More than 230 students from 10 area high schools visited Independence Community College on October 8 for Cast and Crew Preview Day, exploring campus and the arts through live theatre, interactive workshops and a collaborative mural project.
The event comes after ICC recorded a slight year-over-year enrollment increase for the fall semester, as the college continues connecting area students with educational opportunities close to home.
The day began with a student matinee of Little Women, followed by a talkback with the actors. Visiting students had the opportunity to ask questions about the production, the characters and the experience of performing onstage.
“We’re encouraged by our enrollment growth this fall, and events like Cast and Crew Preview Day help us keep building those connections with area students,” said Chris Cameron, ICC head recruiter. “Giving students a chance to explore campus, meet our faculty and try something new helps them picture what their future at ICC could look like.”
After the performance and talkback, students participated in sessions including Beginning Improv, Photography, and other workshops. They also toured campus and helped paint a mural that will be displayed at ICC, leaving a lasting creative contribution to the college.
"This is an opportunity for students to get a peek behind the curtain, both literally and figuratively. Watching our theatrical production and then asking questions of the actors, designers, and crew helps students connect what they see onstage with the work that goes into it,” said Heather Mydosh, ICC Chair of Arts & Letters. "Then an afternoon of workshops expands on that growth and perspective by providing students with the chance to see what we're like in our classrooms, labs, and halls. There's a place for each of them here, and afternoons like this help them picture themselves participating, experimenting and discovering something new about their own creativity.”
Cast and Crew Preview Day introduced students to ICC’s campus and academic opportunities while bringing area high schools together for a day of performance, conversation and creative exploration.