In the News

Experience the magic of “’Twas the Night After Christmas”

Last year’s collaboration between music and theatre brought “A Christmas Carol” to stage with music by Bel Canto Singers and Josh Fleming as Scrooge.

Hesston College Performing Arts invites the community to a unique music and theater experience, “’Twas the Night After Christmas,” on December 8, at 7 p.m. at Hesston Mennonite Church. Admission is free, and attendees of all ages are welcome to join in an evening of reflection, artistry and collaboration.

A special effort between Hesston College’s theatre and music departments creates an enchanting performance. The two disciplines met early in the creative process and later found their efforts intertwined to create moments that feel intentionally crafted for one another. Some of the songs provided the main inspiration for a piece, while others enhance a scene or offer a musical interlude. All of the music beautifully complements the unfolding vignettes, bringing depth to this showcase of heartfelt exploration. In the spirit of the season, the audience will also be invited to join in singing a few traditional Christmas favorites.

Unlike traditional performances, “’Twas the Night After Christmas” is a devised theatre piece, uniquely crafted entirely by current Hesston College theatre students alongside Rachel Jantzi, director of theatre. She shares how the creative process behind this piece is as distinct as the performance itself.

“We started with nothing, and we worked collaboratively to build a script using our own experiences, interviews with others and additional inspirations like poetry, music, dance, journalism and art,” Jantzi explains. “What happens to our relationship with the nativity story after the hurriedness and excitement of the season comes to an end was the idea and starting point for us. The creators of the piece then become the performers, so it all feels very personal and immediate.”

The production features student actors Anja Martinez of Topeka, Kan.; Ashleigh Williams of Eaton, Colo.; Caroline Miller of Arlington, Kan.; Chloe Robinson of Moore, Okla.; Christian Ryan of Topeka, Kan.; Desirae Rodriguez of Wichita, Kan.; Jamie Krehbiel of Hesston, Kan.; Josh Fleming of Raymore, Mo.; and Kyrsten Pauley of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; with tech support from Uyen (Ava) Huynh of Lamdong, Vietnam; and Sam Setiawan of Goshen, Ind.

The vocal talents of Hesston College’s premier vocal choir, Bel Canto Singers, includes Lily Corkill of Olsburg, Kan.; Evelyn Gaertner of Newton, Kan.; Jamie Krehbiel of Hesston, Kan.; Caroline Miller of Arlington, Kan.; Desirae Rodriguez of Wichita, Kan.; Uyen (Ava) Huynh of Lamdong, Vietnam; Misaki Kurata of Osaka, Japan; Anja Martinez of Topeka, Kan.; Ashleigh Williams of Eaton, Colo.; Rylee Weishaupt of Goshen, Ind.; Josalyn Wipf of Huron, S.D.; Gabriel Clark of Goshen, Ind.; Angelo Jenkins of Oklahoma City, Okla.; Charles Miller of Arlington, Kan.; Nolan Gorman of Redmond, Ore.; Devin Miller of Hesston, Kan.; Sebastian Pavlovich of Lindsborg, Kan.; Christian Ryan of Topeka, Kan.; Ethan Thompson of Hesston, Kan.; with Ken Rodgers as conductor and Russell Adrian as accompanist.

“We’re excited to welcome audiences to a thoughtfully constructed evening that feels intimate and conversational,” says Jantzi. “Our goal is to spark meaningful, thought-provoking conversations that extend beyond the holidays.” Join us for an evening that promises to be as warm and engaging as a fireside chat and aims to keep the season’s message alive in a fresh, personal way. For those unable to attend in person, the production will be live streamed at hesston.edu/livestream. Also, the Hesston College Theatre Guild will provide cookies, cocoa and warm cider following the performance.

Hesston College Theatre bringing “Antigone” to the stage

Caption: Actors Caroline Miller as Antigone, Chloe Robinson as Ismene and Desirae Rodriguez as Nurse prepare to impress audiences during a rehearsal this week. “Antigone” will take the stage in Keim Center’s Black Box Theater September 26 through 28 at 7 p.m. and September 29 at 2 p.m.

