FHU Theatre

08/31/2026

“This isn’t a fairy tale, though it starts like one. It’s not a tragedy, though it ends like one. It’s something else. We’re something else.”

Congratulations to the cast of THESE SHINING LIVES, FHU Theatre's first play of the 26-27 season.

Olivia Evans as Catherine
Brittany Wilson as Charlotte
Jena Salvato as Pearl
Amber King as Frances
Henry Kreinbrink as Tom
Drew Bramblett as Mr. Reed

Directed by Natalie Barker
Set Design by Nate Cass
Costumes by Faith Secula
Lighting by Tim Hinckley
Sound by Levi Secula
Props by Jenna Secula
Stage Management by Aubrey Gibbs.

These Shining Lives by Melanie Marnich tells the true story of Catherine Donohue and three friends who work in a 1920s Illinois watch factory painting luminous dials with radium. When the women become seriously ill from radiation poisoning, they fight not only for justice against the company that endangered them but also to preserve their dignity, friendship, and hope.

Opens October 1 in the Black Box Theatre. Ticket link in the bio.

08/26/2026

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 SCOTLAND BY THE NUMBERS 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

What happens when 10 FHU Theatre travelers take an original play to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe?

Well… a LOT.

🎭 4,206 shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
🎟️ 60,000+ performances throughout Edinburgh
🌍 74 countries represented
🎭 4 performances of THE FABULIST
📄 700 flyers distributed
👟 220,000 steps—in ONE WEEK!
🎭 100+ shows viewed
🚗 100+ miles traveling through the Scottish countryside
🥁 250+ pipers and drummers
🐮 3 Highland cows petted
❤️ 10 very tired travelers

And the most important number?

✨ Memories made: uncountable.

We went to Scotland to tell a story. Along the way, we discovered hundreds of new ones.

Thank you, Edinburgh—and thank you to everyone who helped make this adventure possible. ❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

08/25/2026

🎭 FHU THEATRE’S 2026–27 SEASON IS HERE!

Three very different stories. Three unforgettable theatrical worlds. One season of live theatre you won’t want to miss.

✨ THESE SHINING LIVES
by Melanie Marnich
October 1–3
Melanie Marnich’s powerful drama follows four women working in a 1920s watch factory whose friendships—and lives—are forever changed when they discover the devastating truth about the work they do. FHU senior Natalie Barker directs.

💃 EMMA
by Jane Austin, adapted by Paul Gordon
November 5–7
Jane Austen’s beloved matchmaking heroine gets a swingin’ ’60s twist! Expect romance, comedy, music, and plenty of complications when Emma decides she knows exactly who belongs with whom. Cliff Thompson directs and Jackson choreographer Renee Brooks brings that 60s vibe to the show.

🌙 THE OLD MAN AND THE OLD MOON
by PigPen Theatre Co.
Spring 2027
Acoustic folk music, whimsical storytelling, and a seafaring adventure come together in this imaginative journey about an old man whose job is to fill the moon with light—and the choice he faces when someone he loves needs him to come home. Cliff Thompson directs and FHU Bible professor Matt Cook makes the show sing! Senior performance major Levi Secula is featured onstage and senior designer Drew Bramblett handles the set and puppets.

Three shows. Three completely different experiences.

Consider becoming a patron and helping our students to make magic onstage.
https://fhu.edu/academics/majors-minors/theatre/become-a-patron/

08/20/2026

TODAY IS THE DAY. ✨

After months of creating, rehearsing, traveling, performing, exploring, and telling this story together, The Fabulist takes its final bow tonight.

But a show is never created by one person.

It takes actors who step fully into another world. It takes designers and technicians who build that world around them. It takes stage managers who keep everything moving. It takes artists who solve problems, encourage one another, take risks, and show up—again and again.

And it takes the people behind the scenes whose creativity helped make the world of The Fabulist possible.

These are the people who created The Fabulist.

Tonight, we’re celebrating the entire company pictured here—and two important artists who aren’t pictured in these individual photos:

✨ Brad Montague, our co-writer, whose imagination and collaboration helped bring The Fabulist to life.

✨ Kristi Montague, who created the costumes and props that helped give this world its distinctive look and feel.

Together, this team took The Fabulist from Freed-Hardeman to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where we performed to sold-out houses and received wonderful reviews. Along the way, our students explored Edinburgh and the Scottish countryside, experienced another culture, and shared an adventure they will carry with them long after tonight’s final curtain.

Tonight, we celebrate the people who made the show.

