Dr. Larson鈥檚 leadership includes the creation of the South Carolina School of the Arts, expansion of the Rainey Fine Arts Center, the establishment of key degree programs in the arts, and the new Conservatory of Music.听

Former Anderson President Dr. Mark Hopkins got to know Dr. Larson when they both lived in Illinois. When Dr. Larson was leading the Theatre Department at Judson College (currently Judson University) in Illinois, Dr. Hopkins reached out to him, initially seeking his advice regarding uses for the newly constructed Henderson Auditorium.听

Dr. Larson recalls, 鈥淗e wanted someone who would help chart a course for this new auditorium he had inherited.听 When I visited, I realized I was being tested, and so I dutifully submitted a report with my suggestions. A year later, Dr. Hopkins sent me a voicemail and said, 鈥榃e have a new position, the Associate Dean of Arts. Sensing God鈥檚 leading, Dr. Larson said 鈥測es鈥� and moved with his young family to Anderson. His job was to help develop music, art and theatre and to manage the new auditorium.听

鈥淭here was no Peace Center. There was no Brooks Center. In the late eighties, Centre Stage at Anderson College was the primary venue for professional performing arts in the Upstate. For eight years, Centre Stage presented six to eight touring performances per year. About a thousand season tickets a year were purchased for Center Stage鈥�which was just enough to cover artist fees.鈥� The series attracted some big acts for the time, including the Atlanta Symphony, Burl Ives, Chet Atkins, Lionel Hampton and Dizzy Gillespie.听听

鈥泪n my second summer here, we were given money to renovate Merritt Auditorium, turning it into a home for the theater program. I transitioned over to academics just before the institution made the change to four-year status, about the time the college was deciding to build phase two of the Fine Arts Center.鈥� Dr. Larson added, 鈥淭hose were wildly busy days!鈥�听

Dr. Larson asserts that none of the successes of the South Carolina School of the Arts would have happened if not for the vision of President Evans P. Whitaker and a supportive administrative team.听

He also praises the leadership of the school鈥檚 three academic programs鈥擜rt + Design, The Conservatory of Music, and Theatre and Dance鈥攄eveloping innovative, relevant programs that guide graduates into rewarding careers in the arts.听听

Dr. Larson is thankful for 糖心Vlog传媒 rallying around him over four decades of change and various health challenges. When asked about what retirement looks like, Dr. Larson says that, at least for now, he鈥檒l stay in Anderson.听听

Assuming Dr. Larson鈥檚 role is Associate Professor of Art and Design, Jer Nelsen. Beginning in the summer of 2026, Nelsen will serve as the Interim Dean of the South Carolina School of the Arts.听

鈥泪n summary,” Dr. Larson says, 鈥渕y story is one of God’s faithfulness to help build a serious arts program, firmly set on a strong faith foundation. Ultimately, that means hiring and cultivating dynamic Christian faculty who will inspire and role model the integration of their art and their faith. Hire the right people, and good things happen. I am thankful to have seen this arts enclave grow and develop. Indeed, we are a special place- serious about our art and serious about our faith at the same time.鈥澨�听

听

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鈥泪t’s a week where the theater students can be together, create together, learn from each other and learn from other creative artists in the theater,鈥澨齭aid听Department听of Theatre and Dance听Chair听Dr.听David听Sollish. 鈥泪t’s听a beneficial addition to our year, because sometimes we can get听pretty focused听on what听we’re听doing here on campus. This is an opportunity to听get to know听other听people in the industry听and to see their work.鈥�听

More than 20 糖心Vlog传媒 students took part in this year鈥檚 festival. The following students received awards and recognition:听

• Irene Ryan Acting Program Semi-finalist: Hannah听Auci听

• Musical Theatre Initiative Semi-finalists: Hannah听Auci, Hunter Ballard, Savannah Grace McCart听

• Musical Theatre Initiative Finalist:听 Hannah听Auci听

• KCACTF Region 4 Stage Management Award for Excellence in First Time State Management: Krysia Thomas听

• SETC/David Weiss Regional 1st place in Scenic Design: CJ Peterson听

• SETC/David Weiss Regional 1st place in Lighting Design: Thomas听Cawood听

• Applied Theatre Award of Excellence: Krysia Thomas听

The awards were presented on the stage of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, which is considered听one of the nation鈥檚 most prestigious regional theatre events.听The festival took place听in Mongomery, Alabama.听

