Riverland Community College’s theatre department will shine a light on its talented students in “The Spotlight,” offering an entertaining evening of scenes, monologues, and songs.

This showcase also serves as the students’ preparation for the upcoming Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Des Moines, Iowa, scheduled for January.

“The Spotlight” will feature excerpts from various shows, including “I and You,” “A Raisin in the Sun,” “Silent Sky,” “Top Dog/Underdog,” “Dracula,” “First Date,” “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead,” “Something Rotten!,” “Richard III,” and more. Additionally, the program will include a staged reading of the original 10-minute play “Dummies on the Stage” by Jadon Fimon.

Directed by Susan V. Hansen and coordinated by CJ Schultz, “The Spotlight” showcases the diverse talents of Riverland Theatre students. CJ Schultz is also responsible for lighting design and board operation, while Maxwell Liverseed handles sound design and board operation. Diane Heaney accompanies the performances.

The cast includes Riverland students Elayna Blust, Ethan Brandt, Maggie Bremner, Lucy Burns, Jadon Fimon, Adrian Ojambo, Tehya Orr, and Caden Strampe.

“Every year, theatre students at Riverland participate in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival,” Riverland Theatre faculty member Lindsey Duoos Williams said. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for them to attend workshops, see shows, and participate in events with other college theatre students from around the region.

“Some events, such as the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Auditions, require students to prepare material such as scenes and monologues to be performed at the festival,” Williams said. “The Spotlight is a great opportunity for our students to hone their work in preparation for the regional festival in Des Moines this January.”

Willams added, “It’s also exciting that it allows us to showcase student work that doesn’t often get seen, such as a dance performance by Elayna Blust and an original play by Jadon Fimon.”

The Spotlight will be performed Dec. 1 and 2 at 7 p.m. in the Frank W. Bridges Theatre on Riverland’s Austin Campus.

Individual tickets to Spotlight are $13 and are currently available online at www.riverland.edu/tickets accepting Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. On-campus in-person sales will be available in the theatre lobby one hour prior to each performance. Riverland students with valid IDs receive two free tickets. Contact the box office at 507-433-0595 or by emailing boxoffice@riverland.edu. 

Riverland Theatre strives to provide quality productions that are entertaining and challenging to both the audience and the artists.  Because we reach such a diverse audience, some audience members may find some subject matter, language, or situations objectionable. If you have concerns about a specific production, we encourage you to become familiar with the material before attending the performance.

Riverland’s Theatre Department is a high-energy performance-oriented program. Plays produced vary from classical tragedy to modern comedy and from full-scale large cast musicals in intimate small cast plays. Students are encouraged to get involved in all areas of theatre production including, but not limited to, acting, stage managing, set building and painting. Strong academic offerings provide challenges in and out of the classroom.