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At 55, Breitsprecher Accepted 
by Students As Stage Peer

WHITEWATER -- At first glance, just as you enter the stage under the soft lights in Barnett Theatre, he looks like the work of a superb makeup artist.

But wait.  As you edge closer you notice that the gray whiskers curling around his mouth and chin are not attached, but growing.  He's no regular college student, but a middle-aged man, the only one in a group of 18 to 22-year-olds scurrying about in a last desperate attempt to memorize their lines.

He's sitting down, waiting patiently, because his lines are already printed indelibly on his brain.  But he's willing to wait, and to help.  He knows that his maturity is good for more than growing gray whiskers.  It also help when the time comes to organize a schedule, to fit in a few minutes each day so the lines are down when the first rehearsal begins.

His name if Paul Breitsprecher, and he's been appearing in plays at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for almost as long as some of his fellow actors have been around.  Right now, it's "Major Barbara," schedules to run Dec. 1-6.

But this is Paul's 19th Play at UW-Whitewater, going all the way back to 1966.  Before that, there was a wealth of experience doing community theatre, from Arlington Heights, IL., to Fort Atkinson, Wis., where he played in "My Three Angels" and directed and acted in "Arms and the Man." 

Continued from THEATRE -- Even from a distance, you can tell that Paul is the perfect model for supporting roles.  ("I don't have the physique to play leads.  You have to be tall with striking features.")  And he's played a variety of roles.  In "Major Barbara," he's a 46-year-old man named Peter Shirley, a bitter fellow who ends up getting a free meal from the Salvation Army after he loses his job, a victim of age discrimination.  He eats the free food, but hates every minute of it.

How did a reference librarian, now 55 years old, and the father of six, get involved in college theatre productions?

The seeds for Paul's hobby were sown decades ago, when he attended Northwestern University and picked up a master's in theatre.  But, surprisingly, it wasn't acting that Paul had in mind.

I was fascinated with the technical aspects of the theatre, but I couldn't act worth a damn." he says.

That all changed, of course.  Paul did his stint with the community theatres and took his present job at Andersen Library on the UW-Whitewater campus in 1966.  His work with the campus theatre productions started a short time later, and soon included some summer tent work.

Like the students at UW-Whitewater, Paul has to try out for each of his parts.  His age, and his status as a veteran actor, guarantee nothing.

Obviously, he has been successful at earning parts, and along with that satisfaction has come a chance to coach other actors as well.  

"It's been very, very rewarding," said Paul.  "I feel very grateful that they accept me as a colleague and a peer.  The students have been really great."

The coaching aspect has also been a plus for Paul's directors, including "Skip Grover.  "He's always very involved, and he works very, very hard,"

I use Paul as sort of an acting coach when he's in a play, and even when he's not," explained Sederholm.  "And his own acting ability is a great asset."

One of Paul's most interesting experiences as a campus actor came in 1977 when he toured area high schools for a full week, giving approximately 10 performances in that time span.  

He described the week as exhausting, but rewarding.

"It was the team spirit of the troupe," he said, "We were doing two performances a day in different locations.  We'd knock down, and then set up.  We'd grab a hamburger at McDonald's.  We were getting up at dawn and piling in the van..."

Paul believes that successful acting is a combination of natural talent and developed skills.  And, he adds, concentration is a must.

"The whole human being must be turned in to express the human experience that the audience will find interesting," he explained.

Paul says although the experience is sometimes missing, the student actors at UW-Whitewater have often shown considerable talent.

'm very impressed with the kind of talent Whitewater is drawing," said Paul.  "There has been a very encouraging flow of good talent."

After 19 plays at UW-Whitewater, does Paul ever think about moving into other areas?

"I have really agonized over directing," he said, "(but) pulling all of the various elements together by a certain date terrifies me.  I think playwriting would be a real challenge.  There's so much to say about humanity, and the stage is such a fine place to say it."

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Source:  Jefferson Daily County Union Files, Article by Dale Reich