Tea party serves as community outreach, Fine Arts fundraiser
Children of the Waynesburg community dressed in their finest princess gowns and pirate costumes as they had a chance to meet their favorite members of Disney royalty this weekend. The Waynesburg University Fine Arts Department held its first children’s tea party event on Saturday Feb. 27, named “Under the Tea.”
The event served as not only a promotional event for the upcoming spring musical, “The Little Mermaid,” said Xela Batchelder, chair of the Fine Arts Department, but also as a community relations event for the entire Fine Arts Department.
”I want to build a relationship with the community so they know about all the wonderful events we have and know that they are welcome,” said Batchelder. “The events on campus are also for them, not just the students on campus.”
The event was held on the third floor of the Stover Campus Center. More than 50 children and their parents were treated to light refreshments, crafts, music, singing and individual photo opportunities with each of the princesses, princes and pirates. Batchelder also said the children and their families also had “an exclusive chance to get tickets to ‘The Little Mermaid’ before anyone else and help with the ticket process.”
All of the Disney characters present were played by Waynesburg University students involved with the Fine Arts Department.
Edward Powers, director of the spring musical and professor of theatre, said that the true challenge of acting in a “non-scripted environment” was being able to commit to the character for the entire duration of the event.
”In a play or a musical, you maintain the character for the time you’re onstage,” said Powers. “Here you’re always onstage.”
While the actual improvisation acting was difficult, being able to portray one of the most recognizable Disney princesses was an incredible and delightful experience, said Kayla Coughlin, freshman early childhood and special education major. Coughlin played the role of Princess Ariel at the event and will also star as her later this semester in the spring musical.
”Every little girl wants to be a princess and in college, it’s not any different,” said Coughlin. “Just to be able to let little girls get to meet their heroes is incredible.”
Batchelder said the event would not have been possible without the students in her Special Topics Festival and Event Planning class.
The students of this class, including Haley Lusebrink, senior arts administration major and music and stage technician for the event, worked many hours to prepare concessions, entertainment, the venue and all other aspects of the event for the youth to enjoy.
”Well, now I know how to throw a great party for children,” said Lusebrink. “I know a lot more about event planning. As someone who will likely own a business or work with the music industry, this knowledge can carry me a long way.”
”Under the Tea” gave a preview of the spring musical to a younger audience that may not normally see a college production, said Powers.
”Theatre is for everyone, not a select audience,” said Powers. “If we like a good story, we want to see it, whether onstage, or in a movie. [The actors’] satisfaction doesn’t happen unless they’re being seen by an audience. The audience is vital to the theatre.”