Theatre department presents popular productions

According to American Theatre Magazine, at 16 productions across the country, What the Constitution Means to Me, a political drama by Heidi Schreck, is the most performed play of the 2023-24 season. Despite its humble production, the play addressed powerful issues such as civil rights, free speech, and bodily autonomy.

In a 2019 article following its Broadway debut, American Theatre praised its wide acclaim:

“It has no stars, a tiny cast, and no special effects, and everyone both onstage and backstage are Broadway newbies. And yet it has attracted a staggering amount of celebrities to its audience: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonya Sotomayor, Gloria Steinem, Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson.” Yet, it is not CSC Theatre department’s first time covering difficult topics.

In 2017, CSC performed Stop Kiss, a self-described love story about two women who are assaulted after sharing a kiss in public. When one of them falls into a coma following her injuries, the rest of the cast ask themselves important questions about love, interpersonal relationships, and queer identity. Originally written and produced in 1998, Stop Kiss is a political story that examines the effects of violence and homophobia in realistic ways.

In a review for The Eagle, Hannah Clark wrote, “Diana Son, the author of the play, has called it political in reference to how politics is a way of looking at events that happen to people. But, overall, she deems the play as a love story. Not a play about homophobia or what it was like to live as a gay or lesbian person in America, but a love story.”

Two years prior, the department produced Extremities, a play about three women forced to reckon with a serial rapist. Although unsettling, this production featured important discussions about women’s rights and objectification. According to the Chadron State College factbook, the student body is majority female, emphasizing the importance of shows like Extremities and its discussion about uncomfortable subjects.

As the main characters talked about their experiences and argued about the best way to deal with the attacker, they revealed many real-life problems in our social and legal systems.

Taking a different, but equally impactful turn last fall, the department performed Larissa FastHorse’s The Thanksgiving Play, another top-performing show with a political focus. Featuring a small cast of four, it debuted on Broadway in 2023.

In Chadron, The Thanksgiving Play met a big response from audiences, drawing attention both on campus and in the community.

Olivia Freeze, a Bridgeport senior who played Logan, the main character, highlighted the need for diverse stories in rural areas.

“In a world full of division, it is necessary for us to take a step back and laugh at ourselves. It is a ridiculous story and a hilarious script. It is a lighthearted approach to cultural issues we see all over the media in our daily lives,” Freeze said.

Professor Scott Cavin said despite choosing scripts with small casts, CSC delivers exciting productions with meaningful messages.

In 2021, the department performed The Whale, a family drama by Sam Hunter. After its adaptation to film the following year, The Whale’s famous cast and compelling story gave it box office success, even with a cast of just four.

As with What the Constitution Means to Me, The Thanksgiving Play, Stop Kiss, and Extremities, The Whale examined themes that are relatable, but challenging to discuss.

According to Cavin, throughout its history, the college has aimed to present complex, thought-provoking stories through the medium of theatre. As one of the college’s most ambitious artistic groups, the department skillfully brings pressing topics to the Chadron community, Cavin said.