Loyola’s Theatre Department, Evergreen Players show excitement for a new season of shows. The Loyola Evergreen Players are gearing up to perform five productions on campus this year, two this fall.

The first production, “John Proctor is the Villian”, directed by faculty member Natka Bianchini will debut on Halloween in the fourth floor Programming room. “John Proctor is the Villian” follows a group of teenage girls studying “The Crucible” and how the play mirrors their life. Since this play takes place in a school, director Natka Bianchini realized that utilizing Loyola’s campus as a stage would be a different take on the show. Evergreen Players president, Audrey Schlamp ‘25 says this is the first production in the space.

“They went through every single building on campus looking for a space and they finally settled for the fourth-floor programming room,” Schlamp said.

The second production happening this fall is called “Puffs”, presented by Poisoned Cup Players which is directed by Ange Dickson ‘25. “Puffs” is a spin-off on the Harry Potter franchise that follows wizard boy, Wayne Hopkins who embarks on wizard school with his two best friends. This show will be presented in McManus Theatre starting Nov. 14.

There are two subgroups within the Evergreen Players; the Spotlight Players and Poisoned Cup Players with both groups being completely student- run.

The Evergreen Players acts as a home for many of its members. Vice president Devin Jenkins-Drumgold ‘27 says he was welcomed with open arms his first year.

“I did theater technology in high school. I lead my own crew. Literally within my first week here I found myself in a management position for ‘You on the Moors Now.’ It’s an amazing group of people, like [Evergreen Players] as a club and as a theater department there’s so many amazing people, we’re one big family,” Jenkins-Drumgold said.

For senior Evergreen Players who are preparing to put on their last set of shows, maintaining a strong community is something they want to accomplish before walking across the stage in May.

“Especially first-years I want them to come to this club and have a similar experience, find the family that I found,” Schlamp said.

For Evergreen Players Treasurer, Bella Masso ‘25, her goal before graduating is to leave the organization better than she found it.

“I hope within my two years of serving my time that I can leave an impact, create a new tradition, or make somebody feel welcomed to the club. Make things that will last long after I am gone,” Masso said.

After a successful ‘23-’24 seasons featuring the shows “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress”, “You on the Moors Now”, and Broadway musical, “The Prom”, the club is  welcoming to everyone interested in the arts.

“You don’t need to be a visual and performing arts major to be a part of EP (Evergreen Players), my major is leadership and management. It has nothing to do with theater.  It goes to show how welcoming EP is and how you can use your skills from another major in EP and how you can use EP in your major that doesn’t have to do with visual and performing arts,” Jenkins-Drumgold said.

But if you’re not interested in being on stage, the Evergreen Players say that attending their shows and simply being an advocate for the arts is just as effective. This year, the club is looking for more audience members from different disciplines.

“I want more people to come to our shows from outside visual arts. Finance kids, come to our shows, history kids please come. I want to see new faces,” Jenkins-Drumgold said.

The first show presented by the Evergreen Players, “John Proctor is the Villain” will take place Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 in the 4th Floor Programming Room. For more information on upcoming events by the Evergreen Players, follow their Instagram @loyolamdtheatre.