The War Whoop (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 61, No. 8, Ed. 1, Friday, December 2, 1983 Page: 5 of 8
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From top to bottom: Tim Jarrell Robert Edmunsen Harry
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Tim Jarrell (right) directs carolers (top row l.-r.): Paul Beck Stacy Fuller
Angola Fuller and Tara Fuller and (bottom row l.-r.): Trey Gillette and
Paul Jungmeyer
Theatre
By JERRY JONAS
Staff Writer
Why would anyone want to be a
theatre major?
Certainly not to become rich.
We've all heard stories of starv-
ing actors waiting on tables until
they get their "big break." So
why do they do it?
Theatre instructor Joe Harris
admits that "It Is not the way to
go if you want to make a lot of
money. People In the theatre arc
there because they feel the need
to communicate with others in a
special way to move others
appeal to their emotions. They
love the work. If you don't love it
you can't get anywhere in this
"field."
students
McMurry students are in the
theatre because they love it
although after graduation they
will participate in it in different
degrees and different ways.
Junior Ken Gregg is a theatre
major who hopes to pursue a
career in theatre obtaining his
teaching certificate from McMur-
ry to fall back on.
Gregg didn't really get interes-
ted in theatre until he was a junior
in high school. He began college
undecided about what to major in.
Gregg was working afternoons
and so couldn't go to rehearsals
and although he would have
loved to could be in no plays.
While pondering what to do
Marion Castleberry Assistant
Starks and Bob Utson
Left to right:
Hatchet and
combine
Professor of Theatre told Gregg
that he would have to make a
choice between theatre and work.
In the true artistic spirit Gregg
chose the theatre.
He says that "theatre at Mc-
Murry involves a little bit of
everything. I usually help con-
struct sets set up lights and other
odd jobs. Everyone does more
than one thing."
Freshman Shawn Kirkpatrick is
a business major minoring in
theatre. She plans to go into the
computer or business fields after
graduation although her first
love is the theatre.
"I hope to stay close to the
theatre maybe working in com-
munity theatre or if possible
commercials" she remarked.
Christmas Carol
production runs
through Sunday
Highlighting the production
with the use of dramatic spe-
cial effects McMurry's theatre
department will present "A
Christmas Carol: Scrooge and
Marley."
The play will be presented in
the Ryan Little Theatre tonight at
8 and Saturday and Sunday at
both 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets
may be purchased at the door at a
cost of S3 for adults $2 for
students and SI for children
under 12.
Starring in the production arc
Bob Latson as Scrooge and Tim
Jarrell as Marley. Nine-year-old
Jennifer Corpian plays Tiny Tim
Tracy Hamblen plays Bob
Cratchit Harry Starks is the
Ghost of Christmas Present and
11 year old Eric Otto is the Ghost
of Christmas Past. The play is
directed by Joe Harris instruc-
tor of theatre at McMurry.
John Gibson chairperson of
the music department arranged
and composed the music for the
play. He is also in charge of the
sound effects. Some of the sounds
will be created live on stage and
these will be combined with
recorded music to create the
environment and present elabo-
rate and unique effects.
"We will use Christmas carols
original music plus the sounds of
instruments typical of Christmas
time such as bells fiddles and
flutes" notes Gibson.
There will also be ghostly
voices claps of thunder and eerie
music to enhance certain scenes.
Sean Broomell Chris Broomed Tommy
Bob Latson
talent with desire
Harris states that "If a person
has talent and determination
they can make it as far as they
want to go."
So what is it like up there in
the limelight?
Harris laughs saying "There
is a lot of hard work involved to
get to that point: sets to build
endless rehearsals costumes to
make."
He says that "putting on a
performance can be draining
because you have to give some-
thing of yourself to an audience.
The audience wants its money's
worth. They want you to make
them laugh or cry or give them
some questions to answer."
Ominous scenes such as a
tombstone growing and domi-
nating the stage will be typical.
Harris notes that "the actors have
to carry it through with their awe
suprise and fear to complete the
effect." He adds that many of the
unusual effects will be sudden
and spontaneous.
Echoes and amplifications that
allow words to be extended and
sound as if they arc being
repeated quickly to add the
"eerie" feature will be utilized
for the ghosts and spirits in the
production. "This simply en-
hances the image we arc trying to
present" says Harris. "We can't
produce a 'filmy-looking' charac-
ter on the stage but we get the
message across very well with
vocal enhancement."
The setting for the play is still
traditional with a Victorian set-
ting of Christmas time in Eng-
land. Gibson says the changes came
about when "we asked ourselves
what sounds one should hear and
what sights one should see in a
certain scene. We created the
effects to Fit the situations and
took them a little further so the
audience really doesn't know
what to expect next."
All this allows the audience to
become more involved with the
production. "Their imagination
and reaction is a key" says
Harris. "However it's our role to
stir their imagination and create
the effects that get the desired
reaction."
Denise
He adds "Opening nights are
hectic and a bit frightening.
You've done all this work and
rehearsing but you can't tell
whether the chemistry is there
until the audience is there in front
of you."
Before the play is even over at
McMurry the next one is being
planned.
After the play's run has ended
the sets are torn down and new
ones are built for the McMurry
theatre department's next play.
After the final performance
there is little time to enjoy or
regret before the next production.
You learn from any mistakes
hopefully incorporating them
and prepare for the next production.
Morris.
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The War Whoop (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 61, No. 8, Ed. 1, Friday, December 2, 1983, newspaper, December 2, 1983; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth104426/m1/5/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting McMurry University Library.