More than a scene: student directors bring stories to life
Elisa Wells, Staff Writer
Photo Courtesy of Corrie Owen
The theatre department’s upcoming showcase is more than just a compilation of scenes, it is a celebrations of student storytelling and collaboration. The showcase includes work from student directors, actors and designers and serves as both a creative outlet and a comprehensive learning experience. It allows students to apply what they have learned in the classroom to a live audience setting.
To prepare for the showcase, each group was required to complete a minimum of six 30-minute rehearsals, but many productions extended way beyond that, with some students dedicating over 10 hours to their work.
From organizing and preparing scripts, casting actors to coordinating schedules and scheduling rehearsals, directors were tasked with managing limited rehearsal space while bringing their creative vision to life.
“Every live show, even if it’s performed again, will never be the same twice,” Anslee Johnson, junior theatre major.
For those who have never attended a theatre production, the showcase offers an opportunity to experience a variety of storytelling styles all in one place. From comedy and romance to history and drama, the performances invite the audience to sit just feet away from the actors and witness stories unfold in real time.
Every live show, even a re-run, will never be the same twice. It’s temporal and by the end of the night, you have experienced a unique show that will only happen once in your life, that is the beauty of live theatre.
Despite balancing homework, classes and busy schedules, students in the senior directing class have dedicated significant time and effort to preparing these scenes.
The showcase will take place March 31 and April 1 in Billingsley Theatre, with performances beginning from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
“There are moments where everything just clicks between the actors and director,” Johnson said. “You see real human connection happening on stage, and it becomes something you couldn’t have planned.”