Hesston College Theatre Department is set to captivate audiences with their production of “Antigone” by Jean Anouilh. Performances will be held in Keim Center’s Black Box Theater at 7 p.m. September 26 through 28 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, September 29.

Inspired by the ancient Greek tragedy by Sophocles, Anouilh wrote this version in 1944 about the then-current Nazi occupation of France. Even with historic roots, this play continues to invoke thought relevant to current issues.

“Themes of war, tyranny and questions regarding laws of man and gods are just as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago,” explains Rachel Jantzi, director of theatre. “In this election year, I think producing a play about power and how it is handled could make for some good discussions.”

A shorter play with no intermission, attendees will enter into the theater space through a scenic facade with 12-foot columns around them which are intended to make them feel included in the same space as the actors. Themes of war, death and abuse of power run throughout the performance. While there is no blood or coarse language, it is best suited for audiences over age 12.

Jantzi says one of her favorite aspects of this production has been the collaboration on the set and lighting design with fellow Newton Community Theatre executive board members Jocelyn Wilkinson and Jeffrey Graber, both of Newton. She is also excited to see the play take the stage knowing it is a difficult one to produce, but that she has students who can pull it off.

“It has been inspiring to watch my students really feed on this script and push themselves to expand on these characters and fully flesh them out. The sheer amount of line work that is required of Creon and Antigone is incredible,” Jantzi says. “We’ve taken some risks with this show, conceptually, but every choice has been carefully considered so that the concept doesn’t lack reason.”

Students involved in this production include Anja Martinez of Topeka, Kan., Caroline Miller of Arlington, Kan., Desirae Rodriguez of Wichita, Kan., Chloe Robinson of Moore, Okla., Christian Ryan of Topeka, Kan., Josh Fleming of Raymore, Mo., Jamie Krehbiel of Hesston, Kan., Evelyn Gaertner of Newton, Kan., Kyrsten Pauley of Lee’s Summit, Mo., Ava Huynh of Lam Dong, Vietnam, Sam Setiawan of Goshen, Ind., Hope Dewey of Wichita, Kan., Tana Hayworth of Lincoln, Kan., Zoe Duran of Newton, Kan., as well as HC staff member Jose Gloria of Newton.

This show has also been entered for adjudication in the Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival. An adjudicator will be on campus for the Thursday evening performance, meet with the cast, crew and production team and offer their response to the show. The adjudicator will select one or two student actors to perform with their acting partner and represent Hesston College in January at the Regional Festival in Des Moines, Iowa.

Ticket prices are $5 for students and $10 for adults and seniors. Tickets can be purchased in advance through Hesston College Bookstore by phone at 620-327-8105. For more information about “Antigone” by Jean Anouilh, visit our theatre page.

High school students are invited to a matinee performance during the annual Hesston College TheatreFest on Wednesday, September 25. 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.

Annual theatre camp to present “Mean Girls”

Student actors ages 11 to 18 are invited to stage a live theatre performance at Hesston College’s annual summer theatre camp June 16 to 22. The weeklong theatre immersion will culminate in a public performance of the musical “Mean Girls” at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 22, in the Hesston Mennonite Church sanctuary on the Hesston College campus.

“Our theatre camp is a great way for students to have fun and grow in their love of theatre,” says Rachel Jantzi, director of theatre at Hesston College. “At the end of the week when our actors and tech crew take their final bow on a show we put together in six and a half days, they are exhausted, but proud. They have accomplished something so difficult while making lasting friendships in a place that allows them the opportunity to gain confidence and courage.”

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.

“I look forward to running this camp every year,” says Jantzi. “I love teaching that first dance number, staging that first scene, hearing that opening song, waiting for that first piece of scenery to be loaded in, watching them practice on their break time, listening to them sing the score as they walk from lunch back to rehearsal, and seeing them light up when it all starts coming together. My most favorite thing, though, is watching families and friends applaud and recognize the hard work their kids have done. It leaves them beaming!

