‘Of Mice and Men’ coming to Lewis and Clark stage

Chances are you read the book in high school, or maybe you’ve seen one of the movie versions. But on Tuesday, you can watch a reader’s theater performance of “Of Mice and Men,” featuring a cast of well-known local actors. And you can help aspiring artists while enjoying John Steinbeck’s haunting Depression-era tale of the friendship between two California migrant workers.

The staged reading is a fundraiser for Tiger Drama’s parent group STAGE – Supporting Theater Arts Growth and Education, and donations will go to the Tiger Drama Family Scholarship fund.

When Gordon Pschirrer, father of LC drama teacher Greg Pschirrer, died in 2016, a family involved in the drama program made a generous donation to STAGE in honor of Gordon, who was a familiar face at performances.

The nonprofit organization decided to use that donation to launch the Tiger Drama Family Scholarship fund. STAGE will match donations given at this one-night-only event, up to $2,000.

“I don’t know that theater arts was anything Dad would have been involved in, but he had a kid who used a golf club as a dance prop,” said Greg Pschirrer, smiling. “I’m lucky to come from a family where both of my parents have been nothing but supportive of my artistic endeavors.”

Voice lessons, acting workshops and music instruction can be expensive. The scholarship fund will be used to help students in the pursuit of their artistic passions.

“Our hope is to add to the fund and make it self-sustaining so more kids can study their art,” Pschirrer said. “Knowing that I get to utilize all the skills and passion I learned while sitting next to my dad watching ‘The Music Man’ on PBS each year gives me the utmost feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment.”

And he wants his students to experience that kind of fulfillment, too.

Pschirrer and Tiger Drama associate director Suzanne Maguire expressed appreciation for the community at Lewis and Clark.

“Across the country, arts programs are facing devastating cuts across the board,” Maguire said. “But LC has been incredibly supportive about not just maintaining the arts, but making sure they thrive.”

In addition to enabling artistic expression, both teachers believe lessons learned in arts classrooms have lasting lifelong application.

“The skills, like collaboration and creativity (that) you practice doing theater translate to career fields and job skills people are looking for,” Maguire said.

Maguire is directing the staged reading, featuring an adult cast which includes LC staff, former teachers and community members. Pschirrer and Andrew Lewis take on the roles of Lennie and George with remaining cast including Tom Armitage, Greg Butler, Ryan Childers, Cory Davis, Andy Lang, Mark Robbins, Eric Woodard and Aubrey Shimek-Davis as Curley’s Wife.

“A staged reading is performed without sets or costumes and has minimal movement,” Maguire said. “The focus is on the dialogue.”

They’re hoping the 787-seat auditorium will be filled on the night of the performance.

“This scholarship highlights the family atmosphere we try to nurture through our department with the support of our community and family members,” Pschirrer said. “Even though I know my mom is the only one sitting in ‘their’ seats, I know my dad now has the best seat in the house. I think he’d be pleased.”