In the flurry of activities at the end of our spring semester left us a bit behind on blogging through our process. We apologize, and offer the following recap of the end of the spring 2012:
March – The beginning of the month saw about a dozen students and three faculty members head off to the Southeastern Theatre Conference convention in Chattanooga, TN. Faculty presented as part of panel discussions, attended Undergraduate Auditions, staffed our information booth, and took part in the leadership meetings for SETC; students participated in workshops, auditioned and interviewed for professional summer work, auditioned for graduate study, competed (and won) in the improv comedy competition. A great conference year, and an opportunity we look forward to every year – convention will be held in Louisville, KY in 2013.
April – A busy time of the year for us as we wrap up our production and academic calendar. Eleemosynary by Lee Blessing was directed by senior Eleanor Baxter in our intimate Theatre 151 space. Ms. Baxter then followed up the closing of that show by performing her Senior Recital two days later!
The last week of the semester saw our 2012 Belhaven Theatre Festival, which featured 11 different events, from staged readings, class presentations, original productions, music concerts, improv comedy, and a presentation from our Alpha Psi Omega student-led organization. A great tradition – which leaves us all both inspired and exhausted!
After the semester concluded, 10 students from both the theatre and dance departments at Belhaven went on a two-week trip to visit The Art Factory, a missions organization in Kandern, Germany. While there, students worked at the Factory (doing various cleaning and organizing tasks), led workshops in dance, acting, and improv comedy, visited Black Forest Academy to lead chapel services in both the high school and middle school, and presented Shakespeare’s The Tempest. We were very grateful for the hospitality of Rick and Mary Beth Holladay, who head up the work of the Art Factory, and look forward to future connections with their work for the kingdom.
There are many more exciting things happening in the community and work around Belhaven University’s theatre department – we promise to be more active in sharing our joys, struggles, thoughts, processes and news with you in the future!
