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THE LESSON to open next!

Gardner-Webb University Theater presents another outrageously funny and very absurd comedy by Eugene ionesco, the master of French absurd comedy. This companion show to The Bald Soprano will play for four performances in the Millennium Playhouse 22, 23, 24, & 25 April at 7:30 pm each evening. The play stars Heather Bartlett as The Professor and Stacie Worrell as the Pupil. Ticket reservations are available at 704-406-4372.


THE BALD SOPRANO a big hit!

Gardner-Webb University Theater's production of The Bald Soprano was a big hit this week with audiences of all ages. Sam Dowell and Traci Beckett as Mr. & Mrs. Smith were delightful in their comic roles, as were Brianna Bleymaier and Ashley Burton as the Martins. Chad Mann and Mary Goforth brought down the house with their incidental comedy and funny business. .


THE BALD SOPRANO to open in April!

Gardner-Webb University Theater presents the outrageously funny and very absurd comedy by Eugene ionesco, the master of French absurd comedy. The show will play for five performances in the Millennium Playhouse 15, 16, 17, 18, & 19 April at 7:30 pm each evening. The play stars Traci Beckett as Mrs. Smith and Sam Dowell as Mr. Smith. Ticket reservations are available at 704-406-4372.


World Premiere for GLORIA DEI

Gardner-Webb University Theater presents the World Premiere of GLORIA DEI, a new drama by North Carolina playwright and GWU professor Scot Lahaie. The play runs 20-27 February with performances at 7:30 pm, except for the Sunday performance on the 24th, which will be presented as a matinee. The play is a courtroom drama and takes its inspiration from the atrocities surrounding the Terri Schiavo court case in Florida, which allowed a disabled woman to starve to death with the blessing of the courts in 2005. The play stars Brian McGill, junior theater major at GWU, as Father William Seamus and Caleb Houston Moore, senior theater major, as Jim Taylor, defense attorney. Ticket reservations are available at 704-406-4372.



Gardner-Webb University Theater is no longer sponsoring a New Plays Festival. We have not been able to keep up with the growth and expense of the program and feel it is best to let it go. We are considering a Festival of New Work utilizing the short plays of our own students and alum, but that decision has not yet been made.


LEAR ReLoaded on stage!
High praise for GWU Theater's production of Lear ReLoaded, a deconstruction of Shakepeare's King Lear, which was authored by Scot Lahaie, Director of Theater at GWU. "It was an exciting event for us," comments Lahaie, "since this is the first time that we have ventured so fully into the Postmodern production mode." Jacob Jackson, a junior theater major at GWU, played the role of Lear, while Matthew B. Fraiser and Caleb Moore, also junior theater majors, supported in the roles of the Fool and Edgar, son of Gloucester.


24 HOURS a Smashing Success!
On 20 January,
GWU Theater presented the winter installment of 24 HOURS on the stage of the Millennium Playhouse. The house was packed to capacity and everyone agrees that this was the best event ever! Seven exciting shows were presented with a total ensemble of more than 55 people. "We are always amazed at the quality of work this kind of an event can produce," comments Scot Lahaie, Director of Theater.


GWU Theater Produced Beckett's Waiting for Godot
It means what it says,” Samuel Beckett said of his absurdist play, “Waiting for Godot,” which was written in the early 1940s and published in 1952. Born 100 years ago in Ireland, Beckett’s works have lived on as inspiration for other absurdist playwrights such as Tom Stoppard and Edward Albee and for acting and directing troupes across the world. The Gardner-Webb University Theater program is proud to participate in the Beckett Centennial as they pay tribute to Beckett in their own October production of Waiting for Godot.

The play is divided into two acts. During the entirety of the show, the lead characters, Vladimir and Estragon are waiting, at roadside, for the arrival of Godot. Although other travelers come and go, Godot never comes. At the end of the play, Vladimir asks Estragon, “Well, shall we go?” “Yes, let’s go,” Estragon replies. The two agree to leave, but stay just as they are. In keeping with the rest of the play, the ending is truly absurd and thought provoking, just the way that Beckett intended it to be.

