By: Amelia Valery

Not many people are aware of the student-directed productions at the University of Montevallo, but they are the hidden gems of the theater department.

Senior Carson Reed is directing and producing the musical “Firebringer.”

“I’ve never actually done a musical myself, independently and so I wanted to flex that muscle,” Reed said. “And see what’s different about it. This is more or less a learning opportunity for me to see what happens when I’m the one in charge of a musical, independently.”

Sometimes they have to get creative even if that means taking rehearsal outside. The cast would use the stage at Orr Park to set the scene for their prehistoric musical, but even a little cold won’t slow down the rehearsal schedule.

Cast member, Josh Norris, recently closed the University show, Tartuffee, but likes the chance to explore with student lead productions.

“For Tartuffee I was getting to have this big box to work in and at the time I was like, oh there’s not many ways to get a bigger box to work it but with student lead stuff, it’s an even bigger box,” Norris said. “So I was really really excited to move from an environment where I thought that oh this is the max what I can do and like what I can choose to and even like more paintable canvas.”

Cast members aren’t just theater majors, they come from all sides of campus but director Carson Reed can assure that they all share one thing.

“It’s interesting to create a community based on people who all want that opportunity, want that opportunity to grow, to learn something new, to try something new and so we all have that in common at least,” he said.

The production team is able to create a different atmosphere compared to a university show; music Director, Nick Liles, comments on the differences that he has seen.

“In a nutshell, I would say doing a student lead show versus a department show it’s just a lot more relaxing and I guess not so much carefree but there’s not I guess a set level of expectations that you feel like you have to meet each time you go into rehearsal,” Lyles said.

Student-directed shows are able to offer students opportunities that they otherwise might not have received at the University shows. Cast member Jayla Bester shares her experience.

“Instead of having professors, like, opinions, I have the opinions and people who are around my age, yes they are not the same color as me, but they are students are basically our ages and so they’re willing to give that opportunity no matter like what color you are,” she said. “And I’m not saying the professors here care about that, but it’s more opportunity with POC who have not been using a production here.”

Catch Firebringer in the Palmer theatre on April 23 and 24 at 7 p.m.