In the News

Steel Magnolias performance emphasizes the importance of strong relationships

Hesston College Theatre will highlight the resilience of strong relationships in their fall play production of “Steel Magnolias” from Sept. 28 through Oct. 1. With lessons about patience, understanding and love, it is a show that audience members will find emotionally engaging. Please note: While this show is full of laughter and love, it deals with some heavier themes of illness, loss of a child, breakups and breakdowns which may not be appreciated or understood by younger audience members. Performances will be held in the Keim Center Black Box Theater at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Set in a Louisiana beauty shop, “Steel Magnolias” is the story of six wonderful women who share a fierce loyalty to one another through haircuts and hardships. This comedic drama focuses keenly on M’Lynn and the push/pull she has with Shelby, her headstrong, loving daughter. When their family experiences a tragedy, it’s the friendship of Truvy, Annelle, Clairee and Ouiser that helps M’Lynn embrace the hurt and move forward. An award-winning film, “Steel Magnolias” was first a play by Robert Harling, who wrote this as a remembrance of his sister. The show was adapted to film in 1989 with Harling as a cast member before the 2012 remake with an all African American cast which received critical acclaim.

“I think this show is a strong representation of how we begin relationships in our own lives, letting people see only a small portion.” said Director Rachel Jantzi. “It’s when that friendship deepens that most people feel comfortable enough to let others see their pain. ‘Steel Magnolias’ walks us through an evolution of friendship and trust in less than two hours.”

The cast includes Hesston College students Joy Jones, Alyssa Coonce, Hadassa Friesen, Emma Killingsworth, Desirae Rodriguez and Caroline Miller. The stage managers are Josh Fleming and Christian Ryan.

“This cast and crew of students have helped create a kind and supportive rehearsal environment,” said Jantzi. “The process from auditions to opening night has felt much quicker than past years which could be a stressful situation. Rather than grumbling, they are viewing the show as a way to build up their own relationships – which is helpful as it mirrors this sweet story of deepened friendships.”

Ticket prices are $5 for students and $10 for adults and seniors. Tickets can be purchased in advance through the Hesston College Bookstore or by phone at 620-327-8105.

High school students are invited to a matinee performance during the annual Hesston College TheatreFest on Wednesday, September 27. This day-long event is structured to equip actors and tech crew members with skills necessary in the theatre industry, advance their abilities and have fun. Students will have an opportunity to audition and interview for a theatre scholarship after the performance.

Theatre camp for middle and high school students coming in June

Student actors ages 11 to 18 are invited to stage a live theatre performance at Hesston College’s annual summer theatre camp June 11 to 17. The weeklong theatre immersion will culminate in a public performance of the musical “Freaky Friday” at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 17, in the Hesston Mennonite Church sanctuary on the Hesston College campus.

Theatre camp offers students a chance to be fully involved in the process of creating something from nothing. Participants will have the opportunity to learn and expand on skills including vocalization, staging, choreography, safety protocol in the scene shop, scene painting techniques and how to thread a sewing machine. Students of all experience levels are encouraged to attend, even if they’ve never performed or used a drill.

“For the last nine years, even before it became an overnight event, the purpose of this camp has always been to tell stories and help young people gain confidence in who they are on and off the stage,” says Rachel Jantzi, Hesston College Theatre director and professor. “There is a spot for everyone and all are welcome.”

Theatre camp registration is $335 per person and includes lodging and meals for seven days and six nights, or $285 for day camp only. A discount is available for families registering more than one student. Registration is due June 8.

“To put together an entire show in a week is crazy and a blast,” Jantzi explains. “Also, our evening activities like going swimming, bonfires, movie nights and talent shows are a great way to build community and end each night before lights out.”

“Freaky Friday” is a new, hilarious musical based on the classic book about a mom and teen daughter switching bodies for a day and learning to appreciate what each other has to navigate. This show is upbeat and touching, with fun music to coincide.

Semester finale performances to highlight voice and theatre talents

Voice and theatre students will demonstrate their performance abilities during sophomore voice recitals on Friday, May 12, at 2 and 4 p.m. and a theatre showcase on Saturday, May 13, at 1 p.m.

The sophomore recitals will be held at Hesston College’s Black Box Theater in Keim Center with performances from a wide variety of musical styles including English and foreign language art song, musical theatre, pop, spirituals and oratorio.

