Mizzou BSU performs original Christmas play
The Mizzou Baptist Student Union debuted Where Are You Christmas? -- an original play about an MU freshman who grapples with her father’s death during the holiday season -- on Thursday.
In the play, MU student Caroline Roberts is directing The Grinch for the theater department. When her father dies in a car accident, Caroline struggles with grief, her faith and the pressures of being a college student.
Stormie Dorrell, Associate Campus Minister and the play’s director, said Mizzou BSU has performed a different Christmas play annually since 2004.
“We figured out ways to integrate college life and the Christmas story, and that’s what we do every year,” Dorrell said.
In one scene, Caroline goes for a walk past the Columns with her friend Jason Walker, when her pent-up grief finally comes rushing out. She cries out, “The man who introduced me to Jesus and modeled faith for me is gone! And without that faith to lean on, my world doesn’t make any sense.”
Moberly Area Community College freshman Brittney Patterson played Caroline. “You really get into the emotion of it, and it's a really defining moment in Caroline's life,” Patterson said. “It finally all comes out and things start changing and looking up for her.”
In response, Jason attempts a Humphrey Bogart impression to get Caroline to smile. It works. She laughs at his awful acting.
Nathan Carmichael, who plays Jason, said his character shows how to support people who are dealing with rough times.
“It’s good to be serious, but sometimes people still just need to laugh,” Carmichael said.
Dorrell said Mizzou BSU started working on the play in October, deciding which script to perform and planning the set design. Since mid-November, participants have met three to four times a week for rehearsals, Dorrell said.
Jared Lamberson, an MU student who helped paint the flats, said the set design team has met daily for the past week, while some even pulled an all-nighter to work on the scenery.
For Patterson, seeing everyone’s hard work come together on opening night brought a sense of accomplishment.
“When you've got butterflies in your stomach, it's really nice to realize that everything you've been doing has paid off,” Patterson said. “To see the audience's approval, through laughter or tears, it really shows you've been able to reach out to the audience, whether through joy or sadness.”
Mizzou BSU Director Jerry Carmichael and former Associate Campus Minister Kelly Lewis wrote “Where Are You Christmas?” The play will run again Friday and Saturday at eight12 on 812 Hitt St. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and the play will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling Mizzou BSU.