THEATRE/IMPROV

Fall/Spring Plays
Students interested in theatre can participate in fall and spring productions at Manchester. Can you see yourself on the stage, under the lights—or maybe behind the scenes, running the sound or designing the set? Whatever your talent, you'll find a place at Manchester.

Manchester has outstanding venues for large or small scale productions, including the 1,300 seat Cordier Auditorium, with exceptional staging, lighting, and sound facilities; and Wampler Auditorium, a flexible theatre space with seating for 200.
See pictures from:

• The 2006 Homecoming play, "The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail"
• The 2006 Spring play, "Oxygen" 
• The 2007 Fall play, "Foxfire"

Student One Acts
Students have the opportunity to direct or act in a variety of One Act plays. These are produced by Alpha Psi Omega.

Alpha Psi Omega
Students may be elected to the national drama honorary society Alpha Psi Omega. Last year's spring production was "Cyrano De Bergerac."

Creative Dramatics
Dr. Strode’s Creative Dramatics class visits Manchester Elementary School each semester to provide students in the class an opportunity to lead elementary children in creative dramatics activities. The class also visits Peabody Retirement Community so college students interested in gerontology can lead residents in creative dramatics activities.

Controlled Catastrophe
Founded in 1993, Controlled Catastrophe, the student-run improv troupe, is modeled after the "Comedy Sports" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" of improvisation. The troupe performs at various times during the academic year and is available for off-campus engagements.

Touring Children's Theatre
Performing theatre for children, requires a particular emphasis on participatory plays, and a significant proportion of the course is devoted to touring. Students not only learn the principles and practices of organizing, performing and directing a touring theatre company for child audiences, they have fun, too! This activity is offered during January session, odd years. See pictures of the 2005 Participation Players in "Magical Faces."

Dr. Strode has also taken the concept of community connections abroad. In the spring of 2005, he directed David Holman’s “Peacemaker,” a play for child audiences, in Pristina, Kosovo. Since that time, the play has been performed in Pristina, on tour in Kosovo, and in Albania.