There are few events in life outside of church that can bring people together emotionally quite like the performing arts, especially theatre. In a world often marked by distraction and disconnect, live performance has a unique way of drawing people into a shared human experience. For a few hours, an audience of strangers becomes a community.
That sense of connection was unmistakable this past February as Colorado Christian University’s School of Music packed out the Lakewood Cultural Center with more than 1,500 patrons across five sold-out performances of this year’s spring musical, Hello, Dolly!. But for CCU’s theatre department, moments like these go far beyond ticket sales. They are ministry.
For Director and Associate Professor of Theatre, Bethany Wood, selecting Hello, Dolly! was both an artistic and spiritual decision. Based on Thornton Wilder’s 1938 comedy The Merchant of Yonkers (later revised as The Matchmaker in 1955), the musical challenged students not only creatively, but personally.
“What really resonated with our students,” said Wood, “was the idea of people who had gone through loss and were reclaiming life.”
At its heart, Hello, Dolly! is about renewal. Dolly Gallagher Levi is a widow learning how to live fully again after grief. Horace Vandergelder wrestles with loneliness and guardedness after loss. Even the supporting characters long for joy and freedom after seasons of discouragement and frustration.
While the Broadway classic delighted audiences with humor and charm, Wood also encouraged the cast to explore the humanity beneath the comedy.
“These characters have pain in their past,” Wood explained. “But they’re choosing joy. I want people to notice that difference. And to wonder why.”
That perspective transformed the production process into something more meaningful than merely lines and choreography. Students learned to approach storytelling as a way of helping audiences recognize redemption, empathy, and hope.
“Every performance carries a message,” shared junior Isabelle Blanken (B.A. ’27) who played the title role of Dolly Gallagher Levi. “And storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to reach people.”
For Blanken, playing this role was the realization of a dream years in the making — and a glimpse into a calling that both originated and continues to flourish at CCU.
Years ago, Blanken sat in the audience as a child watching Hello, Dolly! the last time it was performed at CCU.
“I remember I met the girl who played Dolly, and I was so inspired!” said Blanken. “I went home that night and I told my parents, ‘I wonder if I’ll ever get to be on the stage like that’ — because at that point, I was purely a dancer.”
Now a double major in musical theatre and dance, Blanken was honored to take on the iconic role herself this spring.
“It was a dream come true,” she said. “To come full circle — it was such a surreal, beautiful moment.”
Blanken is bound to share many more “pinch-me” moments as she continues taking small steps of faith toward big dreams on stage. She hopes to pursue a professional career in musical theatre — performing on national tours, exploring film, and eventually moving to New York City with plans for Broadway. But wherever her path leads, her purpose remains steady.
“I want to use what I’ve been given. To tell stories that matter. To share hope. I love the idea that God gave us these gifts for a reason. When we perform, we’re using those gifts for His glory.” -Isabelle Blanken (B.A. ’27)
For students in the program, that sense of calling shapes every rehearsal and performance, as they explore the arts as both profession and ministry.
According to Wood, that mindset changes how students approach their craft. Performance becomes less about recognition and more about service — using creativity to encourage, connect, and reflect deeper truths about the human experience.
It has also created a culture within CCU’s theatre department where artistic excellence and spiritual purpose work hand in hand. Wood ensures that ministry happens as much backstage as it does under the spotlight. Students describe an environment marked by encouragement, unity, and shared mission, where faculty invest deeply in both artistic growth and personal development.
“God is moving here,” said Wood. “And it’s beautiful to see Him working through our students.”
Wood believes the arts are especially important in today’s culture because they create something many people are desperately missing: genuine human connection.
“You cannot do theatre with your phone in hand,” said Wood. “You have to be fully present.”
That goes not only for actors, but for audiences as well. In a time marked by rising anxiety, loneliness, and digital disengagement, Wood explained that live theatre calls people back into relationship — with one another and with the stories unfolding in front of them.
“I used to think theatre simply helped build empathy,” said Wood. “Now I think it’s part of the antidote to the mental health struggles we’re seeing. Theatre brings us face to face again. You have to be present. And that kind of connection is powerful.”
Theatre also requires collaboration, vulnerability, and trust. Cast members must rely on one another, working toward a shared goal rather than individual recognition. Wood compares that process to the body of Christ itself.
“When we’re creating theatre together, we’re functioning as the church,” said Wood.
As CCU’s theatre department continues to grow — including the launch of a new musical theatre major and expanded professional opportunities — the mission remains clear: Prepare students to enter the world as thoughtful, faith-filled artists.
“We are creating culture,” said Wood. “And we’re doing it in a way that reflects truth, dignity, and redemption.
“You can’t always control the content, but you can control the intent.”
“We want our students to go into the world and create art that honors Christ,” said Wood.
That means real-world experiences for students with professional auditions, masterclasses, internships, and industry connections while learning how to integrate their faith into their work. Whether pursuing Broadway, teaching, local theatre, or arts leadership, they carry with them a belief that story can do more than entertain — it can heal hearts, connect us as humans, and offer hope. It can minister.
And at Colorado Christian University, that is exactly what the arts are meant to do.
Take a Seat! Campaign
Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, we’ve raised over half of our $225,000 goal! Reserve your seat today with a tax-deductible gift to CCU’s School of Music. Each gift of $500 or more includes a personalized nameplate in the Armstrong Center and will help fund essential equipment, instruments, and technology for the McDonald Performance Hall.
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