UWL alumni and former professors reunite in local theatre production, “Small Mouth Sounds”

UWL alumni and former professors reunite in local theatre production, "Small Mouth Sounds"

Among the cast of Grey Area Productions' "Small Mouth Sounds," a reunion of UW-La Crosse alumni and retirees is happening behind the scenes.

Tracie Banning, '23, joins her former theatre professors, Joe Anderson and Mary Leonard, on stage - bringing a lifetime of experience, mutual respect and love for theatre.

Banning started her theatre degree at UWL in 1988, the same time Anderson and Leonard began teaching in UWL's Theatre Department, now the Department of Theatre & Dance, fresh out of graduate school.

"Tracie was a 20-something student, and we were 20-something faculty," says Anderson, who recently retired from UWL. "I was impressed with her acting ability from the first time I worked with her on a production of 'Pal Joey.'"

Banning left UWL to pursue her career, allowing her to gain experience as an actor in New York and Minneapolis. Three decades later, Banning returned to UWL to finish the degree she had started.

"When she returned to us, she brought with her not only considerable theatrical experience, but also a large cache of life experience," Anderson says. "A student returning after 30 years to complete her degree has a much different intention and focus. I was thrilled I was able to be there to complete my career as faculty, as she completed hers as a student."

Leonard, who retired from UWL in 2023, agrees.

"I know that coming back to school so many years later has its share of difficulties, but Tracie persevered and made many wonderful contributions to our department."

Banning is not the only UWL graduate who has reunited with Leonard and Anderson through "Small Mouth Sounds."

"I am surrounded by my former students on this production," Leonard says. "Both the director, Adam Petchel, and fellow actor and Grey Area Productions co-founder, Colin Thelen, are UWL theatre alumni. I am honored to be working with such talented and creative people and couldn't be more proud to have been a part of their journey in theatre."

In addition to being surrounded by former students, Anderson and Leonard are excited to be acting in a production together again.

"The last time we worked together as performers was a production of "Bye Bye Birdie" playing Rosie and Albert at a small theatre in St. Paul," Anderson says. "We've both grown artistically and personally, as you can imagine."

Leonard describes the play "Small Mouth Sounds" as unique: full of humor and sadness, vulnerability and confusion.

"I hope the audience is able to reflect on how what we don't say is just as important as what we do say and how we say it (or don't)," Banning says. "And if you have the opportunity to tell someone something that may make you feel vulnerable or scared, don't lose the opportunity before you lose them."

See Anderson, Banning and Leonard in "Small Mouth Sounds."