Theater, Art Collide in 'Secondhand'

Westmont senior Connor Bush directs and stars in a new play, “Secondhand,” on Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7, at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. both nights in Westmont’s Black Box Theatre. The 40-minute production is free and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Seniors Kevin Hammer and Cole Erickson also perform in “Secondhand,” co-written by Bush and Hammer. Senior Brent Starrh is lighting designer and senior Lindsey Twigg is stage manager.

“This is less of a traditional play and more of an installation/performance art piece of theater,” Bush says. “It has been a challenge, but it has been very exciting to be working with Kevin and Cole who come from different artistic mediums.”

Erickson is an expert in photography, which is a large component of the show.

“We use printed photographs and project live-streamed photographs that Cole takes during the production,” Bush says. “It is a dizzying study on light, sound and color.”

Bush says he came up with the idea for the project while watching Cole work on photo projects. “Something about the mysterious nature of setting up shots, rearranging lighting instruments and then disappearing behind a camera seemed deeply theatrical to me,” Bush says.

Hammer, who has experience with sculpture and writing, joined the two. “The project has taken many twists and turns,” Bush says. “The final form has roots in nostalgia and the confusion of growing up, longing for the past, longing for the future and longing for things to make sense.

“I hope audiences feel charged by the performance and excited that theatre can be a hands-on, invigorating experience.”