anchester’s Theatre Society has been reinvigorated in the last several years. An entirely student-led group, Theatre Society organizes nearly all the theatre productions on campus and provides a creative outlet for Spartans from all academic interests.
Their productions range from traditional plays and musicals to variety shows, karaoke, and the annual drag show and air band competition.
Most recently, the group presented the timeless classic The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Brayden Hoggatt ’26, who played antagonist Claude Frollo, considers the musical one of his favorite Manchester productions so far.
During his childhood, his parents both performed in plays and musicals, and his dad even directed many of the shows Hoggatt participated in growing up. Following in his father’s footsteps, Hoggatt was a co-director of Hunchback.
“I had to change how I manage my time, which is hard, but I think it made it more fun for me because it put me in the right mindset,” Hoggatt said. “I had to make sure I was doing the right thing, like learning my lines. It’s a little extra work, but it’s been a lot of fun.”
Theatre Society gives Hoggatt new ways to express himself that aren’t always afforded in other environments. He also values the group’s hands-on, collaborative approach to developing shows.
“It’s really unique to be able to come in and experience a bunch of student-run, student-written productions,” Hoggatt said. “It’s so fascinating to learn what goes into a production, and it gives you a new sense of direction and skills that you can use in other experiences you have at Manchester.”
Clearly, Hoggatt is not the only student searching for a space where they can freely express their creativity and personality. In the past year, he has noticed an increase in the number of different areas of study represented in Theatre Society. “It’s a great way for people to build connections across majors. In the musical, I don’t think there’s a major that wasn’t represented.”
Explore more photos from the Hunchback dress rehearsal below.
Theatre Society President Gracianne Nohl ’25 knew that she wanted to attend a university with a strong theatre community. When investigating Manchester, she saw Theatre Society included on the list of student groups, and while it was not the deciding factor, it did influence her decision to attend MU.
One of her favorite productions she has participated in is The View, her first performance as a Manchester student. “I’ve grown a lot since this show, but it will always be a favorite because it was my first university performance and opened my eyes to my love of producing.”
Theatre Society not only gives students the opportunity to perform, but also to write and direct. Nohl’s dark comedy The Closing Shift, which centers on two high-school seniors working a night shift at a fast-food restaurant, premiered in November 2022.
“I spent about six months formulating my story and script, taking aspects from my time working at a fast-food restaurant and building realistic character arcs,” Nohl said. “It was my first time directing and producing a play that I wrote. Having full creative freedom and leadership over such a big project was both exhilarating and terrifying. I was and am forever grateful for that opportunity.”
Similar to Hoggatt’s sentiments, Nohl appreciates the space for expressive freedom that Theatre Society provides.
“Theatre Society is special to me because it is a safe space for people who are passionate about the performing arts to collaborate, learn new skills, meet new people, and try new things,” Nohl said. “Seeing people who have never been involved in performing arts try it and fall in love with it makes all the countless hours and stress worth it.”
