Staged Readings Offer a Variety of Fall Theater Experiences

By Naomi Gramling ’27 Staff Writer

Actors rehearse for a staged reading of “Everyone Gets Eaten By

The theater program saw a workshop-based season this fall.

On Mondays and Thursdays, the whole crew participated in workshops ranging from sewing to makeup techniques, and on Tuesdays and Fridays, they read plays. On Wednesdays, students split up into a tech track and an acting track to focus on track-specific activities.

The program also traveled off campus to learn about different aspects of theater arts. Students visited the University of Connecticut puppetry department and watched shows including “The Shark is Broken” at Playhouse on Park and “Jekyll and Hyde” at Hartford Stage. Each day of the program was an opportunity to grow specific theatrical skills, whether technical or acting.

Sasha London-Thompson, director of the theater program, noted that the new model allowed students to gain skills in specific areas such as theater tech, acting, and directing. London-Thompson said that field trips in particular provided students with insights into professional theater, allowing students to see what is possible and find what they want to pursue in the future.

Zora Howard ’27, a participant in the theater program, said she was initially wary of the approach. “At the start of the season I thought it would feel dull and boring compared to past seasons, but it was the opposite,” she said. “This season ended up being just as fun and exhilarating as any other season.”

Howard said she appreciated the opportunity to grow more skills, specifically in tech areas, and learn how to embody a character in short periods. However, she wished that some shows could have been full productions, as she now misses the characters and wishes she had gotten to know them better.