The theatre program at Seton Hill University (SHU) gives talented hopefuls a chance to earn credentials by doing what they love most. Most students that choose theatre are so passionate about the art that they are willing to put incredible amounts of time into rehearsals.
Terry Brino-Dean, director of the theatre program, said �Our rehearsals are typically three to four hours long; we work most shows for five to six weeks before we open, and we usually rehearse six days a week during that time period�
By Krista Held,
Contributor
The theatre program at Seton Hill University (SHU) gives talented hopefuls a chance to earn credentials by doing what they love most. Most students that choose theatre are so passionate about the art that they are willing to put incredible amounts of time into rehearsals.
Terry Brino-Dean, director of the theatre program, said �Our rehearsals are typically three to four hours long; we work most shows for five to six weeks before we open, and we usually rehearse six days a week during that time period�
�Obviously, it’s a huge time commitment, but students know that the hard work pays off,� said Brino-Dean.
Matt Mlynarski, a freshman, agrees.
�If you�re not dedicated to this, you�ll drop the major,� Mlynarski said.
The costumes and sets for the department are constructed in Reeves Hall, led by Sue O�Neill and Ken Clothier.
Often, work study students are the ones who carry out the ideas and do the work of the designers. All theatre majors are also required to work on the sets as a part of a production class, which can be worth zero to three credits.
Freshman major, Justina Chiapelli said, �It’s very demanding for a three credit class. We always have somewhere to be.�
Those demands and time constraints can be extremely stressful.
�Time management is one of the most important things that theatre majors must learn very early on in their university training and education so they can be successful,� said Brino-Dean.
�They must be dedicated to all of their academic work as well as to our productions if they are going to be successful in our program,� Brino-Dean added.
�The quality of our work has to be the same, whether there are 20 or 200 people at our shows. We try to take every opportunity to be consistent and professional, because you don’tknow when you may do it next in the real world,� said Chiapelli.
Theatre students are disappointed that more SHU students don’tshow up for the productions.
�We see a lot of art and music majors, and that’s great because they can relate to what we try to do. We connect with them,� said Chiapelli.
� We�re not going to beg, but as a freshman here I am not used to the idea that other students don’tshow up for our shows,� added Chiapelli.
Upcoming is the production of �Everyman,� a 15th century morality play, which will run from February 23 through March 3. Student tickets are $5 with a valid SHU ID.
More information can be found on the school’s homepage.
View this writer’s profile.