First-year, transfer students to perform annual theatre showcase with focus on authority, privilege

First-year theatre students at Northwest Missouri State University will hilariously examine the pitfalls of authority during the 34th annual First-Year Showcase Oct. 3-6.   

This year’s production features first-year students presenting Kara Poe Atnip and Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend’s “The Shady Lady: A Robust Blend of Privilege, Influence, and White-Collar Crime.”

The hilarious satirical comedy follows overworked and underpaid employees of an environmental nonprofit as they scramble to hide the embezzlement of their foolish boss. As the clever, chaotic and surprising plot unfolds, the employees must hide their embezzlement from an investigative journalist to avoid federal prison.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3-5 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, in the Studio Theater at the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $12 and may be purchased at the box office, one hour before show time or by visiting 62wt.smcun.com/finearts/theatre/.

Northwest students are pictured performing in last year's First-Year Showcase, which annually introduces the theatre program's newest students. (Photo by Lauren Adams/Northwest Missouri State University)

Grace Garrigan, a senior speech and theatre education major from Council Bluffs, Iowa, picked the play and is directing it.

“I hope that participants and audience members walk away with their spirits lifted after experiencing this show,” Garrigan said. “I hope that everyone is able to think about how they see themselves in the actions of the show.”

The first-year showcase introduces Theatre Northwest’s new students and gets them comfortable with people and practices within the theatre program.

“This is just the beginning of an absolutely wonderful adventure that these first-years are about to embark on, and it can be really special to watch someone grow up onstage,” Garrigan said.

Theatre Northwest’s 2024-2025 fall season also includes “A Fall Evening of One-Acts,” Sept. 26-28; “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” Nov. 14-17; and the annual Alpha Psi Omega children’s show on Dec. 15. The spring schedule consists of “A Spring Evening of One-Acts,” Feb. 21-22; “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors,” Feb. 21-22; “God of Carnage,” March 28-29; and concludes with “Pride and Prejudice: A New Musical,” April 10-13.

For more information about Theatre Northwest, call 660.562.1321 or email theatre@smcun.com.