Campbellsville University’s Department of Theater and Dance is home to many different productions. You can catch the fall musical, the Christmas play or even the community productions in the summer. Some people might see these productions exactly for what they are on the surface: entertainment for the Campbellsville community. What people might fail to realize is the work that goes on behind the scenes to make these productions happen and who exactly is responsible for the magic of theater at CU. This year, the department has seen the addition of two new faces to help bring the art of performance to the Russ Mobley Theater. To realize all their hard work, one must take a peek behind the curtains to see the passion of these two professors.
Daniel Stargel, assistant professor of musical theater, has always been into playing and creating music. He’s been playing instruments and singing for as long as he can remember.
“Music has been a part of my life since I was very little,” said Stargel. “The foundation of performing arts for me was music education.”
Stargel landed his first professional performance job at a Christian theme park called “The Holy Land Experience.” He used this time to learn and become a better performer. This led to him getting lead roles in different shows, as well as directing, writing and managing some productions.
“In the past 18 years, I’ve done a little bit of everything,” Stargel said. “Almost everything you can do.”
When Stargel first saw the job opening at CU, he knew he needed to apply. He and his family are originally from Russell Springs, Kentucky, which is just 24 miles outside of Campbellsville. He knew the area well, and his family even has roots at CU. His father attended Campbellsville College.
“I would come up to south central Kentucky for family reunions,” Stargel said. “When I saw the job opening, I said, ‘I know what this is.’”
Another factor in his choosing CU is his faith. In addition to working at a Christian theme park, Stargel was also part of a traveling ministry choir after high school. Stargel’s faith is a very important aspect of his life, and he strives to make that known at CU.
“I align with the desire of the university,” he said. “I want to engage with people spiritually and see growth there.”
Stargel shows his passion for theater and performing arts through his performance and his teaching. He encourages any student who may be thinking about joining a production in the future to take that leap of faith and get involved in any way possible.
“You get to learn the craft and see the world in a kind of different way,” Stargel said. “It really is worth it, and it is a lot of fun. Come and get to know some people and find out where you can plug in.”
Along with Stargel, this year also saw the addition of Stephen English, the assistant professor of theater and technical director. English has brought his talents in performing arts across the nation from going to school and getting his master’s degree in Oklahoma and working in places like Kansas, Michigan, Tennessee and even Ontario, Canada. He wasn’t fully set on the idea of returning to teaching, but the job opening at CU seemed to fit the bill.
“To be quite honest, I wasn’t sure I was going to come back to teaching,” English said. “But I was looking for a smaller school, an active theater program and a Christian background, so I thought I’d give it a chance.”
Working at a Christian school was very important to English. When he interviewed with the head of the theater department, Starr Garrett, he said he did not want to work at a college that did not express their faith freely. CU’s mission statement truly resonated with English, and that is something he wants to embrace with his teaching.
“I think that’s part of who we are as human beings,” he said. “I think it should be key to thinking about the stories that we tell.”
One thing that stood out to English as the school year began is just how much the students get involved in the theater department. Some students will take on responsibilities like being the stage manager of a show, designing the lights or the sounds for a show, making the costumes or props and even building entire set designs. That was something English was particularly impressed with.
“That’s not something you get at big state universities,” said English. “Most undergraduate students don’t get that opportunity because the graduate students do it. Students here can really get involved and build up their resumés.”
For his first year at CU, English is really looking forward to getting to work on the department’s upcoming Christmas play: Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and Then Some!). He is designing the lights and the set for the upcoming show, and he said he’s excited to form his version of this world and story.
“It’s a little abstract and all over the place,” English said. “I like to have a little fun with that kind of stuff.”
English’s passion for his craft and the performing arts is at the center of his work. He believes storytelling is a common thing among the human race, and English believes theater can bring that aspect of human life and connection into the spotlight.
“I’ve always found myself a storyteller,” he said. “I think that’s the thing I’m most drawn to about theater. At the heart of it, in an attempt to communicate and connect with one another, we tell stories.”
With the addition of Stargel and English, CU’s Department of Theater and Dance continues to grow and evolve as the school year progresses. The talents of these professors will be put on display through different shows throughout the year like the fall musical Lucky Stiff and the Christmas play Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and Then Some!). Their efforts to work hard for their students and their passion for the art form of theater will continue to be shown as they set their own stage within their first year at CU.
