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It’s 5 p.m., you just got off work and are rushing home. While standing at the crosswalk waiting for the light to change, a beach ball flies past your head. You look in the direction it soared from and see that a young woman has caught it and is now holding it on top of her head and skipping while waving to other people hurrying home from work. You walk away wondering, “What was that all about?”
It is Project Beach Ball by members of DU’s Department of Theatre.
Project Beach Ball was a “theater happening” that took place on the 16th Street Mall downtown last Thursday afternoon. About 50 theater students and friends walked around the mall and handed out beach balls.
The project was created by theater major Chris Luebke as part of his senior project. Most projects materialize as a one-act production, however, Luebke, who is focusing on management, wanted to do something different.
Luebke ordered 200 beach balls and coordinated with everyone from students, to faculty to the Denver police to create the happening. Luebke is more interested in the entertainment side of theater.
“We’re here to make you smile,” was the slogan of the project and the reason given when anyone asked what the students were doing tossing around beach balls.
Activities such as exchanging balls, setting foot on all four corners of crosswalks and waving to people walking by were completed as well as giving out balls.
Beach balls were chosen because they represent summer, fun and happiness, said Luebke.
“It’s so much more fun than I even imagined,” said Kelly Diehl, a junior theater major who helped pass out balls.
“I’ve been slamming into Taco Bell windows while people are eating,” said Reggie Jackson a freshman theater major who let go of inhibitions while completing the tasks throughout the happening.
“We definitely changed some people’s days,” said Luebke, “and that was kind of the point.”
After eliciting many smiles, the Larimer Clock Tower chimed 6 p.m. and simultaneously beach balls were deflated, participants headed to their cars or the light rail and everyone left as if nothing had ever happened.
