New UK professor marries theater work, academia

On the surface, LexArts' presentation of North by the troupe called for/word theatre company looks like an interesting show by a visiting company. But for/word has roots growing in Lexington.

Theater co-founder Christina Ritter moved to Lexington two years ago with her husband, Jack Schieffer, an assistant professor in the agricultural economics department at the University of Kentucky. She has been hired as a lecturer in the UK theater department.

For/word's engagement at the Downtown Arts Center through Sunday brings Ritter's two worlds together. They are worlds that she says can be a challenge to maintain simultaneously.

"You often have to choose one or the other, a professional theater life or an academic life," Ritter says. "It can be hard to maintain both.

"We want to grow, want to be around. We have a wonderful working relationship, which is why we started."

For/word was founded five years ago by Ritter and Ohio State University assistant theater professor Jennifer Schlueter, and it includes theater artists from across the country.

The name of the company is a tip-off to its modus operandi: creating works based on the writings of the subjects.

North is based on journals and other works by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, an author and the wife of aviator Charles Lindbergh, and her powerful meeting with Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of The Little Prince.

"Writing words for historic people is often complicated," Ritter says. "So we said, why not use their words? They're all smart, articulate and artists in their own right.

"It doesn't mean every word I speak was spoken by Anne Lindbergh. They could be things written by Charles, or rearranged to make a dramatic piece."

North has had one previous staging, in 2008 at the American Theater Company in Chicago.

"It's an admirable calling card for a new company dedicated to creating works that re-imagine the historical record," Chicago Tribune critic Kerry Reid wrote of that production.

Ritter says the Chicago production was an artistic success but had a hard time finding an audience in the Windy City's active theater scene, "which is why we were thrilled when LexArts called and said they wanted to do it," Ritter says.

It was further evidence of what Ritter, who has participated in a couple of shows at The Woodford Theatre in Versailles, sees as an active and open theater scene in Central Kentucky.

As the theater grows through workshops and other meetings of the artists, Ritter says, she hopes Lexington and many other communities will see more of its work.

"We all have children and other jobs," Ritter says. "But it's work we love, and we take it seriously."

This story was originally published April 7, 2011 at 10:26 AM with the headline "New UK professor marries theater work, academia."