“All the studies related to this issue clearly indicate that students who are connected to the arts are better students and lead more fulfilling and engaged lives. The arts are absolutely essential to our quality of life.”
Name: Michael Flowers
Occupation: Professor of Theater at Birmingham Southern College
Creative Industry: Performing Arts
1. What would you like to see happen in Birmingham in the next 5 years?
I would like to see the city center continue to grow and draw more people. My hope is that the arts would flourish and become even more essential to the life of our community.
2. What role do you think performing arts plays in education?
All the studies related to this issue clearly indicate that students who are connected to the arts are better students and lead more fulfilling and engaged lives. The arts are absolutely essential to our quality of life.
3. Birmingham Southern College is currently performing Carrie: The Musical, what drew you to this production?
In its original form, Carrie was a horror novel. However, the 2012 version of the musical focuses a great deal on the issue of bullying. What the students in Carrie’s high school do to her eventually provokes her anger and retribution. Carrie: The Musical is sadly relevant to our world. We wanted to use this as an opportunity to open up a conversation on campus. Our hope is that people leave the theatre thinking more clearly about how they treat others.
4. How do you execute the prom scene from Carrie in a theatrical setting?
Obviously we’re in the theatre and not on a movie set, so we’re working to mix reality and illusion in such a way that those iconic moments are powerful for the audience. Come see the show and find out if we accomplish that!
5. Are there any productions or performances you are looking forward to in Birmingham this season? Book of Mormon
Photo by Matthew Mielke.
