On Aug. 20, students and parents gathered together in the seats of the ASU Gammage theatre for “Broadway Buzz,” a non-exclusive event to discuss the many ways students could become involved in Gammage’s activities, as well as watch a preview of the upcoming season.
Executive director of the Gammage, Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, explained a new program called Campus Connections for students.
“(Campus Connections) is an ongoing series of social and cultural events designed to engage the ASU student community,” Jennings-Roggensack said.
Students can also work at Gammage as the theatre provides employment to more than 125 students a year. There are opportunities for them to intern with various departments, including Camp Broadway, a program meant for “students who are interested in the arts from behind and in front of the curtain,” she said.
Tuition assistance and scholarships are available for students in the Herberger School as well as an ASU MLK Student Leadership award.
Gammage hosts a series of interactive performers in between nationally touring shows. The selection, titled BEYOND, features contemporary artists in many aspects of theatre such as dance and spoken word.
“BEYOND also offers students opportunities to perform with professional artists and to make lasting contacts and connections as our students go on to graduate,” Jennings-Roggensack said.
This year, BEYOND series will showcase new and returning artists including Lemon Anderson who will perform a coming-of-age playwright, “County of Kings” on Oct. 6, and Tony Award-winning choreographer Bill T. Jones and Arnie Zane Dance Company will perform on April 20.
In addition, ASU students receive discounts and rush tickets to most of the performances.
The BEYOND series offers $10 ticket sales to students. They can also purchase a Sun Devil pack that grants a single ticket to four of the Gammage’s productions for $87. The shows are “Anything Goes” on Nov. 13-18, “The Addams Family” on Dec. 11-16, “Memphis” on March 5-10, and “Beauty and the Beast” on April 9-14.
For more information about the upcoming season and the ASU Gammage’s programs, visit www.asugammage.com.
Reach the reporter at mkthomp5@asu.edu