Jantzi believes that “Mean Girls” will be a great selection for the camp’s performance because it tackles important issues young people will relate to.

“I wanted to do a newer show that had a wide range of leads and supporting characters,” says Jantzi. “I think Tina Fey is a good comedic writer who can weave a solid story into a ridiculous scenario. It’s a you-reap-what-you-sow film that asks how much are you willing to lose to please others, people who wouldn’t even give you the time of day? The musical tackles this and many other themes that students this age need to talk about, but with a snappy musical soundtrack, of course.”

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. Participants can visit the Theatre Camp page for details and to register online. Registration is due June 10.

Local playwriting festival takes the stage

For the first time since 2019, Hesston College will present their local playwriting showcase, Pen to Paper to Performance, on April 26 and 27 at 7 p.m. in the Keim Center Black Box Theater. Nine ten-minute plays were chosen from dozens of submissions to be produced and performed by the Hesston College Theatre Department.

“I love this event because it not only showcases the talent of our department and campus, but also the creativity in our communities,” says Rachel Jantzi, director of theater at Hesston College and creator of Pen to Paper to Performance.

The winning playwrights hail from communities like McPherson and Wichita to Hesston’s own campus. Jantzi created this festival as a way to encourage people who are curious about playwriting to give it a try. She enjoys seeing the different writing styles of the playwrights and how they translate to an onstage production.

“It’s fun to see how the playwrights react to seeing their ideas and dialogue spring to life,” explains Jantzi. “It takes a lot of courage to trust others to take what you wrote and move it from the page to the stage, but this process – one that promotes trust, vulnerability and collaboration – is what theatre allows and encourages.”

With a wide variety of genres and subject matter, here are this year’s winning submissions:

• Check by Cassie Balzer, Wichita, Kan.
• Bad Episode by Skye Colaw, McPherson, Kan.
• Tooter-Bug by Travis Duerksen, Goessel, Kan.
• Death by a Thousand Papercuts by Michele Hershberger, Hesston, Kan.
• Butter Woman by Patricia Middleton, Topeka, Kan.
• Trapped by Sam Setiawan ’24 (Hesston College student), Goshen, Ind.
• Writer’s Block by Mitch Stutzman, Hesston, Kan.
• A Fine Day for a Felony by Caitlin Waits, Winfield, Kan.
• The Menno Simons House for Wayward Christians by Matt Lehman Wiens, McPherson, Kan.

An ensemble of 16 actors will portray various roles in the performances with each actor appearing in at least two of the shows. The ensemble includes Hesston College students Meg Beyer, Josh Fleming, Hadassa Friesen, Joy Jones, Jamie Krehbiel, Caroline Miller, Charlie Miller, Desirae Rodriguez, Sam Setiawan, Rylee Weishaupt and Ashleigh Williams, faculty and staff members Jose Gloria, Michele Hershberger, Johann Reimer and Ken Rodgers, and community member Mitch Stutzman.

Admission is free for Hesston College students, $5 for outside students and $10 for adults and seniors. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door or in advance by calling 620-327-8104. Seating is limited, so early arrival is encouraged. Talkback sessions with the playwrights will follow the shows and each playwright will receive a portion of the box office earnings.

“Little Shop of Horrors” performance highlights romance and tragedy

Hesston College Theatre will demonstrate why you should be careful what you wish for with their spring musical production of “Little Shop of Horrors” from Feb. 28 through March 3. The show is suggested for ages 10 and up. Performances will be held in the Keim Center Black Box Theater at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

The show centers around a small flower shop on Skid Row that gets taken over by a bloodthirsty alien plant. This award-winning musical will discuss themes of greed and survival while showcasing fun choreography, wicked humor and beloved songs by Alan Menken. Director Celaine Worden is ecstatic to bring this off-broadway hit to the Hesston community.

“For over 30 years this delightful show has been making audiences laugh, scream and consider giving up gardening altogether,” says Worden. “We have a talented cast of students, faculty, staff and alumni excited to bring this story to life.”

