As the curtain falls on the UNK Theatre Department, Alex Ladely’s passion for the spotlight still shines. The UNK junior, majoring in theatre and criminal justice, never anticipated his time on the stage shaping his college experience.
What started as a simple decision to join the costume crew after taking an Intro to Theatre class, unexpectedly turned into a passion that reshaped his future.
“Theater has just opened up a lot for me because usually I’m a very reserved and quiet person,” Ladely said. “It kind of threw a wrench in everything else I was planning on doing with how passionate I realized I was about it and how much I enjoyed doing it. It has become mainly my sole focus with college and anything else in life.”
Ladely’s favorite production was, “A Fox on the Fairway.” In the fast-paced country club comedy, he was cast as Bingham, a club manager who does whatever it takes to win. This not only marked Ladely’s first major role but won him an Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship, which allowed him to compete in Des Moines at the regional festival. The Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship recognizes and honors exceptional student performers.
“It was just a lot of fun being on the main stage in a very high-paced comedy with a great director, and cast and crew,” Ladely said.
Due to the University budget cuts, the Theatre Department will close at the end of the spring semester.
Sharon Campbell, chair of the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance, said that many community members who haven’t attended a show recently might not understand the impact of what it means for the community to lose the department.
“If they are going to shows at Crane River Theater or Kearney Community Theater, they’re seeing actors who have come up through our program,” Campbell said. “They’re also seeing technical theater that was instructed through our program. It’s a loss to those other organizations and all kinds of venues, churches, and convention centers, to not have people who are trained in a theatrical way for sound and lighting. It’s also a loss to professions not to have people who have learned the skills of stage management or directing.”
Just as Ladely found his footing, he had to face reality.
“Seeing the Theatre Department listed as one of the first majors being cut was devastating because I had just been a part of that world for about seven months,” Ladely said. “To see what had opened me up to so much here on campus immediately, I feel like it was being taken away from me. It sucked.”
Lainey Schmeits, senior, and student director of “Deathtrap,” said Ladely came into the theater as a newcomer but quickly became an asset to each production.
“Having him in “Deathtrap,” rehearsals was always nice because I knew I could count on him to give me feedback,” Schmeits said. “However, I also knew that he respected me as a director and his fellow cast members and crew. He’s not scared to say what he’s thinking yet respectful of everyone else around him. Because it’s a creative, collaborative process.”
Ladely’s impact extends beyond the department — it has left a lasting mark on Schmeits as well.
“He really didn’t start doing theater until college, and now I think it’s one of his biggest passions,” Schmeits said. “I think learning from him, you can go from trying something out, not knowing if you like it, to loving it. He’s gone so far in the past two years and seeing the tremendous amount of growth, he’s definitely taught me how to persevere through stuff. If he puts his mind to something, he’s gonna do it, and that’s really inspiring to me.”
Determined to pursue his passion, Ladely is considering transferring. Despite the challenges of the industry, he hopes to make the most of every opportunity.
Though he may soon leave UNK, the show must go on.
“Thank you so much to everyone I’ve met who’s helped me grow into a better person,” Ladely said. “I wouldn’t be the same person if I hadn’t found theater. I have made a lot of friends through theater, and it’s gonna suck saying goodbye in May.”
