In the News

Hesston College to present the well-loved musical, “James and the Giant Peach,” March 2 to 6

Hesston College Performing Arts will present five performances of James and the Giant Peach, March 2 through 6. Music and lyrics are by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and the book is by Timothy Allen McDonald, based on Roald Dahl’s story of quirky characters.

The musical follows Dahl’s 1961 children’s book, which traces the life of the orphan, James Trotter. After leaving the orphanage to live with his two horrible aunts, he discovers a peach growing outside. As the peach grows, he soon ventures inside it, befriending five interesting insects. Through a series of odd adventures, James gains an unexpected, unconventional understanding of what it means to be a family.

“The idea of creating a loving home is a wonderful thing, but for some, who you call family can also be by choice and that resonates with many people, including our cast and production team,” said director Rachel Jantzi. “This story is about surrounding yourself with those you love and who love you back…through pain and joy, they stay by your side.

“This musical has an incredible score that was written by the same men who wrote the music and lyrics for The Greatest Showman, La La Land and Dear Evan Hanson,” Jantzi continued. “The music is challenging, but we have strong performers who have been working hard to bring this show to life.

“A fun aspect of this show is the massive peach that can comfortably hold six singing and dancing actors, including one small James. Our James is a guest performer, a 10-year-old named Hannah, who has been incredible to work with and has really held her own among these college students. It’s been special watching the kind and encouraging interactions in our rehearsals.”

Cast

Hannah Adrian. . . . .James
Meg Byer. . . . .Ladahlord
Kayla Gunn. . . . .Spiker
Isaac Tice. . . . .Sponge
Kelly Miller. . . . .Spider
Luke Huyard. . . . .Centipede
Josh Fleming. . . . .Grasshopper
Anna Banman. . . . .Ladybug
Bethany Masters. . . . .Earthworm
Phoebe Kolb. . . . .ensemble
Ginny Miller. . . . .ensemble
Minori Fujioka. . . . .ensemble
Madison Higdon. . . . .ensemble

James and the Giant Peach will be shown in the Black Box Theater in Keim Center. Shows are scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, through Saturday, March 5, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 6. Tickets ($12 adults, $5 students) are available at the Hesston College Bookstore, 620-327-8104.

Audience will be required to wear masks. Performers who are fully vaccinated and tested will perform without masks.

“Home for Christmas” program to examine diversity of holiday experiences through theatre and music

The Hesston College Performing Arts Department will present “Home for Christmas” – a joint effort between Bel Canto Singers, conducted by Russell Adrian; Global Voices, conducted by Ken Rodgers; and theatre students, led by director Rachel Jantzi – that will explore what coming “home for Christmas” means for a diversity of people and cultures. The performance will take place Saturday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. at Hesston Mennonite Church.

“We are creating a show by piecing together our own stories; interviews from campus, articles and poems; and dance to communicate what coming ‘home for Christmas’ means for different people,” said Rachel Jantzi, director of theatre at Hesston College. “It doesn’t look the same for some of our students from around the world, or those who haven’t seen family due to COVID-19, or for any other multitude of reasons. For some, it’s just as it’s been, steeped in good food, family, tradition and nostalgia.”

The program will weave together original and adapted theatre pieces and music selections by Bel Canto Singers and Global Voices. Notable music selections include “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “Away in a Manger” and “The First Nowell.”

Two student conductors, Kelly Miller ’22 and Isaac Tice ’22, will conduct selected choral pieces as part of their Hesston College conducting course.

“We will be spending several rehearsals pulling together all our original and pulled written resources, then we will begin staging scenes we create from that work and also bring in bits of modern dance as a storytelling device,” Jantzi said. “We plan to incorporate multimedia and an interactive art piece that will help tell our story.”

All performers fully vaccinated for COVID-19 will perform without masks. Audience members are required to wear masks. No tickets are required, but a free-will offering will be accepted following the performance.

First Sunflower Soirée to feature local artists as 2021–22 Sunflower Performing Arts series kick-off

The Sunflower Performing Arts series will begin Oct. 31 at 3 p.m. with the first-ever Sunflower Soirée, a concert of local and regional artists that also promotes the season ahead and kicks off the organization’s annual patron drive.

