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Show Colorado actor pedals to festival annually It was not entirely economy that prompted Richard Ike) Albers to ride his ten-speed bicycle from Grand Junction, Colorado to Cedar City, Utah, a distance of 360 miles, to participate in the Utah Shakespearean Festival. It was habit and a challenge. MrAlbers has riden his bike, or walked, almost everywhere for the last two years. "It began as a health measure," he said, "but now I truly eniov it " Intensive exercise became a part of of Ike's life at about the same time he began to think seriously about becoming a professional actor. "Acting makes enormous demands on a person and good physical conditioning is essential," he said. Ike is a native of Plain-field, New Jersey, and an agriculture graduate of Rutgers University. He began his vocational career as a cattle buyer for a large midwestern meat packer. It was while working in Fort Dodge, Iowa, that he became interested in drama through participation in community theatre. Ike entered "show business" through radio and television when he became a news correspondent for the WMT stations in Fort Dodge and later in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, continuing his work in community theatre there. He later moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, as legislative and political reporter for KSTP-TV. He embarked on still another phase of his career as manager of the 1970 election campaign of Duluth mayor Ben Boo, a candidate aspiring to be Minnesota Lieutenant Governor "Unfortunately, our man lost," Albers said, "so it was IKHAI.IIKHS necessary for me to find another job." The job he found was in Grand Junction, Colorado, where he became affiliated with Ankony Angus Corporation, a large cattle breeding concern, as director of advertising and marketing. He also resumed his acting performing with the Colorado West Players in numerous roles, including Henry in A LION IN WINTER. In 1973 Ike joined KREX radio and televison in Grand Junction as a news announcer and salesman. Last year Mr. Albers participated in the Mesa College summer theatre program in Grand Junction, later enrolling as a drama student with a full load of courses though continuing his full time employment in broadcasting. He performed in Chekhov's THE THREE SISTERS, for which he was nominated for the Irene Ryan Acting Award offered annually to outstanding drama students by the American Collece Theatre Assocation. Ik alto played roles in OKLAHOMA, CAROUSEL, SABRINA PHILADELPHIA. HERE I COME. He became aware of the Utah Shakespearean Festival last winter when he participated in auditions for the University Resident Threatre Association (UTRA). Professor Fred Adams, founding producer of the Festival, and a URTA judge, "encouraged me to apply for the Festival company," Mr. Albers said. "I sent in my application, then sweat it out for a couple of months. I was elated to be accepted." Ike's Festival roles include Titus Lartius in CORIOLANUS. Montague in ROMEO AND JULIET, and Vincentio in TAMING OF THE SHREW. He considers his experience with the Festival to be extremely valuable in furthering his career. "Mere association with a company of this caliber-actors, directors, designers, everyone," he said, "is an education in itself. Coupled with the more formal akpects-movement, vocal and fencing in-struction-the total program becomes a rewarding and enriching one indeed." As for the future Albers said, "The options are open I'm exploring a number of avenues." Whatever develops, the theatre seems destined to play a role. Alberts, 47, has been a widower since 1968. He has three children: Robert, 20, now serving with the V S. Marine Corps in North Carolina; Steve, 18, planning to enter Mesa College in Grand Junction in the fall, and Beth, 15, spending the summer with friends in Grand Junction. |