How theater returned to St. Scholastica

In a step towards reimagining theatre at The College of St. Scholastica, students and faculty have come together for the production of “John Proctor is the Villain.”

In fact, the upcoming performance is set to premiere at the St. Scholastica Theatre just one day after its Broadway debut. This play, which explores themes of youth, identity and community, has garnered significant attention and represents the students’ resilience and commitment to the arts. CSS Theatre Club President Emmie Hinnenkamp ’25 expressed her excitement surrounding the production in a Duluth News Tribune interview: “It’s, I can’t even put into words how exciting. I really hope that people can grasp how big of a deal this is.”

Dr. Ryan Sandefer, vice president for Academic Affairs, echoed this optimism about the future of theatre at the College: “I give a lot of credit to the students and the faculty and the staff coming together and getting really creative. We’ve cut the expenses on what this means, but they’re having that experience, which is what we try and do on a campus like this — provide students academic and co-curricular experiences to help them fully develop as human beings.”

St. Scholastica is also eager to engage the broader community. “One of the major things that I’m already seeing come to fruition, that is going to be a real positive, is community support,” said Dr. Bret Amundson, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. As the College reimagines its theatre space and productions, plans are underway to transform the St. Scholastica Theatre into a more usable area for a variety of artistic endeavors to provide a collaborative environment for students, faculty and the community alike.

In this promising new chapter, St. Scholastica welcomes back theatre with the production of “John Proctor is the Villain,” reflecting an ongoing dedication to creativity and engagement in the arts.

JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN will run March 21–29, 2025, at the St. Scholastica Theatre. Belflower’s sensational new play is set in a small town in Georgia, imagining contemporary high school students exploring the American classic through the lens of the #MeToo movement. When scandal rips through their town and tears their lives apart, several teens question who they truly are and, more importantly, who they want to be.

Tickets ($15 for the general public; free to all students with a student ID) will be available at spotlight.css.edu.