By: Jordan Castaldo, Staff Writer
USM’s Theatre Club is a club for singers, dancers, actors and artists alike. Formally known as Student Performing Artists club (SPA), the club is advised by Sara Valentine, a lecturer in the Department of Theatre Much like the theatre majors themselves, SPA is full of vibrant young artists who value collaboration, imagination and who strive for excellence. Additionally, the artists form a tight-knit community of their own by putting together productions each year.
“I love SPA! It’s a great way to make friends and stay involved in the arts. The community is one of the tightest on campus. I wouldn’t be where I am today without SPA and the people in it,” said Ezra Merriman Briggs, who has worked with SPA on several shows in the past.
The ultimate mission of SPA is to provide a safe, exciting place for art-loving students to gain experience in theatre, as well as to entertain the students and staff at USM. The club is actively looking for members, accepting everyone who enjoys theatre. Students do not need to be a theatre major to join, in fact, many club members were not theatre majors until joining. Rather than caring about specific majors, SPA cares about students’ passion for the entertaining arts.
Students who attend meetings regularly are allowed to vote for SPA officers, the ones who help to keep the team running smoothly and collectively. Since the productions are all student run, there is a need for strong-willed SPA officers.
“Behind the scenes, it looks a lot like any other production, except it is student run,” said Briggs, “our shows are student directed, designed, produced, acted. Everything is done by students!”
Each year, SPA does two full-scale productions, one per semester. They are held in the Black Box Theatre, located on the ground floor of Russell Hall on the Gorham campus. If they do not present a full production, they often perform staged readings, as well as many other types of performances. They host a talent show in December, as well as a 10-minute play competition in May. At the end of each school year a SPA awards event is held, where awards are given out to the most deserving crew members, designers, directors and actors from every event that took place during the school year.
Theatre majors are recommended to join the club. The best way to learn the art of theatre is to just do it. The club also helps to mentor theatre majors by teaching them how to work among others as a team. It even teaches them a little bit about the competitive job market those who major in theatre encounter. SPA provides a fantastic way to build a portfolio in addition to gaining a great amount of experience and mentoring amongst other students, both older and younger than you. If you are interested in joining or learning more information about the club, please contact Hollie Pryor at [email protected]. Meeting times are on Mondays from 3:30-4:30 P.M. in the Black Box Theatre in Russell Hall.