HIGH POINT, N.C., June 8, 2015 – There’s no business like show business, and High Point University’s Department of Theatre has proved to be one of the best in a new ranking.
The HPU theatre program was named the No. 1 “underrated” theatre college in the Mid-Atlantic Region by OnStage, though its graduates, students, faculty, community members who attend performances and many in the world of theatre know of the program’s quality and successful outcomes.
In its list of The 10 Most Underrated Theater Colleges, the website reads:
“Here’s the thing about High Point University’s theatre program, it’s so good, it shouldn’t even be on this list. Students here are receiving a B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) in theatre in a B.F.A. (Bachelor of Fine Arts) style environment. Not only that, they’re producing great work. We’re not the only ones who feel this way either.
The HPU Department of Theatre received the ‘2011 NCTC College/University Award,’ which recognizes education excellence and is given to the top university theatre program in North Carolina by the North Carolina Theatre Conference.
Each year, the Department of Theatre produces four ‘Mainstage’ productions in the Hayworth Fine Arts Center’s Pauline Theatre and their ‘black box’ theatre, The Empty Space. In addition, students regularly direct one-act plays and original production projects on campus.
If you’re looking for a fantastic B.A. program in theatre, we highly recommend you start your search at High Point.”
Ed Simpson, chair of the Department of Theatre at HPU, has directed nearly 60 productions since 1980 for both educational and professional theatres throughout the country. His full-length plays have been widely produced and published throughout the U.S. and Canada. One of his original plays, “Elephant Sighs,” was adapted and directed by Simpson for the film version starring Ed Asner, part of which was filmed in High Point.
“This is great news for our department and we are grateful for the recognition,” says Simpson. “I have always said we have the best faculty and the hardest working theatre students around. It is gratifying to see that word is getting out.”
Simpson puts an emphasis on producing new plays within the theatre department. They have produced nearly 10 new plays since 2007, including the 2011 premiere of the production “The Glasses,” by Ron Burch.
The Department of Theatre has put on a variety of shows at HPU such as “The Servant of Two Masters,” “The Laramie Project” and “Into the Woods,” to name a few. Students have also had the opportunity to work alongside professional actors such as David Wells, whose credits include “CSI” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” in HPU’s production of “Waiting for Godot,” and John Cariani, Tony nominated actor, who was in Simpson’s film “Elephant Sighs.”
High Point University theatre alumni have gone on to enjoy successful careers in the industry. Lauren Engler, a 2013 graduate of HPU, is basking in the limelight at the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company (CSC) in Baltimore, one of the top Shakespeare companies in the country. Madison Jordan, a 2015 graduate, is assistant to the producer of the upcoming Broadway musical, “Amazing Grace.” Courtney Feiman, a 2014 graduate, has been performing with the Florida Repertory Theatre since September 2014. Along with many other HPU theatre alumni, Feiman is already earning EMC points, which will enable her to join the prestigious AEA – a major accomplishment for any theatre graduate.