By Emerson Clarridge

Sophomore Julia Cutler spent weeks in rigorous rehearsals preparing for her lead role in a student production of Alice in Wonderland. Her parents were even making plans to drive six hours to see her perform.

Two days before she was to take the stage in her first role at the University, Cutler’s excitement turned to shock when she learned with the rest of the cast that their show had been shut down.

The chairman of the University’s drama department decided the Spectrum Players production would not go on because they had trashed the theater they were working in.

The University’s fire safety coordinator discovered numerous safety violations in Spiegel Theatre. The code violations, which included hanging Christmas lights, led officials from the University’s drama department to inspect the theater.

They found the group had painted the stage and architectural walls of the theatre without consulting anyone from the department, said James Kolb, the department chairman who also serves as the group’s advisor.

Kolb decided to shut down the show after he determined the group had committed, “a series of violations that created serious problems for the University.”

Allan Pittman, the University’s director of theater facilities, said that what the students did could be considered vandalism.

The students spilled paint on carpet that had recently been installed in the theater, Pittman said.

Students said Kolb’s decision to abruptly shut down the production two days before it was supposed to open was a step too far.

“I was pretty disappointed in the department,” said Cutler, who would’ve played Alice. “I don’t think it was the correct punishment.”

Cutler said the group quickly tried to correct the code violations by re-painting the stage and removing the lights.

Senior Matt Woods, the show’s director, said Kolb did an inadequate job supervising the group’s work, and said the cast was caught off guard.

“He [hadn’t] asked us anything,” Woods said of Kolb’s involvement in rehearsals.

Woods said he had been working closely with the drama department’s lighting crew and that it had approved Spectrum’s plans. He said Kolb’s decision meant their work had been, “shot to hell two days before we were to open.”

Kolb said he regretted that the actors were disappointed but that he wanted to, “send a message that you cannot subvert the rules.”

Spectrum’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ was called off.