���t’s a week where the theater students can be together, create together, learn from each other and learn from other creative artists in the theater,”��said��Department��of Theatre and Dance��Chair��Dr.��David��Sollish. ���t’s��a beneficial addition to our year, because sometimes we can get��pretty focused��on what��we’re��doing here on campus. This is an opportunity to��get to know��other��people in the industry��and to see their work.”��

More than 20 91������ students took part in this year’s festival. The following students received awards and recognition:��

• Irene Ryan Acting Program Semi-finalist: Hannah��Auci��

• Musical Theatre Initiative Semi-finalists: Hannah��Auci, Hunter Ballard, Savannah Grace McCart��

• Musical Theatre Initiative Finalist:�� Hannah��Auci��

• KCACTF Region 4 Stage Management Award for Excellence in First Time State Management: Krysia Thomas��

• SETC/David Weiss Regional 1st place in Scenic Design: CJ Peterson��

• SETC/David Weiss Regional 1st place in Lighting Design: Thomas��Cawood��

• Applied Theatre Award of Excellence: Krysia Thomas��

The awards were presented on the stage of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, which is considered��one of the nation’s most prestigious regional theatre events.��The festival took place��in Mongomery, Alabama.��

��

AU Theatre and Dance����

AU Theatre and Dance��is part of the South Carolina School of the Arts at 91������. The South Carolina School of the Arts trains professional visual, musical, and theatrical artists who are serious about both their art and Christian faith.��

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Earlier this month,��Dr.��Sollish��was recognized��with one of the greatest honors a theatre educator could��possibly receive.��

On the stage of the prestigious Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Dr. Sollish was presented with the Kennedy Center Gold Medallion, the most prestigous regional award given by the American College Theatre Festival (ACTF). The award recognizes Dr. Sollish for his extraordinary contributions to the teaching and production of theatre and for dedicating his time, artistry and enthusiasm to the development of the festival. The award also honors him for his strong commitment to the values and goals of ACTF and to excellence in educational theatre.��

South Carolina School of the Arts Dean Dr. David Larson said,��“This professional recognition places the Department of Theatre and Dance at the center of theatre programs in the Southeast.  Simply put, this significant award is as good as it gets for a university theatre educator.”��

��

AU Theatre and Dance����

AU Theatre and Dance��is part of the South Carolina School of the Arts at 91������. The South Carolina School of the Arts trains professional visual, musical, and theatrical artists who are serious about both their art and Christian faith.��

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The dancers staged a performance exploring the everyday lives of commuters on a New York City subway.����

Wolcott said, “You can watch people fall in love. You can watch people fall out of love. You can watch people deal with grief. You can watch people get a promotion. I’ve watched people book their first Broadway show on a subway to get a phone call while they’re sitting at a station… they get a phone call from their agent and they start breaking down, crying and screaming and all these strangers are celebrating with them.”��

Further explaining storytelling through dance, Wolcott added, “The theme of any musical theater piece is that it has to be theatrical. It has to tell some kind of stories—challenging the students to come up with characters and work them into the dance so it’s not just them doing dance steps next to each other but trying to inhabit these characters and interweaving their stories in a way that we don’t always do in dance.”��

Wolcott enjoyed spending time with students and faculty at Anderson, commenting, “They have great faculty that I have gotten to know while I was there. It’s always good to have a fresh perspective that gives them some reassurance that what they’re learning… it seems like we’re always aligned.”��

Wolcott teaches at Marymount Manhattan University and a few professional dance studios in New York. He loves to travel and work with students at various institutions.��

Lauren Imhoff of the Department of Theatre and Dance in the South Carolina School of the Arts asserts that bringing in an esteemed artist is an important way to support 91������’s pillar of Great Academics.����

“We are also exercising great hospitality and great purpose as our students drive towards professional careers in this art form,” Imhoff said.��

The South Carolina School of the Arts at 91������ trains professional visual, musical, and theatrical artists who are serious about both their art and Christian faith. More details about Theatre and Dance at 91������ can be found online here.

