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Students run Tech Players

Hidden behind the Jere Whitson Building, a group of individuals performs comedies, tragedies and musicals.

The Tech Players, TTU’s drama club, produce three shows a semester and is open to anyone interested in theater, Professor Mark Creter, club faculty adviser, said. 

“Once you’re cast in a show, you become a member of the Tech Players,” Creter said.

The group meets during dead hour every other Tuesday at the Backdoor Playhouse in Jere Whitson.

TTU English professor Dorothy Printz Pennebaker started the Tech Players in 1954, and the organization has performed at the Backdoor Playhouse ever since. However, the Tech Players temporarily relocated due to renovations in 2015, Creter said.

During the two years of renovations, the group used Foundation Hall for auditions, rehearsals, and group meetings, Creter said. Tech Players reopened the Backdoor Playhouse in time to perform “Chicago” in 2017. 

Samia Anderson, club member and an English masters student at TTU, said she joined Tech Players while in high school because of the shows they performed.

“I wanted a change of scenery from the theater I was doing at that time,” Anderson said.

Since joining the group, Anderson has performed in 12 productions and worked backstage in four others.

Creter said he wants the club to be student-focused so the students to learn how to do everything in theater.

“It’s student-centric. In fact, the play that we just closed, ‘Pluto’, was entirely run by students,” Creter said. 

Creter chooses the plays for each season after discussing ideas with current students and past students who work in the theater.

“We do a whole variety of plays, and that has always been very important to me,” Creter said. 

Creter said the cast is chosen through open auditions of students and community members.

“I’m always looking to build the program with getting new faces on stage and new faces for behind the scenes,” Creter said.

The Tech Players is a smaller theater group, so there are more opportunities to do technical work, act and direct, Creter said. 

“We’re a family that’s always glad to have new people join. The Tech Players is beautiful love, acceptance and fun. It’s making people think or bringing a smile to someone’s face when they see our productions. It means the world to me,” Anderson said.

Creter said The Tech Players’ next production is “The Rivals” by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. 

The play is scheduled:

●     8 p.m. April 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13 

  • 10 p.m. April 11
  • 2 p.m. April 13