“Our goal of the event is to make our students and faculty feel welcome by celebrating the beginning of the school year,” said Kimberly Hinton, undergraduate academic adviser in the theater department.
The event is from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday in the courtyard outside of the Theatre Building.
Hinton is the coordinator of the event.
She said the department has a convocation at the beginning of every year since her time as an undergraduate student at IU in the late 1990s.
“It has been going on for at least 15 years and I am happy to have been the coordinator these past five years,” Hinton said.
The event itself will consist of many opportunities for students to learn about upcoming events in the department.
“We will have speeches done by faculty to discuss upcoming events,” Hinton said.
Representatives from local theaters such as the Cardinal Stage Company will have tables with information about opportunities for students outside of campus, she said.
“We hope that students, faculty and representatives will get the chance to mingle and talk to each other in order to develop better relationships in the department,” Hinton said.
There will also be a special dedication at the beginning of the event, she said.
“A former chairman and his wife donated pieces of theater art to be hung in the lobby of the Theatre Building,” Hinton said.
Multiple prize drawings will be available for students to participate in with various rewards.
“You can win tickets to our shows, auditorium shows, Cardinal Stage shows, membership to our University Players group and some certificates to local businesses,” she said.
Anyone within a theater, drama or contemporary dance major is allowed to come, as well as students who are interested in theater, she said.
Hinton is the coordinator of the event but received help from the Student Advisory Board and Drew Bratton, managing director of the department.
“This will be my fifth time coordinating the event, and I wouldn’t say it’s arduous because it was a collaborative effort,” Hinton said.
For students who cannot attend the event, the theater department’s website provides information about the department and outside events, along with opportunities for internships.
“We are extremely excited about the opening of our main stage season, which will begin with ‘Hedda Gabbler’ on September 25,” Hinton said.
Hinton said she is excited to celebrate the beginning of the year with faculty and students.
“This will be a great experience for the theater, drama and contemporary dance students, along with free pizza,” Hinton said.
