“Forward with Faith,” a play depicting the 150 years of history behind Milligan College, debuted during Milligan’s annual homecoming weekend. The play showed in McGlothlin-Street Theatre, located in the Gregory Center, from October 20-23.
The goal of “Forward with Faith”, written by alumna Rosemarie Shields (Class of ’59), was to bring the history of Milligan to life. The play began with Milligan’s days under the name Buffalo Male and Female Institute and continued through the years to its current status as Milligan College under President Greer.
“I thought it was great,” said Krista Adair, a junior Bible major. “While many parts were what some would call boring, it successfully expressed the community and connection that comes with Milligan. At the end of the play I was in tears reflecting on all that Milligan has meant for me through friendships, growth, and community with both believers and Christ I’ve experienced.”
The acting ensemble consisted of a mix of 16 actors and actresses and 8 members of Heritage. Many of the actors played multiple roles throughout the play.
Maverick Summie, a member of Heritage, said, “My biggest obstacle I overcame was getting out of my comfort zone, but I am really glad I did the play; it gave me insight to another art.”
Even Milligan faculty, such as Dr. Tim Dillon, professor of history and humanities, got involved in the production.
“My minute on stage was a form of comic relief, perhaps because I was recruiting one of the basses, a guy named Tim Dillon, to be the very first court jester at the madrigal dinners,” said Dillon. “The director and the playwright thought it would be funny to have an old Tim Dillon talk to a young Tim Dillon.”
Dillon’s part, amongst many other parts of the play, provided comic relief that was evident when the audience would explode with laughter. Many of the people involved with the play agreed that the play was successful in dramatizing Milligan’s 150-year history.