InTouch with Southern Kentucky March 2020 | Page 13
“The process has
certainly been
invigorating. The role
of Guildenstern is
perhaps the largest role
I’ve ever had, in terms
of line load, so it was a
challenge for this
rusty old actor.”
Steve Cleberg
“Jade is one of the best directors
with who I have ever worked,” he
added. “She is certainly better than
I am. What a gratifying experience
to have a former student surpass
you. A teacher can’t help but feel
optimistic about the future when
that happens.”
That’s high praise, but it will be
hard to surpass Cleberg, certainly
at SCC where he is wrapping up a
stay of 34 years. He arrived in 1986
— “with my family in tow,” he noted
— from his home state of South
Dakota. There wasn’t much a cultur-
al shock, he said, as both are rural
areas, and he found it easy to make
himself at home in Pulaski County.
One of his most enduring legacies
was the “Radio Suspense Theatre”
series. While Cleberg certainly did
his share of classic plays, he also
created his own unique innovation,
which transported audiences into
the 1930s and ‘40s world of old-
time radio dramas. The production
would introduce the cast through a
series of backstage mini-plots, and
then see them step up to the mic
and read from scripts the type of
chilling mysteries once common
entertainment in the era before
television. Cleberg staged several
“episodes” of this series, and even-
tually got it published — now, the-
atre groups and schools all over the
country are doing “Radio Suspense
M arch 2020
Theatre” shows, something which
started right here in Somerset, Ky.
Cleberg’s final fall show, usually
the biggest of the school year, took
place last November — and so ap-
propriately, it was titled “Radio Sus-
pense Theatre: The Final Episode.”
The characters prepared to move
on in a changing world, and with it
being the curtain call for Cleberg
himself, the atmosphere surround-
ing the production felt especially
poignant.
“The experience was surreal, to
say the least,” said Cleberg. “I’ve
done revivals before but this one
brought John Alexander back to the
role of Morty (Alexander was the ac-
tor who originated the role) as well
as others. I also was able to cast
students from my Theatre class.
The mixture of past and present
permeated the process.
“During one performance I came
down the stairs from my observa-
tion spot like I always do only this
time the audience and cast applaud-
ed,” he added. “I’m not one for
public shows of emotion but that
got to me.”
Of course, Cleberg isn’t going to
just fade away. Even in retirement,
he’s looking to stay connected to
his passion for the theatrical arts.
“I plan to finish a one man show
that I began as a college student
entitled, ‘Burbage: Shakespeare’s
Leading Actor,’” said Cleberg. “The
premise: It’s three months after
Shakespeare’s death and his leading
actor, who originated the roles of
Richard the Third, Hamlet, Othello,
MacBeth and King Lear takes to the
stage to perform a tribute to his
friend, in fear that he will fall into
obscurity. There are many great
stories to be told about how the-
atre evolved during this time. It will
also be fun to have this character
demonstrate how Shakespeare was
a poet who wrote for the theatre.”
Cleberg also plans on finishing a
book that has been in the makings
for over 40 years outlining a tech-
nique for line memorization, and,
naturally spending quality time with
his children and grandkids.
In a sense though, all of Cleberg’s
students and actors over the years
have been his children — born from
a director’s mind and brought to life
on the stage. It’s been a rich career
for Cleberg, and it’s hard for him
to single out any one aspect that
belongs in the spotlight.
“I think it’s fair to say that there
isn’t a single most meaningful part.
It’s all been meaningful,” he said.
“I guess I would say that all the
extraordinary people with whom I
have worked will always provide my
most profound memories.”
I n T ouch with S outhern K entucky • 13