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The Theatre and Dance Department of the South Carolina School of the Arts conducted a weeklong dance camp for high school students at 91������ June 2-6.��

According to Director of Dance Lauren Imhoff, the camp offered ballet, modern and jazz/musical theatre classes each day. Students got to know dance faculty members Elizabeth Updegraff, Steph Cureton and Lauren Imhoff alongside two dance major student leaders Rylee McGiff and Audrey Keller. The camp wrapped up with camp participants showing what they learned during the week in a parent showcase June 6 at the dance studio, located on the 91������ Athletic Campus.��

Imhoff said that this was the first dance offering for summer institute and another camp will be offered in 2026.��

Details about dance and other programs offered by the South Carolina School of the Arts at 91������ can be found online here.��

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Atlanta-based staibdance organizes through its Italy program experiences that bring world-class faculty together��for two weeks of intensive dance instruction, against the beautiful and historic backdrop of Sant’Agata and Sorrento, located along the Mediterranean coast near the city of Naples.��

It’s been a wonderful experience for Smith, who grew up south of Augusta, Georgia and followed her older sister’s footsteps into dance as a young girl. Looking back, it’s hard to imagine that at first she didn’t want to dance, quit once, then resumed dance lessons when her cousin opened up a dance studio in her hometown of Waynesboro.����

Smith describes her dance style as upbeat and athletic. She loves contemporary and jazz dance styles and appreciates how the staibdance intensive has expanded her horizons. She has been immersed in daily classes that include Counter Technique, Contemporary Ballet, James Wilton Dance Repertoire and Creative Failure.��

Creative Failure, Smith explains, is essentially an improvisational class focused on the idea that creativity can come from the midst of what we perceive as failure.��

���f we completely broaden our horizon and our perspective and just start moving,” she says, “in the end, we might not like what we did, but it’s still creativity. To us it can be failure if we don’t like it, but to somebody else, it might not be. It opens a perspective on the art that you’re making.”��

Smith has learned much from the instruction of the international faculty of staibdance, which includes American and European teachers.��

��� just think experiencing an intensive like this in another country is very beneficial because of the different ties to different countries, the fact that you’re somewhere you don’t know at all and you’re having to totally readjust and meet new people,” she said. “Every bit of it is just an eye-opening experience in both regular everyday life and also the dance culture that you’re used to. There are moments in classes where it can be something that you’re totally used to and are comfortable with, and there are also moments where you’re learning something you’ve never done before. I think it takes you out of your comfort zone.”����

An unforgettable experience for Smith was experiencing a ballet in Naples.����

���t’s one of the oldest opera houses. It was gorgeous,” she said. “We got to see ‘Serata’ by Jerome Robbins, a choreographer we got to know a lot about in AU classes. I also enjoy his choreography style, so getting to see a ballet he choreographed in another country and in one of the most beautiful opera houses—it was very insane, but it was so much fun.”����

The staibdance intensive wrapped up with a performance from the students, followed by a celebration before heading home early the next morning.��

Smith will return to Anderson and teach at Anderson School of Dance. She also plans to continue working in the competition dance world, something she grew up around.����

��� am still very open to performance opportunities and still planning to seek those as well,” she said.��

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The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) nominated several Theatre and Dance students for awards and a chance to compete in Washington, D.C. in 2023.

Students from the South Carolina School of the Arts at 91������ received regional nominations for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) Awards. 

“The faculty and I are incredibly proud of this production and of all of our incredibly talented student-artists. We wish them luck and many blessings as they compete in February at the regional festival,” said 91������ Department of Theatre and Dance Chair Dr. David Sollish.

The nominations came for the fall production of Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes!” recognizing the talents of the cast and crew. 

KCACTF sends a respondent to view Theatre and Dance productions during the Fall 2022 Semester and nominate students. Those students then can go to a regional Kennedy Center festival to compete. If they win the region, they head to a national competition in Washington, D.C., with the potential of winning a scholarship.

