New Sacramento State students in the theater and dance department took advantage of the opportunity to introduce themselves in an unconventional way Thursday in production titled “New Faces.”

“I started New Faces five years ago as a way for the current students to be introduced formally to the new faces – the new freshman and the transfers – and it was just sort of an ice breaker,” said Associate Professor of acting technique and musical theatre Ed Brazo.

Brazo’s “New Faces” is put on during the fall semester and gives everyone a chance to become more involved with the theater family, which occupies Shasta Hall. The event took place in the Playwright’s Theatre at Shasta Hall at 5 p.m.

“It gives us the chance to get their name, a little about them and what they do so we can say hello to them when we see them – especially when we don’t have them in class that particular semester,” said Brazo.

The theatre was quiet and dark with lights centered on the performers. Each performance offered a different perspective of the things each student wanted to convey to the audience about themselves.

The evening started off with a couple of students introducing themselves,reading poetry and evolved into various monologues, singing routines and ended with dance performances.

Each student who signed up was given two minutes to present. It offered a way for students to become more comfortable with the theatre and dance community at Sac State.

“I think it’s a good idea because it allows us to have our first performances in these spaces as freshman and transfers, and (to) also see what everyone else is bringing to the table and their experiences and talents,” said 22-year-old junior theater major Natalie Jones.

Although the event is voluntary, many students gobbled up the opportunity to be able to introduce themselves with family, friends and staff in an intimate way – by using expression through performance.

After the event, audience members were given the chance to mingle with new students during the reception. The audience could ask questions or just chat with the performers to familiarize themselves and start creating bonds for the future.

Briana Swain can be reached at [email protected]