NGU Students to Produce Live Television Sitcom at Billingsley Theatre
Posted on: March 6, 2025
Tigerville, SC—North Greenville University’s (NGU) School of Communication and Theatre Department will team up to produce a television sitcom in front of a live studio audience in the Billingsley Theatre on March 13-14.
The pilot episode of ‘Break’ is about a group of college age students who are working at a camp during Spring Break.
“It focuses on interpersonal relationships, growth, a little bit of snark, a little bit of practical jokes, general human interactions with some fun thrown in there,” said Dr. Andrew Stevens, Associate Professor of Communication.
This fully student-led production will feature the talents of many different NGU students.
“What’s certainly wonderful is that it’s been an interdisciplinary work,” said Stevens. “The actors are from theatre; the production team is from [the School of Communication]; the writing was done by our film concentration. It’s been very interdisciplinary.”
Chad Stratton, a senior digital media major with a film concentration, played key roles in the production process. He is the creative producer, the assistant director for the production team, and was a part of the writing team.
“Being part of the writing team and giving birth to the project last semester was wonderful. We shared many laughs in the writing room as we came up with funny jokes. I have taken on many roles this semester because I long to see this dream become a reality,” said Stratton.
The initial idea for the production came from Dr. Randall E. King, Associate Dean for the School of Communication, who has produced similar shows at other institutions. He found the key people needed and put the pieces together to make it happen at NGU.
“What’s exciting about this is the buy in we’ve had from multiple departments. I think what’s unique about how we’re doing it here at North Greenville is we have the full partnership with the School of Theatre,” said King. “We also took the process and broke it up, so we put it up on the School of Theatre’s regular schedule rather than having our own thing. We’re using their facility and we’re adapting their set, so that’s sort of best of both worlds in that regard. We have their support, their faculty, but we also had this class that did the writing. We had the class last semester that wrote the pilot.”
While the show is fully student produced, faculty from Theatre and Communication are serving as coaches to help guide the students and encourage them through the process.
“We, mainly as faculty, serve as coaches, helping guide the students,” said Stevens. “I’m primarily the technical lead. Professor Benet has been the story lead with his film students, and Professor Dunlap and all of the theatre faculty have been working with providing the location, actors, and supporting them. It’s been great to be a part of it.”
‘Break’ will be an educational experience for those who attend as it will show the audience how live sitcoms like ‘The Lucy Show,’ ‘All in the Family,’ and ‘The Cosby Show’ were produced through multicamera setups and live sets.
“We’re kind of recreating that through a viable production style. When people come, it will be different. It’s not going to be like going to a play. We will record a scene twice, then we have volunteers from the improv team come out and do some stuff while we reset and then we shoot another scene,” said Stevens.
For the students who are a part of this production, this show is already teaching them so much about their gifts and helping them hone their skills.
“I have learned that there is a lot more work that happens behind the scenes than I thought,” said Stratton. “I have also been able to grow and develop my skills in screenwriting, leadership, and work ethic. All three of these things are things I want to pursue as a career.”
Producers and directors for ‘Break’ includes Randall King (Executive Producer), Amy Dunlap (Executive Producer), Andrew Stevens (Coach), Kelechi Benet (Coach), Wyatt Hart (Director), Savannah Williamson (Lead Creative), Chad Stratton (Lead Creative).
The creative team includes Christian DeWalk, Adley Ellenburg, Colt Gouge, Seth Hilliard, Eliana Kelly, Morgan Madden, Callie Meyerholtz, Nate Reckelhoff, Isabelle Western.
The writing team includes Sadie Beaumont, Evan Bradford, Emily Bright, Noah Cruver, Josh Gaye, Jenna Hansard, Chad Stratton, Savannah Williamson.
The cast includes Dylan Thompson (Martin), Alyse Barrett (Cassandra), Sadie Beaumont (Skye), Fuller Finn (Chip), Seth Atkins (Ivan), Maddux Schmidt (Oliver), Ryleigh Ann Guyton (Sophie), Corrie Owen (Ophella).
The crew includes Christian DeWalk, Adley Ellendburg, Nathan Fillinger, Colt Gouge, Seth Hilliard, TJ Hills, Joseph Jordan, Anna Faith Major, David Monroe, Titus Rankin, Nate Reckelhoff, Grace Salter.
‘Break’ will run March 13 and 14 with showtimes starting at 7:30 p.m. nightly. General tickets are $15. Premium tickets are $20. Students are allowed one free ticket. All tickets must be picked up with a valid ID at the box office in the School of Theatre.
