‘COE Does ART’ Presents ‘The Bachelor King’

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — For a select group of engineers at The University of Alabama, engineering may be their forte, but it is not their only interest. The students involved in UA’s “College of Engineering Does Amateur Radical Theatre” will showcase their acting skills by presenting “The Bachelor King” at the end of November.

“The Bachelor King” is a comedy filled with chaos and spoofs of popular reality shows, including “American Idol,” “The Bachelor,” and “Survivor.” When a foolish hillbilly accidentally becomes king and must find a queen, his staff brings him eligible young ladies to vie for his hand. Some of the ladies include a high-society matron, a four-times-married gold digger, a ditzy cheerleader, and a cowgirl. The hillbilly king must sort through the contenders to find his true love and, at the same time, save his country from all of its problems.

“My favorite part about participating in COE Does ART is that it is completely different from all the other organizations that I participate in,” said Elizabeth Ann Junkin, a junior majoring in chemical and biological engineering and the group’s musical director. “The club allows me to come into rehearsal after a long day of science and engineering classes and forget about everything I have to do for about an hour. This club is my stress relief!”

Jill Hoover, a senior in mechanical engineering and the dramatic director for COE Does ART, has noticed a growth in membership and attendance at performances during the last year. “People are beginning to realize that engineers can act,” said Hoover.

“There’s such an introverted stereotype for engineers that when people hear a group or engineering students are getting on stage willingly in front of people, they’re shocked,” said aerospace engineering cast member Chris King. “But, it’s really not all that big of a deal — we have our passions and hobbies just like everyone else.”

Performances will be held Friday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m. in HM Comer Hall, room 126. The cost of attending is $5, and tickets can be purchased in advance, by e-mailing coedoesart@gmail.com, or at the door.

Members of the COE Does Art and “The Bachelor King” cast and crew include:

• Hannah Bigham, a chemical and biological engineering major from Pensacola, Fla.
• Jessica Cardwell, a psychology major from Atlanta, Ga.
• Amelia Frances DeWitt, a chemical and biological engineering major from Northport
• Kelsey Dunn, a mechanical engineering major from Birmingham
• Jordan S. Gill, a computer science major from Brownsville, Tenn.
• Kacey Groves, an aerospace engineering major from Jasper
• Hunter Holt, from Franklin, Tenn.
• Jill Hoover, a mechanical engineering major from Dallas, Texas
• Elizabeth Hulsey, an electrical engineering major from Tuscaloosa
• Jessica Hulsey, an education major from Bessemer
• Elizabeth Ann Junkin, a chemical and biological engineering major from Duncanville
• Chris King, an aerospace engineering major from Louisville, Ky.
• Jon Lauer, a mathematics major from Madison
• Katelyn Denise Pate, a chemical and biological engineering major from Northport
• Laura Phillips, a mechanical engineering major from Columbus, Ohio
• Erika E. Wade, an English and African American studies major from Birmingham
• Hank Wiggins, a chemical and biological engineering major from Andalusia

COE Does ART, a student-led organization established in January 2007 at The University of Alabama, aims at disproving the stereotype that engineers are not capable of producing creative works of art.