“Sophomore recitals are opportunities for some Hesston College students who have taken private lessons for four semesters to showcase their technical and creative development,” explains music professor Holly Swartzendruber. “I work with the singers, and for me it’s wonderful to see their technical and musical growth.”

The 2 p.m. sophomore recital will feature Luke Huyard, tenor, and Sadie Oesch, mezzo-soprano, while the 4 p.m. recital will feature Jesse Kanagy, baritone, Ginny Miller, mezzo-soprano, and Abraham Cadillo Quispe, baritone.

The theatre showcase will also take place at Hesston College’s Black Box Theater in Keim Center with students from the Acting I and Acting II classes performing a series of monologues, scenes and additional assignments from the past semester, as well as a student-directed one act play.

“This group has been an absolute pleasure to work with this year and have developed as young actors,” says Rachel Jantzi, director of theatre. “You will see selections from plays and literature to film and even video game scripts!”

The showcase will wrap up with the short one act play, “The Wall: A Pilgrimage,” directed by graduating theatre scholar, Alexis Driscoll. This show is about a family visiting the Vietnam War Memorial and the feelings each member faces when recalling the soldier they lost.

Tomato Plant Girl performance to highlight bullying and acceptance

All generations will appreciate the message of kindness and friendship that grows in this year’s Theatre for Young Audiences production, “Tomato Plant Girl,” showing April 27 to 30 at the Hesston College Black Box Theater in Keim Center. Performances will be at 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Presented by Hesston College Theatre, “Tomato Plant Girl” is a powerful exploration of friendship between Little Girl, Bossy Best Friend and the messy Tomato Plant Girl who springs from the earth. While especially directed toward elementary school aged children, this 45-minute show is full of action and charm that all ages will enjoy.

“I love the fantasy and magic that happens when Tomato Plant Girl emerges from the earth,” explains Director Celaine Worden. “She is from another world, but teaches Little Girl an incredible lesson about true friendship. By the end of the show, Little Girl grows into a different, but stronger person.”

Highlighting the issues of bullying and acceptance of others, this play challenges the character of Little Girl to bravely discover the power of making up her own rules and leading with kindness. Worden hopes audience members of all ages will walk away knowing they have the power to stand up against bullying and through kindness and friendship, bring transformation for a better world.

“As we prepare to plant our gardens this spring, this story provides a positive perspective on our connection with the earth, and each other,” Worden says. “Just like plants, people can grow and flourish when our environment is supportive and kind.”

Hesston College Theatre will also present special showings for Hesston Elementary School students prior to their public performances.

Tickets are available at the door or may be purchased at the Hesston College Bookstore (620-327-8105). For more information, call 620-327-8142.

Hesston College Performing Arts presents The Apple Tree

Hesston College Performing Arts presents The Apple Tree on March 1 to 5, 2023, at the Hesston College Black Box Theater in Keim Center. The cast and crew are Hesston College students with a special appearance by a former Hesston College staff member and alum.

The Apple Tree is a work from Bock and Harnick, the same duo that created for Fiddler on the Roof and She Loves Me. The performance consists of three musical playlets with separate storylines yet connected by a theme. This play presents comedy, tragedy and romance.

“This show is so unique with its three-in-one structure,” said Director of Theatre Rachel Jantzi. “All the playlets fall under this familiar theme of choice and consequences and our cast has met the wonderful challenge of taking on a multitude of characters and vastly different genres of storytelling.”

The first playlet is The Diary of Adam and Eve by Mark Twain. The story tells the well-known tale in a new variation. The second playlet is a fable, The Lady or the Tiger. This performance tells a story of a forbidden love. The final playlet is Passionella, a modern twist on the Cinderella story that ends much more surprisingly than the original.

“This will be the first production that our new scenic and lighting designer, Micah Bachert, has created for Hesston College, and it is as unique as the show!” said Jantzi. “Every massive piece he designed is integral to the action and featured heavily throughout each story. I have had fun directing in such a creative space. This show is also special in that the band is featured onstage interacting with the characters.”

As an additional treat to this performance, Hesston College Theatre Guild members will serve an apple dessert for the audience to enjoy.

Tickets are available at the door or may be purchased at the Hesston College Bookstore (620-327-8105). For more information, call 620-327-8142.

