School of Stage and Screen earns NCTC award, set for spring musical
WCU student Ethan Naggiar in the lead role in Pippen, photo by WCU student Ben Howard.
By Cam Adams
甜瓜视频app School of Stage and Screen director Tory Depew sits in her office every day with a sense of gratitude.
She鈥檚 the head of a talent-laden school with faculty who inspire, students who excel and a curriculum that challenges. Depew knows her school was a hidden gem when she started here seven years ago, but this jewel is slowly getting the recognition it deserves.
The North Carolina Theatre Conference awarded WCU鈥檚 School of Stage and Screen with the 2024 NCTC College/University Award. The school will accept the award during a curtain call on the opening night of Pippin the Musical, its spring musical, Thursday, April 10 at the Bardo Arts Center.
鈥淭here are great theatre programs in North Carolina, and I think, for me, this means that Western has really solidified a place that says 'Hey, we really have this great stage and screen program here, and we have some unique opportunities here, too,鈥欌�� Depew said.
The NCTC, a nonprofit aimed at supporting theatre in North Carolina, presents the College/University Award every year to an in-state college or university whose theatre program has demonstrated artistic, professional and educational excellence.
This is the second time WCU has earned the award, last winning it in 2006.
鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to recognize the theatre department for their commitment to developing well-rounded artists who are curious, creative, collaborative and engaged in the world around them,鈥� said NCTC executive director Angie Hayes.
鈥淭he theatre department is known for their emphasis on experiential learning, with multiple degree tracks and an active production calendar, as well as their faculty and numerous alumni who are engaged in producing their craft in the professional world.鈥�
Depew, who has been the school鈥檚 director for the last two years, credits much of the award to her faculty, which works on a great deal of creative work in and outside WCU. She also credits a lot of it to the program and the support and breadth of curriculum it offers.
This comes after a few faculty members left WCU for incredible opportunities in other states. However, for this year鈥檚 spring musical, the school has been able to turn adversity into opportunity.
Following the departures, the school has partnered with guest artists and professional designers like Broadway scenic designer Jason Lee Courson and New York City-based music director Matt Vinson for Pippin the Musical.
WCU professor and New York City-based director Matte O鈥橞rien will be directing the show.
鈥淚n the absence of those professors, I think we've given them (students) this kind of incredible opportunity,鈥� Depew said. 鈥淲orking with that many high-level people has made us reach a little higher than I think we've reached before, which is stressful but very exciting.鈥�
Depew said students will be the 鈥渘uts and bolts鈥� of the production as it will feature student assistant designers, student associates and even a student choreographer. The show鈥檚 cast will entirely showcase students with the exception of a youth performer.
Pippin the Musical will open on Thursday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. and will also be performed April 11 and 12 at 7:30 p.m. before the closing show on April 13 at 3 p.m. All performances will take place at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center.
Tickets for the shows can be bought at .