The cast includes Hesston College students Caroline Miller, Meg Beyer, Hadassa Friesen, Desirae Rodriguez, Daniel Miller, Charlie Miller, Josh Fleming, Alyssa Coonce, Ashleigh Williams and Jamie Krehbiel; Hesston College employees Del Hershberger and Jose Gloria; and community member Mitchell Stutzman. The musical ensemble will consist of Fleming, Coonce, Williams, Krehbiel and Gloria as well as student Lily Corkill and faculty member Michele Hershberger. Faculty members Holly Swartzendruber and Ken Rodgers will assist with the production, as the music director and pit director respectively. Community member Scott Steinert will fill the technical director role for the show. As a special treat, the Bel Canto Singers will join the cast in the musical’s opening number.

Ticket prices are $5 for students and $12 for adults and seniors. Tickets can be purchased in advance through the Hesston College Bookstore or by phone at 620-327-8104.

Now accepting submissions for Hesston College’s playwriting festival

It’s back! After a four-year hiatus, it’s time again for south central Kansas playwrights – both amateur and experienced – to exercise their creativity and storytelling abilities with submissions to Hesston College Theatre’s “Pen to Paper to Performance” playwriting festival.

Submissions for the 10-minute play festival will be accepted through March 8. Eight winning submissions will be notified March 15 and will be produced in the final showcase event April 26 and 27. Playwrights of winning submissions will receive a percentage of the box office earnings.

Launched in 2017 by Hesston College Theatre Director Rachel Jantzi, the “Pen to Paper to Performance” (P3) playwriting festival has become a sought after experience both for local playwrights and audience members who get to see the stories come to life on stage. With the plays performed by Hesston College Theatre students, the event allows voices and talent from the community and across the region to be heard and shared.

“Audiences and past submitters asked if P3 would make a comeback – it’s nice, knowing it’s been missed,” Jantzi says. “I’m thrilled to get submissions from our returning playwrights, and I’m also excited to receive work from those new to the genre.”

In the past, P3 productions have featured nonfiction accounts based on historical or personal events, fictional works as commentary on important societal issues, fables, folktales, lighthearted humor and drama. Jantzi encourages all ages and skill levels to consider submitting a play on a topic that speaks to them.

“Don’t let a lack of experience or age stop you. Look over a play to see how it’s formatted and then start writing,” she recommends. “Everyone has a story in them, and we’d love to help tell yours.”

10-Minute Play Festival submission criteria:

Scripts are accepted until March 8. Eight selected submissions will be produced in the final showcase event, “Pen to Paper to Performance,” April 26 and 27 in the Keim Center Black Box Theater on the Hesston College campus. Winning submissions will be notified March 15 and will receive a percentage of the box office earnings. Rehearsals for the chosen shows will begin the following week.

Submission rules:

• No more than two plays per playwright.
• Scripts should fall between eight and 12 pages and run roughly 10 minutes.
• Suggested number of characters is three to five.
• Location and setting expectations should be minimal for the sake of logistics.
• No musicals.
• Original work only; no previously produced work.
• Submissions will be acknowledged via email, but no critiques will be offered.
• Please staple hard copies of scripts. Please no binders, covers or folders.
• Director reserves the right to edit for the sake of time or logistics in collaboration with the playwright.
• Work from outside of Kansas will not be considered.

How to submit:
Please submit both a hard copy and an emailed copy. Hard copies will not be returned. Plays should include a cover page with the following information:

• Play title
• Playwright’s name
• Playwright’s phone number
• Playwright’s email address

Deliver or mail submissions to:
Hesston College
c/o Rachel Jantzi, Keim Center
PO Box 3000
Hesston, KS 67062

Email an identical copy to rachelj@hesston.edu with “10-minute play” in the subject line.

Music and theatre programs will continue at Hesston College

The office of academics announced this week that the music and theatre academic programs will continue beyond the current academic year.

While activities within performing arts, such as choirs, private lessons and theatre productions have always been a part of the college’s long-term plans, the music and theatre academic programs were initially included in the program closures announced in November. Hesston College’s administrative council has since worked with directors of both programs to collaboratively identify a sustainable plan for course offerings and sequencing, allowing the music and theatre academic programs to continue beyond the 2023-24 academic year.

