Southwestern College’s 93rd annual production of “Eagerheart” will be presented three times. Performances will be Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 11 a.m., and Sunday, Dec. 7, at 6 and 7:30 p.m. in Messenger Recital Hall in the Darbeth Fine Arts building.  Admission is free and the community is invited to attend. 

The Southwestern College theatre department and the Campus Players organization produce the show each year as a gift to the community. According to director Terry McGonigle, this is the first time in 15 years that the cast is an all-student cast. 

“We are proud and excited to bring ‘Eagerheart’ home to the Southwestern campus this year with an all-student cast of 17,” McGonigle says.  “Although the show will have a lot of the original elements created over the past nine decades, we are adding some new elements of magic as we bring the story to life in this year’s retelling.”

“Eagerheart,” which was written by early 20th-century English playwright A.M. Buckton, celebrates the legend that Christ and the Holy Family travel the earth each year, blessing one deserving home where they rest on Christmas Eve. Eager Heart and sisters Eager Fame and Eager Sense, along with shepherds and kings of Power, Wisdom, and Love, reveal their understanding of Christ and His teachings. The search for the Holy Family is tested by beggars seeking food and shelter. The play challenges and inspires audiences to live with charity throughout the year. 

Southwestern College student Abbey Denly is playing the role of Prologue/Epilogue. 

Playing the role of Eager Heart will be MaKaylin Kuchar. Saherena Williams has been cast as Eager Sense and Austin Fairbanks as Eager Fame.

The Beggar Man will be played by Ethan Green. The kings will be played by Emerson Williams, King of Power; Jack Titgemeyer, King of Wisdom; and Colton Adams, King of Love. Adam Urich will play the role of the Old Shepherd. Other shepherds will be played by Vanessa Lopez, Andrew Porter, and Braden Osborne.

Taliana Corns, Hannah Brown, Kimberly Taundi, Izzy Ramires and Jessica Talcott will play the role of the angels.

An uncredited but honored woman traditionally plays the role of the beggar woman who later is recognized as one of the Holy Family, and infants of the community are cast as the beggars’ child taken in by Eager Heart.   

The technical staff includes:

Terry McGonigle, director; Kalissa Ortega, lighting technician; and John Moberly, sound technician.