听

AU Theatre and Dance听听

AU Theatre and Dance听is part of the South Carolina School of the Arts at 糖心Vlog传媒. The South Carolina School of the Arts trains professional visual, musical, and theatrical artists who are serious about both their art and Christian faith.听

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Earlier this month,听Dr.听Sollish听was recognized听with one of the greatest honors a theatre educator could听possibly receive.听

On the stage of the prestigious Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Dr. Sollish was presented with the Kennedy Center Gold Medallion, the most prestigous regional award given by the American College Theatre Festival (ACTF). The award recognizes Dr. Sollish for his extraordinary contributions to the teaching and production of theatre and for dedicating his time, artistry and enthusiasm to the development of the festival. The award also honors him for his strong commitment to the values and goals of ACTF and to excellence in educational theatre.听

South Carolina School of the Arts Dean Dr. David Larson said,听鈥淭his professional recognition places the Department of Theatre and Dance at the center of theatre programs in the Southeast. 鈥疭imply put, this significant award is as good as it gets for a university theatre educator.鈥�听

听

AU Theatre and Dance听听

AU Theatre and Dance听is part of the South Carolina School of the Arts at 糖心Vlog传媒. The South Carolina School of the Arts trains professional visual, musical, and theatrical artists who are serious about both their art and Christian faith.听

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The dancers staged a performance exploring the everyday lives of commuters on a New York City subway.听听

Wolcott said, 鈥�You can watch people fall in love. You can watch people fall out of love. You can watch people deal with grief. You can watch people get a promotion. I’ve watched people book their first Broadway show on a subway to get a phone call while they’re sitting at a station… they get a phone call from their agent and they start breaking down, crying and screaming and all these strangers are celebrating with them.鈥�听

Further explaining storytelling through dance, Wolcott added, 鈥淭he theme of any musical theater piece is that it has to be theatrical. It has to tell some kind of stories鈥攃hallenging the students to come up with characters and work them into the dance so it’s not just them doing dance steps next to each other but trying to inhabit these characters and interweaving their stories in a way that we don’t always do in dance.”听

Wolcott enjoyed spending time with students and faculty at Anderson, commenting, 鈥�They have great faculty that I have gotten to know while I was there. It’s always good to have a fresh perspective that gives them some reassurance that what they’re learning… it seems like we’re always aligned.鈥�听

Wolcott teaches at Marymount Manhattan University and a few professional dance studios in New York. He loves to travel and work with students at various institutions.听

Lauren Imhoff of the Department of Theatre and Dance in the South Carolina School of the Arts asserts that bringing in an esteemed artist is an important way to support 糖心Vlog传媒鈥檚 pillar of Great Academics.听听

鈥淲e are also exercising great hospitality and great purpose as our students drive towards professional careers in this art form,” Imhoff said.听

The South Carolina School of the Arts at 糖心Vlog传媒 trains professional visual, musical, and theatrical artists who are serious about both their art and Christian faith. More details about Theatre and Dance at 糖心Vlog传媒 can be found online here.

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The Theatre and Dance Department of the South Carolina School of the Arts conducted a weeklong dance camp for high school students at 糖心Vlog传媒 June 2-6.听

According to Director of Dance Lauren Imhoff, the camp offered ballet, modern and jazz/musical theatre classes each day. Students got to know dance faculty members Elizabeth Updegraff, Steph Cureton and Lauren Imhoff alongside two dance major student leaders Rylee McGiff and Audrey Keller. The camp wrapped up with camp participants showing what they learned during the week in a parent showcase June 6 at the dance studio, located on the 糖心Vlog传媒 Athletic Campus.听

Imhoff said that this was the first dance offering for summer institute and another camp will be offered in 2026.听

Details about dance and other programs offered by the South Carolina School of the Arts at 糖心Vlog传媒 can be found online here.听

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Atlanta-based staibdance organizes through its Italy program experiences that bring world-class faculty together听for two weeks of intensive dance instruction, against the beautiful and historic backdrop of Sant鈥橝gata and Sorrento, located along the Mediterranean coast near the city of Naples.听

It鈥檚 been a wonderful experience for Smith, who grew up south of Augusta, Georgia and followed her older sister鈥檚 footsteps into dance as a young girl. Looking back, it鈥檚 hard to imagine that at first she didn鈥檛 want to dance, quit once, then resumed dance lessons when her cousin opened up a dance studio in her hometown of Waynesboro.听听

