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Talen was a gentle Bob Cratchit in UW-L’s “A Christmas Carol” last year, a charismatic Harold Hill in “The Music Man,” a master of comic timing as one of six strippers in “The Full Monty.”
UW-L student Ali Close, who played so many roles opposite Talen she referred to him as her “stage husband,” recalled the final scene of “Metamorphoses” with him her freshman year. She would lay her head on Talen’s shoulder and look up at him as the lights dimmed. Then in the darkness, he would squeeze her hand and say “good job,” Close said.
When the group performed “Metamorphoses” at the national Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, “he squeezed my hand so hard ... He loved what he was doing and who he was doing it with,” Close said.
The 23-year-old from Plymouth, Wis., had taken the fall semester off from UW-L but recently had indicated he planned to return for spring classes, said UW-L theater faculty member Mary Leonard.
Talen shined in every role he played, said Leonard, who directed him in several plays.
“He was just a really good-hearted, kind and gentle, playful human being,” she said.
UW-L student Amanda Grimsled, who also had acted with Talen since they were freshmen, said he was easygoing and a master of improv.
“He would never go too far away from the script or what was rehearsed to throw you off, but always enough that it was fresh, exciting and fun,” she said.
Talen was a talented actor with a good combination of a “happy-go-lucky style along with a sincere conscientious attitude about his roles,” said Beth Cherne, interim chairwoman of the theater arts department.
Talen had been part of UW-L’s “theater family” since 2003, said Cherne. “He is really near and dear to our hearts and our hearts go out to his family,” she said.
Talen’s other memorable UW-L performances included “The Laramie Project,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Amadeus” “Crimes of the Heart,” “The Cherry Orchard,” “Evita,” “bobrauschenbergamerica” and “Nickel and Dimed.”
Close said it would be difficult to continue preparing for the Nov. 30 opening of “Inspecting Carol,” but Talen would say, “the show must go on.” The production will be dedicated to Talen.
“He wouldn’t want us to sit and dwell on it,” said Grimsled. “He would want us to take a cue from him and have fun.”
KJ Lang can be reached at (608) 791-8226 or klang@lacrossetribune.com.
