WTC theater students to stage Nightmares

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  • The Western Texas College theater department will perform Nightmares at the Fine Arts Theater Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Cast members pictured on the front row are (l-r) Anthony Galindo, Zuri Willams and Hunter Thielen. On the middle row are Caitlyn Cornutt, Luz Valadez, Taide Baeza and Mallory Grigsby. On the back row are Joseph Long, Jasmine Turner, Cruz DeLuna, Austin Smith, Tye Shifflett, Chase Powell, Sammy Renteria, Layton Holsey and Hunter McCarter.
    The Western Texas College theater department will perform Nightmares at the Fine Arts Theater Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Cast members pictured on the front row are (l-r) Anthony Galindo, Zuri Willams and Hunter Thielen. On the middle row are Caitlyn Cornutt, Luz Valadez, Taide Baeza and Mallory Grigsby. On the back row are Joseph Long, Jasmine Turner, Cruz DeLuna, Austin Smith, Tye Shifflett, Chase Powell, Sammy Renteria, Layton Holsey and Hunter McCarter.
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Nightmares may be coming to Western Texas College (WTC) this weekend, but there is no need to be frightened.

Described by WTC theater instructor Ray Newton as quirky and fun, the show is set in the mid-20th century both here and abroad. Nightmares reflects on the insecurities people feel about their place in the universe and addresses and answers whether or not humans are alone in the universe. 

“They pose the au courant narcissistic paranoid question of ‘why me?’” Newton said. “The answer to this question is troubling and might cause a few nightmares.”

Newton said the production has given cast members an opportunity to try out different theater skills.

“You have some directors who want the show to be exactly how they read it, but I think the script is just a springboard for the cast to interpret,” Newton said. “This creates more ownership by the student actor through their character, and they get to do that by discovery.”

Aside from acting, the students work with set-building, sound, lights and directing.

“Your undergraduate experience should be well-rounded rather than specialized,” Newton said. “Students should explore different opportunities, and if they decide to go on to graduate school, then they can specialize.”

Cast members of Nightmares are Joseph Long, Jasmine Turner, Mallory Grimsby, Taide Baeza, Anthony Galindo, Chase Powell, Austin Smith, Zuri Williams, Hunter Thielen, Luz Valadez, Caitlyn Cornutt, Cruz DeLuna, Tye Shifflett, Layton Holsey and Sammy Renteria. 

Production staff are directors Long and Turner; assistant director Ray Newton; costume designer Teresa Newton; sound technicians Baeza, Turner and Shifflett; light technicians Williams, Smith and Holsey; backstage crew member Joseph Nikiza; program designers Sharon Gill and Lorenzo Sands; photographer Corey Knipe; and technical advisor Grant Knipe.

The production of Nightmares will hit the WTC Fine Arts Theater stage Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Admission is $5.