Alpha Psi Omega, a theater organization hosted by UCA, has been on campus since 1932.
This national theater honor society is at every four-year university or college and goes by the full name Zeta Delta Cast of Alpha Psi Omega (ZDC-APO). UCA’s chapter is advised by Melissa Kordsmeier.
Kordsmeier said ZDC-APO was founded in West Virginia at Fairmont State College (now Fairmont State University) in 1925.
Students must be active theater students and fill a specific point system to be in the organization. Once you get enough points, the student will be asked to join the organization, Kordsmeier said.
“Initiation takes place in the Spring. As part of the pledge process, students must recite a Shakespearean monologue and partake in a group performance, among other things,” she said.
When a student is initiated they become a member of ZDC-APO for life. This organization helps them in professional interviews and graduate school.
Senior and member Colin Fowler said the organization helps members bond and solidify their friendships and professional relationships.
“When professional actors or designers are on campus for the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, I’m impressed with how many of them were members of Alpha Psi Omega in their colleges or universities,” Kordsmeier said.
Kordsmeier said students joining ZDC-APO tend to be leaders in the theater program. Their focus is on the success of all current and future UCA department students.
“Over the past year, the Zeta Delta cast has hosted several social events, brought in guest artists for university-wide theater workshops, sent students to conference to apply for theater-related professional work and graduate schools and been involved in several recruitment driven service projects,” Kordsmeier said. “Like most greek life organizations, students also do it for the fellowship.”
This fall, ZDC-APO is bringing ImprovLittleRock, an improvised comedy workshop, to campus.
“They will help with ‘Staging Your Future‘ [a workshop at]UCA and [offer]a free workshop day,” Kordsmeier said.
The theater department will also be sending seven students to the Southeastern Theatre Conference Pre-Screening Auditions in November, Kordsmeier said, with help from the SGA Student Activity Fee.
Kordsmeier advises any student hoping to be a member of ZDC-APO to be active in the department.
“Theater is fun, so they’ll have their points before they know it,” Kordsmeier said. “Also, this is a great organization that will allow many opportunities during their college career and beyond.”
Folwer said he thinks the organization brought him closer to the department.
“It provided me with more authoritative power which made me more interested in the politics of the happenings,” he said.
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