Calvin Theatre Company

The Calvin Theatre Company is Calvin College's main theatre program. The company primarily performs in the Gezon Auditorium and the Lab Theatre, however, they have also performed in the FAC, the chapel, and the old Lab Theatre. The company was formerly known as Thespians, until 1993, when the name was changed to Calvin Theatre Company. Thespians was started soon after the college's parent church, the Christian Reformed Church in North America, lifted a ban on theatre. Prior to that, only "pageants" about Christianity or Dutch history were permitted. Thespians was started as a student organization of sorts, however in the late 1950s, Calvin professor Ervina Boevé began working towards making theatre an academic pursuit. In the mid 1970s, a concentration was created in the Speech department (now Communications Arts and Sciences).
Today, the theatre company is a part of the Communications Arts and Sciences Department and has several staff and faculty dedicated specifically to the theatre program. In order to join the company, students need to audition or interview as well as sign up for the 1 credit course. Members of the company are eligible to audition for all shows, and those who are not cast are assigned a place on a supporting crew. Oversight for the company is provided by the Director of Theatre, currently David Leugs, as well as the rest of the theatre faculty and staff.
During the 2008-2009 school year, the theatre company, along with all of Calvin College, will celebrate the 75th anniversary of theatre at Calvin. The celebration has been named "75 Years of Inspiration." There are a variety of activities surrounding the celebration, including conferences for each of the season's plays, as well as lectures, lunches, concerts, and other community events.

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