The University of Minnesota Morris Theatre Discipline opens its 2023-2024 season with Henrik Ibsen’s masterpiece, A Doll’s House.
The play tells the story of Nora Helmer, a loving mother and wife to Torvald Helmer. From the exterior, the Helmers are the perfect family, but Nora holds a dangerous secret. In order to save her husband’s life, Nora has committed a financial crime–one that rocks the foundation of her marriage. Faced with the impending threat of exposure and her own disillusionment with her husband, Nora must navigate the tribulations of life as a woman in a male-dominated society.
Directing the production is Professor of Theatre Arts Ray Schultz (he/him, Jersey City). Schultz comments, “Henrik Ibsen's classic drama about a woman's search for personal autonomy shocked audiences when it first premiered in 1879 and still remains relevant almost 150 years later. Nora's journey to self-discovery causes her to defy the male-dominated norms of 19th century European society and climaxes in what was called ‘the door slam heard round the world.’”
Serving as Movement Coach and Intimacy Director for the production is visiting Visiting Professor of Theatre Arts, Lana Sugarman (she/her, Red Deer). Sugarman’s intimacy direction includes working with the actors to establish personal boundaries, which allows the actors to create clear, rich relationships between the characters in the play. According to Sugarman, “establishing this safe container empowers the actors to make bold choices; allowing the integration of period appropriate movement and etiquette.”
Designing the Lighting, Property, and Scenic elements is Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts, Lucas Grandholm (he/him, Minneapolis). The scenic design for A Doll’s House is reminiscent of a late 1950s Midwestern suburban home; Granholm states, “while the design is based in realism, it also plays with the ornamental aspects of mid-century modern furniture and aesthetic.” This production’s modern approach demonstrates that A Doll’s House remains topical beyond the period in which it was written.
Granholm further comments on the production’s lighting and property design: “the lighting design is based around elements of realism and impressionism. While the world we see is based in reality, the lighting serves to help the audience feel the momentous anxiety Nora faces.” The period appropriate property design, working in tandem with the set, will help to transport the audience into that 1959 living room.
Costume Designer and Shop Supervisor Marie Bonds (she/her, Morris) will be crafting the costumes with the assistance of Assistant Costume Designer Re Steinberg (‘26, Delano). Bonds explains the Morris production will not be set in its original time period, “but we are still staying true to the culture of the woman's place in the home in the late 1950s. Using colors and fabric prints we are able to make the characters stand out.” The male characters don more subdued, darker tones of color in their dress; in contrast, the female characters wear jewel tones and prints of the period. Bonds continues on to say, “this has been a great learning experience for me and the shop, with working with vintage patterns from the 1950s to 1960s and reprinted vintage patterns from this time period.”
Aiding Granholm in scenic design are Assistant Scenic Designers Siri Koplin (she/her, ‘26, Rochester) and Maddi Mages (she/her, ‘26, Morton). Assistant Lighting Designer is Maya Kroska (she/her, ‘24, Blaine) and Keida Wagner (any, ‘25, Parkers Prairie) acts as Co-Sound Designer alongside Granholm, with Assistant Design contributions from Jack Strong he/him, ‘25, Minneapolis). Carter Voorde (any, Rockwell City) serves as Scene Shop Supervisor, as well as the production’s Technical Director. The Stage Management team is led by Stage Manager T Flesner (they/them, ‘24, Rapid City) with Assistant Stage Managers Mikayli Marciulionis (they/he/she, ‘26, Esko) and Al Lighthizer (he/him, ‘26, Albert Lea). In the cast of seven actors, Emily-Rose Severson (she/her, ‘24, Brainerd) stars as Nora Helmer with Evan Anderson (he/him, ‘26, Chanhassen) acting as Torvald Helmer. Madison Ferguson (she/her, ‘24, Milaca) plays the practical Mrs. Christine Linde with Aidan Lester (they/them, ‘24, Cambridge) portraying Mr. Nils Krogstad. Dr. Rank is depicted by Michael Oberton (he/him, ‘25, Little Falls) with Abby Koel (she/her, ‘24, Pillager) as the family’s devoted nanny, Anne Marie. Completing the cast are Emily Frost (she/her, ‘27, Milwaukee) as Helen, additionally serving as the understudy for both Nora and Christine; as well as Parker Stach (he/him, ‘27, Hoffman) as the Delivery Man and the understudy for Torvald, Krogstad, and Rank respectively.
In an exciting addition to the upcoming performance of A Doll's House, four graduating Theatre Arts students are set to play key roles in the production in partial fulfillment of their Senior Projects: Emily-Rose Severson, Madison Ferguson, and Aidan Lester will tackle three of Ibsen’s complex characters; and T Flesner will serve as the production's Stage Manager.
This production of A Doll’s House will open in the George C. Fosgate Black Box Theatre, on Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m., with additional performances on Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at and at the door. General Admission is $10 and Students and Seniors are $5. Please direct any questions or accommodations requests to thrpub@morris.umn.edu or call (320) 589-6274.https://z.umn.edu/adollshouse