For the first time in more than 10 years, the Hillsdale College Theatre Department is updating its student publication “Our Students Speak,” a booklet with a combination of blurbs, quotations, and photographs from recent theatre productions for those interested in learning more about the department.
Junior theatre major Aaron Pomerantz, guided by Professors of Theatre George Angell and James Brandon, is compiling the new edition, gathering quotations and bios from the students in the department, and choosing the best, recent photos to include in the booklet.
“I have been in the program for three years and I only know one of the names in the current booklet out of about 11. It actually starts to alienate when it gets that old,” Pomerantz said. “All the students I’m including still attend, and I’ll include pictures from the past few years of shows.”
The theatre department produce “Our Students Speak” to give potential students a better understanding of the department and to show what kind of productions they have recently put on. Senior theatre major Kyra Moss noted that, as a student publication, “Our Student’s Speak” offers easily accessible student insight into the program.
“Aaron asked that everyone share our thoughts about the theatre department, so students who are interested can find out what our students think who are part of it,” Moss said. “I think it’ll help give people insight from a student perspective, which they’d otherwise only get by talking to students on campus.”
Though intended for an audience of prospective students, “Our Students Speak” likely will increase general knowledge on campus about the theatre department, Moss said.
“I think the updated pamphlet will help people to hear about the department” junior theatre major Jennifer Shadle said. “I did theatre in high school, but never thought of it as a career or major, but I think this pamphlet shows it as a legitimate academic field and that we actually have a really good program here.”
While Pomerantz and Shadle are both theatre majors, Pomerantz plans to approach the publication so it encompasses the whole department, especially the large portion of students who are neither majors nor minors, but want to be –– and can be –– involved in the productions.
In the same way it features students from multiple aspects of the theatre production world, even those that regularly receive less of the direct spotlight.
“It’ll show that it’s not just about showing actors you see performing, but to shall all sides of our theater department,” Pomerantz said. “Our techies are fundamental to the whole productions and there are audience members, and even actors, who don’t even seem to realize how important these people are.”
The photographs will likely focus on former theatre productions in their final form, but these photos will show the flexibility and aptitude of the theatre department.
Pomerantz said it should show that the department is both diverse and well-established, despite their relatively small program.
“I think the pamphlet will help everyone to have visuals because then they can see, ‘wow, these are legit costumes,’” Moss said. “I think it’ll show the positive qualities of our program and how many students aren’t majors or minors but enjoy taking a class or two when they have time and audition for all the plays.”
The new edition of “Our Students Speak” is estimated to be completed by the end of the Fall 2013 semester, and should be available the following Spring.
tsawyer1@hillsdale.edu
