EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY THEATRE HANDBOOK |
I. History of the ESU Theatre Program
Beginning in 1913, with the Department of Public Speaking and Expression, classes and theatre productions were part of the academic program at Kansas State Normal. Professor Franklin L. Gilson first organized the Gilson Players in 1915. Before Gilson’s death in 1946, this group had performed in cities and towns across Kansas plus toured to fifteen states. Albert Taylor Hall, located in the Administration Building, now called Plumb Hall, was the home of major productions beginning in 1916. The department also presented many smaller productions in The Little Theater, located on the third floor of the Administration Building.
In February of 1923, the college formally became Kansas State Teachers College. The 1926 the department was reorganized and named the Department of Speech. The theatre program grew, more faculty were added, and in 1951 the department begin to offer the Master of Science degree with a major in Speech.This degree was offered until 1983.
In the summer of 1955, the department inaugurated the first Summer Theatre program in Kansas. Eight shows were produced in eight weeks. With an attendance of over 8,000, the season was declared a success and Summer Theatre became an annual part of the Speech Department.
The department moved into its new home, the Humanities Building, in 1966. In 1977 the college formally became Emporia State University. In 1981 the Humanities Building was renamed King Hall to honor former college President, John E. King and the College Theatre was renamed the Bruder Theatre, to honor Professor Karl C. Bruder, long time Chair of the department.
Beginning in 1974, with a production of “Camelot”, the program began producing the annual Homecoming Musical. This annual event, produced with the Department of Music, has raised thousands of dollars to fund scholarships given to theatre and music students.
The theatre program has always been an active participant in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. The program has twice hosted the regional festival, taken productions to several regional festivals, and performed once at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. The Summer Theatre program is still active, now producing four shows each summer.
1.2 Organization
The theatre program is part of the Department of Communication and Theatre, a unit of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The theatre faculty is headed by the Director of Theater who reports to the Chair of the Department.
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Updated 7/2/08 1:17 PM