Stage Directions:

The BlackBox is immersed in complete darkness with a lone spotlight focused on the middle of the stage where a mic stands. The room goes silent as the narrator walks forward.

Narrator

What makes SAGU theater, SAGU theater?

(Beat.)

To understand the answer to this convoluted question, one must be familiar with the unique atmosphere SAGU theater has to offer.

(The lone spotlight disappears. Behind the narrator, to the left, another spotlight flickers on. In its’ ray, Professor Blount can be seen relaxed in an armchair.)

Professor Blount

I got here in the fall of 2012.

(Beat.)

At the time, Ursula Gutierrez was over SAGU theater. Dell Guynes became our Dean because they created a new college, the College of Communication Arts.

(Beat.)

When I first arrived, we were kind of going through a time of transition. I’m not sure who was in charge of what. Your best bet would be to check the yearbooks, starting in ‘11 or ‘12 and work your way back.

(The spotlight flickers off as the spotlight upon the narrator returns.)

Narrator

After consulting yearbooks as he suggested, it was discovered in the 2007 yearbook that the first play SAGU hosted since the school’s inception of the bachelor’s degree in drama, was a production of Harper Lee’s 1960 novel, To Kill a Mockingbird.

(Beat.)

At the time, this production was directed by a gentleman by the name of Bro. Skip Redd. The following year, he would also aid in directing students in a production of The Diary of Anne Frank.

(Beat.)

He would later leave after the spring semester of 2010. But that still leaves us with a two-year gap until our wonderful Professor Blount would be hired.

(The narrator’s spotlight flickers off again. This time, another spotlight behind the narrator to the right flicks on. In its’ ray, Professor George can be seen sitting on a stool.

Professor Calvin George

My wife and I were students back in the early 2000s, between 2001 and 2005. Back then we didn’t have a theater program at all. But there was a traveling drama team called the Remnant Players. Later the team was renamed Dramatic Pause.

(*Click* The sound of his spotlight turning off echoes throughout the BlackBox for a moment before the narrator's light reemerges.)

Narrator

Dramatic Pause bridged that gap of those two years. During that time, Ursula Gutierrez, wife of dorm pastor Matt Gutierrez of Savell, aided them in the production of Pride and Prejudice and Murdoch.

(The spotlight on the narrator switches to Professor Blount again.)

Professor Blount

The first year I was here they did a run of 12 Angry Jurors. We then did a spoof of A Christmas Carol. And in the spring we did Steel Magnolias. At the time, everything was done in McCafferty. The HCC wasn’t built yet at the time.

(Beat.)

I started helping build sets and stuff like that. After Steel Magnolias, I directed The Voice of the Prairie. The next year, Mrs. Gutierrez and I began to alternate directing shows.

(Beat.)

She directed Tripped to Bountiful and then I directed the current Shakespeare, As You Like It, and that was the first show that was in the BlackBox. She later left in the spring of ‘14.

(Beat.)

After she left, we continued to do a show a semester.

(Again, the spotlight flickers off Professor Blount and on to the Narrator.)

Narrator

And like that, the pattern of a play a semester was born. Later Mr. Blount would birth the tradition of putting together a production of our annual play, A Christmas Carol.

(Beat.)

But is this what makes SAGU theater, SAGU theater?

(The room goes dark for three long seconds, allowing curiosity and tension to build, until the spotlight reemerges on Professor George.)

Professor George

I’d say two things characterize SAGU theater. The first being that our focus is on honoring the Lord with all we do. We don’t have to be pastors or evangelists or missionaries to live out the Great Commission in the talents and abilities God’s given us. I think that is something that really makes SAGU theater what it is and definitely sets us apart.

(Beat.)

The other thing, in all honesty, is Professor Blount. I cannot imagine SAGU theater without him.

(The room goes black again, when the spotlight reemerges, in place of the Narrator, drama senior Curran Landry can be seen.)

Curran Landry

Mr. Blount is SAGU theater. He brought us all together. From the annual auditions, when he would welcome us into his home to our yearly productions of A Christmas Carol, he sets SAGU theater apart. He would never take any of the credit, too.

(Beat.)

He would always say that he is just the coordinator. He would let the actors be actors, focusing rather on just bringing all the good minds together, putting on every wonderful production as an act of worship.

(In the quick blink of an eye the room goes dark again. When the spotlight returns, the Narrator is back in their place.)

Narrator

It is not our yearly Christmas Carol production nor the annual Coca-Cola gifts given to our outstanding director Mr. Blount that makes SAGU theater what it is, but rather the man himself.

(Beat.)

This year marks the tenth anniversary of Professor Blount's being added to the SAGU family.

(Beat.)

Since joining, he has led the theater department with great reverence and adoration for the Lord, truly setting us apart while serving the kingdom, making SAGU theater, SAGU theater.

(The lights go out as many stand in applause. Mr. Blount walks towards middle stage and takes a bow. Tears fill the eyes of many cast and audience members alike.)

This article was written in appreciation for all the hard work Professor Blount puts in within the Theater Department, and in celebration of his 10 years spent here at SAGU.

We all love you, Professor Blount!