Dordt University’s theatre arts department presents “EMMA: No One But Herself”

Dordt University’s theatre arts department will present EMMA: No One But Herself as the fall mainstage production. The production will be led by director Jason Vande Brake, with music by Sarah Taylor Ellis and book and lyrics by Meghan Brown.

“Beneath its considerable wit and charm, this musical is about something deeply Christian: the slow, often uncomfortable process of becoming more honest, more vulnerable, and more capable of real love,” explains Teresa Ter Haar, chair of the theatre arts department at Dordt. “Emma’s journey from self-reliance and quiet control to humility, empathy, and self-awareness mirrors the kind of re-formation we prayerfully seek for ourselves and our students—the Spirit-led movement toward lives marked by relational depth and a willingness to be changed. This is a story about becoming the people God made us to be: open-hearted, attentive to others, and transformed through relationships.”

“At the same time, this show is a genuinely entertaining gift for our audience—funny, fast, and full of joy with real substance underneath. EMMA speaks directly to questions already on Dordt students’ minds—love, marriage, identity, maturity, and vocation—but does so with intelligence, humor, and a fresh, modern sensibility that avoids cliché. This is not dusty Austen; it’s alive, surprising, and deeply felt,” adds Ter Haar.

For Vande Brake, EMMA is a captivating story, highlighting the nuance of life. “It’s funny, fast-moving, surprising, and full of life, but there’s also real substance underneath all that wit and charm. It explores love, marriage, identity, maturity, and vocation—questions that lots of our students are already thinking about—in a beautifully nuanced way,” explains Jason Vande Brake, director and assistant professor of theatre arts at Dordt.

“Ultimately, it’s a story about becoming more fully the people God made us to be—openhearted, honest, and willing to be changed through our relationships with others,” adds Vande Brake.

The production will be held in the Te Paske Theatre in Sioux Center, Iowa, on October 8-10, 15, and 17. More information on showtimes and ticket purchases are available online. 

About Dordt University

As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, alumni, and the broader community to work effectively toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life.

Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt offers undergraduate and graduate programs that help students live their faith in every area of life. Through rigorous learning, meaningful relationships, and whole-person formation, students gain the practical wisdom to serve God and neighbor through their work and in their communities. Dordt has been named among the nation's leading Christian universities by U.S. News & World Report, Niche, and other national publications.