By Katie Potzick
Many students have theatrical ambitions or have dreamt of being an actor of some sort. University of Louisville’s Studio Theater group has become a place for students to make their dreams come true.
The Studio Theater is a theater group run by students that allows anyone to participate in the shows, not only theater majors. Studio Theater has open auditions and anyone is welcome to come forward with an idea they would like to stage. Many theater roles are open to participants. Students can act, direct, or work with the technical side, helping with lights, costumes and stage management.
Many types of productions have graced the Studio Theater stage. There have been one-act plays, open-mic nights and even comedy acts.
“Studio Theater is about freedom for the students,” said Corey Music, a participant in the theater and a senior theater arts major. “You can take liberties if it’s your own script that you can’t take with copyrighted work. It’s a very liberating experience.”
Since August, the students have put on shows such as “WASP” by Steve Martin, “Action” by Sam Shepard, a run of open-mic nights and several 10-minute plays. All of the productions put on through the theater run for three nights at the Thrust Theater on campus and are free of charge.
On March 11, Studio Theater will be presenting the one-act play, “Hell’s Awesome!” The play was written by Corey Music, as well as senior theater arts major, Nick Potter. Music will also be directing and acting in one of the lead roles.
“The concept behind the play came about because, if there’s no sinning in heaven, it would be boring,” said Music. “The action will split between myself in hell and Nick in heaven. And, basically, hell will be awesome.”
The play is said to be interactive with the audience, with one cast member even sitting in the seats. Chadwick Thomas, a local filmmaker and member of the company Just in Time Films, is going to be filming the play with a 3-D camera.
“I’ve never seen a play filmed in 3-D before,” said Thomas. “Most of the modern-era 3-D movies are animated or rely heavily on visual effects. I wanted to see what a really stripped-down production looks like in 3-D. I believe it will be the first Kentucky film specifically designed for the new in-home 3-D standard.”
Colby Ballowe, a senior theater arts major, is also acting in “Hell’s Awesome!” Ballowe believes that this play can offer an enjoyable experience for all who see it.
“I think it’s a play that students will like because it takes the weighty issue of the afterlife and makes it fun,” said Ballowe. “I think the whole enterprise feels more authentic and honest because it is simply two college students’ humorous take on a complex issue. But this is also balanced by the plethora of zany characters.”
“Hell’s Awesome!” will be performed March 11-13 at the Thrust Theater at 2314 South Floyd Street. The performances will be at 8 p.m. and are free and open to the public.
