CAITLIN FISHER Contributing writer

Every year around this time, Piedmont College’s Theatre Department begins planning for the upcoming show year.

Usually, students in the department send suggestions to the faculty and from the list provided, the faculty then picks the shows for the upcoming year. This year, there was an oddity in the selection of one of the plays. There was one category where every student chose the same play. Due to this outcome, the faculty thought it would only be best to honor the students wishes and perform the play next semester. Piedmont College’s Theatre Department is proud to announce their decision to put on “Fifty Shades Darker” for the upcoming show year.

The students wanted to perform a show that would draw more audience members in. This year, the department has had a decent number of attendees, but they feel they could get more. Students wanted to do a show that would grab audience’s attention and make them want to come back for more.

They also thought that “Fifty Shades Darker” would be a fun, interactive show to put on. After analyzing all the stage details, the department has discovered that the set can either be extravagant or simple depending on how the director wants to take the show. Costumes will be pretty simple yet intricate. The department feels that this show will be a big hit in Piedmont College’s box office.

Courtney Holmes is a theater performance major here at Piedmont and is excited for the unique show to come to life.

“I’m excited for the intimate scenes displayed between the main characters,” said Holmes. “Bringing this sort of acting to the stage broadens an actor’s style range.”

The theater faculty is still choosing who will direct this show, but they have settled on a performance weekend. The performance of “Fifty Shades Darker’ will be Feb. 8-11, 2018 starting at 7:30 p.m. in the Main Stage Theater. Mark your calendars.

This show is just in time for Valentine’s Day, so start making plans. Rebekah James is a performance and technical theater major.

“I feel performing the show during Valentine’s Day weekend is appropriate because of the content,” said James. “ You know, because of the romance and stuff.”

Auditions are open to the entire Piedmont College student body this year. Auditions will be held Nov. 11, 2017 starting at 4 p.m. in the Main Stage Theater. For the audition, the theater faculty has asked that everyone prepare a one-minute dramatic monologue and come prepared to interact with a fellow student in the audition.

The theater faculty hopes that all consider the opportunity to be a part of a sensational show. This is definitely a show you won’t want to miss.

April Fools!!