Director of Theatre Bill Church previews ‘The Great MC’ on ‘Arts Engines’
Church and host Aaron Dworkin discussed the upcoming production of Sue Pak’s new play, how the Theatre Division became the only high school involved with the BIPOC Superhero Project, and more on the nation’s most widely viewed arts program.
Interlochen Director of Theatre Bill Church was recently featured as a special guest on Aaron Dworkin’s (IAA 86-88) popular arts and culture program, Arts Engines.
During the episode, Church previewed the Academy Theatre Division’s world premiere production of Sue Pak’s The Great MC. The play will run March 7-9 at Interlochen’s Harvey Theatre, with an additional free performance at the Dennos Museum Center in Traverse City on Saturday, March 8 at 11 a.m.
“MC stands for ‘model citizen,’” Church said. “The play follows four students of color as they navigate all the issues that come with being in high school—of being overlooked, of being on the outside, of being marginalized—all the way through the college process. The idea is that the superhero is inside and has to be discovered.”
The Great MC was commissioned by Interlochen as part of the Theatre for Young Audiences BIPOC Superhero Project, a theatrical collaboration led by playwright and University of Michigan professor José Casas that unites theatres and playwrights across the nation to develop new plays about superheroes of color. Interlochen Arts Academy is the only high school involved in the project.
A program of Serafina Ideation, Arts Engines highlights the perspectives of the thought leaders and game changers who are creating a significant impact in the arts. The program—which is produced in partnership with and distributed by Detroit Public Television, Ovation TV, The Violin Channel and American Public Media including Performance Today and YourClassical—reaches audiences of nearly 100,000 every week, making it one of the most widely viewed arts shows in the nation.