Free of charge, this event will feature the following artists: pianist Karen Schlabaugh; The Sunflower Trio; flautists Kristin Shaffer and Kenna Graber; guitarists Howard Glanton and Excier Rodriguez; soprano Holly Swartzendruber and pianist Karen Unruh; and musicians Ken Rodgers and Russell Adrian.

Sunflower Performing Arts season tickets can be purchased or picked up at the concert. Tax-deductible donations can also be made to Sunflower Performing Arts during this time. In place of a spring pie reception for season ticket holders, light refreshments will be served.

Formerly the Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts series, the Sunflower Performing Arts series will continue to feature world-renowned artists. The 2021-22 lineup includes: Canadian Brass on Dec. 7; Mad River Theater Works Presents: Freedom Riders on Jan. 28; VOCES8 on Feb. 22; and Stephen Lancaster, baritone, and Kevin Vaughn, organ, on Mar. 27. All concerts will take place at Hesston Mennonite Church.

During the 2021-22 SPA season, COVID-19 precautions will be taken. Attendees will no longer be able to reserve specific seats, but will instead be offered general admission seating in two sections. Audience members and staff are required to wear masks while inside the church and the visiting artists will wear masks when not rehearsing or performing.

Theatre department to stage “The Game’s Afoot,” a whodunit comedy set on Christmas Eve

Hesston College Theatre will present four performances of the murder mystery comedy “The Game’s Afoot” as the fall play from Sept. 30 through Oct. 3, at the Keim Center Black Box Theater. Showtimes are at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Oct. 3. The play is rated PG.

“The Game’s Afoot” won the 2012 Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Awards for best play. William Gillette, an acclaimed actor of the 1930s, invites his Sherlock Holmes co-stars to his eccentric Connecticut mansion for a Christmas Eve celebration. When one of the guests is murdered, Gillette employs the persona of the master detective he’s made famous on the stage as he and the others work to solve the mystery.

“It’s such a fun show,” said director Celaine Worden. “Not only is it a murder mystery, but it’s also a comedy. There is a lot of physical humor, and it allows people to laugh. Now more than ever, we could all use a laugh.”

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

This Hesston College production is part of a seasonal lineup centered on “the home,” and stars eight student actors: Quinton Yoder as Gillette; Kayla Gunn as Martha; Isaac Tice as Felix; AnDena Collins as Madge; Josh Fleming as Simon; Phoebe Kolb as Aggie; Savannah Zink as Inspector; and Smilla Burkin as Daria.
 

Theatre department to stage “Superior Donuts,” an examination of race, class and generational issues

Hesston College’s Theatre department will present five performances of “Superior Donuts,” a play by Tracy Letts. The show is directed by theatre professor Rachel Jantzi. Performances will take place in the Black Box Theater in Keim Center on Hesston College campus, April 14 to 18. Shows on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday start at 7 p.m. Sunday’s matinee show begins at 2 p.m.

“Superior Donuts” is set in the modern-day Uptown area of Chicago. It depicts the unexpected friendship between Arthur, a down-and-out donut shop owner and Franco, his enthusiastic employee. Franco brings a fresh perspective and wants to update the place, while the reluctant Arthur struggles with changing the shop and changing his ways. A comedy with heart and a bit of grit, Superior Donuts introduces us to a wide range of neighborhood dwellers and unapologetically hits on economic, racial and generational issues.

“This show has been on my mind for over three years,” said Jantzi. “The characters are deeply flawed, complicated, hilarious, tragic and very human. This play reminds the audience that not everyone’s American experience is the American dream.”

Tickets are $5 for students, $10 for adults and seniors, and can be reserved by phone at 620-327-8105. Tickets may also be purchased on site. Seating is limited and will be socially distanced and masks are required. The show is rated PG-13 for some language.

