University
Players
Scholarships have somewhat different attributes. While they are awarded
through the audition
process, they are extended to the recipients in exchange for service
rendered
to the university.
The “University
Players” is the touring theatre ensemble of
the Department of Theatre, and performs material especially created or
selected
to be presented in schools, churches, and other venues important to the
university in promoting its interests.
The group has traditionally been composed of six
performers with the
addition, in recent years, of a sound technician.
The ensemble tours without extensive
encumbrance of scenery or lighting support, and rehearses its material
to be
highly adaptable to the available performance space.
The group serves several goals of the
institution, including
those of education, ministry, and university promotion.
The educational goals are directed by the
Department of Theatre through the preparation of performers and
material for
presentation. The
director of the
ensemble is normally assigned a Faculty contract commensurate with
these responsibilities. The
group is the primary source for training
in the touring of plays (as well as ensemble script writing) offered by
the
Department of Theatre. University
Theatre’s concern with the use of theatrical art for
the purposes of audience
education and insightful ministry is reflected by the repertoire of the
group,
one which focuses on social and personal issues viewed through
the filter of
Christian thought. The
university finds
the ensemble useful for making visible those same elements of its
mission—education and ministry—and for attracting
potential students and other
support.
The
responsibilities
of the recipients of the University Players Scholarships include
1) the development of one or two flexible
touring productions,
usually based on original ensemble-created scripts,
2) performances of these productions
thirty-five to fifty times
during the academic years in schools and churches ranging across the
Northwest
and other parts of the nation,
3) oftentimes, the creation and teaching
of specialized workshops
for high school students, and
4) serving as
“ambassadors” for the university in meeting its
publics and recruiting potential students.
The University Players
personnel—and scholarship
recipients—are selected by audition in the Spring quarter
prior to their year
of service. The
auditions and associated
interviews determine not only the acting talent of the individual, but
also
place a strong emphasis on other needful qualities, including
1) the apparent ability of the
candidate to create and relate to ensemble,
2) the candidate’s performance
ability in the bright, highly
theatrical style of the Player’s productions,
3) special skills, including singing
and movement,
4) an engaging and mature personality,
5) a disciplined imagination,
6) scholarship skills which will allow
the missing of classes for
the purposes of touring,
7) outstanding physical stamina, and,
of great importance,
8) a thoughtful and contagious
Christian testimony.
Selection of the University
Players personnel is made by
the ensemble’s director in consultation with members
of the Theatre Faculty
and, when possible, past directors of the group.
Usually other units of the institution such
as University Communications are involved in final confirmation. It is not necessary to be
a Theatre major to
receive one of these scholarships, and currently there is no limit on
renew
ability except casting. By
necessity,
these scholarships are not available to entering Freshmen or transfer
students.
Members of the University Players
must continue full-time
enrollment in the institution during the tenure of their service and
maintain a
grade point average of at least
2.50.
For their services the performing
members of the group are
awarded scholarships in the amount of 40% tuition.
They may also receive one credit each quarter
of TRE 2304/4304 University Players practicum.
Company members may not concurrently receive their
Player’s scholarship
and a Fine Arts Merit Scholarship.
Next
Section: Endowed
Theatre Scholarships
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