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16A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 27, 2015 Polk County Education ACADEMIC HONORS Local students to graduate from OSU EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer Belladina Starr, as Frankie, takes the audience on adventures inspired by toys found in Frankie’s toy box. EXPLORE THE FANTASY ‘Frankie’s’ takes audience through imagination of a child By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer MONMOUTH — Journey back to a time when the whole world was an oys- ter — and found deep within a toy box — at Western Ore- gon University’s spring play, “Frankie’s Flights of Fancy.” “Kids come up with the craziest, fun things,” said Belladina Starr, who plays Frankie in the devised play. “Putting myself in the shoes of a child like that, it’s like, ‘I can do whatever; I’m a little kid,’ it’s really fun.” The play was created by Western students, from the conception, writing of the script, making props, casting and production. Andrew Thornton was part of the process from the beginning. Now, he works with Edgar Lopez to bring a two-man puppet to life. “We wanted to do a child- hood fantasy,” he said. “We thought it would be fun to get inside a child’s mind.” Puppets were inspired by traditional Japanese bun- raku theater. In the play, Frankie takes the audience on six adven- tures, inspired by various things found inside her giant toy box. Actors wear masks and use puppets to illustrate the parts — no lines are spo- ken by the actors. Instead, recordings and music help tell the story. “No one says anything,” said Natalie Piper, assistant director and Western senior. “ No o n e m a k e s v o c a l sounds.” It made the audition tricky because actors were judged on how well they could express a situation physically, Piper said. Stu- dents were cast based on how clear their movements were to understand what they were doing. Fo r St a r r, p l a y i n g a masked child has been a challenge for a number of reasons, not the least of which is restricted vision. “It’s super crazy and weird because I’ve got this much vision,” she said, making cir- cles with her thumb and fin- gers and holding them up to her eyes. “And it’s very phys- ical, and so much different than anything I’ve ever done.” The other big challenge was playing and moving like an 8-year-old child, Starr said. “Frankie’s” is a family friendly play, and on pur- pose. Starr and Thornton agree writing a play the whole family could enjoy was part of the goals from the beginning. “It’s not a children’s show,” Piper said. “But everyone, all ages should enjoy it. There are things that I still think are funny.” Because it’s a devised piece, the actors and direc- tor Michael Phelps are still working things out together, Thornton said. “Phelps is good at finding the little things that make people laugh, because they make us laugh, and we want to share that joy,” he said. Childhood Dreamland What: Frankie’s Flights of Fancy, produced by West- ern Oregon University’s De- partment of Theatre and Dance. Where: Western Oregon University’s Rice Auditorium. When: Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (today) through Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee showing on Saturday. Admission: $12 general; $7 students; $10 seniors. For more information: 503-838-8461. CORVALLIS — Oregon State University will hold its 146th commencement on June 13 in Reser Stadium. Here are the local members of the OSU Class of 2015: Dallas: Niccolle L. Breeden, Bachelor of Science, botany; Crystal L. Chrisman, Bachelor of Science, accountancy; Corey J. Crook, Bachelor of Science, psychology; Christopher R. DeMara, Bachelor of Science, finance, Bachelor of Science, accountancy; Natalie N. Eriksen, Bachelor of Science, psychology; Thomas W. Guffey, Bach- elor of Science, civil engineering; Erica L. Kreiley, Bachelor of Sci- ence, exercise and sport science; Kevin B. Locke, Bachelor of Sci- ence, recreation resource management; Sidney E. Mulder, Bache- lor of Science, natural resources; Glen D. Nicol, Bachelor of Sci- ence, Magna Cum Laude, computer science; Andrew J. Pfau, Bach- elor of Science, Magna Cum Laude, chemical engineering; Mitchell J. Senger, Bachelor of Science, Cum Laude, physics. Grand Ronde: Elyssa S. Akers, Bachelor of Science, merchan- dising management. Independence: Pedro Baÿuelos, Master of Arts in interdiscipli- nary studies, ethnic studies, ethnic studies, ethnic studies (not sure why this is repeated three times); Gene T. Biggs, Bachelor of Science, public health; Eduardo Campos, Bachelor of Arts, digital communication arts; Meranda D. Caulfield, Bachelor of Science, management; Alisha R. Jones, Master of Public Policy, public pol- icy; Miranda L. King, Bachelor of Science, human development and family sciences; Terra D. La’Gere, Bachelor of Science, an- thropology; Kaitlyn E. Mason, Bachelor of Science, exercise and sport science; Kaitlyn N. Muller, Master of Public Health, public health; Michaela A. Nichols, Bachelor of Science, public health; Jessica A. Schwarz, Bachelor of Science, human development and family sciences; Samuel A. Sprague, Bachelor of Science, economics; Andrew M. Tanner, Master of Science, public policy; Cody J. White, Master of Business Administration, business ad- ministration; Olivia M. Zuercher, Bachelor of Arts, English. Monmouth: Merrie-Chris S. Agag, Bachelor of Science, human development and family sciences; Michael L. Brewster, Bachelor of Science, computer science; Derek A. Burbank, Bachelor of Sci- ence, agricultural sciences, Master of Science, agricultural educa- tion; Keri R. Clarkson, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, veterinary medicine - DVM; James M. Dolciamore, Master of Natural Re- sources, natural resources; Kate M. Fitzgerald, Bachelor of Sci- ence, natural resources; Natalie J. Gordon, Bachelor of Arts, soci- ology; Ralph Kaman, Bachelor of Science, economics; Katherine A. Keuneke, Bachelor of Science, interior design; Ivan E. Kuletz, Master of Public Policy, public policy; Margaret F. Malloy, Doctor of Philosophy, public health; Christine H. McDowell, Bachelor of Science, microbiology; Curtis J. Minks, Bachelor of Science, digi- tal communication arts; Trenton A. Nettles, Master of Science, college student services administration; Matthew J. Osborn, Bachelor of Science, civil engineering; Nicholas A. Silva, Honors Bachelor of Science, Cum Laude, chemical engineering, Honors Bachelor of Science, Cum Laude, sustainability; Peter J. Teague, Bachelor of Science, Magna Cum Laude, civil engineering; Samuel T. Thompson, Bachelor of Science, psychology; Emily J. Uhrig, Doctor of Philosophy, zoology; Hawkeye C. Von Hoffman, Bachelor of Arts, history; Ryan F. Wruck, Bachelor of Science, lib- eral studies; Logan M. Yliniemi, Doctor of Philosophy, mechani- cal engineering. Rickreall: Angela J. Porter, Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, edu- cation, Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, liberal Sstudies; Audrey R. Regan, Bachelor of Arts, English. Roberson graduates from MIT CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Daniel Roberson, a graduate of Dallas High School’s Class of 2003, is graduating from MIT (Massachu- setts Institute of Technology) on June 4, with two degrees, Mas- ter of Science in aeronautics and astronautics and Master of business administration. After graduation, Roberson will return to work as an engineer with Boeing.