2008 Woodie Awards
MSU Theatre student wins award
by Jaime Killion
Issue date: 2/5/08
Section: Theater and Dance
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The last time a Minnesota State student claimed this honor was in 1997. The honor places Kronlokken as one of the top 16 student actors in the country.
"I totally made the Miss America face when I won," Kronlokken said. "I thought I was going to faint."
Kronlokken, a North Mankato native, has been interested in theater for as long as he can remember. The first show he remembers seeing at MSU was "The Wizard of Oz," when he was three.
"I remember being petrified of the witch because she was real on the stage," he said. "I've also always liked singing. I loved watching movies and I wanted to do what they (the actors) did."
Kronlokken's first MSU production was Highland Summer Theatre's "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in 1998. This summer's productions will mark his 10th year in the program.
Kronlokken, his partner Katie Moeller and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers directing winner Heather Folsom have all been invited to participate in the National Festival this April at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Kronlokken and Moeller will perform a three-minute scene from the play "Dog Sees God" by Bert V. Royal and a two-minute scene from the musical "Spring Awakening." Kronlokken will then perform a one-minute monologue from the play "Still Life."
"We have so much talent in the program," he said. "Everyone from the department has been so supportive and genuinely happy."
Kronlokken said his most memorable role at MSU was playing CB in last semester's production of "Dog Sees God." This semester's production of "Hamlet," however, is quickly climbing his list.
"Playing Horatio has been an incredible experience," he said. "To play a role that is so well known and to say such famous lines that everyone knows, such as 'Good night, sweet prince,' is really great."
Kronlokken credits Meryl Streep as one of his acting role models, but he challenges anyone to find an actor who isn't inspired by her. His other favorite actors include Clive Owen, James McAvoy, Jimmy Stewart and Dick Van Dyke.
Pretending is Kronlokken's favorite part about acting. "I like having an effect on people's emotions," he said. "If I can get someone to cry, I've done an okay job. People can fake laughter, but why would you fake crying? That's touching someone's life, and that is really cool."
Jaime Killion is a Reporter staff writer
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