Theatre Department Moving to Cox Visual Arts Center

Photo provided by Rampage student photographer Elei Haynes.

The Theatre Department is moving its equipment and the majority of rehearsals from Harman Chapel to the Cox Visual Arts Center to have an accessible space for rehearsals, building and painting sets, and much more.  

“With our growing student body population, several departments use the chapel every day,” said Ashley Burton-Pruitt, assistant director and choreographer for Bluefield Youth and Community Theatre. “We all have been brainstorming how to share this space more effectively — one of the options being the Cox building.” 

Rebecca McCoy-Reese, co-chair of the Theatre Department, says she is “a little apprehensive” but also extremely excited for the department to have its own space. The move will provide the department a dedicated space for work, whether rehearsing, building sets, or painting.

“Harman has been home for 25 years, and we love that space,” said Charles Reese, co-chair of the Theatre Department. “But it’s also one of the busiest spaces on BU’s campus (with) chapel, Home, worship services, recitals, concerts. It’s also home to Highlands (Highlands Fellowship Church), so two or three times a week we have to make sure to leave the space prepared for church or chapel. Everybody we have shared the space with has been great neighbors and are always very cooperative, but it’s going to be great to have a space that is ours.” 

Brian Fisher, the Theatre Department’s technical director, is happy about having his own space to work.

“The prospect of having a dedicated, ventilated, and well equipped workshop space is very exciting,” Fisher said. “It will allow us to work on our own schedule without inconveniencing other departments.” 

The department plans to start the moving process in late October after they finish their current production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. 

“It’s like moving into a new house,” McCoy-Reese said. “You need to figure out what can go, what can wait, and what can be tossed.”

Fisher added that the move will take a lot of cooperation from all involved.

“We’ll essentially be moving 25-years-worth of history of this department across campus, so it will definitely be a huge undertaking,” Fisher said, “but I believe if we all (production team and youth theatre community) come together we can make it happen.” 

Pruitt spoke about how the move will affect rehearsals. She expects a “learning curve” because rehearsing in a new space requires adjustment. Fisher thinks a smaller rehearsal space will “harbor a better rehearsal atmosphere and encourage adaptability.” 

Pruitt also spoke about how the move might allow the department to start new projects. She mentioned she would potentially like to offer dance classes to BU students, kids, and members of the community.

McCoy-Reese also remarked that she would love to set up a more intimate space for some experimental theatre to happen outside of the main stage. 

Pruitt is excited about building the space into a setting that will intrigue future students, a space “for future students to be excited about and to use as a resource to grow the department.”

The department would like to thank Professor Allen Roberts, President Steve Peterson, and the administration for giving them this opportunity.