Dordt Theatre: Where We Came From, Where We're Going...

Early in Dordt's history, drama was a cocurricular activity. Among the first public performances were Anne of Green Gables (1956) and Old Doc (1957) directed by Deborah Haan, the president's wife, and Luella Duistermars. The Thalians drama club, formed during the 1961-62 school year at the urging of student Nolan Vander Ark and sponsorship of Merle Meeter, played an important role in the development of theatre at Dordt.

In 1963, James Koldenhoven, who had been teaching English and directing plays at nearby Western Christian High School, was hired to do the same at Dordt. In order to generate interest in theatre, Koldenhoven cultivated a group of Theatre Patrons and arranged for appearances by touring companies. As Koldenhoven's passion for theatre grew, he began the push for a full-fledged theatre program at Dordt. By the summer of 1976, he had resolved to leave Dordt at the end of the next year unless something specific was done towards the development of an actual theatre department. Although the administration was hesitant at first, in the fall of 1977, Koldenhoven was joined by Verne Meyer and Mike Stair, and the Dordt College Theatre Arts Department became a reality.

At the time the department was founded, half of the old gymnasium was converted into a theatre with the other half available for shop space and the costume department and faculty offices. This theatre,the "New World Theatre," is now used mainly for student-directed productions, with the mainstage shows put on in the more spacious and well-equipped Te Paske Theatre. Other former faculty and staff include: Simon duToit, John Hofland, and Shirley Matheis.

Productions continue to be entered into the American College Theater Festival competition, and five of them have been chosen for presentation at the regional festival, most recently All My Sons (2003). High school theatre festivals occur every other year. Comedy League continues to provide improv-style entertainment and opportunities for audience participation. All Dordt students have the opportunity to audition for the mainstage productions, be involved in student-directed one-acts, or work on Senior Student Productions. Opportunities abound in the acting and technical aspects of Dordt theatre.

Today our theatre faculty and staff consists of April Hubbard (professor of theatre and communication); Jeri Schelhaas, professor of theatre and english; Teresa Ter Haar, department chair and professor of theatre and communication; Jim Van Ry, technical director; Susan Blom, costume designer; and Karen Vreugdenhil, department administrator.