Mount Marty Professor Joins 50-State Theatre Tour

When Andrew Henrickson, associate professor of speech and theatre and director of theatre at Mount Marty University, received an email to be part of writer and director Charles Evered’s “Adopt a Sailor” 50-state tour, he jumped at the chance. “A month ago, I received a blanket email from the playwright, Charles Evered, promoting the 50-state play tour of his work ‘Adopt a Sailor.’ I said, ‘I know this guy!’ and replied.”

Henrickson is familiar with Evered’s work. Twenty years ago, Mount Marty put on one of his productions titled “Wilderness of Mirrors,” and Evered attended the Yankton performance. “I invited Charles to campus for the production—and he accepted! I remember he flew into Sioux Falls, and we had a wonderful conversation. It was his first time in South Dakota, and he was amazed by the wide-open spaces.” 

Now, Henrickson is excited to be part of Evered’s project. The tour’s goal is to raise awareness for the Evered House, a non-profit arts residency for veterans, first responders and conflict workers. The tour’s last presentation will be at the Evered House in Virginia where the site of the residency is. At this last presentation, a professional film will celebrate the nationwide project, showing photos from each performance across the country.

For Henrickson’s presentation, his wife Teresa, Andrew Peitz ‘22 and Riley Theroes ‘26 will read the 20-minute play at Muddy Mo’s Coffee House in Yankton at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10. All are welcome to attend and support awareness of the Evered House program. 

“I’m excited to give ‘Adopt a Sailor’ a reading and very appreciative of the support of Bernie and Katie Hunhoff at Muddy Mo’s for opening the space for this to happen,” said Henrickson. “My hopes are to have more opportunities for these types of events for our students and community.”

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ABOUT MOUNT MARTY UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1936 by the Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery, Mount Marty University is South Dakota's only Catholic institution of higher education. Located along the bluffs of the Missouri River in Yankton, with additional locations in Watertown and Sioux Falls, Mount Marty offers undergraduate and graduate degrees focusing on student and alumni success in high-demand fields such as health sciences, education, criminal justice, business, accounting, and more. A community of learners in the Benedictine tradition, Mount Marty emphasizes academic excellence and develops well-rounded students with intellectual competence, professional and personal skills and moral, spiritual and social values. To learn more, visit mountmarty.edu.