The following students were nominated:

Associate Direction nominee – Kaitlyn Grace

Dance Captain Dramaturgy nominee – Emma Turner, Annabelle Terry, Caroline Byce

Hair and Makeup Design/Costume Design nominees – Evelyn Ruff, Alessa Gibbons, Morgan Burroughs, Maegan Mosher

Irene Ryan nominees – Spencer Dulin, Benjamin Reardon

Lighting Design nominee – Abbigail Askew

Props Design nominee – Regan Densmore

Sound Design nominees – Nathanael Browne

Stage Management nominee – Edie Dominick and Ivey Whitaker

Started in 1969 by Kennedy Center founding chairman, Roger L. Stevens, the Kennedy Center American College Theater is a national theater program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide which has served as a catalyst in improving the quality of college theater in the United States. The KCACTF has grown into a network of more than 600 academic institutions throughout the country, where theater departments and student artists showcase their work and receive outside assessment by KCACTF respondents.

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A senior in the Department of Theatre and Dance of the South Carolina School of the Arts at 91������ is dedicated to maximizing the audience experience.

John Verzwyvelt knows about creating excitement for musicals, plays and other events, having been involved in theatre throughout high school and college. He also made community connections, creating a fundraising campaign for a Louisiana animal shelter. He’s also used his theatre and improv skills to highlight the importance of honing communication skills for business students.

When Verzwyvelt transferred to 91������ his sophomore year, he focused energy on marketing for the South Carolina School of the Arts. During his junior year, he helped Dr. David Sollish, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance, create a marketing team. The team is now led by Dr. Sollish and two part-time staff members. 

��� am so excited that I was able to create a class that will continue to help our students get more jobs in theatre in the future,” Verzwyvelt said. 

Knowing that the audience experience begins long before they take their seat in the theater, the marketing team worked to create interest among people not tuned into the theatre world. One way was to come up with Show Week banners—a tangible, visible representation of details the Department of Theatre and Dance puts into each production. 

“When you look at our Show Week banners, you see costumes our costumers did, but you’ll also notice there aren’t any actors in them, and that’s on purpose, so we could bring a major focus to the very hard work that our designers put in.”

Senior Project

For his senior project, Verzwyvelt launched a fundraiser to add special lighting and a season banner at the entrance to the Rainey Fine Arts Center and the Belk Theater Plaza. He also envisions a large lobby monitor to show videos to further build audience anticipation for the production waiting for them inside the theater. The audience then takes their seat in the improved, comfortable seating inside.

“We want people to see the banners and say ‘wow, these people really care about theatre.’ Especially prospective students saying ‘I could see myself doing this.’ Go into our lobby. We have this huge lobby display with all the stuff we did to work on the show, we have videos playing about the show, we have videos about the students performing the show. The seats become the destination that is the most important part of the project, because they transport you into the show,” Verzwyvelt said.

The fundraiser is a collaboration between the South Carolina School of the Arts, Office of Development and Office of Administration and Brand. 

“91������ has just given me so much,” Verzwyvelt said. ��� just wanted to give back in some way, so I’m doing a development project with the School of the Arts to increase the Anderson show experience.”

Verzwyvelt is especially grateful to South Carolina School of the Arts Dean Dr. David Larson for the success of his senior project, adding that the project would never have happened without his support. 

Of course, Verzwyvelt still enjoys performing. He has been in several South Carolina School of the Arts productions, including “Curtains,” “The Women of Lockerbie,” and this semester’s production of “Bright Star.”

Verzwyvelt plans an internship with the historic MUNY Theater in St. Louis, Missouri, this summer, then plans to pursue advanced study in advertising.

“John is a driven, thoughtful and passionate young man who offers a friendly face to everyone he meets. He is always looking for opportunities to further the impact of our Department of Theatre and Dance, increase his knowledge and skills, and well as develop relationships with everyone he meets,” said Rebekah Miller, manager of SCSA Digital Media and production manager for Commercial Music. “He not only pursues excellence in his theater craft, but also in marketing, promotion, and graphic design. Not only does he push for quality in his work, but he also sees the joyful and fun side of life.”

