A car crash, an attack by a wolf-man and a girl dealing with the voice inside her head. While these things may sound extreme they are just another day in the life of the theater majors at DU.
For most seniors, graduation means writing a thesis, completing a capstone class and interviewing for jobs. For graduating theater majors, it means producing their own shows and overseeing every aspect of getting a show on its feet. From composing scripts to casting the perfect cast the seniors are feeling the pressure as the curtain call draws near.
Senior shows are performed throughout the year, typically during the sixth week of the quarter. This weekend, seniors Alex Ngo, Frances Gonzales and Mackenzie Beyer are presenting Crossroads, Wolf and Punch Drunk, respectively.
The theater department is based in liberal arts unlike traditional conservatory programs. Students are encouraged and expected to complete, not only acting courses, but also a variety of technical and design courses. This gives students a unique opportunity to put their experience to the test and many majors are involved in both the technical and performance aspects of their shows.
This quarter all three theater students are producing their own original scripts. For Ngo, whose play, “Crossroads,” deals with four friends and the aftermath of a tragic accident they experience, the hardest part of the experience is also the most rewarding.
“Writing a play and seeing it put up is stressful because it’s your creation,” said Ngo. “It’s a bridge that communicates who you are emotionally to the audience.”
Although shows are produced over one quarter, the process starts much earlier than that. Majors are required to take a class their junior year during which students are supposed to choose the project they wish to produce. With faculty advisors on hand to help with any major decisions or to offer advice on the theatrical industry in general, students are expected to end their junior year with a concrete idea of what they wish to do.
Performances will be held in the basement of Margery Reed Hall. Shows open this Thurs., April 25 at 10:30 p.m. with performances on April 30 at 10:30 p.m. and May 1 at 7 p.m. Tickets are free. For reservations, e-mail aglatt.theater@gmail.com.
