[communication] 209 origins Row 1: A. Floyd, L. Reese, A. McCall, J. Porter. Row 2: D. Arthur, Dr. D. Hoggatt [sponsor], L. Reynolds, K. Dismuke. Row 1: C. Quinn, J. Harris, L. Mitchell, K. Ulliman. Row 2: J. Ellis, A. Smith, J. Dockery. Row 3: K. Kelley, H. Browning, H. Herbert. Row 4: J. Lindsay, H. Ware, L. Roberts, H. Beall. Row 5: J. D. Beauchamp [sponsor], C. Hamilton, C. Rainbolt. [kvhu staff] [petit jean] Campus Players remains oldest organization TheCampus Players was the oldest organization on Harding’s campus, tracing its origin back to the fall of 1925. Since then, the Campus Players underwent some changes but still held the same standards of service. According to the 1926 Petit Jean, the Campus Players was known as the “Expression Class.” According to the yearbook, its first production was entitled “A Pageant of the History of Arkansas” and was held in the old Matthews Auditorium. Since then, the Campus Players had put on many performances. According to Professor of Communication Dr. Morris Ellis, the Campus Players had put on around 800 plays. The members of the Campus Players saw it as a great way to meet their fellow theater majors and get to know each other better. “It’s good for new people to join and help plug them into the theater department,” senior Sarah Shipp said. “It’s a great way to get news about the different projects.” Sophomore member Kenny Dowlinger saw the group as a great way to blend the older members of the theater department with the newer ones. “It’s really cool tomeet new freshmen,”Dowlinger said. “This helps older kids get to know younger ones.” As the group grew, it experienced some changes. “The organization has changed several times as the personalities of the students and student leaders have changed and also when needs have changed,” Professor of Communication and sponsor of the Theater department Robin Miller said. TheCampus Players served several functions over the years, including public relations, social outlets, assisting the theater program,putting on productions and bringing in other performing artists. However, in some ways, the organization remained the same. “The Campus Players originally started out as a service organization,providing both entertainment and performance opportunities, as well as fund raiser events,”Miller said.“Right now, it’s a service organization, helping support the plays that are going on.” Both faculty and staff participated in putting on productions which included working with the sets, lighting, directing, sound and budget. There was a training program where theater majors actually produced their own productions. “Campus Players helps out a lot with them,” Miller said. “Those are big projects.” When helping with the student-led productions, the Campus Players helped with the financial side of the performance. “Campus Players serves as the producers for the student director shows,”Miller said.“The productions are expected to pay for themselves — except you have to pay your bills before the production begins. Campus Players helps with that.” The members of Campus Players were pretty busy. “This year, we are doing 15 shows,”Miller said, which, according to him, was a pretty average number. “We don’t drop much lower than that. I’ve seen us push 20. We were panting that year when we finished.” Throughout the years,the Campus Players stayed true to its mission of service by assisting theTheater department and others in the community. [Jennifer Miller]
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