CSC theatre program going on 6-school tour
Chadron State College’s theatre program will “set sail” in November for performances at six northwest Nebraska elementary and middle schools as part of its Children’s Theatre Workshop course. The first of the performances will be Thursday, Nov. 8.
Director Roger Mays and 15 theatre majors will present Aurand Harris’ adaptation of “Treasure Island” at schools in Hay Springs, Rushville, Hemingford, Alliance, Crawford and Harrison. A showing also is scheduled for Chadron and other Dawes County students in CSC’s Memorial Hall. The tour is being sponsored in part by the Chadron Library Foundation as a public service.
Mays said the theatre students “put the show together” in its entirety, including set, lights, costumes, sound, props and performance, as well as the research for the study guide that will be distributed to the audiences.
“Treasure Island” is Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic adventure novel that was first published as a book in 1883 and became popular among readers of all ages. It’s a coming of age tale about young Jim Hawkins’ experiences at sea, including encounters with pirates, tropical islands, black schooners, maps and one-legged seamen with parrots on their shoulders. Harris died in 1996 but remains the most produced playwright in the United States for young audiences, Mays said.
Mays said the tour is beneficial to young audiences in many ways, including exposure to cultural programming and classical literature in a “fun and meaningful way.” He said the tour is not only designed to be convenient for the participating schools, but gives CSC students the invaluable experience of creating and touring live theatre.
Representatives of CSC and the Chadron Library Foundation say the collaboration between the two institutions has been beneficial to the region. The foundation began providing financial support to CSC’s Children’s Theatre Workshop after the Nebraska Theatre Caravan discontinued its touring schedule a few years ago.
“We believe in the power of live theatre and the way it can inspire the creativity of our students,” said George Ledbetter of Chadron, president of the library foundation. “The productions have been wonderful. The teachers are enthusiastic and the students seem to enjoy them. We’ve found it to be a really good project and are glad that Chadron State College and its theatre department are willing to continue it.”
The Treasure Island cast, in alphabetical order: Jen Beckstead, senior, Havre, Mont.; Rhett Breedlove, sophomore, Torrington, Wyo.; Brad Buckles, sophomore, Cheyenne, Wyo.; Erika DeBoer, sophomore, Morrill; Cody Griebel, senior, Hot Springs, S.D.; Jesse Hamer, junior, Box Elder, S.D.; Mike Mamula, sophomore, Box Elder, S.D.; Colt Neidhardt, sophomore, Crawford; Mason Quinn, sophomore, Cheyenne, Wyo.; Nathaniel Quinn, junior, Cheyenne, Wyo.; Amber Reaves, sophomore, Superior; Scott Roberts, senior, Chadron; Alex Schwarz, senior, Bertrand; Shelby Wilson, junior, Benkelman; Clint Wright, sophomore, Oshkosh.
The performance schedule:
Thursday, Nov. 8: Hay Springs, 10 a.m., and Rushville, 2 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 15: Hemingford, 10 a.m., and Alliance Grandview, 2 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 29: Crawford, 10 a.m., and Harrison, 2 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 7: CSC Memorial Auditorium, 1 p.m.
Category: Campus News