Category: Theatre

ECC Theatre to Present Filmed Play, “The Yellow Boat”

The East Central College Theatre Department will virtually present “The Yellow Boat” by David Saar.

The touching tale is about a young man and his family who are dealing with a life-changing illness. It is directed by ECC Theatre alum Jacob Schmidt, and stars Tara Steffens, CJ Satterfield, Donovan Counts, Jasmine Derhammer, Harley Vulcolo, Stephanie Landing, Logan Head and Andrew Carter.

The show is filmed and will be available to view Feb. 18, 19 and 20. Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased at ecctheatre.com.

The show runs about 90 minutes. It can be viewed any time within the February 18-20 time frame once tickets are purchased.

The Stage Management team includes Shania Wilson, Dora Bell, Sam Doepker and Sebastian Montowine. Custom mask design by Eileen Engel with lighting and set design by Bess Moynihan.

According to Grace Austin, theatre director, the filmed performance is much different than past productions at ECC.

“The ECC Theater Department has faced a lot of challenges this year and we are so grateful for the support of the community and the administration,” she said.

“Producing ‘The Yellow Boat’ has given students and alumni the opportunity to safely come together and continue our tradition of theatrical work.”

She added that the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the theatre department to become creative with how it presents its art, much like the fall outdoor productions in the Theatre in the Glen.

“This is a unique opportunity that we might not have had otherwise, and we’re so excited to see how the community responds,” Austin said.

Actor’s Showcase Performance Premieres Thursday

December 16, 2020 | Campus News Performing Arts Theatre

Every year the East Central College Theatre Department Acting I and II students present an onstage showcase of their work — and year will be no exception.

That’s according to Grace Austin, theatre director, who said the Fall 2020 Actor’s Showcase will premiere Thursday, Dec. 17, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

She explained that the acting students will perform, “The Way Home,” written by St. Louis playwright Will Bonfiglio.

“Will Bonfiglio has again written an original show for the students to perform based on found text and travel advice platforms,” Austin said. “The show covers all concepts of home, road trips, playlists, adventure and returning to where your heart is.”

The performance will premiere on the ECC Theatre YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0n2PWRj9Zw.

Austin noted that the play was filmed over three nights in December, with three students joining the class remotely via Zoom.

The actors who performed “The Way Home” are Logan Head, Shania Wilson, Sebastian Monotowine, Grace Allagier, Faythe Anderson, Kennedy Smith, Isabelle Obie, Isaac Corum, Harley Vuocolo, Isaac Gibson, Alex Kreite, Jacob Fitts, Hannah Folk, Dora Bell and Gavin Salsman.

The “run crew” includes Jarred Snider and Samantha Doepker with lighting design by Bess Moynihan and theatre management by Sylvia Sellers.

Theatre to Tell ‘Tales from the Shadows’ Next Week

October 20, 2020 | Campus News Performing Arts Theatre

Join the East Central College Theatre Department on campus next week for a chilling theatrical experience featuring storytelling and surprises.

Tales from the Shadows is a unique outdoor event that includes a journey around campus led by a “Ghoul Guide.” Tickets are on sale now for the Halloween-themed performance scheduled for Oct. 28-30.

According to ECC Theatre Director Grace Austin, plans for Tales from the Shadows spawned from the desire for an interactive event on campus.

“It came out of an idea for people to see more of the campus while at the same time being able to participate in an immersive event, which is new to the department,” she said.

There will be walking tours of up to 10 people that will depart every 15 minutes beginning at 6:30 p.m. each night. The tours are designed for social distancing and face masks will be required.

To purchase tickets visit www.ecctheatre.com or call the ECC Box Office at 636-584-6693. This activity is recommended for ages 13 and up.

During the event, tour guides will lead guests around campus to several stops where they will encounter strange mysteries, scary creatures, and a few surprises along the way.

Each tour lasts approximately 70 minutes, and it will include students as actors and guides.

Austin noted that she and colleagues Bess Moynihan and Sylvia Sellers, developed the Tales from the Shadows concept while discussing options for a Halloween production.

Bess, Sylvia, and I were tossing around some ideas for Halloween and we came up with a concept of hiring some master storytellers from St. Louis to work with the students to create a walking tour,” Austin added.

On hand for the “Tales from the Shadows” will be Hazel’s Back Porch BBQ, Montelle Winery, Sweet Kettle Corn Co., Happy Apples, S’mores, and more for ticket holders before and after the tours.

Theatre Department to Deliver ‘Epic Proportions’

September 23, 2020 | Campus News Performing Arts Theatre

The East Central College Theatre Department is preparing for its second outdoor performance In the Glen.

The comedy, “Epic Proportions,” is set for Friday, Oct. 2 at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 4, at 5 p.m. in the Theatre in the Glen — an outdoor performance series held on the grassy hill between the Shook Center and Hansen Hall.

There will be pre-show music by the ECC Band and food vendors, including Hazel’s Back Porch BBQ, Pinckney Bend, Happy Apples (Friday) and Old Fashioned Sweet Kettle Corn Company (Sunday).

For more information, or to buy tickets, visit www.ecctheatre.com. The pre-show activities for Oct. 2 begin at 5 p.m., and Oct. 4 pre-show activities begin at 3:30 p.m.

Set in the 1930s, “Epic Proportions” tells the story of two brothers, Benny and Phil, who go to the Arizona desert to be extras in the huge Biblical epic “Exeunt Omnes.”

Things move very quickly in this riotous comedy and before you know it, Phil is directing the movie, and Benny is starring in it. To complicate matters further they both fall in love with Louise, the assistant director in charge of the extras

“Epic Proportions” was written by Larry Coen and David Crane and director by ECC Theatre Director Grace Austin.

Seating

The audience can purchase tickets for a square where they can sit on a blanket within a 10-foot by 10-foot square painted on the hill. Each square can seat up to six people. No lawn chairs are permitted in the grass areas.

There also will be four-top table seats available for purchase on the bridge overlooking the Glen.

“Lawn Squares,” that can seat up to six people cost $20 and “Skywalk Seats,” that will seat four people, are $40.

Masks will be required unless audience members are seated in their lawn squares or at their tables. Walkways will be spaced according to CDC guidelines.

Social distancing will be observed while standing in line and there will be no tickets exchanged and all programs will only be available digitally.

In addition, each seat will be assigned to a bathroom in order to maximize space and safety.

Future Events

Other Music, Theatre, Art and Film & Lecture events planned in the Glen are the ECC Band Concert on Oct. 20; Classics & Cocktails: Anatomy of a Murder (Film & Music with the ECC Jazz Band), Oct. 22; and the Theatre Department’s performance of “Tales from the Shadows,” Oct. 28-30.

For more information visit www.ecctheatre.com or call the Box Office at 636-584-6693.