Entr'acte

Entr’acte

Marvelous shows for the drama department under new leadership

By Annie Gibson

Walla Walla University’s drama department is currently in a transitional stage. After working for 12 years as the director of the drama program, David Crawford has decided to step down for personal reasons. WWU faculty Jerry Entze and Kristen Taylor will be serving as co-interim directors of the drama program, while Nathan Pittenger will work alongside them as student producer.

As an academic advisor and jumpstart coordinator, Jerry Entze is a familiar name on campus. He has been involved with the drama program and their past productions, currently assisting the drama program by teaching the directing class. Entze will be directing “Twelve Angry Jurors”, a production scheduled for the spring quarter.

The Director of Residential Life and Housing, Kristen Taylor, has had a passion for theater and the performing arts ever since she was enrolled as a student at this university. Channeling her love for theater and acting to others, Taylor has spent 15 summers at Camp Ida-Haven as the volunteer drama instructor and program coordinator. In the past, she has worked as a guest director for WWU’s Festival of Shorts. Along with her duties as one of the three leaders of the drama program, Taylor is also teaching Acting I this fall.

The thing I enjoy the most about the drama department is that we are a community and a family.

Nathan Pittenger has been involved in the drama department all four years of his enrollment as a student. Having completed his drama minor, Pittenger was recommended by Crawford to take on some of his own responsibilities along with the help of Entze and Taylor. He now works as a producer and graphic designer for the department.

While the search continues for Crawford’s replacement, the drama department has some stellar productions lined up for this year. Starting in the fall, WWU Drama will present “Ada and the Engine,” written by contemporary American playwright, Lauren Gunderson, and guest directed by Ellicia Elliott.

This historical drama tells the story of Ada Lovelace, the daughter of the Romantic poet Lord Byron, and her collaboration with Charles Babbage on the first mechanical computer.

“It’s a great show for our campus,” says Taylor, “because it has a nice cross section of several academic departments: a blend of coding and the arts to help bring alive a piece of history including poetry, zeros, and ones.”

Performances will be on Nov. 9, 10, 14, 16, and 17 in the Black Box Theater.

Pittenger (right) crossing blades with a co-star in WWU Drama's swashbuckling production The Three Musketeers

Photo from wwudama

Following the production of “Ada and the Engine,” directing students will be able to showcase their talents as they direct, produce, and act in the annual Festival of Shorts. This joyful mix of student-created short films and one-act plays will be produced throughout the winter quarter and will premiere in early March.

Perhaps the biggest highlight for the department this school year is the centennial celebration of Village Hall, the oldest standing building on the WWU campus. For the past 49 years, Village Hall has been a beloved venue for the drama department. A celebratory show to commemorate the building is in the works for Alumni Weekend in April.

Continuing with the show schedule for the year, the drama program plans to perform “12 Angry Jurors,” in the spring, a modern retelling of Reginald Rose’s play, “12 Angry Men.” It is believed that this play was the first production that the drama department performed on the Village Hall stage back in 1971.

Many of the students involved this year have reached out to me to share their excitement for the upcoming year. Vice president of the drama club, Dorea Bradley says, “The thing I enjoy the most about the drama department is that we are a community and a family. It is the only group of people that makes me feel fully accepted and loved for who I am. Everyone wants to see each other succeed.”

So how can the student body support WWU's drama program? “By coming to our plays! They’re really fun to put on and I’ve been told they’re fun to watch as well…” says Jared Sexton, a STEM student and active drama participant.

Pittenger says, “The student body can help out by voicing their support for our department and coming out to see our shows." There are a lot of us who work hard all year to put on these productions and it is all for the entertainment of the students and community. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing all of our hard work come to fruition and to see the faces of all those who attend our events. We need their support more than ever in this weird transition period.

The Drama program has a wonderful group of students full of passion for the performing arts. I encourage everyone who is able to to come out and support this group of talent as they continue to put on top-quality performances this school year.

By Annie Gibson

October 10, 2019 | Volume 104 | Issue 01 | page 11