Meet our friend Mike.

While our students and faculty are a vital part of making the shows in our department happen, we also have to thank a friend of our department, one who has put in much time and effort, one who constantly supports us. That being said, we wanted everyone to get to know a little more about...

Name:  mike stephens

Job Title: Database Manager, and adjunct instructor in the School of Business

Student Spotlight: Miranda Priddy

Name: Miranda Priddy
Age: 19
Classification: Sophomore
Hometown: Stephenville, TX
Major/Minor? Theatre Arts Education/ English

website redesign

Check out our recently updated website!

Click here!

A Paramount Production

The Paramount Theatre, which has many ties to McMurry, has a show coming up worth checking out:


 Paramount Productions presents the return of  “A Texas Christmas Carol,” an original adaptation of the classic Dickens story by Paramount Artistic Director Barry Smoot.  This Texas-themed take on the traditional story is billed as “a Christmas tale of greed, ghosts, and really spicy chili.”   It features an ensemble cast of actors each playing multiple roles, assisted by an alt/folk/bluegrass band that adds traditional and original music to the tale.  This is certainly an uplifting and inspirational holiday theatrical event for the entire family.  


December 16-18, 7:30pm
Tickets are general admission at $15 for adults and $10 for students, seniors, military, and children. 
To order tickets by phone call our business office weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm at (325) 676-9620. 
To order tickets online, click here.

merry christmas!

pictures from our second annual theatre christmas party.

Alumni Spotlight: George Levesque

Name: George Levesque
Graduation year: 1996
Degree earned: Theatre/Political Science
Current city: Abilene
Current job: News Director for KTXS Television, the ABC affiliate. I also anchor the 5pm Newscast.

Alumni in the news!

One of our Alumni, Kaitlyn Walker, was recently featured on My Fox Houston in a story about the Candlelight Tour sponsored by The Heritage Society.

Follow this link to watch a video featuring Kaitlyn showing off her acting chops!

Student Spotlight: Jake Wade

Name:  Jake Wade

Age:  22

Classification:  Senior

Hometown:  Vernon, Texas

Major/Minor?  Theatre Major/Musical Theatre Minor

A Winning Tradition

Another McMurry student has won the Texas Educational Theatre Association's Playfest competition!

Kathryn Ballinger wrote her play Things We Can't Untie for this past spring's Playwriting class, and submitted it to TETA, with wonderful results.

Our theatre department will have the chance to stage this short production at TETA's annual Theatrefest gathering in January, in Houston, Texas

Things We Can't Untie will be presented again, with three other plays chosen by Charlie Hukill, from the Playwriting class, in April.

Be on the look out for more information regarding this play.

Read some of the press about her impressive win!

Alumni Spotlight: Sally Steele

Name: Sally Steele

Graduation year: 2011

Degree earned: B.A. in Theatre (Acting & Directing focus)/English

Current city: Fort Worth, TX

Current job: I’m currently a Production Assistant/Assistant Stage Manager and Assistant to the Technical Director at Stage West.

Young Audiences: Great Cross Country Race

First Student Spotlight! Ladies and Gents... Jack Piland!

Name: Jack Earl Piland

Age: 21

Classification: Junior

Hometown: Mesquite, TX

Major/Minor: Theatre: Design and Technology focus. Playwriting minor. (This doesn’t exist yet, but should next year.)

Pictures from U.S.A.

Alumni Spotlight: Kayla Weinkauf

Name: Kayla Weinkauf

Graduation year: 2007

Degree earned (major/minor): Bachelor of Science, Theatre Education

Current city: Abilene, TX

Current job: Haven House Manager at Connecting Caring Communities, Theatre Teacher at Abilene Performing Arts Company

Coming Soon...

Between-show update!

Things are quiet around these arts. We are all trying to catch up on school work that was neglected during the last show. The set for U.S.A. (by John Dos Passos and Paul Shyre, directed by Charlie Hukill) is coming along nicely, as are the costumes.

Another thing many members of the department are working on is our Out of the Trunk Theatre Company's production of The Great Cross Country Race, which they perform at local elementary schools. Look for pictures of this show soon!

Alumni Spotlight: Kerry Goff

Name: Kerry Goff

Graduation Year: May 2010

Degree Earned: B.F.A. Theatre (Acting/Directing Focus) Minor: Musical Theatre

Current City: Fredericksburg, Texas

Current Job: Artistic Operations Manager, Fredericksburg Theater Company

Last Round of Pictures from our Current Show

A few more pictures of The 1940's Radio Hour, our current show. You can still get tickets for this hit by calling 325-793-3889. Seats still available for our Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances!

Alumni Spotlight: Taylor Compton

Name: Taylor Compton
Graduation year: 2008
Degree earned (major/minor): BFA in Theatre – Acting/Directing
Current city: Abilene, TX
Current job: Technical Director - Historic Paramount Theatre

all press is good press!

