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In the theatre department this semester, Scene Study (Level II) and Fundamentals of Acting (Level I) are combined! This has brought forth an enriching experience for our students as the more experienced actors are able to mentor and inspire those who may be gracing the stage for the first time. That said, Bell 1 has immersed itself in diverse stories of contemporary theater. Storytelling onstage grants students an opportunity to get to know a new character, time period, or worldly event while simultaneously allowing the actor to get to know themselves a little better. With each new script the students have encountered, they have become acquainted with the famous actress and theatre practitioner, Uta Hagen and the power of her “Nine Questions.” These questions are an excellent tool for character development as they encourage self-discovery as a role within the world of the play and the actor approaching the material alike.

All stories, even the fantastic, are based in human truth; therefore; when students are able to get to know their characters in such a specific and ongoing manner, they are able to connect to them and those around them in the real world with a deeper sense of empathy and emotional literacy. In class, they are making these discoveries both independently and within the collaborative relationships they have formed as a class “company.” The students will most certainly carry the stories they have encountered along with them as well as the transferable skills of teamwork, public speaking, emotional literacy, and empathy that will help them on whatever career path they choose to embark on in the years to come.