The Southwestern College theatre department and Campus Players’ 82nd annual production of “Eagerheart” will be return this week as the SC Christmas chapel, and will be presented in Winfield and Arkansas City.  The annual Christmas chapel on the SC campus will be performed in Messenger Recital Hall in the Darbeth Fine Arts Center at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Free community performances will be at Winfield’s Grace United Methodist Church at 6:30 p.m., on Thursday, Dec. 4, and in Arkansas City’s First United Methodist Church on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 10:30 a.m. 

Produced on the SC campus for the chapel service annually since 1932, the Campus Players began touring the Christmas mystery play in 2009 after the 75th annual production in 2007, when the group was invited to perform in England where “Eagerheart” was written and first produced.  

“Eagerheart,” by early 20th century English playwright A.M. Buckton, celebrates the legend that Christ and the Holy Family travel the earth each year, blessing one deserving home where they rest on Christmas Eve.   Eager Heart and sisters Eager Fame and Eager Sense, along with shepherds and kings of Power, Wisdom, and Love, reveal their understanding of Christ and His teachings.  The search for the Holy Family is tested by beggars seeking food and shelter.  The play challenges and inspires audiences to live with charity throughout the year.  
Roger and Allyson Moon have led the production of “Eagerheart” from 1988 to the present.

“Tradition is important to many of us at Christmas time,” says Roger Moon, this year’s director, “and it obviously is to Allyson and me, as well as the Campus Players.  That is why we do ‘Eagerheart’ each year.   People want to celebrate the Christmas holiday in a way that reminds them of a time when we perceive there was a simpler joy and life at this time of year.  We like to believe that charity and thinking about others and their needs were more important, and to go back to that time.  ‘Eagerheart’ reminds us that charity is the real heart of the Christmas tradition, but also reflects that it is a constant human struggle for us.”

Staging and costumes changed, through the years, but so has the casting.  In the late 20th century the Moons began casting non-traditionally, with the Kings and Shepherds played periodically by women as well as men.  

This year for the first time the role of Eager Heart will be played with a male actor.  Senior theatre major Shane Clark Schrag will play the role.

“Gender is not inherent to lives of the rich or poor, or to the roles of power, wisdom, love, fame or the senses, nor to a life of simplicity, grace or faith,” says Roger Moon.  “Shane asked to be considered for the lead role. He brings great talent and sensibilities to the role, and all of the senior women wanted to play other roles.  We believe audiences who see the play for the first time will not find anything unusual in the casting, and those who have seen the play as part of their Christmas tradition will find a new spark in the way Shane portrays to the role of Eager Heart.  The message of the play is fresh and filled with hope each year.  As Shane is from Arkansas City and a graduate of ACHS, it is especially fun to take the production on tour to Ark City.”

Also in the cast are seniors Mariah Warren, Winfield, in the role of Eager Fame and Juliette Lowrance, Coffeyville, as Eager Sense.  

The Beggar Man will be played by Quenton Todd, Topeka.  The kings will be played by senior Jacob Marney, Winfield, as King of Power; senior Nathan Bales, Mulvane, as King of Wisdom; and sophomore William Wade, Bartlesville, Okla., as King of Love.

Continuing a tradition of inviting a Campus Player alumni or guest artist to play a role, Dan E. Campbell, Wichita, will play the role of the Old Shepherd. Other shepherds will be played by juniors Austin Davis, Colorado Springs, Colo., Anna Rosell, Wichita, and Emily Tilton, Douglass. 

The Prologue will be given by senior Caitlin Harris, Edmond, Okla., and angels will be played by sophomores Eli Rodda, Winfield, and Allie Petrovich, Colorado Springs, Colo., and juniors John Rohr, Arkansas City, and Justin Godwin, Grove Hill, Ala.  

For decades the Campus Players have chosen a female student, faculty or staff member to play the role of the beggar woman who later becomes recognized as one the Holy Family, and also have used infants of the community as the beggars’ child taken in by Eager Heart.   A chosen senior student will play the role at the chapel performance and a selected faculty or staff will play the Beggar Woman at the community performance.  First United Methodist Church of Arkansas City will be invited to choose a woman and young infant for those roles, bringing to life the importance of the values of “Eagerheart” in their community. 

Audiences are welcome at all three “Eagerheart” performances without charge.  Audiences at the campus chapel and community performances are encouraged to bring canned food for the Winfield Food Pantry.  

For more information about area “Eagerheart” performances, contact the Southwestern College performing arts office at (620) 229-6272.