Theater students take last bow on Lipscomb stage for senior showcase

Lipscomb students will have the chance to take at least one more bow when the theater department wraps up its production year with a senior showcase Saturday at 7 p.m. in Shamblin Theater. Showcases like this one originally started in New York City as a way for young artists who have completed their training to show off their skills. Casting directors, agents and other professionals in the industry were invited to preview the work of these up-and-coming actors and actresses. Lipscomb’s show is not necessarily Broadway-bound, though. “Our Showcase is a celebration of our last four years of training, but also a way for us to give back to those who have helped us along our artistic journey,” acting major Austin Hunt said. Hunt prepared a webpage that highlights the work of each senior. With one click, viewers can navigate from one artist to the next and read about their majors, explore their resumes and learn about the work they will be showcasing during the special event. “We’ve been working hard for four years to hone our skills and this is our performance to share it,” Hunt said. “We’ll be sharing work that is near and dear to our hearts that shows who we really are.” Students, faculty and members of the Nashville community are invited to come and share the free event with each of the artists. Photo courtesy of Shelby...

Student project brings childhood dreams to life

For some, coming to college means leaving behind the novelties of childhood, but not for Sarah Johnson. Johnson, a freshman theater major, intends to bring Disney characters to life by hand-making costumes and photographing students in the theater department wearing them. Johnson had the idea for a similar project four years ago, but felt she did not have the resources and skills necessary to bring it to life. “When I came to Lipscomb and got into the theater department, got a little more into photography and had a nice camera, I started taking pictures and I started seeing the talent that all these different people had,” Johnson said. “Instead of using models, I thought that it would be interesting to see people, who for or a living or for a hobby want to act as characters, to take on the characters that they love.” Johnson is planning to photograph a different set of characters each semester. The theme of this set will be Disney Princesses, but future plans include Toy Story, Disney villains, Greek Mythology and horror sets. Friend and fellow first year theater student, Natalie Risk, has been assisting Johnson with the project. “This is a project that will span our entire four years of college,” Risk said. “I’m really looking forward to seeing the last set of pictures we take and comparing them to our first. Seeing the progression and the growth in every aspect of what we do will be a lot of fun to watch.” Together they have made a schedule, acquired materials and picked locations for photo shoots. With fabrics, bedspreads and clothing from Goodwill...

“Twelfth Night” to show in Collins Auditorium this week

After spending much of January at Belmont University, The Nashville Shakespeare Festival’s tour of “Twelfth Night” will arrive at Lipscomb’s Willard Collins Alumni Auditorium this week. Shakespeare can frighten off modern audiences due to the confusing diction and seemingly out-of-date expressions. “Don’t be intimidated by the language,” said “Twelfth Night” cast member and Lipscomb senior Austin Hunt. Hunt is urging fellow students to give the play a try when it opens. “Show up and watch the show. Pay attention to what we’re saying, but pay attention to what we’re doing, too. We will tell the story to you through our actions and our physicality.” The production was written by William Shakespeare as a celebration for the 12 days of Christmas, but it is also an entertaining blend of comedy and romance infused with song. In “Twelfth Night,” a shipwreck occurs that forces a young girl named Viola to believe her twin brother has died. She then dresses up as him and takes a job with Duke Orcino, who loves Olivia. While disguised as a boy, Viola is sent by the Duke to woo Olivia for him. Olivia falls in love with Viola as a boy instead of the Duke. Twelfth Night speaks comedically about the power and problems of love. Hunt portrays Curio, a manservant to the duke. He has studied with The Nashville Shakespeare Festival since 2013, and he is proud to point out that to best enjoy Shakespeare’s writings, a visit to a live performance is necessary. “Shakespeare was never meant to be read,” Hunt said. “Shakespeare was meant to be performed and watched.” The challenge for Hunt is understanding...

Two Self Improvment shows planned for rest of semester

Fill your bellies with laughter Wednesday night as Lipscomb’s theatre department puts on their student-led improv show at 6:30 in the University Theatre. For those who don’t know what improv is, performer Nelson Tilley described it similar to the hit TV show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” The troupe calls themselves “Self Improvment.” The other student leaders are Casey Edwards and Austin Hunt, and they are joined by Tilley. Majority of the performers in the group are in the theatre department, but they do have a few performers who are not. “The show is free first off; who doesn’t love free stuff?” Tilley said about Wednesday’s performance. They do take donations at the door, and all the money goes to charities around the community. The show is full of clean humor, and Tilley said he welcomes all students, faculty and staff to come by and watch the performances as they put on a family-friendly show. “We’re just a student-led group trying to spread some happiness by making people laugh and just enjoy their days,” Tilley said. “Come with ideas and come be entertained.” For those who are unable to attend tonight’s performance, Tilley said they will be doing another show on Thursday, April...

Blackbird Theater’s production of ‘Man and Superman’ begins run

Opening night is here for Blackbird Theater’s production of George Bernard Shaw’s Man and Superman, with the first show Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Shamblin Theatre.  The Lipscomb and Nashville community is promised a show with romance, comedy, witty women and deep, philosophical conversations about the reasons of human existence. Possibly between the characters and the devil himself, with a few pieces by composer Berlioz playing on the side. Blackbird Theater’s founders Wes Driver and Greg Greene waste no breath when picking their plays for each season by finding unique shows to “thrill” the audience to inspire and create “intellectually stimulating” conversation. To create such conversations takes months of planning and script adjustments, many staff and cast meetings and weeks of rehearsal. Cast member and junior acting major Austin Hunt says that some of the characters’ monologues are up to “three to four pages long.” Show director Beki Baker has been working hard on this show since this last summer where she and her dramaturge, junior theatre major Emily Eytchison, studied Shaw’s Man and Superman. Eytchison said that they would study the time period in which Man and Superman takes place, “find the important bits and put it together for the actors” to help further character development. “The dramaturge is going to be the one who spends all their printing quota on scholarly articles,” Eytchison added, “and that dramaturge may or may not have spent most of it all in one day.” In Baker’s Directorial Statement, she compliments Shaw’s intelligence within his work, as well as his comedic wit. Aiming to explore the purpose of humanity in this universe,...