The Department of Theatre and Dance is hiding a treasure chest, or a cave, to be exact. "The Cave" is a relatively unknown and undiscovered jewel existing underground and under the radar.
According to Bill Jenkins, interim chair and assistant professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance, The Cave has actually been in the Department of Theatre and Dance for 15 years and was originally a TV studio before it turned into the theater and classroom space it is now.
The Cave, located in AC 007, is a classroom that also serves as a theater space where outgoing and determined student directors and theater students who have completed the necessary classes can direct their own theatrical production.-á
According to Jenkins, there are usually three scheduled performances per semester, which are usually either one-act plays, musicals or full-length productions.
Students must submit an application and go through a lengthy submission process before being granted the go-ahead to direct their production.-á
Senior David Mitsch is a double major in musical theater and acting and recently wrapped up his directorial debut in The Cave. Mitsch applied to direct in The Cave in spring 2003 and went through a rigorous application and proposal process in order to be able to direct the musical "Assassins," written by Stephen Sondheim, which showed Feb. 10-16 of this semester.
"The proposals include a detailed outline of the specifics of the show; what the director's concept of the show is, preliminary ideas about staging the show in the space, and any technical considerations that may need to be addressed," Mitsch said.
Upon being selected to direct, Mitsch started gathering and pulling together every detail for his show.
"Although it was still a year away, I had to set up a musical director, pianist, orchestra, rehearsal schedules, all of the behind-the-scenes stuff, not to mention figuring out blocking the stage movement and how the show would be able to function," Mitsch said.
In addition to orchestrating stage movements, rehearsal schedules and general details, Mitsch was responsible for casting his fellow students for roles in "Assassins."
"We are students who are selecting or rejecting our peers. We have been in the same situation, hoping to be cast. I found it difficult. Emotions run high during casting, and when you're a student director, there are even more fences to straddle," Mitsch said.
The Department of Theatre and Dance pays the bill for show rights, but costuming and set-building costs are at the discretion and cost of the student director.
"We encourage minimalism because it is their responsibility," Bill Jenkins said.
Mitsch says that a lot of the responsibility falls onto the director and stage managers.
"Costumes, props, sound, lighting, music; almost everything is up to the director and cast to find and finance. We don't get any kind of budget in The Cave," Mitsch said.
However, Cave directors do receive plenty of advice and supervision from the artistic director of The Cave and Department of Theatre and Dance assistant professor Karen Kessler. Kessler assisted Mitsch with casting decisions and other questions and concerns.
"Assassins" had a run of six shows, which sold out in the first week of ticket sales, so two more shows were added, for a total of eight performances. Tickets were a modest $4.
The Cave is an important part of the Department of Theatre and Dance, allowing students to be ambitious and use their own initiative to produce a theatrical production and have the chance to take risks without losing tons of money or having to have tons of money to run the show.
For Mitsch, directing in The Cave gave him the opportunity to end his last year at Ball State with a legitimate learning experience and the chance to quench his curiosities about directing.
"I decided to try directing in The Cave since it is my last year here and I may never get a second opportunity like this," Mitsch said.
Mitsch doesn't have any plans to direct again in The Cave because he is pursuing an MFA in Acting, but he said he would if he had the chance.
"I've realized that it doesn't seem like work when you're doing something you really love," Mitsch said.
The department plans to renovate The Cave and make it more adaptable as a theater, but funding has not yet been granted after many requests.
"We've continued to ask and request money to renovate that space," Jenkins said.
Two more productions are in the works this semester for The Cave, which according to Mitsch, is a venue for edgy and experimental works and a good opportunity for students interested in directing.
"Not only does it give students who are interested in directing a place to work, but it also gives an opportunity for student actors to be cast in another venue and style of theater," Mitsch said.
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