April 28, 2025
For decades, the theater nestled on the second floor of Old Main was more than just a stage - it was a space where students developed friendships (and some marriages), created art, and left a lasting mark, both figuratively and literally. Hidden behind the curtains, tucked into the walls of the backstage area, were the names of countless performers, scrawled in marker, a quiet testament to the history of the space.
Soon, that space will be reborn. As part of a larger Old Main renovation project at Mayville State University, the beloved but aging theater is being transformed into a modern performance space in a way that will honor the past while embracing the future.
For Bob Sylskar, MSU’s Director of Theater, the change is deeply personal. A student performer in the early 1980s, a returning faculty member starting in the early 1990s, and the leader who has shaped the theater program for the past 30 years, Sylskar has lived the theater’s history from both sides of the curtain.
“I felt a huge connection with the facility as soon as I got here,” Sylskar said. “I was familiar with the space and knew the traditions, history, and people who performed there.”
The theater was not included in the original design for Old Main. When the building was built in the 1890s, the space that most recently housed the theater began as an assembly hall with a vaulted ceiling. It was converted into a theater years later. While it served its purpose for generations of students and performers, the second-floor location was far from ideal and presented both acoustic and logistical challenges. With limited wing space, a backstage with a tight, spiral staircase, and outdated lighting and sound capabilities, the time had come for a new chapter.
But despite its quirks, the old theater was cherished.
“There was something about that backstage that was so fun,” recalled alum Anthony Strand, who graduated from MSU in 2007. “There was the spiral staircase where we’d go up to the third floor to get makeup done for the show, and the makeup person was my grandma Helen’s neighbor.”
Others remember the quiet moments: the anticipation of waiting in the wings, the camaraderie of late-night set builds, and the thrill of seeing their name added to the walls backstage alongside past generations of performers.
Anthony Strand’s brother Derrick Strand graduated from MSU this past December after returning to finish his degree at 40 years old. He took an independent study class and helped Sylskar tear down a set.
“I wandered around backstage and loved seeing the names of people from plays over the years,” Derrick Strand explained. “I saw my brother Anthony’s name on there, signed on the wall, and it was unique to see that history.”
In the renovated Old Main, the relocation of the theater to the lower level marks a dramatic improvement, not only in the technical capabilities, but also in its accessibility and functionality. No longer tucked away on the second floor, the new space will be seamlessly integrated into campus life, located near the building’s central lobby.
The newly designed theater will be more than a home for MSU theater and music performers. It will also serve as a versatile space for lectures, presentations, and cultural events.
Foss Architecture + Interiors, based in Fargo, has been working with MSU on the Old Main renovation and solicited feedback from the community about the features they wanted in the new design, including the theater. Sylskar made his own suggestions and believes the new lower level location will be even better, while maintaining an intimate experience with a 150-seat capacity.
Adam Peterson, who has been working on the project for Foss Architecture, explained that accessibility and functionality were the priorities for MSU in the Old Main renovation. The new theater design will feature state-of-the-art updates, including:
- Enhanced theatrical rigging, acoustics, and lighting and sound control with a dedicated sound booth
- Flexibility for performances, lectures, and multimedia presentations
- Digital projection capabilities to create immersive stage designs
- A taller stage and improved curtain setup
- Expanded backstage space, including stage-level dressing rooms and better loading access
- ADA-compliant seating and sloped flooring for improved sightlines
For Sylskar, these updates will not only modernize the theater but also preserve what made it special.
“There have been many teachers at MSU through the years with a great tradition of carrying on the theater arts,” he said. “It was more than just the students and faculty, but people from the high school and broader community as well, which makes it unique.”
One notable name is Christopher Jones - included in the MSU Performing Arts Hall of Fame - who wrote plays and was the college’s theater director from 1966-1986. Sylskar was a student of his in the early 1980s. Through the years, Jones undertook renovations in the space to make it more flexible.
Alum Myrna Lyng, as well as her son, John (also a Mayville State graduate), were involved in the theater. She still fondly remembers the hilarity, tensions, and gratifications of being part of theatrical productions. Greta Paschke, a big part of the theater family who passed away a few years ago, was always Sylskar’s partner in producing musicals. When pianist Kathy Baldock joined them, they were like the three musketeers working hard and having fun with their cast members.
MSU’s theater program also receives ongoing support from Mayville residents. Local businesses have offered their support through the years, from donations to purchasing supplies such as paint at the hardware store to lumber from the lumberyard to help build sets.
There are preliminary plans to host an alumni performance to celebrate the grand opening of the new theater. It would be a way to bridge the past with the future and bring former performers back to the place that meant so much to them. With all kinds of people doing productions in the theater through the years, it was - and will continue to be - a fulfilling place to work on art, relationships, and memories.
From the students who first stepped onto its stage to the next generation of performers who will take their bows in the newly renovated space, the MSU Old Main theater has always been more than just a stage. It’s been a home. And now, it’s ready for its next act.
Any Mayville State Theater alumni who would like to help plan or participate in the special grand opening event should contact Bob Sylskar at robert.sylskar@mayvillestate.edu. Initial ideas for the event include a variety show format featuring scenes from past shows, songs from musicals that have been performed, dramatic monologues, or whatever people may suggest. It will be an exciting venture!
See more about the Old Main renovation project at www.mayvillestate.edu/oldmain.