We were mentioned in the Abilene Reporter News today!
Click here to check out the article!

HOMECOMING!

it's officially that time! Homecoming! Opening night! We are all very excited here, if you can't tell. :) So in honor of opening night all all the other festivities happening on campus, I'm going to share a few more photos from

The 1940's Radio Hour

This fabulous show opens at 7:30pm tonight in Ryan Little Theatre. Box office opens at 6:30 and seating begins at 7:00.

(This show is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes long.)

Pictures from The 1940's Radio Hour

A challenge!

Hello readers!
Do us a favor by commenting and telling us what you would like to read about! Want to hear from students? See more pictures? Let us know so we can keep you informed!

Our first Alumni Spotlight: Kaitlyn Walker

Name:  Kaitlyn Walker          

Graduation year:  2010

Degree earned (major/minor):  BA Acting/Directing; Minor-Art with a focus in Photography

Current city:  Houston, TX

Current job:  I am currently the Marketing and Development Assistant, Administrative Assistant, Community Service Coordinator and…well it’s pretty much safe to say I do a little of everything at Main Street Theater in Houston, TX.

Scenes from Wednesday Improv

Playing "What are you doing?"

"Superheroes" 

Improvisation

Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings.

In the McMurry Theatre Program, improvisation is one of the first things you learn as a freshman in Acting I class. It's a basic trait all actors should learn and perfect. And to most people, it's just good plain fun.


That is why a number of our student come together every Wednesday night, rehearsals permitting, to perfect and exercise our improv abilities.


Borrowing inspiration from the popular TV show "Whose Line is it Anyway?" and various games we already know, we spend and hour or two every week acting like lions, climbing trees that don't exist, being oddly-named super heroes and reacting to, often outrageous, situations we aren't prepared for. 


Check around campus in a few weeks and you might be lucky enough to catch one our improv hours.

Classes Offered

All three full time faculty are theatre generalists and share production responsibilities.  

Dr. Philip Craik has degrees in both Theatre and Music, with experience in Directing, Acting, Theatre Literature and Criticism, Scene Design, Vocal Production, and Musical Direction.  He teaches our Musical Theatre courses, Digital Video Capture and Editing, Voice and Diction, Theatre History, and Introduction to Theatre. 

Mr. David Ainsworth, with training in Acting, Directing, Stage Combat, Costumes, and Theatre Education, teaches Acting, Costume History, Design and Construction, Creative Dramatics, Theatre Education, Stage Combat and Make-up. 

Mr. Charlie Hukill, with training in Design, Technical Theatre, Playwriting, Acting , and Directing, teaches Set and Light Design, Stagecraft, and Playwriting, as well as Directing, and Survey of Fine Arts. 

Ms. Teri Wilkerson is an Adjunct Professor and teaches dance, specifically tap and modern.  She is also the resident Choreographer for our musical productions. 


McMurry also has a wonderful Musci Department that works with Musical Theatre Majors in various classes.

All you could want to know about: Box Office

Staff
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Philip Craik
Head of Box Office: Marcy Doty
Box Office Staff: Jack Piland, Kathryn Ballinger, Miranda Priddy, Angela Rudd

Contact Information
Phone Number: (325) 793-3889
Mailing Address: McM Station Box #68 Abilene, Texas 79697
We are located in the Amy Graves Ryan Fine Arts building on the corner of Hunt and Sayles Boulevard

Hours
We open box office two weeks before a show opens. Hours are 2-6pm Monday through Friday (and Saturday show days) and additionally 6:30-8:00pm on performance nights.

Policies on Reservations
We no longer accept over-the-phone reservations due to over-booking last season. Tickets must be paid for at the time reservations are made.You have three options:

• Come into our box office booth and make your purchase during our open hours
• Go online to www.mcm.edu and purchase tickets through TicketBiscuit.
• Or mail in a check to us and when we have received your check you may call and pick out your seats.

Note: Dinner reservations for our dinner theatre shows must be made 24 hours in advance or your dinner reservation will be cancelled.

Our prices have changed!
Show-only regular production------ $10.00
Show-only musical production----- $15.00
Student-directed production------- $5.00
Student-directed one acts----------free admission
Dinner + regular production--------$23.00
Dinner + musical production------- $28.00

Patronage Program
In order to keep ticket prices affordable we rely on the financial assistance of a number of theatre patrons. Their help supplements our box office income to make our Summer Season possible. If you wish to become a patron please call or write the McMurry Theatre Box Office. We honor our patrons in our summer theatre programs. Contributions are in the following categories:

• Season Patrons: $25-$49 each year
• Supporting Patrons: $50-$99 each year
• Sustaining Patrons: $100-$199 each year
• Angels: $200 or more each year

Technology
We have now joined the information age and offer online ticketing. You may select your seats and purchase tickets through TicketBiscuit. If you have any questions or problems with online ticket ordering, call the McMurry Box Office and speak with a member of our staff or leave a message and we will be sure to get back to you.

