At Murray State, the theatre productions are a vibrant opportunity for students to engage in campus life and, especially for theatre majors, to apply their knowledge.
In order to create several options for doing so and to put out a program that will attract a broad scope of audience, the faculty selected a variety of plays for the upcoming year. The season starts off with a children’s show directed by Billy Hobson, a senior theatre major, and features a horror short film, a drama, two comedy dramas and a musical throughout the year.
“The line-up is very well balanced and something for everyone,” Hobson said.
Murray State theatre productions are a great example of student engagement and cooperation with faculty. Hobson said Murray State theatre is a “family business” and “the bonds that you can form with your fellow castmates” are one of the most valuable aspects of it. Matthew Crider, associate professor for theatre performance, movement and stage combat, said the department believes “firmly in giving students the chance to take on leadership roles.”
“In my time here, I believe students have performed literally every job available in theatre. Murray State theatre lets you create your own path,” Crider said.
For Hobson, this means being the student director of “Aesop’s Fables,” a children’s show that wraps up meaningful messages in stories featuring animals. He said the responsibility was “a big task, but also very rewarding.”
“I have a fantastic cast, and it is a huge honor to be appointed as a student director,” Hobson said.
Showings of “Aesop’s Fables” are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 23-26, noon on Sept. 25 and 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 27 at Robert E. Johnson Theatre. Murray State students can attend for free with a student ID card at the entrance. More information about the upcoming productions can be found on the department of global languages and theatre arts’s Facebook page.
Hobson said there is a suggestions box where students and professors can put ideas for plays they would like to do. The choice of which shows will be included in the season is made by the theatre faculty. Crider said this year’s selection is “one of the most complicated processes we face” and will cover “different times but hit in ways that make them feel like they were written for today.”
Attending the Murray State theatre productions as an audience is an opportunity to spend an evening outside of the usual campus day-to-day life. Hobson said theatre brings people together, whether it’s on stage, backstage or in the audience.
Hobson said anyone attending the theatre can expect “a lot of laughs, a great production and a good experience.”
Crider said the cast and the audience “share an emotional experience” as well as “face big questions” together.