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91������’s most anticipated cultural event is back! The President’s Gala is returning for two sparkling nights—April 22 and 23. The South Carolina School of the Arts is proud to present this joyous celebration of the 2021-2022 academic year. 

The finest musicians, dancers, actors and vocalists at 91������ will perform at this year’s President’s Gala.

The President’s Gala includes everything from rousing orchestral arrangements to dance to pop—show tunes, too. 

The President’s Gala is a gift to the community from AU. Tickets are required and can be obtained through the AU Box Office or . The tickets will go early as the event has a well-deserved reputation as one of the finest and most diverse musical spectacles in Upstate South Carolina each year. 

Senior Max Milian, one of the student arrangers and student musical director for AUthenticity, Anderson’s commercial music ensemble, says that coming back to a live in-person performance gives students the experiences they’ve missed over the past two years.

��� think it provides both audience members and performers a real chance to actually not take things for granted,” Milian said. ���’m very grateful for the opportunity to perform with a symphony orchestra in an auditorium with a thousand people in the audience. Those are things that, during my freshman year, were a big opportunity before the pandemic hit; we’ve missed that, but coming back to it is really exciting.” 

McCayla Ratcliffe, a senior majoring in worship leadership who was once an American Idol contestant in Hollywood, California, has been leading worship in chapels and following God’s call into music ministry. As with other graduating seniors, the 2022 President’s Gala for her is special. 

“Everyone is super excited because we’ve been deprived of being all together and having that community and that social aspect of performance as an event. It’s definitely missed, so people really appreciate it a lot more, especially as a performer,” said Ratcliffe.

For Spencer Dulin, a musical theatre major and commercial music minor, the reality of Gala returning to its full glory is still sinking in.

���t’s going to be huge… you almost have to stop and  believe it’s a full-fledged production again,” Dulin said ���t’s just really exciting because there’s a lot of good work being showcased and there are a lot of very talented people involved.”

“The best thing about Gala and honestly this whole department is you get to work with so many people who are outside of your major you didn’t think you’d work with. So I’m excited to do that again and excited that the choir is together again and the orchestra,” said Angelina Chisholm, a senior double majoring in worship leadership and communication. “There’s a bit of nervousness about all of us being there and everything in full swing again.” 

Both Gala performances will begin at 8 p.m. in the Henderson Auditorium of the Rainey Fine Arts Center. 

Tickets for general admission are $10 and $5 for faculty, staff and students (only available to purchase at the box office).

Tickets are available to reserve in person, , or by phone on March 22, 2022 starting at 9am EST. All ticket requests, whether in person or by phone, will be combined and processed in chronological order.

Please call the Box Office at 864-231-2080 for more information and tickets.

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A wide array of musical ensembles from the South Carolina School of the Arts at 91������ will perform Saturday, April 30—part of Soirée, a cultural experience in downtown Anderson. 

“We’ll have AUthenticity, three other commercial music ensembles, the big bands, a jazz group, a faculty group and the West African Drum Ensemble,” said Dr. Derick Cordoba, professor of music and director of the Johnny Mann Center for Commercial Music at the South Carolina School of the Arts. Dr. Cordoba said all ensembles will perform in the heart of downtown at the square in front of the Anderson County Courthouse.

It’s an exciting time in the life of Anderson, South Carolina, welcoming Soirée back after a long hiatus. 

Soirée is a two-day cultural experience featuring live performances on multiple stages downtown, visual artists selling original handcrafted works and delicious food prepared by some of Anderson’s finest chefs. 

This past fall, when Dr. Cordoba found out about Soirée’s plans to return, he knew he had to get his students involved. He contacted Caroline Gaddis, event coordinator for the city of Anderson, and plans to perform were put into motion. 

���’ll give Derick a lot of credit because he’s the first person that reached out to me about the Soirée when he found out it was coming back, wanting to get involved, wanting his students involved,” Gaddis said. “That’s just the sign of a great professor that he cares that much about the community and his students, wanting them to be engaged in things outside of the university.”