The cast and crew for “Superior Donuts” are as follows:

Cast . . . . . Role

Alex Miller . . . . . Arthur
Silas Nicholson . . . . . Franco
Tristan Costin . . . . . Max
Kayla Gunn . . . . . Randy
Emerson Ross* . . . . . James
Michele Hershberger** . . . . . Lady
Isaac Tice . . . . . Luther
Xavier Jang . . . . . Kevin
Josh Fleming . . . . . Kiril
* Guest student performer—WSU; ** Hesston College faculty

Crew . . . . . Position

Madison Higdon . . . . . Stage Manager
Kaytlen Keough . . . . . Assistant Stage Manager, Sound Board Operator
Jacob Hess . . . . . Lighting Assistant, Light Board Operator
Savannah Zink . . . . . Costume, Hair & Make-up Chief
Rachel Weaver . . . . . Costume Crew
Alyssa Nolt . . . . . Costume Crew
Kelly Miller . . . . . Props Master
Diane Soguilon . . . . . Head Usher

Middle and high school students to experience staging live theatre at summer theatre camp

Middle school- and high school-age actors ages 11 to 18 are invited to stage a live theatre performance at Hesston College’s annual summer theatre camp on weekdays June 7 to 18.

Led by Hesston College Theatre director and professor, Rachel Jantzi, the summer theatre camp, now in its seventh year, will keep the same format as 2019’s camp. This year’s event will combine middle and high school-age students for a two-week camp in which participants will prepare and produce the musical “The Jungle Book.”

Acting and technical roles will be available for the show, with auditions held during camp. Participants will also have the opportunity to experience every aspect of staging a performance from set construction to working backstage and performing. Many rehearsals and the performance of “The Jungle Book” may be staged outdoors, fitting the natural setting of the play and allowing for a safer space to do theatre. Social distancing and masking guidelines will be established according to recommendations from the Harvey County Health Department.

Based on the collection of stories by Rudyard Kipling and the beloved animated Disney musical, “The Jungle Book” tells the story of Mowgli, an orphan raised by wolves in the Indian jungle whose world is threatened by the dangerous tiger, Shere Khan. The musical features such recognizable songs as “The Bare Necessities” and “I Wanna Be Like You.”

Theatre camp registration is $110 per person. Families registering more than one student will pay full price for the first student and receive a $20 discount for each additional student of the same immediate family. To register, contact Rachel Jantzi at 620-327-8142 or rachelj@hesston.edu. Registration is due June 1.

Daily workshops and rehearsals will be from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Hesston College’s Keim Center. A live public performance will follow.

Theatre to present “Silent Sky,” a powerful portrayal of a woman’s work with the stars

The Hesston College Theatre department will present five performances of “Silent Sky,” a play by Lauren Gunderson about pioneering astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, portrayed by sophomore Kaytlen Keough. The show is directed by theatre professor Rachel Jantzi and will feature live music by Hesston faculty members Dr. Holly Swartzendruber and Ken Rodgers. Performances will take place at Hesston High School Auditorium Feb. 27 and 28. Saturday’s showtimes are at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday’s show begins at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $5 for students, $10 for adults and can be reserved through the Hesston College Bookstore by phone at 620-327-8105 or may be purchased on site. Seating is limited and will be socially distanced and masks are required. The show is rated PG + 10 and up.

Inspired by actual events, Leavitt’s story starts early in the 20th century, during which time she discovered more than 2,400 variable stars, which was about half of the known total in her day. However, Leavitt’s most important contribution was calculating distances to stars up to 10 million light years away. According to PBS, Leavitt’s measurements became the “yardstick to the universe.”

“We are so excited to tell Henrietta Leavitt’s story,” said Jantzi. “The play is an exploration of not only the stars, but the extraordinary woman whose work helped us get a little closer to them.”

