Howard Payne University is hosting the Christian University Theatre Festival this week joining with three other universities to feature four theatrical productions.

HPU’s production of Stealing Home will begin the Festival on Monday, March 4th at 7:30 PM.  Wayland Baptist University will be bringing their production of David Mamet’s The Water Engine, which will be performed Tuesday, March 5th at 1:00 PM.  Tuesday evening at 7:00 PM will be Lubbock Christian University’s production of Shadowlands, the story of C. S. Lewis and his marriage to Joy.  The final performance will be Hardin-Simmons’ production of Red, a story about artist Mark Rothko.

All performances will be held at the HPU Theatre and tickets will be $5.00 per performance, with the exception of HPU’s performance of Stealing Home which will be free to HPU faculty, staff, and students.

“We encourage our HPU family to join us for these wonderful plays that encompass a broad range of theatre genres.  What a treat to be able to see four plays in little more than 48 hours.  The quality of the shows is always stellar and it is nice to know that they will all be true to our mission,” said Dr. Nancy Jo Humfeld, head of the HPU Department of Theatre.

The Christian University Theatre Festival was created about 20 years ago by the theatre directors from HPU, Hardin-Simmons, and Wayland Baptist University as a means to come together to share our art and love of theatre in a Christian setting.

One of the universities plays host to the others who then tour their show to the Festival.  The host school usually performs first since their set is already ready to go, then all companies help strike the set (take it apart and put it away).  When it is time to load in the next show, all companies help do that as well.  The camaraderie among the companies is one of the highlights of the Festival – all companies working side-by-side in a spirit of teamwork and Christian Fellowship.

“Our students have forged friendships which begin at CUTF and last for many years.  As professors and students, it is fun to see the same folks in different roles through the years of attending CUTF,” said Dr. Nancy Jo Humfeld, head of the HPU Department of Theatre.

After each performance, a respondent will critique the play.  The audience is encouraged to stay for the critique if they desire.  This year’s respondent is Dr. James E. Lile, Jr., who is head of the Department of Theatre at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, MO.  Dr. Lile was a colleague of Dr. Humfeld’s at East Texas State University (now Texas A & M University-Commerce) and is a brilliant theatre practitioner.

“Jim is an incredible actor, director, and teacher of theatre.  More than being brilliant, he’s a lot of fun.  I think he will be a delightful respondent and I know the students will learn a lot and enjoy doing so,” said Dr. Humfeld.

Pictured at top is a scene from Stealing Home performed by HPU which will be featured in the festival on Monday.