Night of Solo Performances set at CU

It's not unusual to hear Cameron University president Shane Hunt remark, "It's a great day to be an Aggie!" This refrain has been taken to heart by students in the university's theatre program, with five of them using it as inspiration for "A Night of Solo Performances" April 16-19 in the University Theatre.

Gabriella Aguilar of Oberkirch, Germany, Theo Cognet of El Paso, Texas, Skylar Edwards of Las Vegas, Nev., Mvnte July of Tulsa, and Ryan Kaye from Greely, Colo. (who performs under the stage name Rose Landrum) are students in the CU theatre seminar, "Solo Performances," this semester. The class called for them to create individual performance pieces.

Solo performance involves individuals performing stories they devise themselves. These performances are often autobiographical, sometimes ethnographic in nature. Dr. Natalie McCabe, an assistant professor in CU's Department of Art, Music and Theatre Arts, said solo performance blurs the divide between theatre and performance art.

"Our students are rooting their stories around their profound theatrical experiences and how they came to be BA Theatre majors at Cameron," said McCabe. "Inspired by President Hunt's 'It's a great day to be an Aggie!,' our show says it's a great day to be a CU theatre major."

Much of today's theatre and performance work is self-created, whether it is an original theatre project such as these solo performances, or personas on social media, and learning how to do so and self-promote is vital to performers' success, McCabe noted. Casting directors often check auditionees' social media profiles for number of followers and engagement when deciding on casting.

"The other theatre faculty and I try to offer a seminar each spring that fosters those skills in our students," McCabe said. "In the past, we have done seminars on playwriting - one of which resulted in the New Play Festival in Spring 2024 - devising and stage combat, and have ideas in circulation for the seminar next spring."

Associate Professor Ben Williams is designing the set, lights and projections, while instructor Jean Tartiere is designing costumes. Theatre facilities manager Joey Roberts is designing sound, and McCabe will direct.

Students handling stage duties are Ellie Norbury, stage manager; Brendon Reeves, assistant stage manager; Joshua Olenick, light board operator; Alex Bliefernich, sound board operator; Aster Ruff, projections; and Alexzander Ernest, publicity. All are from Lawton. Abbey Kirby of Houston, Texas, is also on the stage crew.

Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. April 16-18, with a matinee finale at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 19. Tickets are $13 for adults and $10 for military with proper identification, seniors and students in grades K-8. Cameron students, faculty and staff receive a free ticket by showing valid CU identification.

Tickets can be reserved by calling 580-581-2346. The CU Box Office is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased online at https://www.cameron.edu/art-music-and-theatre/events/buy-tickets.

This event is presented by the CU Department of Art, Music and Theatre Arts.

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