(WARRENSBURG, Mo.) – The Department of Theatre and Dance will perform “Step Forward” at the Highlander Theater April 20-22 at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

The original show was created by students and was co-directed by Julie Mollenkamp and Ashley Miller-Scully.

“[We were inspired by] memes after 2016, like ‘Love is Love’ ‘Black lives matter’, and thought that these were very important topics to cover.” Miller-Scully said. “We decided to take it on as a devised topic that Julie and I created for this performance from the ground up with like spoken word, projection and dance.”

Mollenkamp said the play goes beyond surface level characteristics.

“We want people to see people, so that they can see beyond their political affiliation, gender, race and class.” Mollenkamp said.

Ashton Bennett, choreographer, thinks the show is about empathy.

“It is about listening with radical empathy to the people around you and learning that we have some major issues going on in this world that people overlook,” Bennett said.

Kayla Helms, stage manager, thinks the show is about taking a stand.

“This show really does a great job in introducing some rough subjects, but it is up to us to take a stand,” Helms said.  

Tickets cost $15 for the general public and $10 for faculty, staff, military and senior citizens. Students can purchase tickets for $7. Viewers can buy tickets from 9:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. weekdays starting Monday, April 9th at the Highlander box office.