STUDE T LIFE I INTERNATIONAL I SOCIAL CLUBS I ACADEMICS I EOPLE I LEADERSHIP I ATHLETICS I ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO DAD Freshman Garrett Smith became part of the Homecoming musical "Big Fish," a story that hit close to home. Each year, Harding's Homecoming musical was filled with bright lights and dance numbers. Beyond these aspects, freshman Garren Smith, who was pare of the ensemble for che 2018 Homecoming musical "Big Fish," found a deeper connection co his role in the musical. Smith said the story of "Big Fish" followed a father celling life stories co his son as he barded terminal cancer. Smith's dad was diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer in November 2017. Smith auditioned for "Big Fish" because he wanted to be part of Harding's theatre program, and his dad encouraged him to be the hero of his own story and pursue his talents. "I saw 'Big Fish' as a celebration of my dad's life, not just [a way of] dwelling on his cancer," Smith said. Sophomore Allie Scott, who played Sandra Bloom in "Big Fish," said what stuck out to her the most when she met Smith was his energetic spirit and willingness co listen. "He's just a very joyful person for somebody who is going through something so hard," Scott said. "He didn't let it change the way that he lived his life and just who he was as a person." Ben Jones, assistant professor of theatre, technical director and director of "Big Fish," said actors and audiences often viewed theatre as an escape from reality and an opportunity co experience a story different from their own. Jones said one of the challenges he noticed for Smith was him having to come to rehearsal and be reminded of his life challenges instead of finding an escape from them. Jones said Smith was very open about his family situation bur never let it affect his performance and responsibilities in the show. "My hope is always that he was sitting in a position where he knew he was surrounded by cast members and production staff members who could be there to support him," Jones said. "So, instead of, you know, instead of dealing with it by yourself, you have an opportunity co work through some of the emotions with other people. That's the hope." Smith said being part of the musical was therapeutic and cathartic because he became close with the other case members and was able to share his story openly while being part of something he loved. "[The cast] became a family by the end of it," Smith said. story by Sarah Brister Sophomore Chantel Ceaser, freshman Garrett Smith and sophomore Valentino Warren perform in the Homecoming musical "Big Fish" in the George S. Benson Auditorium on Oct. 17, 2018. Smith viewed his part in the show as an opportunity to celebrate the life ofhis father, who was diagnosed with stagefour kidney cancer in November 2017. I photo by Sterling McMichael On Dec. 4, 2018, on the Front Lawn, freshman Garrett Smith reflects on his first semester at Harding. One ofthe hardest things that Smith had to do while in the Homecoming musical "Big Fish" was to come to rehearsals and be reminded ofthe parallels in the play'sstory to his own life, yet, as he came closer to the cast, he said participating in the musical became a therapeutic experience. I photo by Angelo Felix 166
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