Northwestern theatre ensemble to tour in three states during spring break

Members of the Drama Ministries Ensemble include: Raquel Yoder, Sioux Falls, South Dakota (seated front left); Alexandria Squier, Dakota Dunes, South Dakota (seated front right); Aaron Zinn, Spencer, Iowa (beginning back row, far left); Emily Espinoza, Schleswig, Iowa; Ruth Zimmerman, Norfolk, Nebraska; Lydia Cavanaugh, Mountain Lake, Minnesota; and Mackenna Thurman, Florence, Montana.

Northwestern College’s Drama Ministries Ensemble (DME) will perform in churches, senior living facilities and a high school during a spring break tour to three states March 2–10.

While on the road, the eight-member theatre company will share stories of faith found in the Bible, including those of Noah, Abraham, Moses and Rahab.

Theatre professor Molly Wiebe Faber, the DME’s director, says the show is based on Hebrews 11 in the New Testament—a chapter often referred to as the “Hall of Faith” or the “Faith Hall of Fame.” As different heroes of the faith are introduced in the Hebrews passage, the student actors will present that person’s story as found in the Old Testament.

“We just take the stories right out of the Bible,” Faber says. “The words you’ll hear us speak are directly from Scripture. It’s very much an ensemble storytelling process, in which all of the students play multiple characters throughout the performance.”

The actors will be dressed simply in jeans and black T-shirts and employ costume pieces like vests, jackets, scarves and hats to transform from character to character—or character to narrator. The show also makes use of shadow puppets, presented with the help of a projector and white curtain.

Northwestern’s Drama Ministries Ensemble will begin their tour in Norfolk, Nebraska; travel to Denver and Colorado Springs, Colorado; and finish with performances in Hillsboro and Wichita, Kansas. Specific locations and times for each show are available at nwciowa.edu/2024DMEtour.

Prior to touring, the DME will perform a portion of their show during Northwestern’s chapel on Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 11:05 a.m. in Christ Chapel. The complete show will be staged upon their return. That performance will take place Sunday, March 17, at 2 p.m. in the DeWitt Theatre Arts Center. Both Orange City performances are free and open to the public.

Regarded as one of the best Christian college theatre programs in the country, Northwestern’s theatre department features a collaborative, excellence-oriented environment committed to helping students develop their creative gifts for service in God’s kingdom. Study with Northwestern’s award-winning faculty in the outstanding facilities of DeWitt Theatre Arts Center.