On Friday, Aug. 29, the Marquette University Players Society (MUPS) hosted its annual picnic at the Helfaer Theatre to welcome aspiring new members and first-year students into its organization.
MUPS is a student-run theatre organization known for putting on shows outside of the traditional Marquette Theatre productions. They aim for four productions a year, all free to the public.
The picnic provides an opportunity for students—mainly first-years— to meet new people, ask questions and learn more about Marquette’s only student-run theatre organization.
In the organization, students express their creativity through producing shows, writing new shows or creating new twists on classic shows. The creative liberty MUPS offers makes the organization highly appealing to students of all majors.
While most of the 50 students in the organization are theatre arts majors/minors, MUPS welcomes students of all degrees, hoping to attract people from all disciplines and colleges.
They encourage people to step outside of their comfort zone. Whether a person wants to direct, stage manage or act, the members of MUPS are determined to find a place where anyone can thrive.
Although the picnic was moved inside due to the rain, current members were eager to share their love and commitment to the organization. There was no shortage of passion for the upcoming year’s plans and projects.
MUPS provides more opportunities for first-years and underclassmen to perform outside of Marquette Theatre. Mia Mannella, a sophomore in the College of Communication, shared how MUPS creates a positive environment for the organization.
“There were so many people I could just go and talk to, especially as a first-year,” Mannella said. “I’m excited because I know that is going to carry through this year, as well.”
In MUPS, the upperclassmen tend to take on significant leadership roles in directing, managing, acting and guiding the overall organization.
These leadership positions create a path for role models, Mannella added.
As an upperclassman, Erin Cavender, a senior in the College of Communication, expressed her excitement about becoming one of those role models herself.
“Throughout my time here at Marquette, I have definitely grown, not only as an actress, but also as a person,” Cavender said. “I have grown to become a face that people know and recognize, so I want people to come to me if they need advice or need a friendly face.”
This welcoming, friendly environment that Manella and Cavender mentioned above has allowed MUPS to put on elaborate student productions in the past, including a Fall Cabaret, “Dracula (The Radio Play)” and their most popular production from last year, “Horse Girls.”
Student-run productions require an extra level of passion and dedication, as they are time-consuming on top of a normal student workload. Many of the actors and actresses rehearse for Marquette Theatre shows simultaneously, making the task even more difficult.
This year, the actors/actresses are eager to give MUPS more attention, as Marquette Theatre is only producing three shows, compared to the typical four. Draylin Pickett, a junior in the College of Communication, touched on the organization’s upcoming plans for the year.
“There are rumors of a musical happening, so hopefully we can get that off the ground,” Pickett said. “MUPS has never done a full-blown musical before, so even though it is not set in stone, we are going to try.”
To learn more about MUPS, visit their website and Instagram.
This article was written by MaryKate Stepchuk. She can be reached at [email protected].
