STC to host annual cabaret

Music will fill the Varsity Saturday night during the the Student Theater Cooperative’s annual Cabaret.

STC is an independent, student-run organization at USD that performs different musicals and plays, including original ones created by its members.

“The Student Theater Cooperative is completely run by and for the student body,” senior musical theater major Kristian Asfeldt said. “While it’s associated with the university’s theater program, we do everything independently. We budget and pay for things on our own”

Asfeldt said he’s been a member for four years and the group’s secretary for the past three.

“I got involved mainly as a theater major,” Asfeldt said. “The upperclassmen were really involved in it and they invited me to go to meetings. I thought it was a good way to get some stage time that’s outside of the main university season.”

A cabaret is an event where people eat and drink while listening to musical performances.

“We like this particular event because we get to work with students outside of our department,” junior musical theater major Ebrin Stanley said. “It also take us out of our comfort zone, learn different artistry and sing anything from Beyonce to Etta James.”

Stanley, who joined STC as a first-year and is now president of the organization, said this year’s show is for all ages. Admission costs $5 and covers food and drinks.

“This year it seems like we have a lot of early 2000’s hits, which is different, but we’re excited to hear it,” Stanley said.

Senior theater major and volunteer Liz McMillen will be helping set up for the cabaret.

“STC isn’t just for performing for a grade, it gives everybody a chance to be out there and do something they’re not studying,” McMillen said. “It makes it a little bit more fun as a theater major.”

Additional upcoming STC events include the Rony Awards and Spon Com. The Rony Awards are for the theater department over the course of the year. Stanley described them as USD’s own Tony Awards.

Spon Com is where groups of writers, directors and performers all work together to get a play up and running within 24 hours.

“One of my favorite things about STC is how we like to encourage and perform original plays by members,” Asfeldt said.