Tag: theater

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What Is The 24 Hour Theater Project?

For the past three years, I have been involved in The 24 Hour Theater Project. This event is presented by Tau Alpha Pi, (or TAP for short), which is the Theatre Honorary here on campus at Grove City College. I have been a constant participant of the event every year that we have presented it. My sophomore year, I acted and directed, last year I coordinated the entire event, and this year I am writing!

So what is it really like to participate? Well, it is very busy, that is for sure. Whether it is the writers trying to crank out a script in one night or the actors trying to remember their blocking during the performance, there is a consistent thrill throughout the entire event. It may seem daunting, but for us theater-fanatics, that thrill makes the whole event very special.

Acting. The actors arrive Friday night without any preparation at all. They are asked to audition with just a short, improvised game. Then they leave the event until Saturday morning. At 7 a.m., they return to the theater and begin to memorize their script (which, in all honesty, takes the entire day). Then they learn the blocking based on the direction of their student director. At 7 p.m., ready or not, the actors take to the stage to perform their one act!

Directing. The directors are sort of the middle man in this event. First, they are paired with a group of writers and cast their show Friday at 7 p.m. Then, if the writers choose to do so, they can allow the directors to stay up with them throughout the night as the script is being written, or they can just go to back to their dorm. They must come back to the theater at 7 a.m. on Saturday morning to direct their one act. Directing it involves blocking movement, creating the set, and talking to the coordinators about transitions, music, and other things.

Writing. The writers help cast the show at the beginning of the night, and then, well, they write. They create a six- to 10-minute script about whatever creative idea is sparked in their minds. In case they get a mental block, there is support from the coordinators and one of the TAP advisors. Once they get their scripts completed, whether it is at 1 a.m. or 6 a.m., they are done for the rest of the event! Then they get to come back that night to see their script come to life!

You can watch this year’s show here!

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“Anything Goes” with the Grove City Theater Department

Each semester, the Grove City College theater department puts on a major production, as well as a few smaller theater performances with students from all disciplines. This fall’s performance was Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes” – a musical filled with gangsters, sailors, and of course hopeless romantics. Weeks of preparation and hard work by the cast and crew, sound and lighting technicians, and orchestra pit performers, went into creating this amazing show.

“Anything Goes” is a well-loved show about many outspoken characters on a ship from New York to London searching for love, money, and an entertaining time. The main character Hope Harcourt was played by freshman Jordan Luntz. This was Jordan’s first production at Grove City College, and as a mechanical engineering major it was a bit of a handful. “I was worried that coming to college as a mechanical engineering major, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to be as involved as I would like,” Jordan explained, “but Grove City is a truly special place with truly special people that made my production easy and enjoyable.” As an underclassman, she explained how many upperclassmen and directors helped teach and encourage her to make the production an easy and enjoyable experience. “The entire cast was accepting and just a pure joy to share the stage with. They did their best to work with my schedule and make my life as easy as possible,” she said.

Our theater department goes far beyond actors and technicians, and there are many opportunities for students to get involved in ways that are convenient to them. Senior Jonathan Fisher is a communications major with a passion for theater. Jonathan was able to give some insight about what it’s like behind the scenes of larger productions, specifically as a spotlight operator. Jonathan explained how he felt right at home with the cast and crew, even as a spotlight operator. He said, “we had a lot of fun bonding, even if it was just over pre-show meetings.” Jonathan discussed his first experience with theater and how his roles have changed over the years. “When I first came into the theater program, I was so focused on acting but it did not work out as planned, and I did not want to be backstage,” Jonathan said, “But I ended up having to do some tech things for classes I was taking, and I realized when you do tech you are involved. You are the cast and crew.” The flexibility and skills in the technical part of the show was something Jonathan was happy to contribute to and greatly enjoyed.

Being in any large scale production is tons of hard work and a huge commitment, and can definitely be a strenuous process. At the end of each tech rehearsal week, Grove City cast and crew meet and give senior speeches for those who are graduating and want to give last pieces of advice. Jonathan explained, “Something that my friend Sarah Giesler said stuck with me, and that was to choose joy. Especially during tech week, Christ is the reason we can choose joy over the stress so we can  choose to look to him.” It is so important in those moments to come together to pray and encourage one another. It is such a blessing to work with a theater department that takes so much care and consideration to appreciate one another and all the work it takes to putting on an excellent show.

Along with all the hard work, this cast had just as much fun, especially making this video in their time between scenes. Enjoy the students of the theater department!