Green Bay, Wis.— UW‑Green Bay Theatre & Dance invites the community to experience the debut workshop production of an original new musical, Dr. Bellboy and the Energy Vampire, on February 20-21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Jean Weidner Theatre inside The Weidner.
The musical places student artists at the center of the creative process, reflecting the University’s commitment to making the arts accessible to all UW‑Green Bay students, regardless of major or prior experience.
Created by UW-Green Bay’s Professor Thomas Campbell (Chair, Theatre & Dance,) Associate Lecturer and composer Ben Olejniczak and directed by UW-Green Bay Associate Prof. Rebecca Stone Thornberry, Dr. Bellboy and the Energy Vampire demonstrates how UW‑Green Bay continues to welcome students from across the University into meaningful, hands‑on creative work. This year’s workshop cast and crew includes 11 student collaborators from a range of degree programs—from Music and English to Psychology, Social Work, Education and more:
Performers:
- Mack Coy, Sophomore – Music
- Ben Hanson, Senior – Theatre & Music
- Molly Ignatowski, Freshman – English; Music (with Theatre minor)
- Shawn Lemke, Junior – Psychology
- Kayley McLain, Junior – Theatre & Psychology
- Laurana Mines, Freshman – Pre‑Elementary Education
- Ethan Schuelke, Junior – Theatre
- Abbie Williams, Junior – Pre‑Social Work; Theatre & Dance minors
Stage Managers:
- Katherine McAdaragh, Junior – Theatre & Psychology
- Julia Carley, Sophomore – Psychology (with Theatre minor)
Sound Designer:
- Cole Williams, Junior – Music (with Theatre minor)
Nearly all participating students have contributed to previous Theatre & Dance productions, strengthening an ongoing culture of applied learning, mentorship and collaboration.
High‑Impact Learning, Real‑World Experience
Workshop productions are a key component of the development of new theatrical works. During the rehearsal process, students collaborate directly with faculty creators to test scenes, adjust dialogue, refine music and shape the work in real time, creating an experience few undergraduates receive.
Following performances, audiences are invited to participate in a talkback session, offering direct feedback that informs the next stage of the musical’s development. Although practiced at select institutions—Carthage College being one Wisconsin example—this kind of workshop creation is uncommon at the undergraduate level, giving UW‑Green Bay students a distinctive professional advantage.
“These productions give students a front‑row seat to the artistic process,” said Stone Thornberry. “They learn how creative decisions are made, how to adapt, how to communicate and how to collaborate. Those skills are valuable not only in the arts but in every professional field.”
Learning Soft Skills Employers Want and Built Through the Arts
Participation in theatre productions consistently strengthens the competencies employers most frequently request:
- Collaboration & teamwork
- Creative problem‑solving
- Communication & public speaking
- Adaptability and resilience
- Project management and leadership
By opening productions to students of all majors, UW‑Green Bay ensures broad access to these high‑demand skills while enriching the creative community and honoring a decades‑long tradition of inclusive arts engagement.
Dr. Bellboy and the Energy Vampire follows a despondent bell attendant confronting ghosts—real and metaphorical—after a sinister new force disrupts a storied New York City hotel. The workshop premiere is part of World Premiere Wisconsin, a statewide celebration of original theatrical works throughout 2026.
Tickets and additional event information can be found at The Weidner website.
About UW-Green Bay
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is a school of resilient problem solvers who dare to reach higher with the power of education that ignites growth and answers the biggest challenges. Serving 11,500 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students as well as 100,000 continuing education learners annually, UW-Green Bay offers 200 academic degrees, programs, and certificates. With campuses in Green Bay, Manitowoc and Sheboygan, and a theatre in Marinette, the University’s access mission welcomes all students who want to learn, from every corner of the world. Championing bold thinking since opening its doors in 1965, it is a university on the rise – Wisconsin’s fastest growing UW. For more information, visit www.uwgb.edu.
