Posted on Friday, March 05, 2021
LaGrange College Theatre is returning to the great outdoors for its spring show, “One-Acts at Sunset.”
Scheduled for 6 p.m. March 26 and 27, the production will feature three one-act plays – “A Perfect Analysis Given by A Parrot” by Tennessee Williams, “The Zoo Story” by Edward Albee and “Sure Thing” by David Ives.
Following the success of last fall’s outdoor productions of “Medea” and “Antigone,” Theatre Instructor Tracy Riggs thought it was natural to do the spring performance at Sunny Gables Alumni House.
“We realized it would be better to stay with the plan of performing outside for safety reasons,” she said. “It also would be easier to rehearse one-act plays with smaller casts. ‘A Zoo Story’ is set in Central Park, so it was an obvious choice. It also happens to be a play I love.”
Then she needed to find two compatible pieces.
“I wanted to do a comedy and decided to look at American classics like this one written by Tennessee Williams,” she said. “This quirky one-act comedy deals with two Southern belles who wander into a St. Louis tavern in the 1930s. I thought it would work well in an alcove at Sunny Gables.”
The third piece is “Sure Thing” by David Ives.
“That show is just pure fun,” she said. “It’s going to be set in front of a beautiful brick wall at another part of the house.”
All three plays will be performed in areas off the circle drive of Sunny Gables by the fountain.
“We will socially distance the audience and ask them to bring camp chairs,” Riggs said. “Then we’ll just rotate for each show. ‘Zoo Story’ is the only one set in the grass, while the others will be in different spots around the house.”
She and Kim Barber Knoll, Coordinator of Theatre Arts and Professor of Theatre, researched clear masks that would serve the actors and the audience.
“We came up with one that has a tight, secure fabric fit but gives us the opportunity to see the actors' faces,” she said. “You really forget the masks are there after a few minutes.”
The shows will be open to students, faculty and staff, with a limit of 20 audience members at each performance. 
This will be Riggs’ final production at the college because she will be retiring at the end of the academic year. Knoll said she can’t imagine LaGrange College without Riggs.
“She has been my partner in crime for over 20 years,” said Knoll. “Her expertise, passion for the craft and generous heart have changed and inspired the lives of generations of students in the theater and across the curriculum. I know her infectious laughter, kind spirit and ‘advice to the players’ will echo the halls of Price for years to come. We are counting on it.”
Senior Vocal Performance major Joely Peterman calls Riggs one of the most inspiring women she’s ever met.
“She takes chances on people,” Joely said. “Her respect for her students and her dedication to helping them succeed is unmatched. She saw purpose and talent in me that I did not see, and she helped me develop it. And for that, I am forever grateful.”
Although she already had her retirement planned, Riggs had no idea the challenges she would face during her last year.
“It's funny,” she said. “When I was thinking about what I wanted to do for my last show, I could never have imagined that I'd be dealing with the limitations of a pandemic.”
But in a way, she said, COVID brought her to three plays she may not have otherwise considered.
“I will always remember this moment in time with these students, and how we all came together to do what we love,” she said.
The Sustainability Council sponsored its annual Georgia Arbor Day observance on Thursday by planting a bald cypress tree near Cleaveland Field. The college also had been awarded a Tree Campus USA status for the third year in a row. The recognition reflects the ongoing work of the Tree Advisory Committee, Sustainability Council and Campus Services.
The Black Student Union recently held its annual Ebony Ball, both virtually and socially distanced. Seniors received their graduation cords and heard from several speakers, including Dr. Justin Muller, Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counselng, and President Susanna Baxter. “I am so proud to celebrate our students of color and their contributions to this campus,” she said. “They are amazing people and their future is bright.”
Dr. John Cook, Professor of Religion, was recently interviewed on the radio show “Doctor, Doctor” broadcast on the EWTN network. http://soundcloud.com/doctordoctorshow/dd-199-the-history-of-the-crucifixion
History majors Austin Harper ’21 and Benjamin Hays ’22 will be presenting papers at the 2021 Phi Alpha Theta Georgia Regional Conference this weekend. Hosted by Georgia Southern University, the pre-recorded presentations will be available for viewing Friday through Sunday. Austin’s work focuses on “American Isolationism During the Interwar Period” while Ben’s paper examines “The Eisenhower Doctrine and Its Impact on the Economic Development of Pakistan.” Their panel discussion will be at 4 p.m. Saturday and can be viewed here http://sites.google.com/georgiasouthern.edu/2021patcon. There is no fee to register.
