Revised Article #2: Morningside’s Theater Department. What Comes Next?
The Morningside Theater department is currently working on improving the campus shows and student productions. After the cut of the major the students and faculty are keen on reinforcing the student involvement.
Theater professor Taylor Clemens explained “We don’t have the major anymore but there’s still dedication to strengthen the theatre, getting students, and community involved”. Now the department will start building around the student produced shows. These shows will be held in collaboration with APO (Alpha Psi Omega) the national theater honor society on campus.
Brock Bourek APO president wants to keep theatre present in the everyday life of Morningside students. As he explained “a movie night once a month, doing improvisation or theatre spotlight nights, and even an open mic night.” His goal is to extend the involvement even further than just the shows. Hoping that this will bring the interest of students; encouraging them to participate and become more than just the audience.
To help this transition APO is creating a new position: a student liaison for productions. Amy Carothers is the one in charge to help students prepare their proposal for the play and guide them in every aspect.
The first show following this structure was Love, Sex and the I.R.S. The cast, crew and production team was completely students. The only faculty involved was Taylor Clemens as a theatrical consulter.
Luis Seijas who is not a theater major but has participated in the past said “I am happily surprised because I’ve watched many other shows in Morningside before; and I though this was the best production that I’ve seen so far” He also explained that the dedication of the students was highly visible with the set lights, props, acting. Overall an impressive achievement for a student produced show.
The students who want to be involved with the theater will still be able to take diverse theater classes and maybe major until the class of 2021 is graduated; the Department will continue to provide the major until the class of 2021 is graduated.
Prof. Clemens also explained the whole process of eliminating the major. A year ago, Morningside started a taskforce to look into future problems and how to solve them. All of the majors were put into consideration. Depending on their score the majors would end in the top or bottom 50 percent. The ones in the bottom the President of the college John Reynders would have to decide on whether eliminate or keeping them.
After the decision was made, a reasonable concern was shown by faculty and students. But as Prof. Clemens explained the truth is that the department had been struggling for the last decade. From administration issues to a very small group of students enrolled in the major; the major was not on the best place.