#five college

In high school, I did a lot of technical theater. When I got to college, I wanted to keep doing it, but I wasn’t sure how as a non-major! Here are some (of the many different) ways to get involved with theatre at Smith, either as part of the production team, or as an actor! I’ve stage managed two shows at Smith, and will likely continue to be involved in theatre in some way!

Main stage Productions: The main stage productions are run by the theatre department and require the biggest time commitment. The show this semester was The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. They expect a higher level of commitment.

Duct Tape Productions: Smith’s only student-run musical theatre org! They perform in Davis Ballroom, and have been around for years, so they’re quite well-established. Students apply to direct shows in the academic year before they’re staged. Shows are then chosen by the organization board. This semester they staged Shrek: The Musical! They expect a higher level of commitment.

Smith Shakes: Smith’s org dedicated to Shakespeare! Founded fall last year, they are a newer org, but very organized and great to work with. Last year I co-stage managed a production of Twelfth Night, and had a lot of fun! This semester they put on a production of Henry VI: Part 2, that was very well done. They are a lower-level commitment org, with rehearsals typically only occurring twice a week. Many people will participate in a Smith Shakes production in tandem with Duct Tape or Smith Contemporary Theatre.

Smith Contemporary Theatre: I co-founded this org last year, and served as its co-president for a semester. Dedicated to contemporary theater, it puts on a show a semester. They are a lower-level commitment org, with rehearsals typically only occurring twice a week. Many people will participate in a production in tandem with Duct Tape or Smith Shakes.

Last week we had an event called Arch Sing! At Arch Sing, all the a cappella groups on campus perform and give information about auditions. It was so much fun to go with my house and see all the incredible performances!

I ended up auditioning for crapapella last Wednesday, and luckily got in! Crapapella is Smith’s alternative a cappella group for people who can’t sing, but love to do it anyway and put on a great show. Their audition process is similar to other a cappella groups on campus. You come in with a song prepared (I sang the iCarly theme song), and sing and dance your heart out! For my audition, I also did an interpretive on the spot dance to Tik Tok by Ke$sha, and posed as an eggplant.

I found out I got in Wednesday night when members of Crapapella knocked on my door and sung me in! I then went along to the houses of the other new members to sing them in. It was a ton of fun, and I’m super excited for rehearsals to start!

All Classes

Spring 2019 with Shannon Audley (Smith College)

Course Description: This course will focus on examining children’s social and moral development through the use of narrative methodology. We will examine how the uses of cultural tools such as narratives and social media allow us investigate how contexts, such as schools and youth organizations, influence children’s understanding of and response to (in)justice. In particular, we will focus on the role of teachers and peers as agents of socialization by examining children’s stories about their experiences in classrooms.

Hi there -- great question! You can indeed have a major, minor, and a five college certificate. You are allowed to have 3 total; so that can be two majors and a minor, one major and two five college certificates, the option you mentioned etc. 

- Kayla M. ‘17

BCT 211 Energy Efficient Housing

taught by: Benjamin Weil at UMASS

We’re you completely floored by Alexi’s house and empowered by the thought of being able to live in a completely fossil fuel free, energy efficient, cute, and boxy home? Take this course at UMASS to discover how you can do it yourself!

PHYS/ENVST 104 Renewable Energy

taught by: Alexi Arango at Mount Holyoke College

This is a terrific course to not only learn the basics of renewable energy resources and climate change, but to also learn the urgency of our current situation and what we, as students, as common citizens, can do for the earth in our quest to transition into a more sustainable lifestyle and infrastructure. Also, Alexi is great and very funny. (not actually offered this fall) 9/10 would recommend.  

Two hours lol nah. The farthest distance is between ‘herst and Smith, which is 50 minutes tops. It usually ends up being less, but traffic can be pretty nasty at certain times of day. To UMass and Hampshire from Amherst, it’s only 10 minutes (perfect if you’re just tryna get a change of environment). MoHo is 35 minutes away. Btw if you bring a car, the travel times are all a lot less.

We’ve had a couple of similar questions about how frequently people use the Five College Consortium. It really just depends on who you are. I’d say most Amherst students are likely to go to another campus at least once a semester. Even if you don’t go to other campuses, you’ll likely interact with Five College students during the semester.

For Five College Students, opportunities are always circulating, here are two of the latest.

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