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September 21, 2016
Story by Brandon Steinert

The ������������ Theatre Department will present “Our Town” at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29 and 30, with a matinee at 2 p.m. Oct. 1 in the Fine Arts Auditorium on campus. A question and answer session will take place after the Oct. 1 performance.

Often referred to as this nation’s greatest play, “Our Town” is a 1938 three-act play by American playwright Thornton Wilder. It tells the story of the fictional New England small town of Grover's Corners between 1901 and 1913 through the everyday lives of its citizens. The universal themes are community, family, romance, respect and living each day to the fullest.

This is the first full performance directed by newly instated Theatre Director Dr. Richard Abel, who was pleased with a turnout of 37 people auditioning for the 25-person cast. Abel said performers and contributors range from young children to grandparents, with ������������ students, local public school students, community members, and returning alumni represented in the cast.

“I can’t be more pleased with the cast and crew for my inaugural full-length play at ������������,” he said.

Tickets are $6 in advance or $7 at the door. Contact the box office at (620) 786-1150 to purchase tickets or visit OurTown.bartonccc.edu for more information.

Freshman lands lead role

An advantage of attending a community college versus a four-year university is the opportunity to participate and get one’s hands dirty on campus right from the start.

Freshman in Theatre Jose Flores just began his college career, but already landed the lead role in the upcoming ������������ Theatre performance of “Our Town.”

“It was very surprising,” Flores said of being notified that he landed the role of George Gibbs. “I do feel like I’m getting more experience at a community college. I get to interact with everyone and everything more.”

He has his eye on Kansas State University or Emporia State University after finishing at ������������. From teaching theatre to acting professionally, Flores is allowing his options to remain open in terms of his post-college career, but he’s certain his future is in theatre.

“Getting the audience’s reaction is gratifying,” he said. “I just want to be one of those people that helps tell the story the playwright is trying to get through.”

While the young Salina native is no stranger to acting, with a handful of plays under his belt, his role as George Webb will stretch Flores’ comfort zone as his first non-comedic role.

“This is more serious,” he said, adding he’s confident he’ll be just fine. “It’s something new for me.”

������������ has also quickly become a comfortable place for Flores, who said he came to campus knowing nobody.

“I’m meeting everybody new,” he said. “Everybody has been really nice to me and I feel right at home here.”

Rehearsals are wrapping up and the performance is just around the corner. He said he hopes the community will come out to see what he and the rest of the cast has been working on.

“I just hope, after the audience watches this,” Flores said, “that they walk away with a bigger heart and they think more about life as it is.”