Scot Lahaie, director of Gardner-Webb’s Theatre program and director of “Waiting for Godot,” claims that this play is, most arguably, the most famous play of the twentieth century. “We have a great cast put together for this production.” An all-male cast, Lahaie and his troupe have rehearsed tirelessly since the casting of the show early in the semester. Along with the cast, the technical crew has worked equally as hard to prepare for the production. “The scenic element (designed by Christopher Keene) is inspired and contributes significantly to the development of the play’s theme,” Lahaie said.

The themes Lahaie refers to are ones typical of a tragic-comedy. While “Waiting for Godot” is a more serious, theological play, it is meant, at times, to be funny. “We are striving to highlight the humor in this very metaphysical play, knowing that the philosophical qualities of the play will take care of themselves,” Lahaie commented on their task at hand. “Our job is to engage and entertain through dramatic action, not to philosophize,” he added. “That comes after the fact.”



24 HOURS Next on the Stage!
GWU Theater proudly announces the winter installment of 24 HOURS. which premiere's on the stage of the Millennium Playhouse on 20 January 2007. Call 704-406-4372 for ticket information.


Love Letters Next on the Stage!
GWU Theater proudly announces its winter production of A.R. Gurney's Love Letters, which premiere's on the stage of the Millennium Playhouse. This lovely two-person show will play 5, 6, & 7 December 2006 at 7:30 PM. The play runs only three performances, so secure your tickets early!

Rachael Lambert, whose unforgettable performance in the role of Lizzie in last season's musical BABY! still has audiences talking, plays the role of Melissa across from newcomer Jacob Jackson. The production is directed by Scot Lahaie.

Call 704-406-4372 for ticket information.


Fall One-Acts Next on the Stage!


GWU Theater proudly announces the production of two one-act plays for their fall line-up. Both hour-long plays are student directed and will be presented on the stage of the Millennium Playhouse.

Laundry and Bourbon, a Texas Comedy by James McLure, will play 14, 16, & 18 November at 7:30 PM. The hour-long play is directed by Bradley J. Archer and stars Heather Bartlett, Lynn Caponetti, and newcomer Amy Elliot.

'night Mother, a pulitzer-prize winning drama, will play 13, 15, & 17 November at 7:30 PM. This hour-long play is directed by Noelle DeLozier and stars Tara Milligan and Jen Wiles.

Call 704-406-4372 for ticket information.


GWU Theater Produced Beckett's Waiting for Godot


It means what it says,” Samuel Beckett said of his absurdist play, “Waiting for Godot,” which was written in the early 1940s and published in 1952. Born 100 years ago in Ireland, Beckett’s works have lived on as inspiration for other absurdist playwrights such as Tom Stoppard and Edward Albee and for acting and directing troupes across the world. The Gardner-Webb University Theater program is proud to participate in the Beckett Centennial as they pay tribute to Beckett in their own October production of Waiting for Godot.

The play is divided into two acts. During the entirety of the show, the lead characters, Vladimir and Estragon are waiting, at roadside, for the arrival of Godot. Although other travelers come and go, Godot never comes. At the end of the play, Vladimir asks Estragon, “Well, shall we go?” “Yes, let’s go,” Estragon replies. The two agree to leave, but stay just as they are. In keeping with the rest of the play, the ending is truly absurd and thought provoking, just the way that Beckett intended it to be.

Scot Lahaie, director of Gardner-Webb’s Theatre program and director of “Waiting for Godot,” claims that this play is, most arguably, the most famous play of the twentieth century. “We have a great cast put together for this production.” An all-male cast, Lahaie and his troupe have rehearsed tirelessly since the casting of the show early in the semester. Along with the cast, the technical crew has worked equally as hard to prepare for the production. “The scenic element (designed by Christopher Keene) is inspired and contributes significantly to the development of the play’s theme,” Lahaie said.

