Theatre Presents Immersive Experience

12/11/2024

Muskingum University's Fall 2024 drama production "Anna, Mitya, and Lady Cheesecake Sparkleskirt," brought an immersive theatre experience to campus.

The production, based on Anton Chekhov's "Lady with the Little Dog," featured three performances from Oct. 24-27 in Brown Chapel.

Immersive theatre involves the audience as active participants. "Anya/Mitya" attendees toured multiple scene stations throughout the Chapel and surrounding outdoor spaces. Student actors each performed their scenes multiple times, with student scene designers and technical crews bringing their creativity to a non-traditional theatre venue.

The experience had a strong impact on actors and audience members alike.

Logan Moore '26, who played Mitya during the picnic scene, reflected that "Being with the audience in such a close manner created a dynamic that challenged me to be fully in the moment. I learned to respond instinctively to the energy of the room and the circumstances of the setting, allowing me to adapt my performance in real time. This production pushed me to do very different things and develop a deeper understanding of what it means to be an actress."

Alyssa Derry '25 played Anna in the opera scene. "Anna's inner life was mine to create, which was a very exciting aspect of bringing her character to life" she said, explaining that the short story is told from Mitya's perspective rather than Anna's. "Instead of being concerned with the individual lines and stage directions as I typically would be, it was my main job to delve into the thematic meaning of the text and analyze the story on a deeper level - something I absolutely love to do."

"The use of masks and having us be silent watchers to the story helped to move the story along but kept us in a state of suspense, as we did not have all of the pieces," said audience member Georgia Haines '26. "In many scenes, we were transported between characters, with different actors and actresses all with a common goal, to tell Anna and Mitya's story, but also captivating us to care about these characters and their goals."

For audience member Emily Piercy '27, "Participating in an immersive theatre production was a novel and enriching experience that challenged my perceptions of traditional theatre. The close interaction with the actors, the detailed and period-accurate sets, and the episodic structure of the play all contributed to a memorable and engaging performance."

On Oct. 4-5 in Caldwell Hall, Class of 2028 students presented "The Orb" for the annual first-year theatre show. Upper-level theatre students served as assistant directors.

The Spring 2025 theatre production, "Ugly Lies the Bone" by Lindsey Ferrentino, will be presented on April 3-6.