by David Duhon

Despite moving the event indoors due to rainy weather, Beneath the Willows still managed to showcase the talent of Cornerstone theater students.

Matthews Auditorium was the newly designated spot for Tuesday event, allowing the audience who filled the stage an intimate presentation of the six short scenes. Within the simple setting of a stage with very little props, the performers convincingly made the dramas come alive.

The plays from which the scenes were taken included “Duck Variations,” “Our Town,” Canker Sores and Other Distractions,” “Cyrano de Bergerac,” “The Glass Menagerie,” and “The Importance of Being Ernest.”

Senior Bethany Schalow produced the event, which brings together current theater students and allows Cornerstone alumni an opportunity to take the stage again. The theme for the scenes in Beneath the Willows this year was “Beginnings and Endings.”

“Duck Variations” showed a simple two-man scene with the age-induced wisdom and lively conversation of two men on a park bench. Cornerstone alumni Brian Hughes and Trevor Denning both provided an entertaining performance full of laughs and fast-paced humor.

Kyle Avink, senior and elementary education major, played George in a scene from “Our Town,” written by Thorton Wilder and directed by Cornerstone alumna Andrea Timmerman.

Tuesday marked the fourth time Avink was participating in a scene for the event.

Avink enjoys his involvement in the event because it is not a huge time commitment. The opportunity to get on stage without having to put a lot of time into it always appeals to him, Avink said.

“For the actors, it gives people like me who are not involved as much the opportunity to get out in the community and do something too,” Avink said.

Avink also appreciates that Beneath the Willows is usually held outdoors because outside is a good environment, although the production was forced to be held inside Matthews Auditorium because of poor weather over the previous days.

Rachel Piper, a senior and theater major with a musical theater emphasis, worked as a director for a scene from “The Glass Menagerie.”

She has been involved in every show for the past three years. Hair and make-up are the main areas she has specialized in.

Other than being involved with Beneath the Willows, Piper also directed a one-act for Center Stage, a similar event where it is a collaboration of a bunch of small acts.

Piper’s involvement in the event on Tuesday is an extension of her involvement with Kappa Theta Gamma, the student organization for theater where she has been an officer for the past three years.

Beneath the Willows is an opportunity which Piper recognizes as unique.

“There is so much that I enjoy,” Piper said. “It brings out people who can’t participate in other events. We get a lot of talent that we don’t see in the main stage season.”

The performances also provide another approach to theater performances at Cornerstone.

“It really lets them see the difference between the actors and directors,” Piper said. She also said Beneath the Willows is best described as “a free-flowing event.”

Besides the unique perspective the event gives, the audience and actors keep the time fresh.

“We see a lot of people that we don’t really see normally,” Piper said. “That is really encouraging to me.”