Faculty Spotlight: Josiah Wallace

Josiah Wallace, associate professor of speech and theatre, studied at the Scuola Internazionale Dell’Attore Comico in Reggio Emilia, Italy. He worked at Taproot Theatre Company in Seattle as the director of outreach and worked six years at Dordt University before joining JBU in 2018. In addition to his teaching, the production schedule is intense. Wallace directs two plays each year, including designing and building the elaborate sets. He also helps build sets for two musicals directed by colleague Liesl Dromi. The program’s success has led to a new musical theatre minor.

JOSIAH WALLACE

WHEN DID YOU KNOW YOU WANTED TO BE A THEATRE PROFESSOR, AND WHAT LED YOU TO TEACH AT JBU?

A year out of undergrad, I was afforded the opportunity to work as an adjunct professor directing the theatre touring group at my alma mater. I loved it, and it instilled in me the desire to attend graduate school and work full time with college students. It took another eight years of working professionally in the theatre before I felt confident applying to graduate school; but I did it, and I’ve been working full time as a professor for the last 10 years. JBU makes it possible for me to truly challenge my students with what it means to be an artist and a Christian.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCES FROM TEACHING THEATRE?

I love it when students discover the breadth and depth of the discipline. They often begin their work in the theatre because they like to be on stage. I challenge them to see that work as an act of service to each other, the audience and the story; but I also show them that there is much more going on to support the performers behind the scenes. The job of producing, researching, directing, conceptualizing, advertising, designing, building, rehearsing, organizing, selling tickets, moving sets, running lights and sound — all are part of this art form. The academic and practical streams of knowledge and effort converge in significant ways in the theatre; and when it comes to the practical skills gained in teamwork and project completion, very few areas of academic study can compare.

WHAT’S A FAVORITE PLAY YOU’VE DIRECTED/ ASSISTED WITH AT JBU? OUTSIDE OF JBU?

I think last year’s production of “Tartuffe” at JBU is my favorite. It’s a text that I wanted to direct for years, and it was really rewarding to take a classical text and find a contemporary social media parallel and production style that integrated with its themes. My favorite production outside of JBU was probably my graduate thesis production of Jeffery Hatcher’s stage adaptation of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” The thematic richness and technical support I received created a spectacular product.

HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THE PROGRAM AT JBU GROW SINCE THE COURSEWORK WAS REVAMPED?

Having students that recognize their various gifts who are willing to commit to the process of creating excellent art is always rewarding to me. The pandemic made this very difficult for a couple of years, but I’m loving the momentum I am seeing from my students right now. They are creating excellent work and those who choose to minor in theatre recognize that the classroom curriculum actually equips them to achieve even greater success.

HAVE YOU HAD STUDENTS AT JBU PURSUE CAREERS IN THEATRE?

I have a few students pursing graduate education, working professionally in various parts of the country as theatre administrators, designers and actors. All impressive feats on their part, coming from an institution without a theatre major.

WHAT LIFE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES DO YOU THINK STUDENTS GAIN FROM THEATRE?

Self-esteem and confidence, unparalleled collaborations skills, resourcefulness, creativity, event and logistical prowess, practical knowledge of how to build and fix things, and a true appreciation and empathy for the stories of others.

WHAT DID YOUR TIME IN ITALY INCLUDE?

I studied commedia del’Arte and mask making with theatre professionals from 16 countries around the world. We collaborated in storytelling and comedy creation while learning about a theatre form that first found its cultural significance during the renaissance.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AT THE KENNEDY CENTER AMERICAN COLLEGE THEATRE FESTIVAL.

We bring in outside adjudicators to campus to respond to our work, and then we participate in the regional festival by sending designers and actors to compete for theatre awards and take various workshops. The accolades that we receive from the outside respondents help our students know what excellence in the theatre should look like, and we’ve been honored to receive various awards.

Read the expanded Staff Spotlight at jbu.edu/news/articles.

S P O T L

L I G H T

A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE

BY CARLSON WAKEFIELD ’20

The Cathedral Choir is one of John Brown University’s longest-standing traditions. The Cathedral Choir has compiled 80 years of history — performing national and international tours, seasonal concerts and the beloved Candlelight Service. Much of the music department’s prolonged success is due to several long-standing faculty members’ hard work and dedication.

Mabel Oiesen arrived in Siloam Springs in the summer of 1942. She had just finished her music degree at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and was recruited by the university to teach music and voice at JBU. Oiesen would be instrumental to the music & theatre department and served as the department chair for 30 years.

“She was so loved,” said Terri Wubbena, professor emeritus. “And she was a force to be reckoned with.”

Oiesen founded the Cathedral Choir in 1942 and performed the first Candlelight Service that year. Since then, the Candlelight Service has ushered in the Christmas season for countless JBU students, faculty and staff, as well as for alumni and the community of Siloam Springs. It is a cherished tradition that attracts visitors from all over Northwest Arkansas.

While Oiesen laid the groundwork, it was Paul Smith who brought the Cathedral Choir and the Candlelight Service to the forefront of the JBU experience.