Performing Arts presents It’s a Wonderful Life: The Live Radio Play

Hesston College Performing Arts presents It’s a Wonderful Life: The Live Radio Play on December 3, 2022, at 7 p.m. at Hesston Mennonite Church. The cast and crew are faculty and students alike with performances accompanied by Bel Canto Singers and Global Voices.

This beloved American holiday classic is performed as a live 1940s radio broadcast. With the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve. This production takes on an exciting challenge with the addition of sound effects occurring live, as they did in radio shows of the past.

“It can be a challenge for actors to have an audience buy-in to something so well known, when characters like George and Mary Bailey have been so iconically portrayed by Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed,” said Director of Theatre Rachel Jantzi. “We are embracing that challenge by telling the story without trying to mimic the film.”

This theatrical performance will collaborate with Bel Canto Singers and Global Voices to incorporate music before, during and after the show. Russell Adrian will conduct the singers and Ken Rodgers will accompany on piano.

The cast includes students – Sam Setiawan, Desirae Rodriguez and Josh Fleming – and faculty and staff members – Joel Krehbiel, engineering professor, and Whitney Douglas, the Title IX and disabilities coordinator. The crew is Alexis Driscoll, Sophia Crawford and Minori Fujioka.

“The actors are working hard to fully flesh out the folks of Bedford Falls, which are many,” said Jantzi, “and they are doing a beautiful job!”

This show is free to the public and will feature holiday refreshments after the event. For more information, call 620-327-8142.

Currently masks are optional, but the performance will comply with the masking policies of Hesston College and Hesston Mennonite Church. Audience members should be prepared to wear a mask if required.

Theatre department presents “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” Sept. 29 to Oct. 2

Hesston College Theatre will present four performances of the fall play Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang from Sept. 29 through Oct. 2, at the Keim Center Black Box Theater. Showtimes are at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The show is intended for high school age and older.

Winner of a 2013 Tony Award, the play depicts middle-aged siblings Vanya and Sonia who share a home in Bucks County, Pa., where they bicker and complain about the circumstances of their lives. Suddenly, their movie-star sister, Masha, swoops in with her new boyfriend, Spike. Old resentments flare up, eventually leading to threats to sell the house. Also on the scene are sassy maid Cassandra, who can predict the future, and a lovely young aspiring actress named Nina, whose prettiness somewhat worries the imperious Masha.

“This is a comedy everyone can relate to,” said director Celaine Worden. “It’s a universal story about our fear of change and finding the courage to form new friendships and experiences. The script is hilarious and brilliantly written.”

The cast includes Hesston College students Desirae Rodriguez, Sam Setiawan, Alexis Driscoll, Alexa Coburn; Hesston College alumnus Mitchell Stutzman; and faculty member Michele Hershberger. First year student Sophia Crawford is the stage manager.

Ticket prices are $5 for students and $10 for adults and seniors. Tickets can be purchased in advance through the Hesston College Bookstore or by phone at 620-327-8105. Seating is limited and will follow Hesston College health guidelines.

High school students are invited to a matinee performance during the annual Hesston College TheatreFest on Wednesday, September 28. This day-long event is structured to equip actors and tech crew members with skills necessary in the theatre industry, advance their abilities and have fun. Students will have an opportunity to audition and interview for a theatre scholarship after the performance. To register and learn more, visit hesston.edu/theatrefest.

Theatergoers of all ages invited to Hesston College production of “The House at Pooh Corner”

Hesston College’s Theatre for Young Audiences program returns to Dyck Arboretum of the Plains April 27 to May 1 to stage “The House at Pooh Corner,” adapted for the stage by Bettye Knappe from the book by A.A. Milne.

“The House at Pooh Corner” finds Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger and the rest of the toys gathering in the Hundred Acre Wood. A “Mergency Meeting” has been called to order by the boy, Christopher Robin, who is being sent to a mysterious place called Education. Nobody knows what or where that is, and if the boy is sent there, what can his friends possibly do without him?

“This show is a wonderful mix of college students, Hesston College faculty and staff and community members all working together to create a sweet retelling of the classic Pooh story,” said Rachel Jantzi, director of theatre at Hesston College. “Audiences will experience a concept that is less Disney and truer to the era in which the story was written. Our costumer has done fantastic research to create looks specific to the late 1920s, while the cast is wonderfully capturing the qualities of Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and the rest of the Hundred Acre Wood family.

