Every year Dr. Kenn Stilson loses some of his best performers.

After going through four years of education, the seniors in Southeast Missouri State University's theater and dance department have learned the ropes, honed their skills and become some of the top performers in the entire department.

This year three senior standouts will leave the department, making room in the spotlight for the next group of up-and-coming actors and dancers.

When Nick Cutelli, Mike Culbertson and Leslie Samples take their last walk at the university Saturday it will be a bittersweet moment for the department -- a tribute to successfully educating its students and a loss of great talent.

Cutelli is probably the most recognizable face among the three graduates following his starring role last year in "Guys and Dolls" and his Benvolio in the recent, controversial "Romeo and Juliet."

Always a cut-up, his strong point is playing roles that require some humor. He can be serious when needed, but would rather let loose and have fun.

"I just like to entertain," said Cutelli. "I like to get reactions out of people. I love to make people laugh."

During his time at Southeast he got to take his Elvis impersonation to the stage in "Picasso at the Lapin Agile," flex his vocal cords in "Guys and Dolls" and go dramatic in "The Glass Menagerie."

But it was his return to musical theater as Sky Masterson in "Guys and Dolls," with the help of Judith Farris, that made the biggest impression on Cutelli.

"That was the first time I'd gotten to sing onstage by myself in a while," Cutelli said. "Working with that lady is magnificent. She will push you, and that's good, that's what I like about her."

Culbertson also has an affinity for humor.

"I really like comedy because it comes more natural to me," said Culbertson.

He's starred as Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream," the character Norman in a drama about the mentally handicapped called "The Boys Next Door" and Reverend Eddie in the dark comedy "Some Things You Need to Know Before the World Ends (A Final Evening with the Illuminati)."

Playing Norman in the serious "Boys Next Door" was his most challenging and most rewarding role, Culbertson said.

"That was the hardest thing I've ever had to do," said Culbertson, who visited group homes to research his role.

Samples experience has been vastly different from Cutelli and Culbertson. Instead of acting, she has been a standout in the area of dance, even studying last summer with the prestigious Paul Taylor Dance Company in New York.

Faculty members have sang the praises of Samples' dance abilities and choreography skills over her two years as a transfer student at Southeast.

Samples wishes she had more chances to perform on stage other than the two dance concerts the department hosts each year. Auditioning for those performances was a great learning experience that prepared her for auditions in the professional world, she said.

This summer Cutelli will study theater at the Lost Colony Theater in North Carolina, where he'll learn from experienced Broadway professionals. With his love of humor, he hopes to one day do sketch comedy.

For Culbertson and Samples the continuation of their acting and dancing careers isn't so certain. Culbertson has a job landed in St. Louis as a running crew head for a theater, but hopes to one day continue with acting.

"The only job I could get with sure money was in tech," said Culbertson. "I'll still be in the business but not doing what I want to do."

Meanwhile Samples, who is married will take a year off and perform her role as a wife and save money for a trip to New York to learn more about dancing.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182