Three Political Science majors presented at Georgia State University's Graduate Student Conference. They include Men’s Soccer player Jaydon Parrish on “The Historical Influence of Politics on the Supreme Court Nomination Process,” Men's Lacrosse player Brennan Oates on “I Patent You Not” and Women's Basketball player Nia Johnson on “Influences on the Juvenile Justice System: Societal Inequalities or the Individual?”
Congratulations to these seniors for their participation in Sound of Success this week, ringing the Chapel bell to celebrate their accomplishments: Amanda Beatty (Nursing), offered a full-time job as a registered nurse at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Florida; Brianna Neese (Nursing), offered a full-time job as a registered nurse at Wellstar West Georgia in LaGrange; Taylor Townsend (Nursing), offered a full-time job as a registered nurse at Wellstar West Georgia in LaGrange; and Meghan Gross (Religion), accepted into the Master of Divinity Program at Northeastern Seminary in Chili, New York.
Don't forget to mark your calendars for this month's 3D Journeys lecture on March 22. Retired History Professor Joe Cafaro will talk about Vietnam. For more information, email 3DJourneys@kongtiao11.com.
Check LC Connect for Virtual CE events and instructions. For in-person events, all COVID guidelines apply.
Through March 31
Career Exploration and Spirituality
Join the Rev. Dr. Adam Roberts for a discussion on the role of spirituality in deciding on a career.
Networking and job search strategies
Through Sunday
Local Professional Interview Series – Matthew Evans ’18 (Accounting)
Senior financial analyst at Interface, he discusses his career in accounting and shares his insight and wisdom with current students.
Monday-March 15
Local Professional Interview Series – Anabeth Ivey (Marketing)
Ivey is marketing and sales specialist with New Ventures.
Young Alumni Interview Series – Dale Giefing ’19 (Religion)
Giefing is a student at Emory University Candler School of Theology. He also serves as pastor-in-charge at both Roopville and Caney Head United Methodist churches in Roopville, Georgia.
Men’s Soccer: The Panthers (1-1, 1-1 USA South) beat Berea 5-1 last Sunday at Panther Field. Senior Cam Perkins had two goals for LC. Austin Anderson, Enrique Hernandez and Blake Webb each had a goal.
Baseball: LC (4-1) defeated Covenant 10-5 on the road Thursday. Cael Chatham, E.J. Churchich and Jack Layrisson all hit home runs in the win.
Men’s Basketball: The 2021 season ended for the Panthers (7-4) with an 85-83 overtime loss to Piedmont in the first round of the USA South West Division Tournament on Wednesday in Mariotti Gym. It was the final game for seniors Lincoln Anderson, Kyle Brown, Julian Cameron and Ronald Youngblood. Cameron tied for game honors with 27 points, while Anderson had a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Women’s Basketball: The Panthers (8-4) had their 2021 season end with an 80-60 loss at Maryville in the first round of the USA South West Division Tournament on Wednesday. Senior Jahpera McEachin had a game-high 26 points in her final game.
Women’s Soccer: The Panthers (1-2, 1-2 USA South) lost 2-0 at Piedmont on Wednesday. Freshman goalkeeper Leila Moss had nine saves in her first collegiate start.
CALENDAR
Today (Friday)
Men’s Lacrosse at Berry, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Men’s and Women’s Tennis vs. Covenant, Greer Tennis Courts, 2 p.m.
Baseball doubleheader at Covenant, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Women’s Soccer at Covenant, 2 p.m.
Sunday
Volleyball vs. Berea, Mariotti Gym, noon
Men’s Soccer vs. Maryville, Panther Field, 3 p.m.
Monday
Golf at Savannah Invitational, Savannah, Georgia
Tuesday
Golf at Savannah Invitational
Wednesday
Women’s Soccer vs. Huntingdon, Panther Field, 7 p.m.
Softball doubleheader at Judson, 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Volleyball at Huntingdon, 5 p.m.
Baseball at Huntingdon, 7 p.m.
Fall 2020: the COVID-19 pandemic was forcing college drama departments everywhere to cancel their seasons. LaGrange College, however, "got creative" and presented a double bill of live, audience-pleasing dramas. Hear the students themselves tell how they made it happen.
Category: Philanthropy, Arts and Culture, Faculty, College, Students, Academics, Events
Keywords: theater one-acts
