Theatre arts students and alumni take “The Bible Women’s Project” to Scotland
In August, six theatre arts students from Salve Regina University, past and present, will join the cast of “The Bible Women’s Project” to perform the original devised play at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world’s largest performing arts festival.
The play, created and directed by Dr. Tara Brooke Watkins, assistant professor and program coordinator of Salve’s theatre arts program, explores how young women today find connection and strength in one another when they empathize with women in the Bible using the true stories of their own lives. First performed in 2015, the show continues to evolve and has been a touring production at churches and Christian colleges ever since.
“This production will be shown in front of producers, directors and other actors at Fringe,” said Watkins. “Students and alumni will have great networking opportunities, and there’s nothing like a festival to teach you what the theater world is all about and inspire you about how to do theater and make an impact.”
In 2023, performed by Salve’s theatre arts students, “The Bible Women’s Project” was recognized with three Kennedy Center American Theatre College Festival awards. The cast heading to Scotland comprises six students and alumni from Salve: Mahek Das ’26, Lauryn Boone ’25, Nellie Horvath ’23, Sara McCormick ’23, Isabella Canevari ’25 and Reed Duncan ’25. They join alumni from Eastern Nazarene College including Raijene Walker, Roodlyne Altidor, Emily Crosta and Franceska Bruny. All of the cast members have performed in previous productions of “The Bible Women’s Project.” Their participation in Edinburgh Fringe is supported in part through a grant award from the Antone Fund for Academic Excellence.
McCormick, who double-majored in theatre arts and dance at Salve, was part of the award-winning 2023 cast. She is now a professional performer; a member of Metamorphosis Dance Company and acting in varying theatrical projects throughout Rhode Island. “I think it’s important for audience members to know that women’s struggles have been consistent throughout time,” said McCormick. “We compare our stories today to stories in the Bible written 2,000 years ago, and how we relate to those women."
Looking back on her theater education at Salve, McCormick offered, “Students thinking of coming to Salve for theatre arts should know they will be getting an extremely well-rounded education. While the theatre program is customizable to your concentration, you will learn a variety of skills that will be extremely helpful in your professional life.”
Watkins noted an example of the kinds of skills taught in the program, “Devising, creating original works reflective of who’s in the room, is happening across the world in theater. Students don’t typically learn how to do that. We teach that here. It’s quintessentially Salve.”
“The Bible Women’s Project” will be performed at three local shows: Tuesday, July 29, at the Contemporary Theater Company in South Kingstown, R.I.; Wednesday, July 30, at Emmanuel Church in Newport, R.I.; and Thursday, July 31, at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Boston, before heading to Edinburgh for four shows at Stockbridge Church, Aug. 5-9. Tickets for the local shows are free, and registration is required.