One Minute Twenty Four Seconds

The best blog posts start with interesting connections. If I can find three connections, I’m usually off and running.

As an example, this week I came across this post from Howard Community College about their Theatre program.

Thinking of adding theatre to your schedule? Check out our video below:

HCC aims to bring extraordinary opportunities for students studying visual and performing arts, including state-of-the-art instructional facilities.

The video is one minute and twenty four seconds. You have time.

Seeing the video reminded me of the day that I was taken on a tour of the inside of the old Patuxent Publishing building (located just down the road from HCC.) One of the surprises of the day was that part of the building was being used to store overflow materials from the HCC Theatre Department. Rooms of costumes. A fascinating array of props, vintage typewriters, creepy dolls, you name it. Stacks of big black cases which might have held lighting equipment.

As I wandered from room to room I wondered how these materials had been used. I imagined carefully designed and executed stage sets and the excitement of costumed young actors preparing for performances.

It sparked my curiosity. I did a little digging and learned more about Rep Stage, which is “the nation’s only professional theatre company in residence at a community college.” In addition, there are student productions throughout the year which are an integral part of HCC’s Theatre A.A. degree program.

The HCC Theatre Department is devoted to offering relevant and educational on and off stage experiences for students and community members to augment classroom learning and provide valuable performing opportunities. It is in this vein that we offer additional works throughout the year, which include fall and spring plays and musicals, touring children’s theatre, showcases, and outdoor Shakespeare performances. Led by a professional theatre faculty, students are well-prepared for a future in theatre.

In August Rep Stage hosted a free, virtual conference on Women in Theatre.

Beginning in late September they’ll be producing Jason Robert Brown’s “Songs for a New World.”

If you are more drawn to student productions, take a look here for their entire season. They’re kicking off the year with a children's production entitled “Miss Electricity.” It will be touring local schools but you can also see it at HCC’s Smith Theatre:

Saturday, September 10, 2022, 11:00 AM & 2:00 PM

Sunday, September 11, 2022, 11:00 AM

Friday, September 16, 2022, 10:00 AM

The production runs fifty minutes, all tickets are five dollars, and you can get yours here.

Three things: a video posted on Twitter, an unexpected tour of costumes and props, and a performance schedule for the 2022-23 season. Put them all together and you have a blog post.

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