The Reemergence of Hayden Hall

When it comes to theater and arts at Southern University, this year has already seen a wide range of content and performances showcasing the wide variety of talent and artistry present at Hayden Hall. 
Regardless of whether it was the Theater Department putting on their first production of the year, Art Department faculty putting together their own art exhibit, there has been no shortage of artistic presence on campus to start off the academic year. 
Randell Henry, a long time professor at Southern University, was chosen to be the curator of this semester’s Fall Faculty Art Showcase, which featured a multitude of different works from members of the Art Department. 
The exhibit exclusively featured art from professors during this exhibit, with pieces of art such as Monotype by John Alleyne and Randell Henry’s March Into the City being featured in the month long event that spanned from September 5 to October 3 this past fall semester. 
“ The art styles were varied and each had something different to show,” said sophomore history major Charles Barjon from California when asked opinion on  what stood out to him in the art during his time in the exhibit. 
Additionally, the Art Department also hosted the University’s 11th Annual Homecoming Exhibit, featuring the work of Southern University alumnus Lloyd G. Wade. Some pieces resembled a strong African and pro-black presence, which Wade admitted was done on purpose in order to put emphasis on capturing certain elements and features of everyday black people through his own unique style of art. As the second and final exhibit of the year, this exhibit impressed a fair share of the student population on campus who came out to the exhibit. 
And of course, the most large scale event to take place in Hayden Hall and the Fine Arts Department as a whole was “God’s Trombones”, the full scale production that took place in November that featured a multitude of student actors and actresses. The play itself was comprised of seven poems that featured gospel hymns that were written over a span from 1919 to 1926 by writer and author James Weldon Johnson. The play was open for four nights and drew in crowds on each night. While this was the only play of the semester, it gave an insight into just what kind of talent is currently present in Southern University’s Theater Program going forward into next semester’s possible productions. 
“I’m looking forward to [the department] to have more productions next semester. They have a lot of talented people,” said Ryan White, sophomore mass communication major from New Orleans, Louisiana. 
All in all, this year has shown the Jaguar faithful a number of unique events and activities on campus this semester that drew crowds of both current students as well as alumni. While the first half of the year was eventful, the upcoming spring semester will have even more noteworthy events in and around Southern University’s campus.