By Nicole Dobosh
Staff Writer
A night of songs and written works will be presented in the Black Box of the Sette LaVerghetta Center for the Performing Arts in late November. It is going to be run entirely by the theatre organization, the Marywood Players. This new idea for a charity fundraiser, HeartSongs, will benefit the community, charity, and other clubs on campus.
The Marywood Players has been an active student organization on campus; bringing workshops, speakers, and trips to performances. The Marywood Players have also, with no doubt, helped students interested in theatre get experience and knowledge outside the education granted at Marywood. They have never let go of that initial goal for students, but have somehow fallen under the radar at Marywood. Events and meetings seemed to be unnoticed, and it was clear that something needed to be changed (or added) to make a statement.
This year, the Players have chosen “Peace, Love, and Theatre” as a theme to celebrate the three basic beauties that we should not take for granted. HeartSongs will display the mantra the Players have set out to express. It will consist of a night of songs, and original written works exploring the journey that love gives all of us, including the joyous, sorrowful, and hopeful. It is the first production to be run entirely by the Players, and the members couldn’t be more excited.
“I think it’s a great idea. The Players can gain awareness as philanthropists with the help of the rest of the Marywood community,” says Liz Smith, a sophomore Theatre Arts major who also acts as the Players’ Historian.
Freshman Musical Theatre major Jessica Brookes commented, “It can bring everyone together for an important cause with a night of entertainment through the universal message of love.”
The producer, Sean Patrick Gibbons, is a junior majoring in Secondary Education Communication Arts. The director, Hannah Botsford, is a junior majoring in Musical Theatre, and also serves as the Players’ Secretary. They have been preparing for this night since mid-summer. One big part in planning this event was scheduling meetings with the American Heart Association, which is where all the proceeds of the night will be donated.
Those interested in having any part of this wonderful experience can still contact either Sean or Hannah. “We’re looking for original written works about the heart, and people who’d like to read them or sing for a good cause. Any suggestions are welcome,” notes Hannah.
Submissions of original written works, or any further questions, can be e-mailed to Hannah Botsford at [email protected], and auditions for singers and performers are November 9 in the Black Box. The performance will take place Wednesday, November 19 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.- also in the Black Box Theatre.