Newswise — On April 25 and 26 at 7PM in the Black Box Theater at Babson College’s Sorenson Center for the Arts, students pursuing studies in engineering and business will take the stage and perform ten original autobiographical solo plays. 

Over two nights these students will immerse themselves in one of the oldest art forms, solo performance which has deep historical roots in America and beyond. The performances are the capstone of a semester-long course “Constructing and Performing the Self” co-taught by Babson College English Professor Beth Wynstra and Olin College Psychology Professor Jonathan Adler.

The course weaves together the scientific study of identity and the theater of solo performance to produce an original theatrical production.

Students from the two colleges have spent the semester in the Black Box Theater, shifting seamlessly between lectures on the scientific foundation of identity, discussions of seminal theatrical texts, and performance activities. They have played the roles of scholar, playwright, and critic as they prepare to play themselves, sharing an intimate memory that shaped who they are – and who they are still becoming.

“Constructing and Performing the Self has helped me dive deep into myself and reflect on who I was and am,” said Gretchen Rice, a junior at Olin College. “This class really helped me step out of an engineering mindset and into a very introspective, reflective mindset which has been valuable for my development these last couple months. I am very excited (and extremely nervous) to share my story and get vulnerable with an audience of people next week!”

Professors Adler and Wynstra have worked with the students to help shape their solo pieces while keeping them grounded in the scientific research on identity.

“No matter what you’re studying, college is a time of immense growth for people.  This series of monologues demonstrates – in a riveting, poignant, and humorous way – the power of approaching that development mindfully,” said Adler. “In marshaling psychological science and theater studies to tell their own stories, our students have amassed a diverse set of tools for continued personal growth, and it is a privilege and a joy to witness their hard work in this deeply compelling play.”

Tickets are free, but should be reserved in advance. For details, please click here.

MEDIA CONTACT
Register for reporter access to contact details