In the News

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.

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.