What a quick semester it has been! February has ended and we are entering spring! As the school year progresses it is easy to fall into a rut of impatience and restlessness, but there are so many things to look forward to in the coming months. Student built theatre company Herman\u2019s Ghostlight is an excellent example of the opportunities and activities coming to McMurry!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last semester Herman\u2019s Ghostlight produced the children\u2019s show \u201cMiss Nelson is Missing.\u201d The student-built company was founded during the Theatre Management class instructed by L.W. Miller. The students founded, designed, and recruited participants for their companies in the hope of creating a stable ground to produce shows. Their first ever show \u201cMiss Nelson is Missing\u201d had actors from McMurry\u2019s own theatre department, as well as the public. After the rehearsal process was over, the hard work of the company was performed at the library downtown for families and visitors all across Abilene. This show was originally only supposed to run once, but the attention and talk around the community reached Young Audiences, resulting in their recruitment of Herman\u2019s Ghostlight and its performers to conduct another show at Austin Elementary. So, as the next semester started, so did the work of Herman\u2019s Ghostlight Theatre Company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Producers Abby Ewing and Tabitha Wilson graciously answered some questions about receiving an invitation from Young Audiences to perform again at Austin Elementary. As well as to how this project has challenged and enlightened their experiences in theatre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was very exciting! I had a lot of fun working with other producers as well as the cast and crew,\u201d says Ewing when asked about what it was like to work as a Herman\u2019s producer. As the official artistic director of Herman\u2019s Ghostlight, Ewing oversaw venue opportunities as well as gained creative control over the production\u2019s overall appearance and expression. She says it was rewarding to, \u201cfind a show to put on and actually get done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wilson was the assistant social media manager for the company and assisted in accumulating props for the show. When asked about her experience working as a producer for Herman\u2019s Wilson says, \u201cit was a fantastic learning experience as a whole. This show taught me how to work better in team environments and that communicating is the only way to see the best results in anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although they had immense success working and producing their first show, the process came with some challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the biggest struggles according to Wilson was creating a balanced and cooperative schedule between actors, producers, and technical things. \u201cMaking sure everyone was on the same page and at every meeting was a struggle,\u201d she says. However, Wilson does remark that efforts of the cast to \u201ctake on responsibilities that weren\u2019t originally theirs,\u201d helped the production and process immensely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ewing shares her insight as well to the challenges of this show, but more so from the perspective of the struggles of being a student made company. She says, \u201cthe hardest part about being a student made company is trying to branch out from the idea of being a \u2018McMurry Company\u2019. We are McMurry students, but our company is not McMurry\u2019s theatre company.\u201d It was a big challenge to make a name for themselves outside of the McMurry brand, but they sure did achieve that goal! Ewing shares that \u201chearing that Young Audiences wanted our company to come back for a second performance was amazing. We had never anticipated that kind of feedback.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wilson shares that this experience, \u201cstretched our abilities and made us see each other\u2019s strengths so we can highlight them in the next project.\u201d Ewing also confides about her experience in the company and says, \u201cthe most rewarding part was seeing and hearing how much people loved our show. I plan to continue working with Herman\u2019s to keep this theatre company alive and maybe one day become a bigger organization!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both women remain members of Herman\u2019s Ghostlight and are excited to continue working on and producing shows. The next show in the works is Treasure Island! Keep a look out you don\u2019t want to miss out on Herman\u2019s future creations!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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