What if we opened our ears, hearts, and minds to those disregarded?
BOONE, N.C. - The Appalachian State University Department of Theatre and Dance continues its 35th anniversary season with the world premiere of an original play, "Beautiful, Useful, True," conceived of and directed by Assistant Professor Elizabeth C. Parks, an Appalachian theatre faculty member, and co-created with the cast and design team. Parks notes that, "The work is inspired by the amazing local and regional women in climate science and climate change."
The five performance run takes place in the Valborg Theatre on the university campus at 7 p.m. from Wednesday through Saturday, February 26 through March 1, with a 2 p.m. matinee curtain on Sunday, March 2, 2025.
Tickets are $17 for adults, $15 for faculty and staff, and $10 for students. They are available online through the department website, as well by phone at 800-841-ARTS (2787) or in person at the Schaefer Center for the Arts box office.
In her director's notes, Parks references the play by describing Eunice Newton Foote, the central character in the story, who was, "Brave. Curious. Practical. Resilient."
"Eunice Newton Foote, in 1856, made a strikingly precise discovery about what we now call the greenhouse effect," said Parks. "Her voice and her work were overlooked and lost until 2011. Beautiful, Useful, True is an account of the life of Eunice Newton Foote woven together with the words and wisdom of the women in our Appalachian community. What if we opened our ears, hearts, and minds to those disregarded? What lessons on resilience, fortitude, and community might be gained? What beauty, efficacy, and truth might emerge?"
Parks is an actor, director, devisor, and voice and movement coach with fifteen years of experience teaching theatre and dance. She is a Level III Margolis Method Certified Educator, a designated Lessac Kinesensics Certified Trainer and has trained with Theatre Nohgaku in the Kita School tradition of Noh theatre. Her international work includes performances at Odin Teatret in Denmark and the Rhodopi Dramatichen Teatar in Bulgaria, and French studies at L'Université François Rabelais in Tours, France. Elizabeth teaches Acting, Movement, and Voice and is a proponent of all things embodied, including her own pedagogy.
As a teacher, Parks builds inclusive learning spaces that foster belonging, agency, and compassion. She uses critical and compassionate pedagogies and a multicultural approach to inspire students to create embodied and "embrained" performances. Parks' aim is to support all students on their path to becoming dynamic, 21st-century artists and creative leaders.
App State student performers in this ensemble piece are referred to in the playbill as "The Devisors." Parks explains, "These Devisors are more than just 'Actors.' To simply note them as 'Cast' does not adequately credit them with all that they have contributed to this production. They shared their heart, mind, and creative acumen to create the show you [will] see. Through a variety of embodied processes, these students created a kaleidoscope of characters." Listed alphabetically, they are Rae Foraker, Walker Lyon, J. Mason, Rosalie McCracken, Lena Shandor, Robby Steever, and Indie Wally.
In the epilogue to her program notes, Parks states quite simply, "This story is not finished. We are the ending of this story. We are the epilogue."
Special thanks to Laura England, Dr. Shea Tuberty, and the App State QEP, Pathways to Resilience Team for their assistance with the process in creating this production.
The creative team joining Parks on "Beautiful, Useful, True" includes scenic designer Michael Helms, costume designer Martha Marking, sound designers Michael Helms and John Marty, and dramaturg Dr. Derek Davidson. Appalachian student Marshall Hadsall is the lighting designer for the production with classmates Avery Edwards serving as stage manager and Baker Ledford as props master. Theatre and Dance staff members Matt Tyson and Kristin Grieneisen are serving as technical director and costume shop supervisor, respectively.
For parking information and directions to the Valborg Theatre, see Visitor Parking.
Media Contact:
Keith Martin
828-262-8179
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About the Department of Theatre and Dance
One of seven departments housed in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Department of Theatre and Dance's mission is to facilitate transformative experiences for students and the public, which cultivate compassionate, creative, and collaborative communities through theatre and dance. The department also offers coursework for integrated learning through the arts to the general university student population. Its dynamic co-curricular production program provides exemplary theatre and dance experiences to departmental students, the university community, and the region. www.theatreanddance.appstate.edu.
About the College of Fine and Applied Arts
Appalachian State University's College of Fine and Applied Arts is a dynamic and innovative group of seven academic departments, bringing together a variety of perspectives, experiences, and real-world education to provide unique opportunities for student success. The college has more than 3,500 undergraduate and graduate majors. Its departments are Applied Design, Art, Communication, Military Science and Leadership, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment, and Theatre and Dance. Learn more at https://cfaa.appstate.edu.
About Appalachian State University
As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,570 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio, and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.
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