Smith was hired in 1987 from Anderson University, which had a sizeable musical department that Smith said had more than 100 music majors and another hundred students pursuing a minor. While JBU’s music department was small, it didn’t bother Smith who saw it as an opportunity. He pushed for better practice facilities, enlisting the help of President John E. Brown III

“Those were truly and the board of trustees to buy new pianos, add new practice rooms and special performances... rehaul the whole department. “I was a pest. John [Brown III] You get to experience almost had to muzzle me,” Smith said. “If you talk to anybody who is a this sensation of former student of Paul Smith, they look back on their time with fondness, community and this and often times as a transformative and positive thing in their life,” said feeling that we’re Steven Hamilton ’16, now JBU’s instructor of music and director of creating an atmosphere choirs. Smith’s transformation of the of worship.” music department was aided by many students and faculty, specifically Jan Wubbena, Ph.D., and his wife, Terri. During her 42 years at JBU, Terri taught and advised all music majors and held department leadership roles culminating in serving as the chair of the Division of Communications and Fine Arts. She is credited with championing the growth of instrumental music on campus nearly single-handedly. Jan served as faculty for

40 years, joining JBU in 1977 and retiring in 2017. The Wubbenas taught a myriad of music classes, often together; an experience program alumni recount with humor and fondness.

The Wubbenas’ commitment to music on campus directly impacted the growth of the Candlelight Service into the tradition that it is today.

“Every Candlelight that Paul directed, he [Jan] was the organist,” Terri said. “He accompanied the choir on select pieces, played a prelude, a postlude — it became a tradition.”

Terri and Jan contributed to all 30 Candlelight Services conducted by Smith, helping him make the service a Christmas tradition for many. Smith recognized Candlelight as an opportunity to involve Siloam Springs.

“I saw it as kind of a Christmas card to the community,” Smith said. “I didn’t want it to be a sermon but a remembrance of what Christmas means to Christians and a celebration of Jesus’ life.”

Hamilton fondly remembers performing in four Candlelight Services as a student.

“Those were truly special performances,” he said. “You get to experience this sensation of community and this feeling that we’re creating an atmosphere of worship.”

Candlelight became so successful under Smith that more performances had to be added.

“We started with one night, which turned into two nights, and we still had to turn people away,” Smith said. “So, I went to the administration and said, ‘Well, what about three nights?’”

Smith, the Wubbenas and many other faculty, students and staff turned Candlelight into one of the most significant events on campus each year. Over three nights, the Cathedral of the Ozarks hosts about 3,000 people.

“This year, I started receiving calls back in August about it, so I expect it will be very crowded,” said Jan Lauderdale, events and auditions coordinator. “I’ve been the event coordinator for 18 years, and the worst part of my job every year is turning people away.”

Smith was the first choir director to take students on an international tour to Northern Ireland, where JBU had established an Irish Studies Program. In May 2003, Smith directed multiple a cappella concerts over two weeks in Northern Ireland.

“Night after night, the choir received thunderous ovations,” Smith said. “It was hard to come to the end of the concerts.”

The concerts were so successful that the choir returned every three years until he retired in 2017. The Cathedral Choir was due to make its seventh international tour to Northern Ireland in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic derailed it.

In 2020, JBU hired Hamilton, who graduated from JBU with a degree in music education and then received his master’s degree in choral conducting from the University of British Columbia.

“He [Hamilton] was my assistant for two years when he was at JBU,” Smith said. “I saw a lot of heart for singing and choral music in him. We were so blessed that he was able to take over.”

Hamilton’s first two years were anything but easy with the added COVID-19 regulations that affected classroom vocal instruction and performances.

“It was discouraging to teach music during that time,” Hamilton said. “You looked at all the restrictions and wished they would go away, but you also wanted everybody to stay safe and healthy.”

Hamilton fought to find a way to keep the Candlelight Service tradition alive, despite the roadblocks.

“The first Candlelight I directed was entirely digital,” Hamilton said. “We couldn’t have audiences; we had to have the students come in and record. That was difficult because so much of Candlelight is the communal experience.”

Hamilton’s Cathedral Choir students made the difficult season rewarding, delivering excellent performances despite restrictions.

“Some of my favorite moments as an instructor have been seeing the ways in which students responded to those challenges,” Hamilton said. “Seeing them stay dedicated to singing and dedicated to the choir, even though it was really difficult. They created some really memorable and special performances.”

With the foundation of the Cathedral Choir laid by Oiesen and Smith, Hamilton will continue those longstanding traditions and is building new ones, such as the recently created University Chorus.

The Cathedral Choir requires a high level of commitment, with more rehearsals, music to learn, an expanded role in Candlelight and national tours. Hamilton realized that not all students who wanted to participate in the Cathedral Choir had the time to do so.

“I thought it was really important that they have a place to sing,” Hamilton said. “It’s my goal that everybody interested in singing has a place to sing, regardless of what level that looks like.”

Hamilton and the Cathedral Choir are looking forward to the 80th Annual Candlelight Service on Dec. 8, 9 and 10 in the Cathedral of the Ozarks. Premiering that night is a new original choral work Hamilton commissioned from renowned composer R. Christopher Teichler.

“There are definitely traditions I’m going to keep alive,” Hamilton said. “But every year is a new adventure.”

STUDENTS HIT THEIR MARK

BY YAMIL TENORIO ’25