Story by: Lev Cardenas, Staff Writer
Photo Courtesy of Cypress Theatre Arts Department
The Cypress Theatre Arts Department will host their 7th Annual Theatre Banquet in the campus theatre lobby May 11, at 7 p.m.
The event allows the students and faculty in the department to get together and recognize the work they’ve done and discuss the plans for the next year.
The Annual Theatre Banquet began remotely in 2020 giving the department the opportunity to talk and see each other. After the lockdown, students and faculty were able to join together as a community and celebrate their achievements in theatre arts and the Theatre Banquet became a tradition for each year.
“Theatre banquets are kind of a tradition in theatre departments,” Donny Jackson, the chair of the Theatre Arts department said. “Lots of high schools do them, colleges do them. It’s really just about taking the time to get everybody together that’s not the hectic theatre production schedule.”
The Annual Theatre Banquet demonstrates what students and faculty have accomplished in the year and will also recognize individual students and faculty and their contributions to theatre arts.
“We do a video retrospective of the year and celebrate all the students who are graduating and transferring to different schools,” Jackson said. “And then we give out a series of awards in different categories. There are achievement awards, acting, directing, technical theater for everybody that works behind the scenes, we recognize outstanding graduate and we recognize students who have made achievements in musical theatre.”
The event not only celebrates the achievements of the year, but also reveals the shows planned for the following year. Students and faculty are able to see and discuss what is planned for the future and what is next for them in the department.
“We have a meal together, spend time together, it’s really just meant to be a joyous night for everyone,” Jackson said.
While the Annual Theatre Banquet prioritizes those in the Theatre Arts Department, students who have taken a theatre class or have taken part in a production are able to RSVP. The Charger Theatre Company encourages attendees to dress in the theme of Alice In Wonderland for the event, although it is not enforced.
The event is free to attend. Students can RSVP for the 7th Annual Theatre Banquet at https://www.cypresscollege.edu/box-office/.
