Students lead out in recent production of The Importance of Being Earnest » By Paul Morgan
Infatuation, naïve romance and a doublecase of mistaken identity make Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy The Importance of Being Earnest a must see. The script is considered Wilde’s most well-known and best-loved play. It is set in 1890s England and provides a tongue-in-cheek look at courtship, and the firm societal conventions that governed 19th century England.
a total of nine student performers were visible to the audience, the production involved of over 45 students who helped with creating costumes, set construction lighting implementation, and operating technical elements of the show. “As a department we give students opportunities to work on different productions from all dramatic literature genres. Although these productions are in no way exclusive to theatre majors, they do act as a kind of lab, where students can craft their skills and implement techniques learned in the classroom,” said Conrad.
Wilde’s captivating play was recently brought to life at BYU-Idaho. A group of students present the production under the direction of Hyrum Conrad, faculty member in the Department of Theatre and Dance. Students were able to entertain audiences with performances that ran from May 28 until June 7. The performances were held in the Black Box Theatre, and were open to both campus and the community. The production consisted entirely of students both on and off the stage, and while only
The Department of Theatre and Dance showcases a wide variety of productions each season in an effort to inspire and entertain all who attend. “I envision this particular play as more of a farce than a comedy of manners,” said Conrad. “I hope the people who attend the production have a light-hearted, enjoyable entertainment experience,” Conrad said.
Student Records and Registration: continued from page 1 “We wanted to make sure it was a positive experience for those who came in. They know they can come in and be served well, and our space has allowed us to do that. It’s designed to serve our students,” said Martin. Over the last few years, a student employment model has been implemented in Student Records and Registration that has caused its student work force to grow exponentially. When Martin became the registrar in 2006, he had three student employees. That number is now at 60, and Martin loves this new direction. “In my estimation it gives them the work experience they would normally get in their first two to three years after they graduate from college. When they walk through the door they’re employees, they’re not students. Without them we
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don’t accomplish what we need to,” said Martin. The full-time employees spend a lot of time training the students. Through this on-the-job training, the students are able to work and learn in safe environments where they can make mistakes, learn from them, and continue to grow into great workers for the future. But with this growth, many logistical and space issues arose. The office was no longer able to comfortably hold all of the workers. Now, with the renovations the employees have plenty of space to work, and be more productive. “We’re incredibly grateful to the university for investing in Student Records and Registration. We know it’s a significant investment, and we think it’s worth it, because it helps to serve the students better,” said Martin.