It was on a chilly Saturday night: the stage was set for the ridiculous yet humorous play where rejection was the spotlight. Themed “Thanks, But No Thanks,” performers dramatically recited letters detailing various rejections from “famous people through history” throughout the evening.Located within the campus theater, the performance unfolded from 7:30 to 9:15 p.m. on Feb. 10, and it was free of charge for anyone to come watch.
The play featured 10 performers: one company actor plus nine students and faculty. Said performers would read the letters aloud, mimicking the tone of each one, while the letters themselves were displayed through a projector behind them.
The rejection letters covered a wide variety of content, from declined business proposals, job applications, to rejected confessions, social gathering invitations, and text messages. These notes hailed from various famous figures throughout history, including Mike Tyson, Stephen King, John F. Kennedy, Steve Jobs, and many more.
Alongside the letter recitations, humorous transition background music was provided by professional accordion player Jamie Maschler. The Ebbtide also met up with Paul Morgan Stetler, the founder and curator of the show.
When questioned what the reason behind the play was, Stetler said, “It’s just a way to connect people to the past, and a way that is very human… Watching the show, you’re kind of peeking into someone’s personal life; it feels very intimate, and it’s a way to connect people. ”
“Also, with this theme today—rejection—I hope that the overwhelming feeling that you get from it is not being rejected but continuing to pursue what you want to pursue, even though you have some hardships,” Stetler said.
