William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Bowl are all where the rich and famous mingle and make their mark on entertainment and theater history.
Bakersfield College’s Theatre Club and adviser Kimberly Chin have the desire to open and offer theater and dramatic arts to all BC students, regardless of their major or career goal. With a wide array of events and activities throughout the year, this club is meant to target a diverse community of students and challenge them to think outside of the box.
“Theater is not only for entertainment but also for education and enlightenment – we can learn so much about ourselves and others, regardless of our major or career objective, when we embrace theater and film,” said Chin.
Theatre Club and the Theater Department have already been active since the start of the semester. For example, the Kern Shakespeare Festival, which was held Oct. 3-20, helped to showcase the student talent present at BC, while presenting a variety of theatrical styles for students and the community of Bakersfield.
In addition to scheduled performances throughout the year, Theatre Club participates in various community events, such as “Safe Halloween at The Kern County Museum” and Fox Theater’s FLICS program, in an attempt to give back to the community of Bakersfield and enhance students’ passion for theater and film.
“We want to be a group that gives back to ourselves, fellow students and the community as a whole. At the same time, we want to provide activities that enhance your passion for theater, film and the production business,” said Chin.
According to Chin, the Theatre Club’s desire is to share both the positive and negative aspects of the entertainment business and cause students to critique and analyze performances and actors/actresses.
Furthermore, she hopes that students will choose to be involved in this club because they have a passion for the dramatic arts and all things film related.
“When you are a part of Theatre Club, you have the opportunity to discover new and exciting cultures and be exposed to new things and ideas. Our goal really is to share the gift of theater and cinema with all interested students,” said Chin.
Upcoming events sponsored by Theatre Club and the Theater Department include “Horrorfest” on Oct. 25 from 4:30p.m. – 9:30p.m. in the BC Indoor Theater, admission is free. Horrorfest will be a time to enjoy a plethora of Halloween films including “Dracula,” “Nightmare Before Christmas,” and “House of Wax.” All presented films will not exceed PG-13 in order to accommodate younger viewers.
For additional information on upcoming Theatre Club and Theater Department events and activities, contact Kimberly Chin via phone at 395-4388 or by email at [email protected].
“Students from all majors, ages, and walks of life are invited and encouraged to get involved in what is going on within the Theater Department. You can learn so much about life and the world around you from theater and film – I would hope that people would want to be a part of what’s going on here,” said Chin.