Bayou Theater performances: Survey says…
As UHCL continues to grow, students are given the opportunity to vote on new buildings and the enhancement of existing spaces within the community. The Bayou Theater is the most recent space under review.
A student survey has been created for students to vote on the types of performances they would like to see held in the Bayou Theater in order for UHCL to provide more enriching and cultural performances.
The results of the survey will be used to aid in taking the Bayou Theater in a new direction.
The survey allows students to choose from hypothetical performances like a stand-up comedy show, a cultural music festival, film screenings, readings, musicals, etc.
Not included in the survey is the option for student-based performances. From 1976 to 1992, UHCL offered theatre and dance programs, but in 1992 the programs were closed. Now that UHCL is a 4-year university, there are students and former students who would like to see them revived.
“I’ve been saying for a number of years that I’d really love to get that program started back,” said Jerry Ivins, UHCL theatre alumnus.
Ivins, now a theatre professor and department chair at San Jacinto College, earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in theatre at UHCL. He went on to earn his doctorate at Texas Tech University.
Ivins said San Jacinto College theatre students often go off to universities like Texas State, Texas A&M, Sam Houston State or Texas A&M-Corpus Christi since the UHCL theatre program no longer exists.
Elizabeth Klett, associate professor of literature, has a background in theatre and believes it would be great if UHCL were able to reinstate the programs.
“If the university ever decided to augment the arts offerings, I would be very interested in helping develop curriculum in the theatre program,” Klett said.
The purpose of the Bayou Theater survey is to explore more cultural arts and experiences. In addition to bringing back the theatre and dance programs, Madison Stults, environmental science major, believes a music program should be started at UHCL.
“UHCL would be a more diverse and exciting place with a music [and] theatre program,” Stults said.
Stults is also the president of the music club at UHCL. Her instruments of choice are the cowbell and guitar. Playing music is a passion and an enjoyable stress relief for Stults.
“I believe the Bayou Theater is being utilized well,” Stults said. “The cultural arts programs are very enlightening, but a brighter future for UHCL could include a theater program to call the Bayou Theater home.”
The Bayou Theater survey is currently available on Survey Monkey, and students who would like to see more even more enriching arts performed in the theater are encouraged to provide their input.
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