The Show Must Go On

By Hailey Green | How the HPU Theatre Department is Blazing forward after Departmental Cuts in the Fall Semester

As Howard Payne University faculty and students were preparing for finals, semester ending activities and Christmas Break, the Howard Payne University board of directors released a list of budget-cutting actions that sent shockwaves through the HPU community.

Many majors/minors at the university were learning that come the spring 2019 semester, that some would lose faculty and staff, some would lose allotted budget funds, and some would cease to exist completely. Among those hit the hardest were the HPU Fine Arts Departments, especially the HPU Theatre Department.

Dr. Nancy Jo Humfeld, Head of the Theatre department and Howard Payne faculty member for over 32 years, took early retirement after the Theatre department was informed the university only had the funds to keep one department staff member.

“In an institution as old as Howard Payne is there are many…difficult seasons for various programs and departments and this last fall was a difficult season…And definitely that hit our (theatre) department close to home.” says Dr. Nicholas Ewen, new head of the Department of Theatre.

Functioning now as the sole department faculty member, Dr. Ewen is working to blaze forward, creating a new spirit and focus for the department as a whole.

“(This) is an idea that I would say God put on my heart, on my life, starting about 4 years ago.” Ewen stated. “(Our focus) is about our life of the mind, our professional lives, with our life of faith. To often, it had been to easy for me to leave my spiritual life, my faith at the door when I come into the classroom or when I come to rehearsal or into the scene shop…and we conduct our art as theatre artists. We feel we need to leave out faith at the door.”

And, in an attempt to point HPU Theatre students away from this mentality, the idea of the “Servant Artist Program” was born.

To begin this new season within the department with a firm foundation, theatre majors spent the weekend before classes resumed this Spring on a three day retreat at the Heart of Texas Baptist Encampment, relaxing, team building, and really breaking down and discussion what the students hoped to gain from the coming semester and the department continued to shift and change. Since then, Dr. Ewen says he has seen positive takeaway and improvement from his students.

“I feel like there is an openness.” Dr. Ewen shared. “We are willing to share what’s going on between the students and the faculty…In rehearsal I feel like we have had a very positive and creative environment. Very efficient…Actors and actresses are sharing their talent at a very professional level and it’s very encouraging to see…It’s all about valuing our time. Valuing out God given abilities and talents, and not being wasteful with the resources God has given us.”

As we wrapped up out interview time together, Dr. Ewen wanted to make it clear that although the department is undergoing massive shifts, Dr. Humfeld is still very much a part of the foundation and heart beat of the HPU Theatre family.
“(She) is still very much a part of everything we do…Her personality and her faith very much is a part of what shaped who we are as a program…And I hope that I can do honor to the legacy that she has left behind, and we are going to build upon that.”

As the department continues towards the future and the road ahead, Dr. Ewen says he has nothing but positive feelings.

“We want our students to be equipped and bold in sharing their faith in the work that they are able to do with their talent.”

“There is, as with everything, great blessing and much to be thankful for and rejoice in despite the difficulty that (is created), also creates opportunity for new things…In all storms that we face to have the peace of Christ is what we strive for the most.

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