Children’s play comes to Studio Theater
ALANNA WOLF-ARMSTRONG Staff Writer
Jake Thomsen, left, and Ashley Reynolds, both students at Northwest Missouri State University, are part of the student-led Alpha Psi Omega production of “Fishing for a Change.” The children’s play, written by Reynolds and directed by Thomsen, will be staged this Sunday in the Studio Theater at the Houston Center for the Performing Arts.
A group of Northwest Missouri State University drama students will unveil a new student-written and produced children’s play this Sunday.
Curtain times for “Fishing for a Change,” written by junior theater major Ashley Reynolds and directed by senior speech and theater education major Jake Thomsen, are 2 and 4 p.m. Jan. 10 at the Ron Houston Center for Preforming Arts.
In addition to the campus performances, the production will tour several Nodaway County elementary schools.
Reynolds describes the play as a fun story containing an environmental message and a strong female lead.
“I think it will appeal to a lot of different audiences,” she said. “I don’t think anyone will walk out of the play without getting something from it. It’s really funny and cute.”
Reynolds and Thomsen, both members of the honorary theater fraternity Alpha Psi Omega, said they were pleased to have the opportunity to share’s the play’s educational message while expanding their own theatrical experience.
“Working on a production like this gives students a chance to fully realize their work,” Reynolds said. “Having my work selected to be produced and performed as the children’s show for this year has been extremely exciting.”
“We were able to work through the whole process of putting on a play, from auditions to workshopping the play, and rehearsing and performing, with very little assistance from any faculty members,” Thomsen said.
“It’s been a very self-sufficient production, and it’s been beneficial to me personally because I’ve learned how to direct a play by myself and how to handle any issues that have come up without any outside assistance.”
Adds Reynolds: “I think it’s been a true test of the skills that we’ve been learning while in college because we haven’t had anyone looking over us while we work.”
Both campus performances of “Fishing for a Change” will take place in the Studio Theater at the Ron Houston Center for Preforming Arts.
Admission at the door is $3 per person or two donated canned goods. Children under 2 years old will be admitted free.
