By Tangelia Cannon | Features Editor

In addition to the many opportunities the APSU’s Theater Department has for students interested in theater performance and design, with the assistance of Riley Braem, a senior theater peformance and design major, another avenue has been extended to students.

“I actually had the idea a couple of years ago,” Braem said. “I was disappointed that there wasn’t a lot of opportunities for theater for youth in our department and on campus.”

Braem, along with several other students, spoke with Leni Dyer, the coordinator for the department of theater and dance about the idea. “She encouraged me to continue with it, and T.O.Y.S. was born.”

Although T.O.Y.S., or Theater Organization for Youth by Students, is currently a small organization, the group has produced several plays, including “The Curious Disappearance of Ichabod Crane as told by the Townspeople of Sleepy Hollow,” “The Jungle Book” and “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”

They are currently working on “Rumpelstiltskin,” which will be performed on Oct. 29 and 30.

“One of the goals of our organization is to provide hands-on experience in all areas of theater production,” Braem said.

“All of the directors, designers, actors, choreographers and technicians for all of our shows are students.”

With a large number of nontraditional students, T.O.Y.S. gives these students and their families a way to be involved on campus.

“It is filling in something that is needed in our campus community,” Braem said.

In addition to working on theater for youth, the group will participate in various other activities, including Mud Bowl, G.H.O.S.T. and Homecoming.

“We are hoping to start a monthly library reading program, hold fundraisers and we are working on traveling shows to Fort Campbell and possibly Hopkinsville,” Braem said.

“We are in the process of building a Web site, www.apsutoys.org, so that you can look us up.”

T.O.Y.S. is open to students with a cumulative GPA of a 2.5 who are interested in theater for youth.
For more information about how to become a member, you can attend one of the weekly meetings on Wednesday at 5 p.m. in Trahern, Room 236.

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