“We’re always looking for ways to enhance the student experience,” says Dr. Ross Peterson-Veatch, Hesston College’s interim president. “Continuation of the theatre and music programs will provide our students with outlets for creativity that will complement their academic journeys, no matter what field of study they choose to pursue.”

These course offerings will not affect the restructuring layoffs within academics announced in November, which included one music faculty member and one theatre faculty member.

Performance will take new approach on a classic holiday tale

Hesston College Performing Arts will ring in the holiday season with a performance of “A Christmas Carol” on Saturday, December 2. The one act production gives a fresh, new perspective to the well-known story. The performance will be held in the Hesston Mennonite Church at 7 p.m. Admission is free to the public.

“A Christmas Carol” has been one of the world’s most beloved holiday stories for over one hundred years. This new adaptation by Jerome McDonough combines Charles Dickens’ words with open staging, a fresh exciting script and beautiful music by the Bel Canto Singers and the Global Voices choir. Cast members will form a living cyclorama, panoramic view, before which all scenes are acted.

“Hesston College is thrilled to bring this classic Yuletide tale to the community and hopes everyone is inspired by the show’s message of charity and gratitude for the people around us,” said director Celaine Worden.

The talented cast consists of students Josh Fleming, Christian Ryan, Caroline Miller, Hadassa Friesen, Desirae Rodriguez, Alyssa Coonce, Joy Jones and Lily Corkill; faculty and staff Jose Gloria and Tim Shuart; and community members Micah Adrian, Hannah Adrian, Rebecca Shuart, Elijah Adrian and Howard Keim. The light and sound operator is student Sam Setiawan.

Refreshments will be served after the performance by the Hesston College Theatre Guild, and there will be a special photo opportunity with Scrooge and Tiny Tim.

Masterworks remembers Tony Brown with a tribute concert

This year’s Masterworks concert presented by the Hesston College music department has a personal significance to the Hesston community. The memory of Hesston College alumnus and former employee Tony Brown will be honored with a concert titled Peacing it Together: A Tribute to Tony Brown. The performance takes place November 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Hesston Mennonite Church. A pre-concert life story sharing will be given by former college employees John Sharp and Dallas Stutzman and current music professor Ken Rodgers at 7 p.m.

The concert will honor Brown’s lifelong pursuit of peace building through music. Masterworks chorus and orchestra, along with soloists Dr. Holly Swartzendruber and Keith Harris, will perform compositions Brown held dear to his heart. Selected works include a scene from “Elijah” by Felix Mendelssohn, “Old American Songs” by Aaron Copland and a wide collection of spirituals and art songs.

Swartzendruber, a professor in the Hesston College music department, has performed numerous operatic roles and has sung soprano solos in Handel’s “Messiah,” the Brahms “Requiem” and Mozart’s “Requiem.” In addition to her work at Hesston, Swartzendruber teaches private voice lessons to area high school students, leads voice performance classes and adjudicates regionally and statewide.

Harris, a close personal friend and colleague of Brown, has an impressive list of credits including performances with the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Israeli Opera, Teatro Comunale Bolzano, Seattle Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Lyrique en Mer France, Opera Tampa, Toledo Opera and is a frequent soloist at Carnegie Hall and the theaters at Lincoln Center. His album Keep on Climbing, a collection of inspirational and religious music, can be found on iTunes and Amazon and his book “The Odds Against: Finding the advantage in your disadvantage,” also available on Amazon, discusses his journey with dyslexia and becoming a professional singer. Harris is a sought-after voice teacher, choral conductor, voice over artist and jingle singer.

A member of the college’s class of 1969, Brown returned to campus in fall 2000 to teach sociology and anthropology and serve as artist in residence at Hesston. In the nearly 20 years Brown spent at Hesston, he touched the lives of so many people in the community and across the globe. Brown died May 22, 2023 after a brief illness.