The themes Lahaie refers to are ones typical of a tragic-comedy. While “Waiting for Godot” is a more serious, theological play, it is meant, at times, to be funny. “We are striving to highlight the humor in this very metaphysical play, knowing that the philosophical qualities of the play will take care of themselves,” Lahaie commented on their task at hand. “Our job is to engage and entertain through dramatic action, not to philosophize,” he added. “That comes after the fact.”


GWU Announces Publication Series!
GWU Theater proudly announces the publication of the NEW PLAYS FESTIVAL, Volume Three: New One-Act Plays by Emerging American Playwrights. Edited by Scot Lahaie, this volume collects the plays presented in the New Plays Festival 2005. The book was published by iUniverse and is now available for order at booksellers nationwide. Click on the following link to order your copy online at Amazon.com. Order your copy today! You will also want to get your own copy of the collected plays from the 2003 & 2004 Festivals.

NPF Book Cover 2005

New Plays Festival 2006!
We are excited to announce the selected plays/playwrights participating in our New Plays Festival 2006! The shows are now cast and in rehearsals. We look forward to a show great performances at the end of April. Click here to read about the plays and playwrights in this year's festival!


Our Spring Symposium 2005
Our Spring Symposium 2005: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Medea Myth was a great success. Thank you to everyone who helped to make it a grand event. Click here for more information about this event. We look forward to more events like this in the future.


Professor Wins Two More Prizes!

  • The Southeastern Theater Conference (SETC) recently announced that DOGFALL, written by Scot Lahaie--our own Director of Theater--has been awarded the Gretchell NEW PLAY AWARD for 2004/05. The honor carries with it a $1,000 prize, a staged reading at the SETC annual convention, and consideration for publication in SETC's Southern Theatre Magazine. Congratulation to Professor Lahaie!

  • The Greensboro Playwrights' Forum in Greensboro, North Carolina recently announced that DOGFALL is the 2005 winner of the Mark Gilbert New Play Award. The award carries a $500 cash prize. Further, the Forum produced the play in their annual North Carolina New Play Project--a program that provides opportunities to living playwrights across North Carolina to produce their plays in a workshop environment. DOGFALL was performed 5 - 8 May 2005 in Greensboro.

Visit scotlahaie.com for more information about Professor Lahaie's plays.


Prospective Students!
We are excited about your interest in Theater Arts at Gardner-Webb University! We believe that our program is one of the best in the region with a specific focus on creating original works for the stage. We hope that you will want to be a part of it. Please click here!


24 HOURS a Great Success!

The 24 HOURS Production Company! This photo was taken of the company at the top of the event. We had a sold out house with standing room at the back of the theater filled to capacity. The six plays were pulled off without a hitch and we are so proud of our students! See PHOTOS of the event!

Call for Scripts

Gardner-Webb University is seeking new scripts (short one-acts and 10-minute plays) for its NEW PLAYS FESTIVAL to be held in spring 2006. The scripts should be either short one-acts (not longer than 20 minutes) or true 10-minute plays. Cast size is unimportant. Unit set or single location is required. No nudity or onstage sex. And no film scripts for adaptation. The plays must be unpublished and cannot have been previously staged for an audience (projects presented in a classroom or workshop are acceptable).

The plays produced for the New Plays Festival in 2003 and 2004 were published in two volumes; the 2005 Festival will be published soon. GWU plans to publish the plays produced in the 2006 festival, as well. See the Barnes and Nobles website for details about these publications.

Scripts are presently being accepted. Deadline is January 31, 2006. Early submissions are appreciated. Send scripts electronically (preferred) to Professor Scot Lahaie at slahaie@gardner-webb.edu or as hard copy to Scot Lahaie, Director of Theater, Gardner-Webb University, Campus Box 7273, Boiling Springs, NC 28017. (Hard copy submissions should include an e-mail contact address.)



