Kreativity Diversity Troupe, a multi-genre performance group, held their final show of the semester called “The Ties That Bond” at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center  Dec. 8.

The show consisted of 12 acts written, directed, designed and performed by members of the troupe.

Whitney Geohagan, director of public relations for the troupe, said audience members can expect moments of laughter, tears and true art.

“Although the group is sponsored by the School of Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies, we are quite diverse with members that come from different schools of study as well,” she said. “The group gives undergraduates the opportunity to express themselves in any artistic form they see fit.”

April Monu, a sophomore theatre and English double major, talked about the rewards of being a member of the group.

“Collaborating with the diverse members is probably the most rewarding for me because I was able to open myself to other perspectives and directions that I never imagined taking,” she said.

Her contributions to the show tied with the efforts of fellow sophomore theatre major, Montana Monardes.

They performed in an act titled “Third Date” and created a short film titled “#party.”

“I was in Montana’s and April’s ‘#party,’ which was a lot of fun to do and be a part of,” Geohagan said.

In addition to writing the script, filming and editing “#party,” Monardes also casted non-theatre majors in the film.

“This gave them a chance to experience working on something new and different,” Monardes said. “Overall the film turned out really well.”

Although he is not a professional dancer, Monardes took the chance at a new experience by performing in a dance piece at the show.

Audience member Jamal Desier said he was captivated by one dance in particular performed by senior theatre major Heather Gibson.

“I really liked the liturgical dance that Heather performed,” Desier said. “The way she moved through the poetry and how she was able to interpret the song into her movements was powerful.”

The acts Gibson performed in were “Walk to Work,” “The Real” and “Mirror”.

“I appreciate the collaborations that were made during the process of making the show,” she said.“What I love about the group is the beautiful minds and creations that come together in one room.”

In addition to public relations, Geohagan wrote, sang and performed in several acts.

“I was a part of writing the act called ‘Real,’ the scene about the portrayal of stories in the media,” she said.  “Hannah Correlli and I wrote ‘I’ve Known,’ a song about the connection between two people who love each other.

“My favorite act of the show was the song I sang with Hannah because we really wrote the lyrics together and it was so much fun to do,” she said.

Avery Collins, associate artistic director for Kreativity Diversity Troupe, performed in the act called “Konnected We Are.”

“With the help of our director David Egbufoama, we were able to work together and implement our bit of creativity to the act,” he said. “Kreativity Diversity Troupe allows members to exercise their potential to make performance-ready art.”

In addition to holding two open mic events and a final show at the end of each fall and spring semester, the group is also involved in charity events at this university.

“Cliche as it may sound, what I love the most about being a member of the Kreativity Diversity Troupe is the creativity,” Monu said. “We write, produce and direct all of our work. Everything the audience sees us perform is original.”

Featured Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Kreativity Diversity Troupe.

Jennifer Pham is a junior multiplatform journalism major and may be reached at jenaipham@gmail.com.