical follows Jesus and his “disciples” (dressed as clowns) through the New Testament’s many gospel teachings, focusing on several well-known parables that culminate in Judas’ betrayal of Jesus at the Last Supper and his ultimate crucifixion. While many noted its heavy religious influence, the atmosphere of the musical overall placed an overwhelming emphasis on the importance of community, faith (in anything), and belonging, with light-hearted bits of slapstick humor in between.
A few standout performances in Godspell include Andrew Cook (Jesus) and Joshua Harrison’s (Judas) duet of “All For The Best,” Harrison Klaphake’s (Lamar) solo of “All Good Gifts,” Elizabeth Schieffelbein’s (Sonia) solo of “Turn Back, O Man,” and Tyler Udell’s (Jeffrey) solo of “We Beseech Thee.”
For more information about the Theater Department at Winona State, contact Jim Williams at jiwilliams@winona.edu.
Funding for this newsletter and Arts and Letters social media posts provided by the WSU Foundation.
