The Union University Theatre Department wrapped up its spring show, “The School for Scandal,” this past week with showings from March 19 to March 23.
This marks the first full slate of showings for a theatre department production since the fall of last school year, with each of the two previous shows being cut short due to COVID-19. In contrast to COVID-19, this particular show had a lighthearted, comedic tone.
The show represents the final on-stage performances for several longtime faces in the theatre department. One of these individuals, senior psychology major Caroline Adcock, was hesitant to acknowledge that she was about to take the stage with her close peers for the last time.
“I think it’ll hit me closing night, but for now, I’m stubbornly choosing not to dwell on it,” said Adcock. “That being said, I had one gut-wrenching realization the other night: I don’t know when I’ll do theatre again.”
Adcock mentioned that some of her peers would be pursuing acting professionally after college, while she was being called elsewhere. Being pulled in separate directions post college is familiar to all students on their way out of the door, and this is especially true of the theatre department. Yes, some have aspirations of professional performances in the future and are pursuing a degree in the field, but other regular faces in the group are from various degrees of study and are pursuing a wide variety of careers. What is consistent throughout the program is a love for the stage.
Isabella Gray, a junior communication studies major, is set to become the next president of Alpha Psi Omega, Union’s chapter of a nationwide theatre fraternity, in the upcoming fall.
“The impact of realizing it’s over never hits until afterwards, when you suddenly aren’t around these people you’ve been seeing every week night for the last year,” said Gray. “But it’s not entirely a sad thing. After every closing show, everyone just hangs around longer than usual and reminisces on every wonderful memory the theatre has brought them over the years.”
Gray plans to place an emphasis on honoring the program’s seniors in her time as the head of APO and has already made strides in making sure that this is happening now.