Fall Forum Planned!
GWU Theater is proud to sponsor Gardner-Webb University's Fall Forum 2005: The History of the American Abortion Debate: Where to from here?

We are inviting a top-level legal scholar to our campus for an evenings presentation to explain just how we got to where we are in America concerning the abortion issue. By understanding where we've been and how we got there, our community of learning can better participate in the coming public debate surrounding the American laws governing abortion.

A rekindling of this debate is forecast by the intent of a conservative President in his second term to appoint conservative judges to an aging Supreme Court. Indeed, if we should see as many as three new conservative judges appointed to the Supreme court in the next two years, we may very well see a revisiting of Roe V. Wade--the landmark case that legalized abortion in America. With this in mind, we can see the dark clouds of debate gathering on the horizon of our culture like a rising storm.

As part of the Forum, GWU Theater will present an original play entitled Purging Mary, written by Scot Lahaie. The play explores the intricacies of the abortion debate as seen from the two warring factions, left and right. The tension between the scholarly/intellectual and the artistic/emotional will be of great value in our attempt to understand the culture in which we live.

More information about this event will be available at the semester begins.


Our New Season: 2005/06

We are excited to announce our new season for the next academic year. Although we are still securing performance rights and negotiating performance spaces, we hope to present the following plays next academic year. We hope you will join us for another great year of theater!

  • 24 HOURS - the Fall Installment
    3 September 2005 @ 7:30 pm in the Millennium Playhouse.
    The sign-up sheet for this event is on Prof. Lahaie's office door.
    Learn more about this event.

  • THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH - by Thornton Wilder
    5, 6, 7, 8 October @ 7:30 pm in the Dover Theater.
    and 9 October 2005 @ 2:30 pm
    Auditions: 29 & 30 August 2005 in the Millennium Playhouse.
  • PURGING MARY - by Scot Lahaie
    16, 17, 18, 19 November @ 7:30 pm in the Millennium Playhouse.
    and 20 November 2005 @ 2:30 pm
    This play is our 2005 selection for GWU's Playwrights Workshop
    Learn more about our Playwrights Workshop.
    Auditions: 29 & 30 August 2005 in the Millennium Playhouse.

  • 24 HOURS - the Spring Installment
    21 January 2006 @ 7:30 pm in the Millennium Playhouse.
    The sign-up sheet for this event is on Prof. Lahaie's office door.
    Learn more about this event.

  • A MUSICAL - The title for this musical has yet to be confirmed.
    29, 30, 31 March & 1 April 2006 @ 7:30 pm in the Dover Theater
    and 2 April 2006 @ 2:30 pm.
    Auditions: 16 & 17 January 2006 @ 7:00 pm in the Dover Theater

  • NEW  PLAYS  FESTIVAL - Six new one-act plays
    26, 27, 28, 29 April 2006 @ 7:30 pm in the Millennium Playhouse.
    and 30 April 2006 @ 2:30 pm.
    Auditions: 4 & 5 April @ 7:00 pm in the Millennium Playhouse
    Learn more about this event!

Our Spring Symposium 2005
Our Spring Symposium 2005: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Medea Myth was a great success. Thank you to everyone who helped to make it a grand event. Click here for more information about this event. We look forward to more events like this in the future.


Staged Readings of Two New Full-length Plays
As part of the New Plays Festival, we recently presented staged readings of two new plays. Purging Mary by Scot Lahaie was read on 19 April at 7:30 PM. Embracing by Stan Denman was read on 21 April. The response of those attending the readings was both positive and constructive. Thanks for all those who supported our efforts.


New Plays Festival 2005 a Great Success!
Six short plays were presented in this year's festival--four comedies and two dramas. New to this year's festival is the staged reading of two new full-length plays. The six short plays performed nightly 13 - 17 April. The first of the full-length plays was read on Tuesday evening 19 April at 7:30 pm, while the second was read on Thursday evening 21 April. Click here to learn more about this year's festival!


