More than 500 area students visit WKU for ‘The Pirates of Penzance’

WKU’s Department of Theatre & Dance hosted more than 500 area high school and middle school students Thursday morning (Feb. 28) for a performance of The Pirates of Penzance at Van Meter Hall.

Oliver Pierce, a junior from Muhlenberg County, plays the Major General in WKU’s production of “The Pirates of Penzance” at Van Meter Hall. (Photo by Jeff Smith)

Students from eight counties visited WKU for a performance and question-and-answer session with the cast and crew.  “It’s a great example of live professional theatre,” said Jennifer Dooley, head of the Language Department at Edmonson County High School. “We are always looking for ideas to take back and use in class.”

The high school students asked numerous questions in the discussion with the cast and enjoyed the up close look at the art form.  “It was really good,” said Brooke DeCesare, a student at South Warren High School.

Debbie Belcher, choir teacher at South Warren High School, brought her advanced choir students.  “I believe we need to expose our students to all sorts of music, especially many who may not have had the opportunity,”  she said.

Jessie Boeglin, a senior from Bowling Green, has the role of Mabel in “The Pirates of Penzance.” (Photo by Jeff Smith)

The schools in attendance were from Clinton County Middle, Cumberland County High, Edmonson County High, Frederick Fraize High, Metcalfe County Middle, Muhlenberg County High, South Warren High and Todd County Central High.

Tickets are still available for The Pirates of Penzance Friday-Sunday (March 1-3).  Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for students and are available in advance at wku.showare.

More than 15,000 people were entertained by the WKU Department of Theatre & Dance last year. The department presents more than 20 productions every year including four Mainstage theatre productions, two Mainstage dance concerts, three student-choreographed dance concerts, a Children’s Theatre Series, a Studio Series of student-directed works, a Before Broadway Series featuring a staged reading of a new musical, and a Next Stage Series of showcases and works in progress. More information about the WKU Department of Theatre & Dance can be found at www.wku.edu/theatre-and-dance, on Twitter @WKUTheatreDance or by calling the department at (270) 745-5845.

Contact: Julie Pride, (270) 779-2560.