College of Fine Arts and Production

Photos by Rick D’Elia GCU News Bureau The Thursday morning of Fall Commencement featured graduates of the College of Education (bachelor’s); College of Fine Arts and Production; College of Humanities and Social Sciences (bachelor’s); College of Nursing and Health Care Professions (bachelor’s); College of Science, Engineering and Technology; and College of Theology.       

Selecting Greta Sugai as this semester’s guest residency artist was a match made in heaven for Dance Director Bekki Price. GCU students worked with and learned from Sugai last week as she taught them the choreography for her piece in this winter’s “Emerge” Dance Concert. “With the guest artist residencies, I always like to add to what our program already has. Bringing in artists from all over the country who have worked all over the world and have different backgrounds and different experiences really helps open the students’ eyes up to the different possibilities that they have.” Price said.

Ethington Theatre’s second production of the season, “Radium Girls,” will transport audiences to the 1920s, before medical research fully understood the side effects of radium. The story follows Grace Fryer, a young watch painter, as she fights for her day in court. “Getting the chance to tell this story is really unique,” said Gretchen Carpenter, who plays Grace Fryer. “I think there’s a level of catharsis that’s going to be happening in the audience because it’s a really emotional show and I think that it’s going to capture a lot of hearts.”

Photos by Ralph Freso GCU News Bureau “Radium Girls” is the second performance of the 2021-22 Ethington Theatre season. Performances are scheduled over two weekends, at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays on Oct. 8-17.    

When asked whether he would give up the church or give up Hollywood, Dr. Craig Detweiler replied with his 25-year career of combining the two. Now, the longtime educator is bringing his knowledge and skills into his new role as dean of the College of Fine Arts and Production. “I’m excited about GCU’s deep and abiding faith combined with the artistry and creativity of both the professors and students,” he said. “We can both enlighten and entertain at the same time.”

Personal Financial Success Week, which began Monday and will continue through Thursday, provides students with information they desperately need, considering the number of Americans living in debt. “Every year we improve our outreach and connection to GCU students on topics of financial literacy and financial wellness,” said Dr. Randy Gibb, Dean of the Colangelo College of Business.

The second of seven makeup Commencement ceremonies Monday proved once again that graduates will travel long distances to celebrate earning their degree. “I just felt that desire to walk across the stage,” said Anthony Jackson Jr., who came all the way from New Orleans. “I wanted to feel that same intensity that the locals feel. I just had to do it.”

Carolyn “Carrie” Hurst is playing an important role in bringing theatre performances back inside Ethington Theatre, and she’s also undertaking an interesting personal project: She is creating a tiny house. The Technical Director and the Master Electrician has a background in scenic and lighting design and hopes to be an example to young girls in theatre. “That’s why I want to work for a university. I want to get younger students to realize, especially females, that this is a career path,” she said.

Photos by Ralph Freso GCU News Bureau The first college kickoff event of the academic year took place Tuesday afternoon outside the College of Fine Arts and Production Building. As students gathered to learn about the clubs and resources available to them, they were handed bingo cards that required them to stop by each table to receive a stamp. Completed cards could be entered into a drawing for 10 GCU-themed prizes.  

From murders to trap doors and secret passageways, there’s something for every mystery fan to enjoy this weekend as the theatre department returns to Ethington Theatre for its first play of the season, “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940.” “The thing to take away is that we wanted to have the most fun to welcome people back into the theatre,” director Michael Kary said.