Smith describes her dance style as upbeat and athletic. She loves contemporary and jazz dance styles and appreciates how the staibdance intensive has expanded her horizons. She has been immersed in daily classes that include Counter Technique, Contemporary Ballet, James Wilton Dance Repertoire and Creative Failure.听

Creative Failure, Smith explains, is essentially an improvisational class focused on the idea that creativity can come from the midst of what we perceive as failure.听

鈥泪f we completely broaden our horizon and our perspective and just start moving,鈥� she says, 鈥渋n the end, we might not like what we did, but it鈥檚 still creativity. To us it can be failure if we don鈥檛 like it, but to somebody else, it might not be. It opens a perspective on the art that you鈥檙e making.鈥�听

Smith has learned much from the instruction of the international faculty of staibdance, which includes American and European teachers.听

鈥泪 just think experiencing an intensive like this in another country is very beneficial because of the different ties to different countries, the fact that you鈥檙e somewhere you don鈥檛 know at all and you鈥檙e having to totally readjust and meet new people,鈥� she said. 鈥淓very bit of it is just an eye-opening experience in both regular everyday life and also the dance culture that you鈥檙e used to. There are moments in classes where it can be something that you鈥檙e totally used to and are comfortable with, and there are also moments where you鈥檙e learning something you鈥檝e never done before. I think it takes you out of your comfort zone.鈥澨�听

An unforgettable experience for Smith was experiencing a ballet in Naples.听听

鈥泪t鈥檚 one of the oldest opera houses. It was gorgeous,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e got to see 鈥楽erata鈥� by Jerome Robbins, a choreographer we got to know a lot about in AU classes. I also enjoy his choreography style, so getting to see a ballet he choreographed in another country and in one of the most beautiful opera houses鈥攊t was very insane, but it was so much fun.鈥澨�听

The staibdance intensive wrapped up with a performance from the students, followed by a celebration before heading home early the next morning.听

Smith will return to Anderson and teach at Anderson School of Dance. She also plans to continue working in the competition dance world, something she grew up around.听听

鈥泪 am still very open to performance opportunities and still planning to seek those as well,鈥� she said.听

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The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) nominated several Theatre and Dance students for awards and a chance to compete in Washington, D.C. in 2023.

Students from the South Carolina School of the Arts at 糖心Vlog传媒 received regional nominations for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) Awards. 

鈥淭he faculty and I are incredibly proud of this production and of all of our incredibly talented student-artists. We wish them luck and many blessings as they compete in February at the regional festival,鈥� said 糖心Vlog传媒 Department of Theatre and Dance Chair Dr. David Sollish.

The nominations came for the fall production of Cole Porter鈥檚 鈥淎nything Goes!鈥� recognizing the talents of the cast and crew. 

KCACTF sends a respondent to view Theatre and Dance productions during the Fall 2022 Semester and nominate students. Those students then can go to a regional Kennedy Center festival to compete. If they win the region, they head to a national competition in Washington, D.C., with the potential of winning a scholarship.

The following students were nominated:

Associate Direction nominee – Kaitlyn Grace

Dance Captain Dramaturgy nominee – Emma Turner, Annabelle Terry, Caroline Byce

Hair and Makeup Design/Costume Design nominees – Evelyn Ruff, Alessa Gibbons, Morgan Burroughs, Maegan Mosher

Irene Ryan nominees – Spencer Dulin, Benjamin Reardon

Lighting Design nominee – Abbigail Askew

Props Design nominee – Regan Densmore

Sound Design nominees – Nathanael Browne

Stage Management nominee – Edie Dominick and Ivey Whitaker

Started in 1969 by Kennedy Center founding chairman, Roger L. Stevens, the Kennedy Center American College Theater is a national theater program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide which has served as a catalyst in improving the quality of college theater in the United States. The KCACTF has grown into a network of more than 600 academic institutions throughout the country, where theater departments and student artists showcase their work and receive outside assessment by KCACTF respondents.

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A senior in the Department of Theatre and Dance of the South Carolina School of the Arts at 糖心Vlog传媒 is dedicated to maximizing the audience experience.

John Verzwyvelt knows about creating excitement for musicals, plays and other events, having been involved in theatre throughout high school and college. He also made community connections, creating a fundraising campaign for a Louisiana animal shelter. He鈥檚 also used his theatre and improv skills to highlight the importance of honing communication skills for business students.

When Verzwyvelt transferred to 糖心Vlog传媒 his sophomore year, he focused energy on marketing for the South Carolina School of the Arts. During his junior year, he helped Dr. David Sollish, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance, create a marketing team. The team is now led by Dr. Sollish and two part-time staff members. 

