The Drama Society is an on campus student organization whose purpose is to enrich immediate and distant student bodies and communities through all aspects of theatre work and play.
Who in particular does the Drama Society Welcome?
Everyone is welcome � both those on the university level and those from the community. No previous Theatrical experience is needed to join the Drama Society. We feel that no particular �type� of person makes up the Drama Society, but in fact, that the society depends upon diversity within the whole. The only thing you need to join is interest. So get your foot in the door and have fun.
What does Drama Society Do?
Other than providing the ECSU body and community with theatrical productions on a semi-professional level, the society provides a place where artists can channel an challenge their abilities through all aspects of the Theatre.
What if I can�t act and therefore I have nothing to offer?
It is the feeling of the Drama Society that everyone is an �artist� in his or her own way. Every artist has something positive to offer Drama Society and the community. If it is hard to consider yourself an �artist� just ask yourself how it makes you feel when you create something on your own, share a creative idea with a friend, or simply contribute your individual skills to the �whole� of a group process. Even political statements have an important place in Theatre. After all Theatre mimics life, and if we feel we should make a difference, theater is a great way to represent and communicate that difference to others. Bottom Line: Everyone has something positive to offer the Drama Society, which then effects the Community.
What if I don�t have the time to be involved?
Not everyone involved in Drama Society has to contribute 40-hour weeks to the cause. The society is a chain, and no matter how �small� or �large� the links happen to be, the chain will break if just one link is weak. We value each and every contribution made to the �chain� of Drama Society. Because of this, I emphasize that the contributions of each member are extremely important no matter how large or small they happen to be.
So, what can I do to contribute?
Anything! Even spreading the word about Drama Society in your residence hall, clubs, and community is a contribution. There are countless involvements that will specifically appeal to you. For Example:
Actors and Performance Artists: Apart from the Main stage productions in the Harry Hope Theatre, Drama Society performance opportunities such as Open Mics, Eastern and the Arts, Blackhole Players Improvisation, special workshops, and even Drama Society meetings provide outlets and experience for the aspiring actors.
Directors: The Drama Society and Theatre curriculum are in need of Leaders with strong ideas for the stage. Directors and Stage Managers can first benefit from courses taken at Eastern. With the help of the Drama Society they can then produce small plays in the Harry Hope Theatre, which have in the past and may in the future actually appear in a New York off-Broadway venue.
Carpenters and Electricians: Sets for main stage productions in the Harry Hope Theatre are in need of handy men and women to get the final product from Draft to Stage. There are many jobs in the Harry Hope Theatre pertaining to sound and lighting operation and design also. Courses in this field are available. The Drama Society will inform you of opportunities and openings in these areas.
Advertising and House Management: With any type of fundraiser Public Relations people and numerous assistants are necessary to get the word out to the campus and to the community at large. The Advanced Participants in this field learn the ropes under the advisor and assistants of the society and retrieve advertising and donations for main stage productions from the community. These Assistants are also necessary for the dates of production to meet and seat the patrons of the Theatre and give the audience the impression of professional Theatre while putting them in the right mood for the production.
Accounting and Box Office: With all productions and fundraisers capitol is made that is put right back into our Drama Society accounts for other projects. The job of the Treasurer in the Drama Society is intense and assistants are needed greatly. An assistant to the Treasurer is able to learn about all money matters and paperwork involved with the Theatre. People good with Math, money, secretarial, and bookkeeping skills can acquire resume building knowledge and experience from this field.
History and Research: Dramaturgy is one of the most interesting and difficult jobs in the Theater. These people can work with our Theatre Historian and find out the background of plays to help the Directors of main stage productions in the Harry Hope Theatre. These Historians can build experience in research and compilation as well as find the truth behind interpretations of plays.
Visual Artists: Designers and artists are needed in the areas of set design, costume design, and make-up artistry. Anyone interested in this field will work closely with professionals and learn by doing. The �Programs� of Main Stage Productions also need computer graphic artists and layout designers so that the �program� looks professional.
Playwriting: Plays that have been written and therefore need to be read can get their start in the Drama Society. If the pen is your creative side then join the Phoenix group, a sub-committee of the Drama Society bent on freeing the world from writers block.
All of this sounds like work. How about enjoyment?
I will not lie and say there is no work involved or that the jobs in the Theatre are easy. Hard work is found behind every single organization on this campus and any other campus. The enjoyment comes from Drama Society's activities and meetings that provide a sense of theatrical community on this campus, thus providing an atmosphere of input to creative individual ideas. If you are involved with Drama Society you can look forward to what I like to call �Artistic Fellowship.� It�s all about knowing that you are apart of a group of people who you will easily get to know because they, like you, want to express their creative ideas in a comfortable atmosphere. Since there are many levels of experience in this society you will learn and teach at the same time, and that is what makes the community grow.
How do I let you know if I want to be involved?
No interviews, no questionnaires, no "Thank You sir may I have another" initiations, just a simple click of the mouse to my E-mail address or attend a meeting and you will catch on fast.
Thank you for your time.
Drama Society and I will be waiting to hear from you soon.
President of the ECSU Drama Society 2000-2001
Thayer Kitchen
