The Theatre 432 Directing Class presented their “Final Scene Showcase.” 
Sixteen students presented a scene chosen earlier in the semester.
For the directors, this production constituted as their final.
Each director practiced for months and just as a normal theatrical
production, audition for actors were held, props were
made and an entire cast and crew were used. Ushers also handed
out programs as audience members took their seats. The production
offered a variety of scenes, some including classical, musical
and more. The night ending with a final bow by the actors and a standing
ovation.
The Lion's Roar / William Schmidt

Upon opening the doors of the Vonnie Borden Theatre, audience members ran to take their seats as others calmly took theirs in anticipation of a night of multiple theatrical scenes.

On Thursday, May 5 at 7 p.m., the Theatre 432 Directing Class presented their “Final Scene Showcase.” For 16 students, the show was their final for Theatre Professor Jim Winter. Each director picked a scene earlier in the semester that they would direct and perform on stage. It took months of preparation, just as a cumulative final would.

“It was breathtaking,” said director of “Beyond Therapy” and junior vocal performance major Cheyenne Moore. “We have been working on it for months. It almost got a little dry, but we finally got to see it produced and it was my baby. All the audience caught exactly what I wanted them to catch. It was really, really wonderful.”

Though the directors were working towards a grade, everyone involved in the variety of scenes were able to work together for a common goal and create the traditional theatrical feel.

“It was incredibly insane, but it was fun,” said freshman elementary education major Payton Core. “Helping out is certainly a bonding experience because everyone is helping everyone out and not just in moving furniture on and off stage. But also backstage with something as simple as putting a coat on their other arm because they can’t put a sleeve on by themselves. Or, helping with makeup or quick changes like I had.”

A quick change means that you have to change from one costume to another in a rapid pace. Payton played in two completely different scenes with different makeup, costume and character with only one scene between her scenes of “Raised in Captivity” and “The Return.”

“Raised in Captivity” was directed by Duncan Martin, and “The Return” was written and directed by James Michel. 

“In the first one I portrayed a psychologist who actually ended up being the client, and the client ended up being the psychologist,” said Payton. “She is very lonely and she goes about her job the wrong way, completely. I think she just wants to be loved and goes about it all the wrong ways and is just a little too aggressive about it. In my second scene I portrayed a child-like robot from the future, like 80 years in the future. Not only was I a robot portraying a small child, but this robot was very malfunctioned in the sense that it was very vulgar.”

Payton’s character in “The Return” was BBF-Bot and according to Payton, the insanity of her character made it extremely fun. 

“It was also very aggressive, physically in what it said and of course at the end it ripped the man’s guts out of his body,” said Payton.

Though some directors had dark scenes, other directors took another route and some included musical scenes. 

“I loved every second of it,” said senior psychology major Angele Thibodaux. “All the directors’ hard work really showed it. The casting was phenomenal. The singing was amazing. You don’t see singing on this side of campus. I’m so glad they incorporated it. I loved them all so much. I needed that laugh especially since it is Dead Week, and it was very well done.”

Thibodaux will be graduating this year from the university, and over the years she has had the opportunity to know many of the people that were involved with the “Final Scene Showcase.” She believes that theatre can help people on and off stage.

“I’ve known them and I’ve grown with them,” said Thibodaux. “Everything you do in theatre transfers to life. It not only helps them in theatre, it helps them in personal life as well. I loved them all so much.”

According to Moore, the directing class led her to a passion that she loves and she was pleased to not only see her achievements on stage, but her fellow directors as well.

Though Southeastern does not offer a major in Theatre, one may receive a minor in theatre by completing the requirements which can be found on the university website under fine and performance arts.