鈥泪 am so excited that I was able to create a class that will continue to help our students get more jobs in theatre in the future,鈥� Verzwyvelt said. 

Knowing that the audience experience begins long before they take their seat in the theater, the marketing team worked to create interest among people not tuned into the theatre world. One way was to come up with Show Week banners鈥攁 tangible, visible representation of details the Department of Theatre and Dance puts into each production. 

鈥淲hen you look at our Show Week banners, you see costumes our costumers did, but you鈥檒l also notice there aren鈥檛 any actors in them, and that鈥檚 on purpose, so we could bring a major focus to the very hard work that our designers put in.鈥�

Senior Project

For his senior project, Verzwyvelt launched a fundraiser to add special lighting and a season banner at the entrance to the Rainey Fine Arts Center and the Belk Theater Plaza. He also envisions a large lobby monitor to show videos to further build audience anticipation for the production waiting for them inside the theater. The audience then takes their seat in the improved, comfortable seating inside.

鈥淲e want people to see the banners and say 鈥榳ow, these people really care about theatre.鈥� Especially prospective students saying 鈥業 could see myself doing this.鈥� Go into our lobby. We have this huge lobby display with all the stuff we did to work on the show, we have videos playing about the show, we have videos about the students performing the show. The seats become the destination that is the most important part of the project, because they transport you into the show,鈥� Verzwyvelt said.

The fundraiser is a collaboration between the South Carolina School of the Arts, Office of Development and Office of Administration and Brand. 

鈥溙切腣log传媒 has just given me so much,鈥� Verzwyvelt said. 鈥泪 just wanted to give back in some way, so I鈥檓 doing a development project with the School of the Arts to increase the Anderson show experience.鈥�

Verzwyvelt is especially grateful to South Carolina School of the Arts Dean Dr. David Larson for the success of his senior project, adding that the project would never have happened without his support. 

Of course, Verzwyvelt still enjoys performing. He has been in several South Carolina School of the Arts productions, including 鈥淐urtains,鈥� 鈥淭he Women of Lockerbie,鈥� and this semester鈥檚 production of 鈥淏right Star.鈥�

Verzwyvelt plans an internship with the historic MUNY Theater in St. Louis, Missouri, this summer, then plans to pursue advanced study in advertising.

鈥淛ohn is a driven, thoughtful and passionate young man who offers a friendly face to everyone he meets. He is always looking for opportunities to further the impact of our Department of Theatre and Dance, increase his knowledge and skills, and well as develop relationships with everyone he meets,鈥� said Rebekah Miller, manager of SCSA Digital Media and production manager for Commercial Music. 鈥淗e not only pursues excellence in his theater craft, but also in marketing, promotion, and graphic design. Not only does he push for quality in his work, but he also sees the joyful and fun side of life.鈥�

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糖心Vlog传媒鈥檚 most anticipated cultural event is back! The President鈥檚 Gala is returning for two sparkling nights鈥擜pril 22 and 23. The South Carolina School of the Arts is proud to present this joyous celebration of the 2021-2022 academic year. 

The finest musicians, dancers, actors and vocalists at 糖心Vlog传媒 will perform at this year’s President’s Gala.

The President鈥檚 Gala includes everything from rousing orchestral arrangements to dance to pop鈥攕how tunes, too. 

The President’s Gala is a gift to the community from AU. Tickets are required and can be obtained through the AU Box Office or . The tickets will go early as the event has a well-deserved reputation as one of the finest and most diverse musical spectacles in Upstate South Carolina each year. 

Senior Max Milian, one of the student arrangers and student musical director for AUthenticity, Anderson鈥檚 commercial music ensemble, says that coming back to a live in-person performance gives students the experiences they鈥檝e missed over the past two years.

鈥泪 think it provides both audience members and performers a real chance to actually not take things for granted,鈥� Milian said. 鈥泪鈥檓 very grateful for the opportunity to perform with a symphony orchestra in an auditorium with a thousand people in the audience. Those are things that, during my freshman year, were a big opportunity before the pandemic hit; we鈥檝e missed that, but coming back to it is really exciting.鈥� 

McCayla Ratcliffe, a senior majoring in worship leadership who was once an American Idol contestant in Hollywood, California, has been leading worship in chapels and following God鈥檚 call into music ministry. As with other graduating seniors, the 2022 President鈥檚 Gala for her is special. 

