The start of the fall semester means the return of live performances at KSC. The Theatre and Dance Department has already begun work on a diverse range of upcoming shows spanning from live stage plays to dance showcases.
Auditions were held on Thursday, August 29 for the first two productions of the season: “After the Blast” directed by Professor of Theater Tyler Keyes and “Next to Normal” directed by Associate Professor of Theater and Dance Kirstin O’Brien.
“After the Blast” will run from October 9-12 at the Redfern Arts Center’s Wright Theatre, and “Next to Normal” will run from November 20 to November 23 in the Redfern Arts Center’s Main Theatre.
On March 5-8, Keyes will also direct Arthur Miller’s “The Creation of the World and Other Business,” with auditions scheduled to happen at the end of the fall semester. Keyes said he hopes anyone interested in theater will audition for the play.
“I’ve never seen a student community as supportive and welcoming as we have here at Keene State,” Keyes said. “If you’ve been feeling that push to get involved, just know that you will be welcomed and safe.”
Keyes said audition dates and times will be announced at the end of the fall semester.
A student-directed play will also take the stage at a later date, yet to be determined. Senior Reilly Salvador will direct a play as part of a student-directing project. Salvador is pending licensing approval for Shel Silverstein’s “One Tennis Shoe.”
“I laughed out loud when I first read the script and knew this is what I want to do,” said Salvador.
“Now that I’m a senior, I’m really excited for the opportunity to do this before I graduate. I couldn’t be happier to be doing this when the time feels right,” Salvador added.
Auditions for Salvador’s show will be announced at a later date.
A choreography showcase will open in the L.P. Young Student Center’s Mabel Brown Room from December 5-6. 11 students from Interim Dance Program Coordinator Molly Lynch-Clark’s Research and Choreography class will choreograph their own routines, which will be performed by KSC dancers. Interested dancers can audition for the showcase on Sunday, September 8 from 1-3 p.m. in the Mabel Brown Room.
“These students have studied composition and dance-making for the last three to four years, and it’s really exciting and special to see them bring their research to the stage. It’s going to be special to see how this movement-based project comes together,” said Lynch-Clark.
The 51st performance of KSC’s “Evening of Dance” will take place from April 17-19. Lynch-Clark said the performance will provide an opportunity for students who are interested in dance and performance to get involved.
“There’s so much the dance department is doing to provide opportunities for movers, makers, anyone with an interest to get involved,” Lynch-Clark said.
Ryan Pacheco can be contacted at