Come see the company of The Fabulist take the stage one final time.

🎭 THE FABULIST — FINAL PERFORMANCE
📅 Tonight — Thursday, August 20
⏰ 7:00 PM
📍 Dryden Auditorium
🎟️ FREE ADMISSION

Come meet the artists.
Come celebrate the journey.
Come share one final story.

One last performance. One extraordinary company. ❤️

08/20/2026

🎭 AUDITIONS: THESE SHINING LIVES

What happens when ordinary people are asked to risk everything for their work—and for one another?

THESE SHINING LIVES by Melanie Marnich tells the true-inspired story of women who worked painting luminous watch dials in the 1920s. As they discover the devastating consequences of their work, they fight for justice while holding onto friendship, courage, and hope.

Director Natalie Barker invites you to audition!

📅 Monday, August 24
⏰ 6:00–9:00 PM
📍 Black Box Theatre

Natalie says: “Bring yourself and a pencil and a happy face :)”

Auditionees will be asked to perform a monologue and will be given scene partners for additional work. If you have another obligation that evening, you are welcome to arrive late.

Questions? Contact Natalie Barker at [email protected]

Performances are October 1-3 in the Black Box Theatre

08/19/2026

The Fabulist was never just about the show.

It was about the journey.

This summer, our students had the extraordinary opportunity to take their work to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe—performing for audiences from around the world, receiving wonderful reviews, and playing to sold-out houses.

But they also had the chance to experience Scotland beyond the stage.

They explored the streets and stories of Edinburgh, visited castles, hiked through the Scottish countryside, and experienced a culture and landscape very different from their own.

These are the moments that become part of the story long after the curtain falls.

Now, we want to celebrate the journey—and share The Fabulist with you one final time.

✨ FINAL PERFORMANCE
📅 Thursday, August 20
⏰ 7:00 PM
📍 Dryden Auditorium
🎟️ FREE ADMISSION

Come celebrate the adventure with us.

One last performance. One more story to tell.

08/19/2026

ONE FINAL FAREWELL. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

After a successful run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe—including sold-out houses and wonderful reviews—The Fabulist is coming home for one final performance.

Join us Thursday, August 20 at 7:00 PM in Dryden Auditorium for a special farewell performance of The Fabulist.

And this time, there’s no ticket. No donation. Just come.

We want to celebrate this remarkable journey with the people who helped make it possible—and share the story with those who haven’t yet had the chance to see it.

🇺🇸 From Freed-Hardeman to Scotland and back home again.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

One last story. One last performance. One final farewell.

📅 Thursday, August 20
⏰ 7:00 PM
📍 Dryden Auditorium
🎟️ FREE ADMISSION

Come celebrate The Fabulist with us one last time. ❤️

08/12/2026

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “All of these performers are making their fringe debuts and their collective drive, production design and ensemble work is incredible.”

Thanks Binge Fringe for a lovely review of THE FABULIST

EdFringeEmergingInteractiveMusical TheatreNew WritingTheatre REVIEW: The Fabulist, Freed-Hardeman University, EdFringe 2026 ★★★★ Roe McDonnellAugust 11, 2026 Once upon a sometimes, The Fabulist leads an audience into false stories, lies, stories where the ends aren’t what they’re meant t...

08/11/2026

Last show in Scotland.

In just a few hours, Limkin and Millie will walk the stage in Scotland one last time. It has been an amazing experience.

We love you Edinburgh Festival Fringe !

Edinburgh Festival Fringe ictffringe Freed-Hardeman University The Fabulist, a new play Levi Secula Natalie🌷🌻🌹 Jenna!! 🍒🦋🌈 Drop-of-Ruby Rachel Graves Drew Bramblett Cliff Thompson Brad Montague Jon Michael Thompson Kaitlyn Thompson Kristi Montague

08/09/2026

★★★★ FOUR STARS!

We’re thrilled to share that THE FABULIST has received a 4-star review from EdFringeReview.com:

“a heartwarming and intimate performance.”

See for yourself! There are only TWO performances left!

🎭 THE FABULIST
📅 August 10 • 19:00
📅 August 11 • 11:00

If you’re in Edinburgh for the Fringe, come find us. Come hear the story. Come be part of The Fabulist.

🎟️ Tickets are available through the official Edinburgh Fringe ticket site: edfringe.com

We’d love to see you there!

Brad Montague Freed-Hardeman University Edinburgh Festival Fringe ICTF - International Collegiate Theatre Festival