Alpha Psi Omega
2007-2008

Alpha Psi Omega (APO) is shifting its focus to the community of the department it serves, the community of the university and the greater community of Newport News, Virginia.

We have created a new and improved Collaborative Artists program that will pair an APO brother with an incoming freshman. This allows new students to learn about the many ways to become involved in the department and Alpha Psi Omega. APO holds meetings every other week, which are open to all theatre students.

APO is increasing the number of No Shame Theatres, Stage Readings, Talk Backs and Cabarets, so more students on campus may become more aware of and interested in Theatre CNU and Alpha Psi Omega. All students, brothers or otherwise, are encouraged to participate in APO sponsored events. We offer a multitude of performance opportunities and we also sponsor events such as Hamlet Bowl (a departmental flag-football game) and the end of the year Gala, which celebrates the achievements of the department.

Alpha Psi Omega is branching out to the community by preparing a small traveling show to present to local elementary schools in order to instill a love of live theatre in children. Alpha Psi Omega is constantly growing, with inductions occurring each semester. APO is an honor fraternity, therefore, students must achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.0 and must participate in a number of theatre productions to earn points for admittance into Alpha Psi Omega. Participation, support and ideas are welcome not only from brothers but from all members of the department.

Alpha Psi Omega has a table in the lobby at each Theatre CNU production. At the APO table you will find season t-shirts, as well as Theatre CNU hats and mugs and plenty of information about our history, current APO brothers and upcoming events.

For general information about the National Fraternity visit:
www.alphapsiomega.org
For specific information about our chapters meetings, activities and sponsored events, visit:
www.cnuapo.blogspot.com

In Years Past...

Alpha Psi Omega has sponsored students going to national competitions. We arrange trips for students to travel and see plays to support the local theater community. We have an overflow of students at every bi-weekly meeting. We organize the end of the year Theater Gala in which students are honored by their peers and professors. What began as a small idea has blossomed and grown into a respected fraternity on campus and a powerful presence for Theater CNU.

Talking Back...

Beginning spring of 2003, Alpha Psi Omega has sponsored production "Talk-Backs." In these sessions, students and community members gather with the cast, designers, crew, and directors of important Theater CNU Productions. Students have been able to ask questions about the works of Chekhov and Three Sisters . They get to understand the harsh life in Australia during the time of Our Country's Good . This spring, we will invite the student body and the community to talk to the cast and production team of The Scarlet Letter .

Staged Readings...

Alpha Psi Omega also has arranged and directed staged readings of plays to supplement the Introduction to World Drama classes. For first time at CNU, students were transported to the world of Laramie, Wyoming for the ground-breaking play, The Laramie Project . The hilarious world of Oscar Wilde was explored in a reading of The Importance of Being Earnest . Soon Einstein's Café will be the location of a reading of Shakespeare's Richard III . These readings have become popular and important events on campus.

Who We Are...

It began spring semester of 2001. Six students got together and hoped to begin a chapter of Alpha Psi Omega at Christopher Newport University. Theater CNU was still a growing department and they knew having a theater fraternity on campus would be a great stepping stone. Three years later, the Alpha Delta Zeta cast of Alpha Psi Omega is now a strong force with over twenty-five active members.

Alpha Psi Omega is the National Honorary Theater Fraternity. The key word in this title is honor. Our members are eligible for induction once they participate in Theater CNU or professional productions and earn a certain number of points per each role or task. There is also a minimum grade point average per student. Joining APO is an honor. This chapter, however, has also focused on the services and duty that we should provide to Christopher Newport University's theater department.