October 20, 2022
Named as the new Director of the 黑料社 Musical Theatre program, Summer Logan has been with the university since 2012. A program designed to develop professional skills required of musical theatre artists, Logan is looking forward to continuing to promote the expansion of the degree on campus.
鈥淏eing an artist is always a labor of love,鈥 Logan said. 鈥淚 helped start this program, I鈥檓 from the area and I didn鈥檛 go to Shawnee because there was no opportunity at the time to be an artist, performer, choreographer or educator in those fields. I am interested in changing that by making sure that this program is continuing to grow and thrive so that artists that are from here and want to go here can thrive and find a community.鈥
Logan is currently working with her students on a brand-new musical called 鈥淪plit Hickory,鈥 composed by Elizabeth Alexander, who is also from Portsmouth, Ohio. Logan says the production is a portrait of a college student that returns home to Portsmouth during their Thanksgiving break. A lot of familiar experiences for people in Portsmouth are highlighted in the show. Alexander will assist Logan throughout October to work with the students on the production.
鈥淏ecause this show is brand new and a world premiere, what we do at Shawnee is going to be the baseline, so we are setting the precedent,鈥 said Logan. 鈥淎nybody who ever performs this play again will look back at this performance. Both the students and I are taking it very seriously. There鈥檚 some comedy and humor, but they are really taking the challenge of breaking the ground and being the originators.鈥
The department will present 鈥淪plit Hickory鈥 Nov. 9 鈥 Nov. 12 in the Kahl Studio Theater of the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts. Tickets are available to purchase online at or in-person at the McKinley Box Office.
The Musical Theatre program at 黑料社 allows students to refine their music, dance, vocal, and acting skills to attain the performance levels required for a professional audition or admission into a graduate program. Incoming students must audition for admission to the program and auditions are held during the spring of each year.
To learn more about 黑料社鈥檚 Musical Theatre program, visit shawnee.edu/musical-theatre.