Medea Masks draw much interest!
The set design for our recent production of MEDEA included fifteen large masks that lined the proscenium arch. These "faces of the gods" looked down upon the show as the Greek gods of old were imagined to look down upon the dramatic proceedings of the theater in Athens so long ago. The masks were very effective--very dramatic.

The masks were created as a joint project between the Art and Theater Programs here at GWU. The students in sculpture class joined forces with student crews and our faculty designer to created the images in clay. They were then cast in plaster. The plaster negatives served as molds for the molding plastic used for the final product. They were then finished by the paint crews and incorporated into the set.

This has been good teaching and learning for both programs. "It's been a win-win situation for everyone," comments Professor Lahaie. The masks are on display in the Communication Studies Hall and the Art Wing of the same building. Drop by and take a look. Or click this link and see the photos of the masks. VIEW THE MASKS

This mask of Zeus is the favorite of the cast and crew! It is four-feet tall! What will it fetch on the auction block? Tune in and see!




Our Spring Symposium

We are excited about our upcoming Spring Symposium 2005: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Medea Myth. Select faculty at GWU will be presenting papers on topics relevant to the myth behind Euripides' Medea. These presentations range from the sciences and psychology to literature and theoolgy. We hope you will make plans to attend. Click here for more information!

The centerpiece of the Symposium is our staged production of Euripides' play MEDEA. Since much of our conversation will center around the action of this play, we encourage everyone who plans to attend the academic presentations and panel discussions to first see the play.

Professor Wins Two More Prizes!

  • The Southestern Theater Conference (SETC) recently announced that DOGFALL, written by Scot Lahaie--our own Director of Theater--has been awarded the Gretchel NEW PLAY AWARD for 2004/05. The honor carries with it a $1,000 prize, a staged reading at the SETC annual convention, and consideration for publication in SETC's Southern Theatre Magazine. Congratulation to Professor Lahaie!

  • The Greensboro Playwrights' Forum in Greensboro, North Carolina recently announced that DOGFALL is the 2005 winner of the Mark Gilbert New Play Award. The award carries a $500 cash prize. Further, the Forum will produce the play in their annual North Carolina New Play Project--a program that provides opportunities to living playwrights across North Carolina to produce their plays in a workshop environment. DOGFALL will be performed 5 - 8 May 2005 in Greensboro.

Visit scotlahaie.com for more information about Professor Lahaie's plays.


24 HOURS Triumphs Again!
With a marvelous audience in place on Saturday evening, the 24 HOURS company put on seven marvelous one-act plays! Our students excelled in their writing and performances. Congratulations to all who participated! You achieved a level of excellence higher than any we have achieved yet. We are proud of you all! Check back here in a few days to see the photos of this event. For now, view the photos from last September's event. Click on the link below.

See PHOTOS of our last event! (Sept 2004)


Professor Wins Another Prize!
The Southestern Theater Conference (SETC) recently announced that DOGFALL, written by Scot Lahaie--our own Director of Theater--has been awarded the Gretchel NEW PLAY AWARD for 2004/05. The honor carries with it a $1,000 prize, a staged reading at the SETC annual convention, and consideration for publication in SETC's Southern Theatre Magazine. Congratulation to Professor Lahaie!

Spring Symposium Planned for Spring 2005!
We are excited to be working with other departments on the GWU campus in planning an interdisciplinary symposium entitled "Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Medea Myth," which centers around our staged production of Euripides famous play. More information about the symposium, which is planned for early March 2005, will be available soon at symposium.gardner-webb.edu, so check back again for details.

Now Assembling the Company for 24 HOURS
The next 24 HOURS is just around the corner! All those wanting to join the company of players for our Spring Installment of 24 HOURS should put their name on the sign up sheet posted on the door of Professor Lahaie's office. Those students wanting to write for this event must attend a mandatory writers' workshop; please see Professor Lahaie for details.

