It was nearly a year ago that The College of St. Scholastica cut their theater program. That decision left many, including incoming freshman Sophia Reeves, feeling disappointed.
"I was pretty upset about it, but I was still committed to going there," said Reeves. "I was kind of grappling with the fact that I was done performing. I've been doing it my whole life, so I was kind of learning how to not have theater in my life anymore."
It wasn't until she arrived at St. Scholastica in the Fall of 2024 that those acting aspirations came back. Almost immediately after the elimination of the theater program, the CSS Theatre Club was formed. Over the current academic year, students have been identifying resources in order to secure a play, a director, costumes, and everything else that goes along with putting on a production.
Last weekend, the work paid off as the club opened their production of John Proctor is the Villain at the CSS Theater. The play opened on Friday, corresponding almost exactly with the Broadway Production of the same show which opened one day earlier.
John Proctor is the Villain by Kimberly Belflower tells the story of Arthur Miller's famous work The Crucible, focusing on it through the lens of high school girls. It analyzes Miller's protagonist John Proctor and the relationship he has with Abigail Williams. Throughout the play, the students discuss power, gender dynamics, and social justice and how the play reflects modern experiences.
For Reeves, this two-weekend run is just the beginning of returning theatrical productions to the college.
"Matthew [the director] has done a really great job of setting us up in a way that we can have another show; really showing the school that this is what we want and we're capable of doing another show."
Tickets to John Proctor is the Villian (showing March 27-29 at 7:30pm) are available through the CSS Theatre Club website.
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