Students from Lancaster Bible College’s Music, Worship & Performing Arts Department will present the classic American play “Our Town” this September.
Musical Theatre majors Isaac Walker (’26) and Elsa Rogers (’25) star as George and Emily in ‘Our Town,’ running weekends Sept. 6-14 at Lancaster Bible College.
Opening Sept. 6, 2024, in Good Shepherd Chapel on LBC’s campus at 901 Eden Road, “Our Town” tickets for the following showtimes are on sale now at lbc.edu/events.
- 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6
- 2 & 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7
- 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13
- 2 & 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14
Called “the greatest American play ever written,” Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” from 1938 is set in the fictional Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, between 1901 and 1913. The everyday lives of the town’s citizens are portrayed in three acts—through joy, heartache, relationships, love and questions about eternity.
Theatregoers are immersed in a play within a play as the character of a stage manager, played by Julianna Traphagen (’27), a Musical Theatre major, takes the audience on an emotional journey. “Our Town” saw both Broadway success and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
The play centers on George Gibbs, played by Musical Theatre major Isaac Walker (’26) and Emily Webb, played by Musical Theatre major Elsa Rogers (’25) as they navigate love, life and loss. The stage manager and narrator guides the audience through a thought-provoking yet simple look at real life. The show conveys the characters’ reflections on life and death, emphasizing the notion that people often overlook the simple joys of living, while also exploring the themes of love, family and the passage of time.
“What I’m looking forward to most about playing Emily is showing the way she changes, ages and matures throughout the show,” Rogers said. “It’s definitely one of the most challenging parts of the show, but also one of the most beautiful parts. Additionally, it’s so sweet to see how George is alongside her throughout those phases of life, though maturing and growing at a different speed.”
Added Walker, “I’m looking forward to playing George because I feel that the role allows me to explore the profound beauty and simplicity of everyday life in a way that I have never portrayed on stage before. I am so excited to delve into the character’s journey and connect with the timeless themes of our shared human experience.”
In line with LBC’s mission to “educate students to think and live a biblical worldview,” audiences will be challenged to consider life from a well-rounded perspective. Are the grand things in life more important, or is life lived in the simple moments?
Lancaster Bible College’s Music, Worship & Performing Arts Department exists to prepare highly skilled artists to influence the culture with grace and truth. Students hone their craft in a community of dedicated artist-teacher mentors and passionate peers. LBC’s caring, student-centered environment nurtures the mind, soul and heart of each person with a view to promote creative competency and Christ-like character.