Many changes are in store for Drama Club and its officers this year with the addition of two new officer positions as well as several important events.
“We decided this year, for a variety of reasons, to install a Publicity Chair, which [junior] Trevor Cushman has taken on,” said senior theater major and President of Drama Club, Ian Jagel. “Also, we now have an Associated Students of Whitman College [ASWC] representative, [senior] Kelsey Yuhara. This year is also the 50th anniversary of Harper Joy Theater, which is really exciting.”
Drama Club, a student-run organization, was designed to unite members of the theater department as well as students interested in the theater.
Drama Club Officers [DCO] is an elected group of upperclassmen in Drama Club who help to organize the many Drama Club-related events as well as various independent theater projects.
“Officers are in charge of coordinating basically anything outside of academics and season shows,” said senior and secretary of Drama Club Adam Caniparoli. “We organize some of the bigger, non-academic, theater-related events, which take a lot of planning.”
Jagel and other DCO members decided to install a Publicity Chair when it became apparent that they needed more help reaching out to students and promoting season shows. Cushman, a theater major, was given the position.
“Last year I had suggested to [Jagel] that he should get people to start publicizing for shows because students mentioned that they didn’t know about when plays were happening or when to get tickets and therefore wouldn’t attend. [He] thought it was a good idea, and asked me to be the Publicity Chair.”
Cushman’s main responsibilities include printing advertisements, creating poster contests and organizing advertising campaigns for individual plays.
Caniparoli expressed excitement regarding Yuhara’s position as an ASWC representative, which opens the possibility of receiving ASWC funding.
“Hopefully, if we get funding, it will be easier to strike even or make money selling consessions,” said Caniparoli. “Other independent plays being put on by students, such as the upcoming production of ‘The Oresteia’ are trying to get funding as well, which is really good.”
Jagel’s hopes for the new members are compounded by his excitement for Harper Joy Theater’s anniversary.
“There’s going to be a lot of reputed, well-known alumni coming in, which is a networking opportunity for current students,” said Jagel. “[And] it’s a way for alumni to get back in touch with Harper Joy Theater.”
With a new season of shows, major changes and in particular the 50th anniversary event, the year presents itself as an exciting one for the theater department and for the new officers.
“I think there will be a lot of good things coming out of this year,” said Jagel. “[Cushman] and [Yuhara] are dedicated members and will do some really helpful things for Harper Joy… [And] the anniversary is a really special event. It will really impact [theater] students here at Whitman.”
While the first poster contest is over, future poster contests will be open to students. The posters will be hung around campus and even in Walla Walla. For more information contact Ian Jagel at [email protected] or Trevor Cushman at [email protected].
DRAMA CLUB OFFICERS:
Ian Jagel, senior –– President
Adam Caniparoli, senior –– VP/Secretary
Lisa Mattson, senior –– Treasurer
Kelsey Yuhara, senior –– ASWC representative
Trevor Cushman, junior –– Publicity Chair
Erin Terrall, junior –– Lunchbox Coordinator, Fall semester
Devin Peterson, junior –– Lunchbox Coordinator, Fall semester
Tessa Carlson, junior –– Lunchbox Coordinator, Spring semester
Nina Trotto, junior –– Lunchbox Coordinator, Spring semester
