Arts, Etc.Theater

Two students, one love for stage

Freshmen S. Baker Eatmon and Nichole Mhoon were granted scholarships by the Theatre Department. Illuminated on the stage in Founders Hall Auditorium, one they prefer over Dailey Theatre, Eatmon and Mhoon are looking onward and upward to successful terms with the University’s theatre group. / photo by Brian Murphy
Freshmen S. Baker Eatmon and Nichole Mhoon were granted scholarships by the Theatre Department. Illuminated on the stage in Founders Hall Auditorium, one they prefer over Dailey Theatre, Eatmon and Mhoon are looking onward and upward to successful terms with the University’s theatre group. / photo by Brian Murphy

by Tanessa Dillard
Features Editor

Freshmen Nichole Mhoon and S. Baker Eatmon agree on many things. They both prefer the stage in Founders Auditorium to the one in Dailey Theatre. They love the art of pantomime. And, rich or poor, they plan to be involved in theater for the rest of their lives.

“I love it, I live it and I breathe it,” said Mhoon. “I will perform in a park,” she said, if that becomes her only means of doing theater.

“I heard that,” Eatmon responded. On the spot, they vowed to perform together in a park someday.

Mhoon, a theater and broadcast major, and Eatmon, a theater major, have other similarities as well. They both performed in the Theatre Department’s High School Festival last year.

According to Mhoon, from Rowland High School in Rowland Heights, the judges “trashed” her school’s performance of Open Admis­sions. However, Eatmon said the judges were highly impressed by the Dana Hills High School performance of the Elephant Man. He won the best actor award for his portrayal of Ross, an evil character who beat the Elephant Man. The judges also gave his school awards for best production and best female actor.

Both students became aware at the festival of the three ULV theater scholarships. Two of these scholarships are awarded each year to freshmen. Eatmon and Mhoon auditioned and won the scholarships, which pay one-third of their tuition for one year.

Even though they have only been a part of the Theatre Department for a month, the two students are already involved. One project they are working on is the Haunted House. Eatmon, who said he experienced “theater withdrawal” over the summer, designed an execution chair and other torture devices for the project.

He will play Sir Toby, a drunk, in the upcoming production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Mhoon plays Princess Olivia. She is excited about her first time performing Shakespeare.

Her very first performance took place her freshman year of high school. As Mhoon recalled, she played “follow the leader” by signing up for drama when another girl did. It became her life after performing rapper Too Short’s song “The Ghetto” as a monologue. She also credits her high school drama teacher, Patricia Doublet, for introducing her to the world of theater.

Mhoon said, “You can really change somebody’s life [through theater]. You can make them cry. You can give them hope. You can actually feel the connection from the audience.” She said that personal satisfaction means more than “roses or handshakes.”

Eatmon, who has been involved in theater since he was 7, has appeared in about 80 shows, mostly musicals. He credits his artistic family for his early involvement in theater. His mother is a professional photographer; his father once wrote plays as a hobby (he might use one of them as a project someday); his brother was also involved in theater.

“There’s nothing like it,” Eatmon said of being on stage. “You walk out there and you’re on top of the world. It’s better than any drug. You can be anyone. You can talk to the gods. You can be the devil. Theater is the greatest high ever invented.”

Eatmon’s present goals include auditioning for the Julliard School of Music, with the hopes of getting accepted into its program. In the future, he might teach theater at a university. He wants to do a main-stage musical as well as a production of Zoo Story in the park.

After graduating, Mhoon plans to get a master’s degree in theater. Then she will go on to film school. She would like to be on a television series for a year or two and be in a Broadway production.

Another goal is to open a school for artists, musicians and dancers, where students would build on their art forms. She is also interested in biblical theater.

“If I could do something on stage that could bring people to Christ, I would die,” she said. “That’s a dream.”

Tanessa Dillard, Managing Editor
Tanessa Dillard
Other Stories
Brian Murphy
Other Stories
Previous article
Prism takes on new look, outlook
Next article
Regals top volleyball in 4

Latest Stories

Related articles

Arts, Etc.

Theater fraternity presents genderbent fundraiser

Alpha Psi Omega presented their “Cabaret: A Genderbent Night” on Wednesday in Morgan Auditorium to raise money for theater productions. 
Arts, Etc.

Professor embraces the silliness of theater arts

Hannah Gaff, the University’s new theater professor who began here in October, is no stranger to clowning around as a professional therapeutic clown, international theatre creator, actor and teacher. 
Arts, Etc.

Happenings

Campus and community arts events for the week of March 20, 2026.
Arts, Etc.

Play grapples with grief and mental health

The University of La Verne's theater arts department is showing “Proof,” written by David Auburn, a Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Sean Dillon, professor of theatre arts, is director.