JP
James Peterson
  • history and pre-seminary
  • Class of 2015
  • Carterville, Ill.

James Peterson acts in One Act Festival at Concordia University, Nebraska

2013 May 6

James Peterson, a sophomore at Concordia University, Nebraska from Carterville, Ill., acted in the one-act play, The Raven as part of the theater department's annual One Act Festival April 18-20. The festival showcased four student-directed plays that were performed in the Music Center's Studio Theater.

The Raven by Linda Burson: This dramatization of Edgar Allan Poe's classic poem, "The Raven" follows the narrator know as "I" and his inner self "Soul" as they explore their grief for their lost love Lenore. With the help of the "Voice" and the angel of Lenore, I and Soul recount the evening that the Raven came to them and how this bird took them to the darkest parts of their existence.

Students have the opportunity to direct a play as part of Concordia's Play Production course, taught by Assistant Professor of Communication and Theater Bryan Moore. In the course, the students learn how to choose their material, manage a cast, set the stage and direct rehearsals. The class is meant to give students behind-the-scenes experience, since many have participated as actors in Concordia's theater program, but not as directors. The one acts also give other students an opportunity to participate in theater in a less demanding production than a full stage play.

"Although there's a great amount of work that goes into the production, it's still rewarding in the end, when the shows are performed and the audiences are crying because they are laughing so hard," said senior Steven Whitney.

"I learned a lot about how to work with actors," said senior Sarah Dinger. "Directing is really just teaching, and every actor learns differently. I also learned that the act of creating a vision is a really amazing thing. The show didn't turn out the way I imagined it would. It was better."

Concordia University, Nebraska, founded in 1894, is a fully accredited, coeducational university located in Seward, Neb. that currently serves over 2,100 students. Concordia offers more than 50 professional and liberal arts programs in an excellent academic and Christ-centered community that equips men and women for lives of learning, service and leadership in the church and world. For more information, visit cune.edu.