Dr. Cordoba believes that performing at Soirée will provide his students with a valuable experience. 

���t will give them an opportunity to play at an outdoor festival and see all the workings. As a working musician, I’ve played… many festivals, but it’s a different experience also to play on an outdoor stage. It will give them a chance to… just have a different kind of concert experience and to learn how to adjust to that environment. It will be a lot of fun and a great chance for them,” Dr. Cordoba said.

Also that day, AUthenticity will premier its new album of original compositions, which will be available on CD or download from major online music platforms.

���t’s definitely huge for us that 91������ and the South Carolina School of the Arts will be participating, because anywhere there’s students, there’s vibrancy,” Gaddis said. “We love our partnership with 91������ and we’re thrilled they’re coming alongside us and making this arts festival come to life. Ultimately it is an arts festival and 91������ is an arts school, so it’s a great partnership to have students involved and to see the students at the Soiree, at the festival, enjoying all of the activities and also participating in providing something for the public, showing off their skill set and talent that sometimes the public doesn’t get to see because they don’t know what’s going on with 91������ a lot of times unless they’re directly connected.”

Soirée was a huge part of the Anderson arts scene from 1985 to 2009 and built a reputation as one of Upstate South Carolina’s signature events. 

91������ is a Legacy Sponsor for the 2022 Soirée, taking place April 29 and 30. Admission is free. Details are available .

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Over the past few years, the dance department has grown exponentially. 
Having started with only three majors, there are now about a hundred people in the department, 36 of whom are in the concert. As the department, part of the South Carolina School of the Arts at 91������, continues to grow, the focus on learning is apparent.

Six of the 13 pieces are choreographed by the students. Professor of Dance Terrie Poore stated that the faculty members “really want to give the students the opportunity to be able to work on their choreography and have (it) presented in a formal setting, because that’s one of the great job opportunities that they can take after graduating.” One of the students, Karah Snyder, expressed excitement about her piece being chosen to be a part of the concert.

“The piece is called ‘I Will Yet Praise You,’” said Snyder. ���t is loosely based on the stories and lives of Corrie ten Boom and Elisabeth Elliot. Corrie ten Boom was a Christian who hid Jews during the Holocaust and was eventually taken to a concentration camp. Elisabeth Elliot was a missionary who served with her husband in Ecuador. Her husband was murdered by the tribe they were going to try to evangelize. But she continued to stay as a missionary and actually went and lived with the tribe. A lot of them became Christians and there was a lot of beautiful restoration there. Both for her and Corrie, their commitment to loving the Lord and trusting Him in the middle of terrible hardship and their forgiveness for other people was really beautiful to me.”

Beyond the choreography, all the lighting designers, sound technicians, and backstage crew members are students. The students learned how to light a stage for a dance piece through a design class.

The Spring Dance Recital blends the hard work of students and faculty as they glorify God through their craft. 

Springing from Break
As these artist athletes finish Spring Break, they are about to enter tech week for their Spring Dance Recital. The dancers are thrilled to show off their work from classes and workshops on March 17 and 18 at 7:30 p.m. in Henderson Auditorium. 

This concert features 13 pieces, which pull from many different art forms. From classical ballet to modern to musical theater, there is a variety of styles for everyone to enjoy. One dance, “Connections Boogie,” is a blend of ballet and modern set to a jazz number. This funky piece was choreographed by Professor Poore and the ballet mistress, Katheryn Yon.

Beyond the faculty, the students had the opportunity to work with Zanza Steinburg, a guest artist from New York. In one weekend, Steinburg choreographed “Keeping the Faith” and taught the piece to students. 

Step on In
The performers and crew are striving for excellence by shaking off their nerves and passionately practicing for the upcoming concert. A diversity of styles. A collection of choreographers. This recital displays the hard work of each individual student.  

The recital will run for an hour and fifteen minutes with two short intermissions.

The South Carolina School of the Arts invites the public to its Spring Dance Recital to see the hearts of its students and their love for the Almighty God. 

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