Ethington Theatre

The GCU Theatre Department had another big year at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Brandon Brown and Abby Yee made it to the finals of the Irene Ryan Acting Competition, and Morgan McCall was offered a $1,500 scholarship to the California Institute of the Arts program. “I really focus on the feedback that they get at this level of performance more than if they get trophies,” Acting instructor Michael Kary said. “We have been doing better and better. I think that our school has grown in reputation because of its presence at the festival over the last few years.”

Ethington Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s “Henry V” features epic sword fighting, stunning costumes and a tale of a king’s growth as a person. The play, which opens tonight, also contains an important message that is just as relevant today as it was when the show was written in 1599. “I think what people can take away is some hope for what a leader of a country can be like,” director Michael Kary said. “A leader that’s inspiring, a leader that wrestles with ethical issues, and the one thing that stuck out to me in this production is how often he turns to God throughout for his decision-making and giving God glory for whatever victories he has.”

It is set to be an experience like no other this week as the College of Fine Arts and Production brings Arthur Kopit’s “Wings” to the new outdoor stage. The performance showcases the effects a stroke can have on individuals and the people around them during rehabilitation. “It’s a play that touches us all because almost each and every one of us has a friend, has a relative, has somebody that they know who has suffered a traumatic brain injury,” COFAP Dean and “Wings” Director Claude Pensis said.

The outdoor stage for the production of “The Comedy of Errors” was a major success. Counting the livestream viewers, the five performances averaged more people than the 311-person capacity of Ethington Theatre and were well-received by the in-person audiences. “A lot of audience members commented on how fun it was,” said William Symington, Assistant Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Production.

GCU’s Film Festival brought a multitude of different emotions to an audience of eager film viewers Friday night. Within the eight categories, film students highlighted the talent emerging from COFAP’s film department. The top three films within each category, with the exception of music videos with four, competed for the trophy. “It’s a huge honor and there’s a lot of really talented film makers so I’m really blessed just to be able to come away with any win,” Matthew Wagner said about his film’s win in the comedy category.

For fans of Romantic Comedies, than Ethington theatre has the production for you, in it’s second play of the season. “Arms and the Man” is a play written by George Bernard Shaw and showcases a number of central character’s journey to find true love. “I think it’s super interesting sort of the way holds up over time and the way that the meaning shifts,” Alexander Cavanaugh said. “Since the play was originally an anti-war piece, how we’re honing in now on the romanization and the way we present ourselves verses how we actually are as people, it’s cool to see how that translates today and holds up as a piece of art.”

Grand Canyon University Theatre Department’s first play of the 2019-2020 season looks to be one of the most comedic it has done in a while. Director Michael Kary compares the comedic styles to shows like “The Office” or “Parks and Recreation,” and the cast said audiences won’t want to miss the production. “It’s very funny, I will go as far as to say I’ve never been part of a show that is funnier than this one,” said Micah Larsen, who plays the role of Francis Henshall. “There’s a laugh at every turn, so if that’s not good enough reason to come out and laugh a little, I don’t know what is.”

The premier of “Godspell” hits Ethington Theatre tonight, and offers a colorful musical experience, that showcases a modern interpretation of the book of Matthew. The music, composed by Stephen Swartz of Pippin and Wicked fame, provides a unique take on the stories, integrating forms of rock with adapted hymns. “We are singing the word of God and passages from the bible because we just feel an immense amount of joy about it and I feel like that’s what makes music in this show different than other shows,” cast member Charlotte Perkis said. The show will be performed March 22-24 and March 29-31. Friday and Saturday Shows begin at 7:30 p.m., while Sunday shows begin at 2 p.m.

GCU’s Theatre Department is in rehearsals for its first play of the season, the dreamy, fairy tale-like comedy “Ring Round the Moon.” The department will change pace for its other submissions for the 2018-19 season: the Shakespeare tragedy “Macbeth,” Peter Pan origin story “Peter and the Starcatcher,” Holocaust drama “Who Will Carry the Word” and bright, shiny musical “Godspell.”

Take an early comedy by William Shakespeare, add a dash of director Scott Campbell and you get a magical production of “Two Gentlemen of Verona” complete with wizards, wands and non-human creatures. The play opens on Friday, Feb. 10, at Ethington Theatre.