The recent popularity of the theater industry has inspired many to get involved in theater in various capacities, from local theater to school plays, but how can one get involved in theater on a collegiate scale without having to make it their major? The answer is the Student Theater Organization (STO).
This student-run club prides itself on its independence in creative freedoms. While many groups may claim to be student-run to varying degrees of truth, STO truly is led by the students. From show selections to the number of performances in a semester, the students make virtually all the decisions.
The group is led by the STO Board, a selection of students who manage certain club responsibilities like social media and information sharing, as well as a committee composed of instructors that runs logistics for the club and aids in booking practice venues for performances. This committee doesn’t have the final say on any decisions, consisting of anything from initial production pitches to events to host throughout the year, though—the STO Board finalizes and makes the decisions, reflecting the best interests and desires of the members.
“STO does a lot of the same things we do in departmental theater, but they call the shots,” Sean Bartley, associate professor of theatre history and chairman of the STO committee, noted.
There are a plethora of reasons that students choose to join the ranks of STO, some searching for a sense of community, while others hope for further education in the theater process.
For music majors, STO fills the gap between education and application with creative freedom, granting students skills that will greatly help them in the theater industry. “They’ll learn a valuable part of being an artist that I can’t teach them in a classroom,” Bartley said.
Non-arts majors are welcome within STO as well, and the group allows them the creative liberties to practice free expression. Being an arts major doesn’t determine a student’s success in the club, and this year, the STO Board includes a non-arts major. This shift within the club’s hierarchy ensures opportunities for students of all majors within the club itself.
Malachi White, a sophomore theatre major and president of the STO Board, stressed the value of the creativity that students are allowed to exhibit as part of the club. “Every person needs to explore themselves creatively,” White said.
Often, students are so fixed within the bustle and rigid structure of everyday classes that they struggle to find outlets to express their dormant creativity. White hopes that all the new members, regardless of their overarching objectives for joining the club, can attach themselves to the pieces performed. “I hope for you to find something within yourself creatively,” White said.
Aydan Lemonier, a freshman theatre major and member of STO, recalled different opportunities from within STO that attracted them, as well as the latest production: “Ride the Cyclone.”
“The shows themselves are a really good experience,” Lemonier said. They emphasized the collaboration between students, the planning process and the intricacy demanded of this particular project.
“This production was created with only a $100 budget,” Lemonier added.
STO does various fundraising and service projects throughout the year. The most recent of these was when the club assembled to write cards for the children at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Through this and many additional service opportunities, members of STO can do community service while growing their bonds with the club members.
Lemonier also appreciates the career preparation events provided by STO. These workshop events consist of everything from how to execute a dance turn to tips for professional headshots, helping experienced art majors with career readiness, and filling in gaps of knowledge for non-art majors on the theater process.
“I feel an indescribable amount of pride in these students and what they were able to accomplish,” Bartley said about both “Ride the Cyclone” and the overall growth that the students who participated in the club showed.
Overall, STO offers a unique, new experience each year to its members with the promise of radical transparency, ensuring no year is quite like the other, and this is all created by students. If you’re interested in learning more about STO, you can follow their most recent activities on their Instagram.
