Press Releases

Winfield, Kan., Nov. 26, 2001 - Holiday celebrations are beginning to fill the days of December, and along with those celebrations is the Southwestern College annual production of “Eagerheart.”

Presented in its 65th year by Campus Players, the college’s honorary theatre society, the show will be held in Helen Graham Little Theatre on the lower level of Christy Administration Building Sunday, Dec. 2, at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Due to limited seating, tickets are required.

“We do ‘Eagerheart’ each year not just because it commemorates something that happened long ago,” says Roger Moon, director of Southwestern’s theatre program. “‘Eagerheart’ is current, and we experience it as worship. This play is about our struggle to live by Christ’s teachings every day, and to celebrate Christmas with commitment to new life. Through its performance we are able to worship, expressing the conflicts of our struggle to live as Christians, and to prayerfully resolve to follow with Eager Heart.”

The medieval-style play was written by A. M. Buckton and is based on the legend that the holy family travels throughout the land and blesses it during Christmastime. Eager Heart prepares her home for the Christ Child but extends hospitality instead to a poor beggar, his wife, and child. Other characters in the play search for the Christ Child in fame, in good sense, in power, in love, and in wisdom. All are blinded by their preconceived expectations of Him and therefore miss His coming.

“Preparing for ‘Eagerheart’ is an annual ritual for members of Campus Players,” says Moon. “It is a gift from Campus Players to the community, and it is a passing-of-the-torch from the older students to the younger.”

Though the cast is traditionally composed of members of Campus Players, there are a few exceptions. The role of Mary is played by a woman whose good and kind qualities exemplify the characteristics of Eager Heart. Campus Players choose the three honored women, one for each of the three performances of “Eagerheart,” from among Southwestern faculty, staff, or senior students and keep their identities secret until the end of each performance when the face of Mary is revealed.

This year’s cast includes Missy McClening, Eager Heart; Megan Burns, Eager Sense; Emily Swingle, Eager Fame; Ross Baker, man; Julie Sapp, young shepherd; Bradley P. Ellis, old shepherd; Craig Fisher, first shepherd; Tim Tate, second shepherd; Stacy Coburn, angel of death; Jeremy Blanchard, King of Power; Meagan Zampieri, Queen of Wisdom; Adam Maloney, King of Love; Roger Moon, prologue and epilogue; Naomi Noda, J.D. Sills, Denise Warring, Tokuko Hyodo, and Dan Williams, angels.

Allyson Moon is directing the show. Other technical crew members include Cameron Brinker, stage manager; Michael Bumgarner, assistant stage manager and baby caretaker; Josh Carver and Ben Benage, light operators; and Will Simbala, sound operator.

All performances of “Eagerheart” are open to the public without charge. For tickets, call (620) 229-6272. Tickets must be picked up at the entrance to the Little Theatre 10 minutes in advance of the performance.