Wielding their paint brushes and swords, theatre professors, alumni and students led a variety of sessions for 140 students from 10 Kansas high schools during Sterling College’s Theatre Workshop Day on Friday, March 1. The event ended with a special matinee performance of SC’s spring production “Medea” which was attended by an additional 100 students from area high schools.

The students participated in two workshops of their choice including: forensics, dance, stage makeup, musical theatre singing, scene painting, acting, stage combat and sword fighting, design aesthetics, stage management, improv and head shots. Workshops were led by Assistant Professors of Theatre Arts Matthew Winning and Aaron Kennedy, three alumni and several Sterling College students.

The Sterling College admissions department helped organize the event and scheduled a time for the students to learn more about the theatre program.

“Opportunities like Theatre Workshop Day are invaluable to our department,” said Kennedy.  “It is a completely unique and special experience for both the potential student and for us as faculty. We can go out to visit high schools all we want, but all of our talking could never measure up to a student actually coming on campus to experience Sterling College firsthand.”

“We heard great feedback from the students and teachers about the hands-on experience in the workshops,” said Director of Admissions Dennis Dutton. “Sterling College has been putting on theatre workshops for over 20 years and we hope to continue this tradition in years to come.”

Participating schools included Cimarron High School, Clearwater High School, Fowler High School, Holcomb High School, Lakeside High School, Liberal High School, Little River High School, McPherson High School, Scott Community High School and St. John’s High School.