“The simple message of friendship and the beautiful backdrop of Dyck Arboretum will be enjoyed by absolutely everyone,” Janzti said.

“The House at Pooh Corner” features a run time of approximately 60 minutes, and attendees are invited to bring their own seating arrangements for the arboretum lawn. Curtains for the April 27 to 29 shows open at 6 p.m. Two 2 p.m. matinees are scheduled for April 30 and May 1. The shows will be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Tickets are $5 for children and students and $10 for adults. Tickets can be reserved online in advance by calling 620-327-8105.

The cast, in order of appearance, includes:

• Rabbit – Phoebe Kolb, Milford, Neb.
• Kanga – Celaine Worden (Hesston College faculty)
• Roo – Rebecca Shuart (community member)
• Pooh – Malaree Hood (Hesston College staff)
• Piglet – Alexis Driscoll, Sedgwick, Kan.
• Eeyore – Smilla Burklin, Karlsruhle, Germany
• Christopher Robin – Destry Belshe (community member)
• Owl – Heidi Hochstetler (Hesston College faculty)
• Tigger – Josh Fleming, Raymore, Mo.
• Christopher Robin (understudy) – Sienna Belshe (community member)

Hesston College Theatre will offer a weeklong residential camp for 2022

Hesston College’s summer musical theatre camp will feature a new format in summer 2022. Aspiring actors and tech crew members ages 11 to 18 will stay in the dorms June 13 to 18 while participating in an immersive production schedule culminating in a Saturday matinee performance of the musical “The Addams Family.”

The weeklong overnight theatre camp replaces the two-week day camp with the goal to more fully immerse students in the theatre process. Mornings and afternoons will feature rehearsals and tech preparations. In the evenings campers will stay in the dorms and participate in activities including movie premiere night, variety show, a pool party, ultimate game night and more.

Over the last several years, Hesston College’s Summer Theatre Camp has become a popular summer event for high school and junior high students. In the year prior to the pandemic, the camp drew its largest enrollment with more than 40 participants who staged the musical, “School House Rock Live!”. During the summer of 2020, the camp was adapted for pandemic circumstances and staff worked with campers individually and produced a smaller showcase. Last year, much of the pre-pandemic camp format returned but with a smaller cast and crew staging “The Jungle Book” for an open air audience of more than 200.

This year the show selected is the family friendly musical comedy, “The Addams Family.” The show revisits the kooky characters from the classic TV show and exposes the “wackiness that can be found in every family.”

The 2022 summer theatre camp will start with 9 a.m. check in the morning of June 13 and end with a 2 p.m. matinee performance for family, friends and the community June 18. Rehearsals and meals will be in Keim Center with dorming campers staying in Kauffman Court on the Hesston College campus. Evening activities will occur on campus or within the town of Hesston. Camp staff and participants will follow appropriate health guidelines for Covid for the duration of the camp through the final performance.

Hesston College Director of Theatre Rachel Jantzi will direct and design the show, oversee staff and all camp programming. Director of Choral Activities Russell Adrian will lead voice and instrumental sessions, set up sound as well accompany for the final performance. Additional staff will choreograph, lead in areas of costuming and set building and supervise the campers overnight.

“This is sure to bring about a strong sense of collaboration and teamwork beyond anything we’ve seen,” said Jantzi. “I was a program director for a large camp in Connecticut for many years and it was incredible. There are friendships that can form so quickly in a week’s time and when you combine that with the shared interest of theatre, it makes a lifelong, positive impact.

“We are also hoping, with it being a sleep-away camp, we can bring in students from farther away who haven’t had the opportunity – for whatever reason- to drive back and forth for a traditional day camp,” Jantzi continued. “This will be an exciting test of interest. We hope to offer something bigger and better to the students who have been coming for years while also expanding our reach, and we will continue to offer those who are excited about acting, singing, dancing, building shows and running tech a serious chance to work and shine as a company member in musical theatre.”

Registration is $295 per person and $275 for each additional child from the immediate family. This includes room and daily meals for 6 days and 5 nights, all theatre materials – script and score, guide vocal tracks – and full evening programming and events. For those who only wish to participate during the morning and afternoon theatre sessions along with lunch, the cost is $245.

Questions? Contact Rachel Jantzi at rachelj@hesston.edu, 620-327-8142.