Auditions! Auditions! Auditions!
Auditions for Medea are scheduled for 18 & 19 January at 7:00 pm in the Dover Theater. This is a large cast show with lots of roles for men and women. We are particularly interested in men who can dance hip-hop. Scripts are available for check-out from Professor Lahaie. We will also be assigning responsibilities for the stage crew at this time.


GWU Welcomes Visiting Playwright
A Mysterious Way, a play by Steven Walters, is our selection for the second annual Playwright's Workshop 2004. Mr. Walters, who is presently resident playwright at Second Thought Theatre in Dallas, Texas, has agreed to join us for the mounting of this philosophical melodrama. As GWU's Visiting Playwright for 2004, Mr. Walters will speak to our students about both his play and his work as a dramatist. We will also be hosting a catered reception after the play on opening night, in order to give our audiences a chance to speak with the playwright as well. We hope you will join us! Mr. Walters' will also spend time with area theater students in the secondary schools. For more information about Mr. Walters, see our Faculty Profiles page.

Dogfall read at NCTC!
As part of the benefits package of winning the 2004 NCTC New Play Award, Professor Lahaie's original play Dogfall was given a staged reading at the North Carolina Theater Conference annual gathering on 5 November in Salisbury, North Carolina. Theater students Matthew Winning and Karl Mosbacher voiced this reading. Congratulations to all those involved!


Curriculum Changes are on the Horizon!
We are excited to announce that Gardner-Webb University Theater is in the process of developing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Theater! We have entered our proposal into the appropriate channels for approval. If approved, we will be receiving the first BFA cohort in fall 2004. Contact Professor Lahaie if you are interested in being apart of this developing program. We will be auditioning both freshman and transfer students for this program. Learn more!


The Legacy soon to Premiere!
The film we produced this fall in the Department of Communication Studies, directed by Dr. Jim Lawrence, will premiere locally in mid-November. Check back here for more detailed information about where and when. We hope to be hosting a Gala Party for those involved and those who want to help celebrate our achievement. The film will be distributed nation-wide on DVD early next year. Click here for more info.


Call for Scripts

Gardner-Webb University is seeking new scripts (one-acts and 10-minute plays) for its NEW PLAYS FESTIVAL to be held in spring 2005. The scripts should be either short one-acts (not longer than 20 minutes) or true 10-minute plays. Cast size is unimportant. Unit set or single location is required. The plays must be unpublished and cannot have been previously staged for an audience.

The plays produced for the New Plays Festival in 2003 and 2004 were published in two volumes. GWU plans to publish the plays produced in this year’s festival as well. See the Barnes and Nobles website for details about these publications.

Deadline is January 31, 2005. Early submissions are appreciated. Send scripts electronically to Prof. Scot Lahaie at slahaie@gardner-webb.edu or as hard copy to Prof. Scot Lahaie, Director of Theater, Gardner-Webb University, Campus Box 7273, Boiling Springs, NC 28017. (Hard copy submissions should include an e-mail contact address.)


Bernarda Alba a Smashing Sucess!
The largest audience turn-out in years marked the closing of this fine presentation. We are so proud of our girls for their hard work and professional demenor. It was a smashing success!


Auditions! Auditions! Auditions!
Auditions for A Mysterious Way are scheduled for 13 & 14 October August at 7:00 pm in the Millennium Playhouse. This is a small cast play for two men. We will also be assigning responsibilities for the stage crew at this time. Scripts are available for check-out from Professor Lahaie. Note: We are considering double-casting this play.


Destination London: Spring 2004
Gardner-Webb University Theater is making plans to take a group of students to London, England this coming spring to see the city and to experience its world renown theater offerrings in the West End. We are expecting a fantastic experience for everyone involved.This trip is open to any student at Gardner-Webb regardless of major or program. We invited undergraduates, graduates, GOAL students, alum, faculty and staff. Click here to learn more!


24 HOURS a Great Success!

The 24 HOURS Production Company! This photo was taken of the company at the top of the event. We had a sold out house with standing room at the back of the theater filled to capacity. The six plays were pulled off without a hitch and we are so proud of our students!