The performances on stage in the Vonnie Borden Theatre are interesting to watch, but what many do not think about when viewing a performance is the amount of work that goes into putting on a play.
“There is so much that happens before an audience ever sees a play,” said James Winters, acting and directing professor. “And so much more that is happening behind the scenes that an audience doesn’t see during the performance. While an audience watches a play there is a whole unseen team of workers operating the lights, sounds, curtains and set.”
The Department of Fine and Performing Arts stages four plays each year, a number set by the Student Government Association (SGA), who funds the department. Students, who make up 90 percent of the audiences, are charged $1.50 each semester.
Actors prepare and rehearse weeks in advance. Practices are usually three to four hours per night, five times per week.
“Without the actors you don’t really have a show,” said William Stockstill, instructor of costume design. “They kind of complete the process that we start and we all work together.”
“If you added up all of the hours each actor, designer, director and crew person puts into even a small play, you’re probably looking at over 1,000 hours,” said Winters. “One word:  collaboration. For a play to truly be successful, all of the actors and designers must work with the director and the script itself to create a unified vision.”
The cost of production varies depending on the play and level of production.  Southeastern usually spends at least $1,000 on each show, sometimes more.  Money is spent toward several different elements from make-up and costumes to set-building materials.
“Most of our money is spent on student labor,” said Steven Schepker, director of scenic and lighting design. “About 50 percent of our budget is student workers.”
Anyone can audition for a role in a play, or become involved behind the scenes. The theatre is not limited to theatre or performing art majors. “All it takes is the desire to get involved,” said Winters. “We encourage all students of any major to come talk to any of our faculty and students about getting involved.  We always need people in every area, acting, design, crew, etc.  Our school’s chapter of Alpha Psi Omega is a great place to start your involvement with the theatre program.”
The department also offers students the opportunity to gain credit for acting or working behind the scenes of productions through TLABS. The class is worth an hour of credit.
 “It’s a way to get involved and get credit at the same time,” said Schepker. “The credit goes back a semester so if you’re cast in the spring and you sign up for the class in the fall you can use the class or the show you were cast in in the spring. But it only goes back one semester.”
The last show produced by the theatre department was “The Magic Flute.”
“It went from nine different scenes and prosceniums and probably about $6,000 worth of scenery and now it’s a pile of lumber,” said Schepker. “Other than a few pictures that I have and memories that people have of the show, that’s it. But that’s what I like about it. It’s live. It’s fresh.”
The contacts of the theatre faculty are available at www.selu.edu/theatre and their offices are located in D Vickers Hall.
For more information on upcoming events, ways to get involved or the department of fine and performing arts visit www.selu.edu/theatre.