Paramount Theatre Holding Children's Auditions

Paramount Productions is holding auditions for their performance of Jungle Book KIDS, directed by McMurry Theatre Alum Taylor Compton

October 2, 2-4pm 

and 

October 3, 3-4pm. 

Children ages 8-14 are welcome!

Click here for more information!

Our HOMECOMING SHOW!

In a little over two weeks McMurry will be entering into the crazy and fun-filled time known as Homecoming! This year our annual Homecoming show will be:

The 1940's Radio Hour
a play with music by Walton Jones
directed by Philip Craik
musical direction by Mark Wilcox

October 6 & 8 at 7:30pm
**October 7 at 7:00 pm
October 13-15 at 7:30pm

The 1940s Radio Hour is a Play with Music by Walton Jones. Full of 1940s music, dancing and old-time sound effects the play portrays the final holiday broadcast of the Mutual Manhattan Variety Cavalcade on the New York radio station WOV in December 1942. The spirit of that bygone era when the world was at war and pop music meant "Strike Up the Band" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" (both are in this show) is accurately captured as the harassed producer copes with a drunk lead singer, the delivery boy who wants a chance in front of the mike, the second banana who dreams of singing a ballad, and the trumpet playing sound effects man who chooses a fighter plane over Glenn Miller. The production will feature a live onstage jazz band under the direction of Dr. Mark Wilcox.

For ticket information you can call (325) 793-3889, come into our box office in the lobby of the Amy Graves Ryan Fine Arts Center (we accept cash, check and credit card) or go online here and order tickets directly.
*Note: The 1940's Radio Hour will be performed in the Ryan Little Theatre this year.
For more information about the rest of McMurry's Homecoming events click here.

We are no longer able to take over-the-phone reservations. Sorry for any inconvenience.
The McMurry Box Office is open from 2-6pm Monday-Friday and additionally 6:30-8pm on performance nights.

Are you looking forward to this show? Tell us about it in the comments!

More Quick Notes

Just wanted to share a more in-depth peek at some exciting things we will be posting about. We are trying to get in the habit of posting regularly, but we are still getting everything together, so bare with us!

Soon we will be taking a look at:

About half of us have recently gotten together to form a improvisation group. While we are still practicing and perfecting, we hope to be able to give some informal performances for our McMurry Community. Jack Piland, a Junior Theatre Major will tell us more about this idea he came up with and his plans for it's future.

In addition to student spotlights, we will also be getting in touch with some of our recent (and not so recent) alumni, to share their success stories, and let them give a little, very honest, peek at life post-grad.

In just a few short weeks we will be performing our third, and biggest, show of the season, our homecoming show! Expect a post on all the information you could want about the show (including info on where to purchase tickets-- you know you want to see this!) and just some of the new and old traditions of McMurry Homecoming (which is kind of a big deal-- at least to us).

McMurry has a long standing tradition of turning out wonderful playwrights, and we plan to speak to a couple of our TETA (Texas Educational Theatre Association) Playwrighting Festival winners. We will share information about how any aspiring writers out there can enter their own plays into the festival, and detail how our Playwrighting class has helped writers at McMurry (not just in the our department).

Again, thanks for sticking with us in this time of development. We plan on being fully functional and working like a well oiled machine in no time!

Check this show out!

Everyone should check out the current Abilene Community Theatre show:

THE GUYS

by Anne Nelson

Performance Dates: September 8-10, 15-17 & 23-24

Synopsis:
Less than two weeks after the September 11th attacks, New Yorkers are still in shock. One of them, an editor named Joan, receives an unexpected phone call on behalf of Nick, a fire captain who has lost most of his men in the attack. He's looking for a writer to help him with the eulogies he must present at their memorial services. Nick and Joan spend a long afternoon together, recalling the fallen men through recounting their virtues and their foibles, and fashioning the stories into memorials of words. In the process, Nick and Joan discover the possibilities of friendship in each other and their shared love for the unconquerable spirit of the city. As they make their way through the emotional landscape of grief, they draw on humor, tango, the appreciation of craft in all its forms—and the enduring bonds of common humanity. THE GUYS is based on a true story.

(ACT's current Executive Director, Shane Hill, is a McMurry Theatre Alum!)
Click here for ticket infor and to purchase!

T-shirts!

For the first time in a very long time, our department is ordering t-shirts, and we are all very excited. Pardon the iPhone picture, but I just wanted to share the awesome shirt we will all be wearing quite soon.

We are also taking orders, so I any alumni/students/fans happen upon this blog before September 25th, email Angela at rudd[dot]angela[at]students[dot]mcm[dot]edu and she will get you set up!

Welcome!

Welcome to the newly created McMurry Theatre Department blog! Soon we will be up and running with information about our current season, student spotlights, general, world-wide theatre news and helpful info about our theatre and applying for admission to McMurry University (home of the Warhawks).

Check back soon for information!