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By Cami Cox
Staff Writer
Dixie State College professor Brent Hanson will be the selected speaker at this year's Alder Faculty Honor Lecture, March 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Eccles Fine Arts Center at DSC.
An annual event recognizing excellence in scholarship and teaching among DSC's faculty, the Honor Lecture highlights one professor each year, chosen from among nominations from DSC faculty and staff members.
“It's kind of a showcase lecture,” Hanson said. “It's an annual opportunity for a faculty member to present some research in the field that they've been working in.”
A theater professor at DSC since 1982, Hanson currently serves as the Associate Dean of Arts and Letters at DSC and also as Chair of Fine Arts. He was nominated for the Honor Lecture (created by past Dixie College president Douglas Alder and his wife, Elaine) for his work on a stage play, titled “Nathan Hale: One Life.”
“I'm sharing my research that I did in order to prepare to write the play, so I'm giving all the background information that I had to dig out in order to present the story on stage,” Hanson said.
A musical depicting the life of Hale – best known for uttering the famous words, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country” – the play revolves around an event in history that has long intrigued Hanson. He has long desired to turn the tale of the Revolutionary War hero into a stage production, he said, and the task of doing so has been a work in progress for some time.
“First of all, his story is a great story,” Hanson said. “It has great dramatic potential, and I think it could work well adapted for the theater. Secondly, the story makes comment about the world we live in, even though he lived 250 years ago.”
Hanson anticipates that completing the play will take about a year, and he is collaborating with two student composers from DSC, Ricky Valadez and Ben Stratford, to finish the project.
“That's turning out to be pretty exciting,” he said. “Their work is really exciting to me. They're doing a great job.”
During the Honor Lecture, which will be free to the public, DSC students Travis Cox and Joel Thomas will join Hanson on stage to enact a scene from “Nathan Hale” for those in attendance.
“In addition to seeing the research and my process in preparing to write the script, the people who attend the lecture will get a sample of where the show is headed,” Hanson said.
Hanson has written and produced two other productions at the college, “St. George Christmas” and “Time-Share.” “St. George Christmas” was originally produced at DSC about 10 years ago and was reprised last year, he said. “Time-Share” was produced two years ago, and the show was then picked up by a Nevada College, where it was performed again last year. Having his work go beyond the borders of Dixie State College was exciting, Hanson said.
“They claimed they had a good experience with it,” he said with a laugh. “That was gratifying to me.”
Hanson's upcoming Honor Lecture could prove a timely segue for DSC, as the school lobbies for a new theater bachelor's degree to be offered next year. The proposed degree will come up before the Board of Regents later this month, Hanson said, and if it receives Regent approval, the new degree will likely include courses in playwriting.
“We're optimistic,” Hanson said. “It's not a done deal yet, but it's looking good.”
The Alder Faculty Honor Lecture will take place March 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Eccles Fine Arts Center Concert Hall at Dixie State College, 100 South and 700 East in St. George. Admission is free. Papers associated with the Honor Lecture are published in a booklet each year, according to information from DSC, and that booklet will be available at the lecture or by calling Demaree Johnson at 652-7867.

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