Theater Department Traveling to Scotland to Perform

Department will participate in International Collegiate Theatre Festival

August 1, 2016 Meredith Foster (Student Writer)

The Hardin-Simmons University theater department will be performing “The Shadow Box” on August 6, 7, 9 and 10 in Edinburgh, Scotland, at the Fringe Festival, the largest arts festival in the world. Fourteen students, two HSU faculty and three additional adults will be participating in the trip.  

“The opportunity to perform a play before an international audience and to see plays and street performers from other countries is indeed a unique opportunity,” said Larry Wheeler, theater department head and associate professor of theater. “Becoming a part of the world’s largest performing arts festival is truly a unique experience. It is indeed one of those ‘once in a lifetime’ experiences.”

The play tells the story of three separate instances where characters have to face death and try to make sense of it. Dr. Victoria Spangler, associate professor of theatre, is the director and said the play was chosen because of its small set and focus on characters.

“It’s not a sad play, it’s a serious play, a drama, but there are light moments that make the serious subject easier,” Spangler said. “It is not a technically complicated play – it is an actor’s play – story and character driven.  And it deals with a subject that crosses all cultures and languages: love and life.”

In 2012 the department joined the International Collegiate Theatre Festival (ICTF) and preformed the play “Birds on A Wire”.

HSU traveled to Scotland four years ago to participate in this event, and it was a life changing experience for those who attended,” Spangler said. “It is our plan to attend The Fringe once every four years, giving our students a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in theatre and artists from around the world.”

Not only will students will experience what it is like to perform in a foreign country, but they will also have a chance to receive three semester credit hours for the trip if they signed up under the THEA 2399 – Special Topics Scotland Travel Study Class.

I’m looking forward to this experience because it will allow the HSU theatre students to make connections with other theatre students from around the world,” Kelsie Leflore, junior stage management director from Rowlett, Texas, said. “I’m glad HSU theatre offers this because we get to spend time with others that share our passion for theatre and see how theatre differs in other countries.”

 

 

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