Madison Long
Life Editor
“To the theatre department, APO is more than just a club,” says Kallis Shibahara, APO Secretary and theatre major.
APO, or Alpha Psi Omega, is an ISU honors fraternity, targeted towards any and all theatre lovers and majors. Like other fraternities on campus, this club has bigs and littles and hosts events and activities to connect its members.
Some events are targeted towards mock auditions, prepping students for ISU scholarship auditions or for ISU production auditions.
Others, like their Fall Carnival, are open to the community, inviting everyone to play games and win prizes with other members of the club.
Currently, its cabinet consists of President Hannah Jensen, Vice President Leoni Gambee, Secretary Kallis Shibahara, Secretary Madi Kerr, Treasurer James Baum and Business Manager Sarah Senner.
“APO acts as a hub and a resource for theatre students,” says Hannah Jensen, a third year student majoring in communications with an emphasis in public relations. “Whether students are interested in making the show or watching the show, APO will be a supportive and fun place to encourage creativity and hard work in the arts.”
As part of APO’s community engagement, members can volunteer to usher for various productions, plan events, or teach classes to high school students across Southeastern Idaho – as one part of the High School One-Acts Festival where students get hands-on workshops, behind-the-scenes sessions with professionals, and two days of competitions. This year the event will take place on April 24 and 25.
“My efforts, despite only being the Treasurer of the APO presidency, have been to try and include, and to offer a voice for some of our quieter members,” says James Baum. “I’ve always been great at listening to others, but in my time here, I’ve noticed that I’ve also grown in my ability to ask our members and pledges questions and what their thoughts are on all the different topics in theatre.”
APO Presidency and other members have also connected with other theatre companies in the Pocatello area, including the Leavitt Center and their East Idaho Arts Club. These classes allow younger children to share their love and passion for theatre, and bring more attention to the ISU theatre department.
Along with participating in ISU productions, APO puts on their own entirely student-led production – picked out, directed, designed and performed by the club. This year, the students put on a Tom Stoppard play, “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead,” inside the Black Box Theatre on Jan.29.
“APO helps to make people feel like they have a connection to the theatre department, even if theatre isn’t their major,” says Madi Kerr, a senior majoring in Psychology and Sociology with a concentration in Criminology. “APO was the place that I met most of my friends that I have now and really made me feel like a part of the Theatre Department, when previously I felt like an outcast in a way.”
