Theatre Club Explores One-Act Plays
May 1, 2024
The Beacon College theatre Club explored science-fiction and satire in a series of one-act plays that collectively formed its presentation, “Past, Present, Future: A Collection of One-Acts.
Apr 15
Read StoryMay 1, 2024
The Beacon College theatre Club explored science-fiction and satire in a series of one-act plays that collectively formed its presentation, “Past, Present, Future: A Collection of One-Acts.
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Beacon College will confer honorary doctorates on two national learning disability advocates at its Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 11, at 11 a.m. at the Brownwood Hotel & Spa.
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In lifting the curtain on life on stage, performance artist Natasha Tsakos put it this way: “Theater is a voyage into the archives of the human imagination.”
In April, the Beacon Theatre Club thumbed through the archives to explore science-fiction and satire in a series of one-act plays that collectively formed its presentation, “Past, Present, Future: A Collection of One-Acts.”
Beacon students Zachary Murray and Cole Mathews wrote the works. Murray penned the one-act piece, “Collapse of the Red Moon,” which chronicles the plight of a crew of ex-cons that is tasked with preventing a runaway moon from crashing into Earth. Mathews wrote three as-badly-seen-on-TV commercial spoofs: “The Always Cold Scarf,” “The Walk-In Microwave,” and “The Always Wet Towel.”
“Past, Present, Future: A Collection of One-Acts” follows up last year’s production, “Legend of the Phoenix,” which Murray also wrote.
Both shows are the fruit of Calinda Strayhorn’s passion for plays. As singer/children’s author Benny Bellamacina once said, “When you feel like you’ve only got a bit part in your own life, write the script yourself.”
In a way, Strayhorn — the driving force behind the launch of the Theatre Club — has done just that. Her drama queen energy opened the door for others to showcase their playwriting and acting skills.
For her part, Strayhorn snagged a role in this year’s production — and welcomed her personal fan club. The Hometown Civitan Club gathers women in Lake, Marion, and Sumter counties dedicated to giving back to their community through annual grants to select charities, board service, sponsorships, and volunteerism. Last year, the club donated money to support Beacon students. Strayhorn was a recipient. Club members met Strayhorn in March at Beacon’s scholarship luncheon, chitchatted about Strayhorn’s interests, and were smitten. When Strayhorn mentioned the upcoming performance, they were keen to support their new Generation Z friend.
And when the curtain fell last month, the verdict was in: The play “was just a great experience for our Hometown Civitan Club,” said Laura McLaughlin, one of the club members who attended the show in support of Strayhorn. “The storyline was creative, and I had so many positive responses.”
Featured in Florida Trend Magazine. At Beacon College in Leesburg, students navigate learning differences and disabilities to earn a college degree and prepare for a career.
Read MoreFeatured in U.S. News & World Report. The college admissions process can be overwhelming for any student, but it can be especially challenging for those with learning disabilities.
Read MoreFeatured in Campus News. Despite excelling academically in middle and high school, Benjamin Strauss faced challenges due to his learning difference. Yet, his transition to Beacon College, designed for students with learning disabilities, has empowered him to pursue his passion for business management and sports media.
Read MoreFeatured in U.S. News & World Report. These colleges focus on undergraduate education but grant fewer than half their degrees in liberal arts disciplines. These rankings are split into four regions: North, South, Midwest and West.
Read MoreDr. A.J. Marsden is a former U.S. Army surgical nurse who now serves as an assistant professor of human services and psychology. She specializes in human development, emotion and attitudes, abnormal psychology, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, human sexuality, and health psychology. She has been quoted by Good Housekeeping, The Huffington Post, The Atlantic, Psychology Today, The New York Times, New York Magazine, The Associated Press, U.S. News & World Report, and more.
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