Home for Christmas - Dec. 4

“Home for Christmas” program to examine diversity of holiday experiences through theatre and music

The Hesston College Performing Arts Department will present “Home for Christmas” – a joint effort between Bel Canto Singers, conducted by Russell Adrian; Global Voices, conducted by Ken Rodgers; and theatre students, led by director Rachel Jantzi – that will explore what coming “home for Christmas” means for a diversity of people and cultures. The […]

Superior Donuts poster image

Theatre department to stage “Superior Donuts,” an examination of race, class, and generational issues

Hesston College’s Theatre department will present five performances of “Superior Donuts,” a play by Tracy Letts. The show is directed by theatre professor Rachel Jantzi. Performances will take place in the Black Box Theater in Keim Center on Hesston College campus, April 14 to 18. Shows on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday start at 7 […]

Summer Musical Theatre - The Jungle Book

Middle and high school students to experience staging live theatre at summer theatre camp

Middle school- and high school-age actors ages 11 to 18 are invited to stage a live theatre performance at Hesston College’s annual summer theatre camp on weekdays June 7 to 18. Led by Hesston College Theatre director and professor, Rachel Jantzi, the summer theatre camp, now in its seventh year, will keep the same format […]

Silent Sky

Theatre to present “Silent Sky,” a powerful portrayal of a woman’s work with the stars

The Hesston College Theatre department will present five performances of “Silent Sky,” a play by Lauren Gunderson about pioneering astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, portrayed by sophomore Kaytlen Keough. The show is directed by theatre professor Rachel Jantzi and will feature live music by Hesston faculty members Dr. Holly Swartzendruber and Ken Rodgers. Performances will take place […]

Carla Lahey (left) directs the Touring Theatre Company as they prepare for a performance at Newton High School.

What I learned from Carla Lahey

Carla Lahey (left) directs the Touring Theatre Company as they prepare for a performance at Newton High School. In recent years, the Hesston College Horizon student publication has recognized departing faculty members by inviting students and employees to reflect on the impact these professors have made on their lives. With the COVID-19 campus dispersal in […]

Summer Theatre Camp 2020

Summer Theatre Camp to be offered in social distancing-appropriate format for 2020

With health and safety at the forefront of consideration, Hesston College made the decision to cancel its summer theatre camp event for area young aspiring actors and tech crew in the format it has known for several years. As an alternative, a musical theatre learning program will be offered in a social distancing-appropriate one-on-one format […]

Tuck Everlasting March 4 to 8

A theatre season of literature gears up for a fairytale musical

Hesston College Theatre Director Rachel Jantzi always sets her lineup of shows around a theme, which for the 2019-20 season is literature. “All of this year’s shows are based off of books,” said Jantzi. After a fall play that featured the drama The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Jantzi and her cast […]

Still, Small Voice

“Still, Small Voice” music and theatre performance to portray the gentle side of Christmas

Hesston College will celebrate the Christmas season with a performance combining music and theatre in “Still, Small Voice,” at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7 at Hesston Mennonite Church. The performance is free and open to the public. “‘Still, Small Voice’ is meant to remind us to stop and be intentional in enjoying the serenity and […]

Fall 2018 production of The Misanthrope

TheatreFest to give high school thespians an opportunity to grow their skills

High school students with interest in any of the many areas of theatre and performing arts are invited to learn tips and tricks to fine tune their craft at Hesston College’s day-long TheatreFest on Saturday, Oct. 19 on the Hesston College campus. Led by Hesston College performing arts faculty and students, throughout the day, both […]

P3 2019

Plays by seven local playwrights to be featured at annual playwriting festival

For the third year, Hesston College’s Pen to Paper to Performance playwriting festival will showcase the work of seven local playwrights at 7 p.m., April 26 and 27, in the Keim Center Black Box Theater on the Hesston College campus. “An ensemble of 14 actors are working on these six very different shows,” said Rachel […]

Big Fish

The musical of mythical proportions to take the Keim Center stage

Recounting the tender, dynamic and familiar story of the parent-child relationship, Hesston College Theatre will present five performances of the musical Big Fish, Feb. 27 to March 3, in the Hesston College Keim Center Black Box Theatre. Showtimes are at 7 p.m., Feb. 27 to March 2, and 2 p.m., on Sunday, March 3. Tickets […]