Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 10880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           985/549-2341/fax 985-549-2061
    Date: 03/11/02
      Contact:                           Angey Saucier   98

Editors: Photo accompanies release
DESIGNERS FIND SIMPLICITY IN "TARTUFFE"
     HAMMOND -- To Southeastern Louisiana University's Opera-Music Theatre Program's
production of "Tartuffe," set designer John Hecker and lighting designer Michael Batt are mood
setters, interpreters, and visionaries. To Hecker and Batt, "Tartuffe" is another much anticipated
challenge in their on-going love affair with the theatre.
     Hecker, a former Tulane University technical director, and Batt, who currently holds that
job, are the guest set and lighting designers for Southeastern's March 20-23 production of
"Tartuffe," an opera based on French playwright Moliere's biting satire. Hecker has worked with
Opera-Music Theatre producer  Scharmal Schrock on past productions and Batt has collaborated
with the show's director, Larry Gray, on productions at Tulane and the New Orleans
Contemporary Arts Center.
     Upon accepting Schrock's invitations, Batt and Hecker took up a new challenge.
     "Sets have to portray a purpose, status and mood," said Hecker. In a show opera classic
such as "Tartuffe," the challenge, he said, "was to come up with something not solid, but instead 
suggestive, two-dimensional and supportive, which does not overshadow the power and beauty
of the music and actors." 
     According to Batt, "Tartuffe" is typical of the post-Shakespearian plays of the mid to late
1700s. It takes place in 17th century Paris at a sumptuous home where the occupants lead double
lives and pure sin is prevalent. Action and ambiguity overlap and there are  no set changes from
curtain rise to fall.
     "We have to accommodate all these aspects into a great setting -- and we do not have
much time to do it," he said. "Timing is everything in this production, if you lose it, you lose
important aspects."
     While Batt and Hecker face many challenges in their crucial behind-the-scenes work, they
see those challenges as learning processes. Despite successes and failures, upsets and distresses,
they are always hungry for more.
     "Theatre is like a drug to an addict. You have to do it once you are hooked," said Batt,
who is performing his duties while on vacation from Tulane. "It's hard to say no, you want to
keep exploring, you want to get better and better."
     "The theatre always opens on time regardless of what you see wrong or right as a
designer," said Hecker. "And regardless of what goes right and what goes wrong, I always want
to come back, because I get more satisfaction out of theatre than any other creative process."
     Hecker is a resident of Hammond and in four years has worked with Southeastern's
Opera-Music Theatre as a carpenter and set designer. Batt has worked with the Contemporary
Arts Center for more than 11 years and has served as technical director at Tulane for the past
four.
     Hecker and Batt's finished work can be seen in "Tartuffe" nightly at 7:30 p.m. in Pottle
Music Building Auditorium. Tickets are $10, general admission. Southeastern students are
admitted free with their university I.D. Discount tickets of $5 are available to high school
students, also with I.D.
     For additional information on "Tartuffe," call Southeastern's Music and Dramatic Arts
Department at 985-549-2184.
                             -SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu/news/spring02.html