Auburn University's theatre program celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, the AU Players will host a reunion for past and present members.
The three-day event, scheduled for Feb. 28 through March 2, will feature a performance of 9-to-5: The Musical by the AU Players, as well as performances by the Mosaic Theatre Company and Radio Flyer Theatre.
Diana Freeberg, senior in theatre, said she hopes this event will attract a wide variety of people.
"Of course we want theatre majors to come, but we are also inviting anyone who minored, or just has an interest in theatre," Freeberg said. "Octavia Spencer, for example, was involved in a theatre production at Auburn, but she was never actually a theatre major."
Fifteen men and an English professor founded the AU Players, originally called "The AU Footlights", in 1913. The name was changed in 1919, when women were first introduced into the group.
Taylor Dyleski, senior in production management and president of the AU Players, did extensive research on the history of the theatre troupe to prepare for the centennial celebration.
"I first started my research this summer" Dyleski said. "We actually know quite a bit about the original AU Players because of the Glomeratas. We also have a lot of newspaper articles from back in the day."
The reunion will feature a walking tour of many historic landmarks with connections to the AU Players, including the Chapel, Langdon Hall, and Samford Hall.
"Since the AU Players are so old, they have a lot of really strong ties to a lot of historic buildings in Auburn" Dyleski said.
The AU Players current home, Telfair Peet Theatre, was not built until 1972.
"They even spent some time in the attic of Samford Hall. When you think of Auburn, you automatically think of Samford, so I think it is really interesting that this theatre organization has a tie to that," Dyleski said. "There was a really funny article written in the paper when they performed there. It said the actors had to stop the performances every so often so the bell could ring."
In addition to the performances and the walking tour of the theatre program's history, the reunion will also include a dinner banquet at Zazu Gastropub and a panel of Auburn scholars discussing how theatre continues to impact Auburn University.
Anna Claire Walker, senior in musical theatre, is vice president of the AU Players. She said she is most looking forward to meeting graduates of Auburn's theatre program.
"I am really excited to see all of the Alumni come together. Auburn has such a big network of people out there doing different things with their theatre educations," Walker said. "Especially since I am a senior, it can be very daunting to head out into the real world without really knowing what to expect. I think it's going to be very inspirational to see all these people who used Auburn's theatre program to help them do what they want to do."
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