Fall finals at the Black Box Theatre
The outside entrance of the Black Box Theatre can be found at LCC’s Downtown Campus at 411 N. Grand Avenue, Lansing. You can also access the entrance through the Gannon Building as it is in room 1422. Photo by Emmett Roman.
By Nicole Wadkins
Staff Reporter
At the end of the fall semester, LCC’s Performing Arts Department offered free performances for the community to attend. Two of those events was held in LCC’s Black Box Theatre: the Improv Showcase and the 10-Minute Play Showcase.
The Improv Showcase was held on Tuesday, Dec. 9, and was directed by instructor Blake Bowen.
The Improv Showcase is a celebratory presentation of the work and effort of the improv students over the course of the semester. The performances featured fast-paced, unscripted scenes created in the moment based on audience suggestions. “What you’re really watching isn’t just comedy,” Bowen said. “It’s a group of students listening deeply, supporting one another, and building something together in real time.”
Bowen explained that improv helps students develop skills such as active listening, collaboration, adaptability, and problem solving—which students can use beyond theatre. “Many of our students aren’t actors at all,” Bowen said, “but are instead focused on learning how to navigate anxiety in the high-pressure situations life inevitably throws at us.”
One of the biggest challenges students face is learning to let go of control. “Many students want to plan ahead... ‘or get it right,’” Bowen said. “Learning to trust their scene partner, accept uncertainty, and stay present in the moment is often the hardest—but most transformative—part of the process.” Overall, he was proud of the class as he watched his students become more confident.
Posters for LCC’s Performing Arts are created each semester by students in the ARTS 251 Graphic Design and ARTS 175 Design for Publishing courses. Student designs were displayed on the first floor of the Gannon Building. One design is selected by the director of the event as the official. This year, the official poster was designed by ARTS 251 student AnnaLee Brown. Photo courtesy of AnnaLee Brown.
The 10-Minute Play Showcase was held on Saturday, Dec. 14, with performances at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. The showcase was directed by the students enrolled in the Play Directing Class. With 16 students in the course, each student directed one play. This resulted in a “mix of realism, dramas, melodramas, comedy and even farce,” said Performing Arts Coordinator Paige Dunckel.
There were many steps that needed to be taken before the showcase happened. In October, student directors held auditions, and rehearsals began in November. The students were responsible for all aspects of their production, including set design, props, costumes, and sound cues. Through this process, students gained hands-on experience in how to collaborate and communicate in order to successfully present the live production.
To learn more or questions about the events, contact the Theatre Program on LCC’s website.
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