The cast and crew for “Silent Sky” are as follows:

Cast . . . . . Role
Kaytlen Keough (Albany, Ore.) . . . . . Henrietta
Savannah Zink (McPherson, Kan.) . . . . . Williamina
Kelly Miller (Archbold, Ohio) . . . . . Annie
Rachel Weaver (Broadway, Va.) . . . . . Margaret
Xavier Jang (Siheung-si, South Korea) . . . . . Peter

Crew . . . . . Position
Alex Miller (Arlington, Kan.) . . . . . Stage Manager
Kayla Gunn (Hillsboro, Kan.) . . . . . Assistant Stage Manager
Tristan Costin (Goddard, Kan.) . . . . . Assistant Light Designer
Jacob Hess (Harrisonburg, Va.) . . . . . Light Board Operator
Josh Fleming (Raymore, Mo.) . . . . . Sound Board Operator
Shanti Kauffman (Sheridan, Ore.) . . . . . Costume/Hair/Makeup Crew Chief
Diane Soguilon (Newton, Kan.) . . . . . Costume Crew
Madison Higdon (Fort Collins, Colo.) . . . . . Props Master
Silas Nicholson (Hesston, Kan.) . . . . . House Manager
Isaac Tice (Hutchinson, Kan.) . . . . . Head Usher

Sunflower Performing Arts at Hesston College makes a new start

It hasn’t been an easy year for a lot of folks. And the performing arts have had an especially hard time. When you make your livelihood with your body and your breath, and when your audience has traditionally gathered in confined, close quarters to hear and see you, finding ways to entertain others while keeping everyone safe can be a challenge.

So, in a year when everything changed, Hesston’s long-running arts and music series made some changes as well, including shifts in partnership, a new name and for the first time in its history, a postponed season.

As it was when the series first began in 1982, Hesston College is now the sole presenter of the 38-year performance series. What was then known as the Hesston Performing Arts (HPA) series was then expanded to include a new partner in 1998: Bethel College. Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts (HBPA) shows alternated between the two campuses for two decades until, after the 2019-20 season, Bethel left the partnership.

This new arrangement meant the venerable arts series needed a new name. Working with stakeholders and the college, director Holly Swartzendruber decided on a new name for a new era: the Sunflower Performing Arts at Hesston College, or SPA. Swartzendruber says that “the name ‘Sunflower Performing Arts at Hesston College’ both acknowledges the beloved state flower of Kansas, and signifies a fresh start for the series.”

Though the series has a new name and a new configuration, its long history of excellence will continue. “HPA and HBPA established a tradition of providing world-class artistry for Harvey County and the surrounding area,” said Swartzendruber. “The performing arts should reflect society: help us see who we are and who we can be. With the series, we hope to highlight especially the vocal/choral and theatre arts, as Hesston College has strong academic programs and performing opportunities in both of those areas.”

While Sunflower Performing Arts may not be a familiar name as yet, the series has a long history and many loyal patrons. And Swartzendruber intends to put together seasons that keep them coming back.

“Personally, finding a balance of familiar favorites and the new and unexpected in each season is one of my favorite aspects of my job as director,” Swartzendruber said. “I compare creating a season to putting together a jigsaw puzzle—occasionally challenging, always rewarding.”

Swartzendruber looked forward to experiencing a first under the name Sunflower Performing Arts alongside her fellow music and theatre lovers. But the COVID-19 pandemic forced a change of plans.

“While we were obviously saddened to do so, we decided to postpone the 2020-21 season,” Swartzendruber said. “We felt this was the safest route to take.” The scheduled slate of performers, including Canadian Brass and Mad River Theater Works, will return to Kansas for the 2021-22 season.

The first concert of the 2021-22, featuring renowned chamber ensemble Canadian Brass, will occur on December 5 at Hesston Mennonite Church. Further scheduling information can be found at the SPA series’ Facebook page @SunflowerPerformingArtsHC.

Hesston College Theatre to present “Charlotte’s Web”

The Hesston College Theatre department will five performances of Charlotte’s Web, a dramatization by Joseph Robinette based on the book by E.B. White. The show is directed by theatre professor Celaine Worden. Performances will take place at Dyck Arboretum of the Plains Sept. 23 to 27 with Wednesday, Thursday and Friday shows staring at 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday shows at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $5 for children and students, $10 for adults and can be reserved through the Hesston College Bookstore website and purchased on site.

Seating is limited and will be socially distanced by families or individuals. No seating provided; blankets or lawn chairs are encouraged.

The play runs for approximately 50 minutes. Masks are required for the duration of the show, which will be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.

The Sunday, Sept. 27 performance was postponed to Sunday, Oct. 4 due to rain.