History of SMC Theatre
Aubrey Bonham's Research
As a history and theatre double major, there are not many opportunities for me to do work related to both my majors. That is why I jumped at the opportunity to do this project as an honors contract for my public history class. It felt like the perfect combination of both of my interests and a great way to display how important theatre has been to our campus community.
My research was based mostly on my work in the archives this semester. My public history class was already partnered with the archives for our engaged learning, so I was able to work additional hours to complete this project. It was also excellent timing because the Theatre Department had just donated two boxes of materials to the archives. This included posters, programs, photos, news articles, and more, all ranging from the 1980s up until the 2010s. I sorted, organized, and cataloged all of these sources, which will allow others to easily access them. Beyond the sources from the Theatre Department, the other source I garnered the most information from was The Collegian, which has every issue stored in the archives. An initiative from the last couple of years has also allowed the college to digitize many of these newspapers, meaning that they can be accessed online. The last source I gathered information from was interviews with former performing arts professors, Rebecca Engle and Frank Murray. Both of whom worked at Saint Mary’s during the transition from theatre classes to an official Theatre Program in 1993. They spoke from personal experience, sharing the ways in which they saw the campus community come together around theatre.
Theatre’s unique ability to build community while also educating was really the focus of this project. The arts, and theatre specifically, have been a part of Saint Mary’s College of California for over one hundred years. From San Francisco to Oakland to Moraga, theatre has been a way to bring the campus and the surrounding community together. Even if it is just for a moment, theatre makes us think and focus on what is right in front of us. It provides us with avenues to learn about ourselves and the world around us, hence the reason it plays such a vital role at a liberal arts college. I am very excited to share all of my research through this website, and I hope that it inspires people in the same way that theatre has always inspired me.
Click on the button below to see the SMC Theatre History website, which is the culmination of my research.
Photos Below:
LeFevre Rendering
Louis LeFevre's graduation photo
Aubrey Bonham, '28 Theatre & History Major
