Since last spring, our department has been developing and conceptualizing the Cherryfield Toy Company. A devised piece that was conceptualized in a class with designers and performers, which will consist of audience members traveling throughout the house of Emily Cherryfield. With such a big production such as Cherryfield, there has been much uncertainty, with shows getting switched around, design assignments being blurred, and the prospect of budget cuts that may impact the future of CSU Theater productions. We ask faculty to put a stop to this production that will negatively affect us, the students, as performers, designers, and future theater makers. We ask for CSU Theater's faculty to reconsider other production options for the 25-26 season, for the sake of design opportunities, performer opportunities, and monetary spending regarding The Cherryfield Company. 

A reconsideration for a different play or musical would enhance the learning experience for designers, performers, and dramaturgs, as a standard production is more valuable for students' resumes and skills. In addition, budgeting for this should be allocated elsewhere. One example is the scenic support for the fall play, Men On Boats. Taking the crucial element of scenery from this production will not only be detrimental to the production but takes away already hard to come by design opportunities for a scenic designer. As future artists, we want to enhance our portfolio and artistic talents with the help of Staff and Faculty, but when opportunities such as this are taken away, we worry for our future as designers as many of us are only here for four years. Taking away these learning opportunities is against CSU Theater's pedagogy and praxis with the “We Cultivate” section on their website that states, “Our student-centered approach cultivates dedicated learners prepared to advance in life with a solid foundation of practical experience and clarity about the kind of artist-citizens they are becoming”. 

Putting on an immense production such as Cherryfield will make all other productions in the season suffer, at the cost of a show that may not attract as many patrons as our Mainstage productions do. Another example of why we must reconsider other options is the concern of performer participation and experience. The Cherryfield Toy Company script is constantly being changed. Without a concrete script performers cannot deliver their best work, especially in an educational environment. Many of the scenes within this production consist of 5-10 minute monologues and other scenes that do not really showcase the performer's talent as well as a play or musical would. The production is unfinished; designers, performers, and managers must have a complete and concrete script in order for shops, actors, and designers to prepare for what they can design. 

We must also consider monetary cuts from within the university. Instead of using a large amount of CSU Theater budget to put this production on, CSU Theater must support their staff, faculty, and students before a production. CSU Theater must also consider funding for classes crucial for students to graduate. In a college environment supported education and the success of its students and staff should come first. 

  A monetary investment in our education and educators is an investment in our success. As students of the School Of Music, Theatre, and Dance; we ask CSU Theater Faculty and the Director of CSU Theater to reconsider a play or musical to replace The Cherryfield Toy Company.