After the Seattle Pacific University theatre major was cut on Nov. 21, 2024, a group of students joined forces to create the SPU Theatre Company.* The group intends to become an official club and teach their community the art of theater and other types of performance.
Students began working on the club constitution in the spring of 2025, in response to several SPU majors being cut. They presented their plan to the Committee of Student Clubs, the board with the power to approve them as a registered student club. This would give them access to Associated Students of Seattle Pacific services, such as fiscal support. The committee decided to push the potential approval until the 2025-26 academic year.
Associate Producer and Marketing Director Josephine Partridge, a fourth year majoring in vocal performance, theatere performance and Honors Liberal Arts at SPU, reported that the decision was emotionally impactful.
“We just all hugged and we were kind of tearful because, I mean, this is a community that’s been so close and so passionate. In general, theater communities are always so special because of how much time you spend together and how vulnerable you have to be in that art form,” Partridge said.
The club is set to discuss their probable approval with the committee during the week of Oct. 6, though Oct.10.* The biggest obstacles will be allotting finances to the club and the use of McKinley Hall, the SPU theater building.
“I think that’s a really big thing that we want to fight for, is having the building. It’s a stage. There’s lights. The students know how to run it… There’s even a freshman who is on scholarship for lighting and sound design for theater. I want to honor that,” Partridge said.
The club has been instructed not to advertise meeting times until they have been approved, but once approved they are planning to meet once per week. They intend to hold workshops for dance, circus performing, accents and dialogue work. A book club is also in the works, using a collection of books that Candace Vance, the former SPU theatre chair, used to teach classes.
The Executive Producers of the club are Emily Haan, a fifth year majoring in theatre education,* and Lissie Edmonds, a student majoring in theater performance and Honors Liberal Arts. Partridge urges students to contact them or herself if they are interested in getting involved with the SPU Theatre Company. Several official clubs, including MODE Fashion Group, have already discussed partnering with them to bring projects to life.
“We are a bunch of creative people who are passionate about doing this and hungry for work to do. So, [if] anything comes to mind, please reach out to us,” Partridge said.
Candace Vance used to keep a ghost light on in McKinley Hall. A ghost light is an electric light that is left illuminated even when the space would otherwise be dark. The club has adopted a motto of “keeping the light on” for the theater community at SPU. To help, keep an eye out for official meeting times and spread the word.
You can follow the SPU Theatre Company on Instagram, @sputheatre.
Oct. 7, 2025 – Article was edited for corrections.
*The theatre major was curtailed before the fall of 2023.
*There are no confirmed meeting times.
*Emily Haan is majoring in theatre education, sociology and Honors Liberal Arts.