鈥淓veryone is super excited because we鈥檝e been deprived of being all together and having that community and that social aspect of performance as an event. It鈥檚 definitely missed, so people really appreciate it a lot more, especially as a performer,鈥� said Ratcliffe.

For Spencer Dulin, a musical theatre major and commercial music minor, the reality of Gala returning to its full glory is still sinking in.

鈥泪t鈥檚 going to be huge鈥� you almost have to stop and  believe it鈥檚 a full-fledged production again,鈥� Dulin said 鈥泪t鈥檚 just really exciting because there鈥檚 a lot of good work being showcased and there are a lot of very talented people involved.鈥�

鈥淭he best thing about Gala and honestly this whole department is you get to work with so many people who are outside of your major you didn鈥檛 think you鈥檇 work with. So I鈥檓 excited to do that again and excited that the choir is together again and the orchestra,鈥� said Angelina Chisholm, a senior double majoring in worship leadership and communication. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a bit of nervousness about all of us being there and everything in full swing again.鈥� 

Both Gala performances will begin at 8 p.m. in the Henderson Auditorium of the Rainey Fine Arts Center. 

Tickets for general admission are $10 and $5 for faculty, staff and students (only available to purchase at the box office).

Tickets are available to reserve in person, , or by phone on March 22, 2022 starting at 9am EST. All ticket requests, whether in person or by phone, will be combined and processed in chronological order.

Please call the Box Office at 864-231-2080 for more information and tickets.

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A wide array of musical ensembles from the South Carolina School of the Arts at 糖心Vlog传媒 will perform Saturday, April 30鈥攑art of Soir茅e, a cultural experience in downtown Anderson. 

鈥淲e鈥檒l have AUthenticity, three other commercial music ensembles, the big bands, a jazz group, a faculty group and the West African Drum Ensemble,鈥� said Dr. Derick Cordoba, professor of music and director of the Johnny Mann Center for Commercial Music at the South Carolina School of the Arts. Dr. Cordoba said all ensembles will perform in the heart of downtown at the square in front of the Anderson County Courthouse.

It鈥檚 an exciting time in the life of Anderson, South Carolina, welcoming Soir茅e back after a long hiatus. 

Soir茅e is a two-day cultural experience featuring live performances on multiple stages downtown, visual artists selling original handcrafted works and delicious food prepared by some of Anderson’s finest chefs. 

This past fall, when Dr. Cordoba found out about Soir茅e鈥檚 plans to return, he knew he had to get his students involved. He contacted Caroline Gaddis, event coordinator for the city of Anderson, and plans to perform were put into motion. 

鈥泪鈥檒l give Derick a lot of credit because he鈥檚 the first person that reached out to me about the Soir茅e when he found out it was coming back, wanting to get involved, wanting his students involved,鈥� Gaddis said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 just the sign of a great professor that he cares that much about the community and his students, wanting them to be engaged in things outside of the university.鈥�

Dr. Cordoba believes that performing at Soir茅e will provide his students with a valuable experience. 

鈥泪t will give them an opportunity to play at an outdoor festival and see all the workings. As a working musician, I鈥檝e played鈥� many festivals, but it鈥檚 a different experience also to play on an outdoor stage. It will give them a chance to鈥� just have a different kind of concert experience and to learn how to adjust to that environment. It will be a lot of fun and a great chance for them,鈥� Dr. Cordoba said.

Also that day, AUthenticity will premier its new album of original compositions, which will be available on CD or download from major online music platforms.

鈥泪t鈥檚 definitely huge for us that 糖心Vlog传媒 and the South Carolina School of the Arts will be participating, because anywhere there鈥檚 students, there鈥檚 vibrancy,鈥� Gaddis said. 鈥淲e love our partnership with 糖心Vlog传媒 and we鈥檙e thrilled they鈥檙e coming alongside us and making this arts festival come to life. Ultimately it is an arts festival and 糖心Vlog传媒 is an arts school, so it鈥檚 a great partnership to have students involved and to see the students at the Soiree, at the festival, enjoying all of the activities and also participating in providing something for the public, showing off their skill set and talent that sometimes the public doesn鈥檛 get to see because they don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 going on with 糖心Vlog传媒 a lot of times unless they鈥檙e directly connected.鈥�

Soir茅e was a huge part of the Anderson arts scene from 1985 to 2009 and built a reputation as one of Upstate South Carolina鈥檚 signature events. 

糖心Vlog传媒 is a Legacy Sponsor for the 2022 Soir茅e, taking place April 29 and 30. Admission is free. Details are available .

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