Performance is a key part of the education within Lancaster Bible College’s Music, Worship & Performing Arts students. Through various college productions and internships, they are able to hone their skills throughout their time at LBC.
Allyson Hunsicker (’25) completed a Musical Theatre internship where she was able to get directorial experience.
This fall, Allyson Hunsicker (’25), a sophomore Musical Theatre major, was able to gain experience in another facet of the performing arts world—directing.
Allyson completed an internship with Epiphany Homeschool Theatre Academy, which she described as “a new local organization for homeschooled middle and high schoolers who are looking for theatrical opportunities in a space where they are encouraged to use their gifts for God’s glory.”
The cast of 15 student-actors were prepping to debut their first play, “Radium Girls,” and Allyson had the opportunity to act as co-director. Her responsibilities included blocking scenes, encouraging the cast in building their characters as well as stage managing duties during performance week.
“I’ve learned a lot about the duties that come with directing a show,” Allyson reflected, “such as the different elements that are crucial to executing your vision as a director, and how to problem-solve in the moment.”
Allyson mentioned that the academy’s rehearsal space was a bit unconventional, “so blocking scenes and running the show was a game of creativity and thinking on our feet.”
Much of the experience was able to be connected to the concepts Allyson is learning in her classes at LBC, such as building characters, creating strategies for delivering a believable performance and considering what directors look for when casting a show. She also was able to reflect on her own tendencies as a performer through the process of directing.
“While I’m certainly still learning and growing as a performer, it has been so cool to use what I have learned to help others grow,” she said.
A highlight of the internship for Allyson was seeing the growth in the cast throughout the process, especially with putting on a play based on true events, some of it being very heavy material. “The 15 young actors have really been willing to dive into their characters and ask difficult questions,” she explained, “and we all learned a lot about the history behind the play through the process. I’m very proud of all of them for tackling the material so well.”
Field placements and experiences are an integral part of the educational journey of a LBC student, and Allyson gained valuable insight on the inner workings of putting on a show from the new perspective of directing. She also learned about the new set of challenges that comes with directing and how that might change how she approaches opportunities as a performer.
“I know that gaining as much knowledge in this field as possible will help me grow in my own creative abilities,” Allyson said, “and through this experience I have learned a lot about patience, preparedness and organization.”
Set to graduate in 2025, Allyson has hopes of exploring a future within Lancaster’s performing arts community. “Performing is certainly a passion of mine and what I’m ultimately learning to do here at LBC, but I also have loved getting to gain a new perspective and would love to continue to hone my gifts in more directorial/leadership-oriented roles as well.”