Benstead Theatre Shines
Benstead Theatre is located in the C.J. Rodman Center for the Arts, home to music, fine arts and theatre. The theatre is an innovative flexible-space black-box. It includes a proscenium opening, stage deck and a fly gallery, allowing plays to be staged in arena, thrust, environmental or proscenium depending upon the director and designers’ creative vision. The facility is dedicated to the theatre department so rehearsals and construction occur right in the space. First-year students who have experienced only proscenium staging in high school find Benstead Theatre a new and exciting place to perform and work.
The theatre is supported by lighting and sound control boards that are replaced with the latest equipment on a regular rotation; fully equipped scene and costume shops; a design studio; an acting studio; and a makeup room large enough to double as a rehearsal space.
Next Performance
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
When: April 4th and 5th at 7:30pm. April 6th at 1:30pm.
Where: Benstead Theatre
Admissions is free to the campus and community.
Four young lovers—Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius—find themselves in a magical forest where the fairy king Oberon and his mischievous servant Puck create chaos with love potions. Titania, the fairy queen, becomes embroiled in Oberon’s schemes as they fight over a changeling boy, leading to humorous and unexpected entanglements. Meanwhile, the group of amateur actors rehearses a play, adding to the comedic chaos. In a delightful twist, Puck
transforms Bottom, an amateur actor, into a donkey, causing further confusion and hilarity when Titania, under the influence of a love potion, falls for him. As the characters navigate misunderstandings and transformations, the boundaries between reality and dreams blur.
Ultimately, love triumphs, misunderstandings are resolved, and the couples unite, culminating in a joyous celebration of love and the whimsical nature of life.
Upcoming Events
Student-directed One-Acts
Senior Theatre majors present one-act plays that they chose, cast, and directed.
Student-directed One-Acts
Senior Theatre majors present one-act plays that they chose, cast, and directed.
Previous Benstead Productions
Interested in our Theater Department?
Whether it’s set design, lighting, acting or directing, you will learn it all at Ripon College. Find out how you can turn your passion for the stage into a life-long career.