Theatre and Social Change March for a Cause

Cody Schuman
The Paw Print

On the evening of May 12, students from Dr. John Taylor’s class, Theatre and Social Change, will be performing a series of controversial scenes from several different banned or censored plays. The scenes will be taken from such works as Spring Awakening and Angels in America, along with several Guerilla theatre shows.

Dr. Taylor, as a result of being rewarded the Adams state College Presidential Award, chose to teach Theatre and Social Change for those students interesting in using theatre to create social change.

“I wanted to give my students an opportunity to practice theatre in a different way and to understand that to entertain people means more than making them laugh,” he says. “As artists, I want to challenge them to ask the question, ‘How will I change my part of the world?’”

The class has been looking into performances that confront or challenge social injustices and oppression. According to Dr. Taylor, theatre may act as a transgression when it challenges the status quo, so to speak. “In doing so, it becomes a space for transforming society.”

Earlier in the semester, students performed a series of Guerilla theatre pieces all across campus. Guerilla theatre is considered to be a sort of “street theatre.” Its purpose is to raise the awareness of problems or concerns within a society or its surroundings. These pieces challenged a number of social and economic issues ranging anywhere from Healthcare reform to financial aid inequalities, according to Dr. Taylor.

This won’t be the first time the theatre department has conducted a series of controversial pieces. Back in 2008, according to Dr. Taylor, the department challenged a number of social conformities that occur here on campus. “Through our work, we are exploring ways of achieving a more just society.” Dr. Taylor says of the theatrical event. “It is not about righting all wrongs, but it is about trying to be a better society.”

The evening will act as the final project for the students and will be free of charge to the mature audience. The plays will be held at 8 p.m. on May 12, in the Main Stage. The scenes will include adult situations and cover controversial matter so children are not permitted.