In Spring of 2021, the Theater Department put on a show titled “Cabaret” and it was one of my most amazing college experiences.
Admittedly, I do love musicals and plays, but the performances by the students at Colorado Mesa University (CMU) are great. It featured amazing singing and acting as well as a twist filled narrative about Nazi Germany. Afterwards, I interviewed the actors and heard amazing stories.
That night Robinson was so packed that there were hardly any seats left, and every single audience member was captivated. Those in the art programs at CMU are some of the most talented people I have ever met and they deserve to have a great place to perform.
Renovations are not recommended; an architect told administration that Robinson was not salvageable. The building was built in the 1960s and has not been updated much since.
President John Marshall stated that CMU wanted to create a hub for the arts on the Western Slope of Colorado. If you are from around here like me, you know that venues often fall short and can ruin an experience.
All forms of art need to be encouraged, especially in college. Music, theater and dance performances draw in a lot of community members and they should draw in more students as well.
Most students may be against the rebuilding of the theater because they are concerned it will increase fees. Buildings are expensive but they are rightfully so: a building needs to stand for a long time and meet many codes. The workers also need to be paid a fair wage. Along with this, the funding has not been addressed and student fees could be completely unaffected if donors cover the cost, which they often have in CMU’s history.
Student fees are also set for two years per the biennial process the school goes through to set them. The process is a long one, but students who are against the raising of fees can participate. In the end, if students choose not to represent themselves and their wants they should not complain about the process.
The alternative is to build the same theater or a smaller one, which may cost slightly less. Otherwise, the school could attempt renovations, but the longer the building stands, the more expensive it will be to replace.
The students who participate in these programs are very good at what they do and despite theater always being called “lame”, it’s time we recognize students’ hard work and talent in their department. If the arts aren’t for you, that is fine, but you should think of the benefits that could come to CMU.
Every year the Programming Activities Council (PAC) puts on a concert. Imagine having a spacious indoor venue in case of weather emergencies. If the facilities are nice and the new Robinson draws attention, we may also be able to get more performers such as comedians and bands that students want to see.
The end goal of this project is to give the Western Slope a better venue while improving campus facilities and drawing in bigger audiences. Robinson needs to be rebuilt, so we might as well be happy that they want to improve the buildings on campus.
