The Hope College Department of Theatre was selected to perform “Havurah” by Margot Connelly, during the Region III American College Theatre Festival (ACTF), which will be held in Madison, Wisconsin, from Tues., January 6 through Sun., January 11. Hope will perform at the Mitchell Theatre at the University of Wisconsin–Madison on Wed., January 7 at 3:30 p.m. and on Thurs., January 8 at 11 a.m.
The Hope Department of Theatre first produced “Havarah” on campus last October and was selected for the festival by a juried committee from ACTF from entries throughout a five-state region.
"Havurah" explores interfaith tensions on a college campus after a shooting incident at a local synagogue. The play was commissioned by the Big Bridge Theatre Consortium in conjunction with the Jewish Plays Project and produced by Hope College. The Big Bridge Theatre Consortium (BBTC) is a consortium of university and college theatre departments across the country committed to developing new plays dedicated to peace and interfaith dialogue. Hope College is a founding member and Hope Associate Professor Rhett Luedtke serves as BBTC’s artistic director.
Havurah, loosely translated as "circle of friends," centers the faith journeys of students in the Jewish Student Club and the Christian Social Justice Club in the aftermath of the shooting. How does faith support individuals in the midst of tragedy? When does activism harm more than heal, and how do we partner well with those who are hurting as we seek to create a circle of friends?
The creative team for “Havurah” consists of: Rhett Luetke – associate professor of theatre as director; Em Allen as guest scenic designer; Michelle Bombe – chair of the department – as costume designer; Eric Van Tassell – assistant professor of lighting and sound design – as lighting designer and sound designer; Kevin MacLeod as guest props designer; Stephen Krebs – technical director for theatre – as technical director; Anna Hill – theatre department costume manager and dance department costume designer – as costume shop manager; and Samantha Luken, from Grand Rapids, as cultural consultant. Also serving on the production team are: senior Deborah VanIwaarden of Holland, as assistant lighting designer; first-year Claire Amidei of Palatine, Ill., and sophomore Sophia Richards of DeWitt, Mich., as assistant stage managers; and senior Audrey Kunce of Carmel, Ind., as stage manager.
The cast includes first-year Lee Tull of Delton, Mich.; sophomore Caroline Valdes of Canton, Mich.; juniors Jesalyn Ashby of Hudsonville and Castle Dettinger of San Diego, Calif.; Bridget Kenny of Glen Ellyn, Ill.; Kolton Muldowney of Buffalo, NY; and seniors Christopher Laubach of Macomb, Mich., and Kate Lawrence of White Bear Lake, Minn.
The annual Region III American College Theatre Festival is a gathering of more than 1,200 college theatre students and faculty who join together to showcase the best work of the five-state region of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. In addition to invited productions that are juried and selected to perform, theatre students also have the opportunity to present their work in dramaturgy, design, stage management, directing, playwriting, musical theatre, arts leadership and theatre journalism, as well as acting. A total of 24 Hope theatre students will participate in this year’s conference and share their creative activity and research.
The Hope College Department of Theatre has previously been honored with selection to the regional festival, most recently with “The Boy Who Hates Everything” in 2024, “The Thanksgiving Play” in 2021, “The Line Between” in 2018, “Gone Missing” in 2012, and “Rose and The Rime,” which was also selected to perform at the national festival in 2008.