As far as tangible products of a Marquette education go, engineering students have senior design, broadcasting majors can take television performance, and senior thesis opportunities abound. For the first time, theater majors have the unique experience of being able to share their compendium of knowledge through Senior Capstone projects from April 20-23.

"A capstone experience is one in which performing arts seniors create a project that integrates, practices and demonstrates skills they have developed and honed through the performing arts curriculum as well as the University Core of Common Studies," said Capstone Adviser Debra Krajec in a press release.

The department solely used to have senior theses, but the new context gives a fresh breath of opportunity. The competitive nature of getting the projects approved and the subsequent cooperative nature between the students working together in the class gives the final product a rich quality that focuses not only on the product but also on the process. Students have already begun proposing projects for next year, and the faculty look to approve projects that will benefit the student's in the future.

The students will all be presenting in the forum of the Alternative Theater Festival, held on the mainstage and Studio 013 in the Helfaer and Straz Hall's theater. All performances are free.

Megan Mulherin will be performing in her project "An Evolution of Dance," and said the festival is deemed "alternative" because "it's all student work and chosen by us, which makes it alternative to the regular shows that are picked by the faculty."

Consequently, the shows are directed more toward students, but many have universal themes such as love, the beauty in different art forms and resolving the differences between people by exposing stereotypes or seemingly contradictory ideas.

Mulherin's project lasts a little under an hour and shows her progression of learning dance, which she believes parallels many other's experience.

She sees this deepened study as the point where dance becomes high art, as the story culminates with a piece entitled "Individual yet controllable."

"It's about how we are all very individualistic in society but there are certain things when we all become one," she said. "As much as we try to be our own person, there are still some times when we have to follow the leader."

In addition to performance and choreography of the piece, Mulherin designed the costumes, lighting and sound.

Chris Holan also worked on multiple facets of his project "Yin and Yang" — writing the play and directing two other senior students — Nate Miller and Sarah Winiarski — as they explore the dualistic but also symbiotic nature of opposites.

In addition to being a theater major, Kristen McCabe is also a communication studies student. She had to sacrifice one of her other passions, cheerleading, in order to complete her performance in the lead role of "Love, Minus" by Mary Gallagher.

"I've learned a lot from (this project) because I didn't start as a theater major, I used to cheer. I didn't have time to audition for the big mainstage shows," McCabe said. It's her first year not cheering and she said it has given her the time to participate in a longer rehearsal project before she graduates.

The play is directed by Performing Arts Adjunct Assistant Professor Chester Loeffler-Bell, and explores the span of relationships from the exciting inception to the heartbreaking end, all with a sense of humor which McCabe believes should appeal to everyone.

"Everyone can relate to relationship stuff; the excitement of the beginning of relationships, and the heartache when things don't work out."

"Programs" is a new play by Joe Fernandez who is also acting in and co-directing his show about a darker side of comedy.

Embodying many of Marquette's ideals in her play, "On Your Mark, Get Set, Date!," Vanessa Rawls specifically wrote it with the purpose of incorporating diverse actors into it. Also lightening the subject matter with humor, Rawls mostly explores the different traits that make a cross-section of Marquette's population unique.