Audience shelters in Klein during off-campus shooting

by SOPHIA TOMPKINS & MEAGHAN VAN DYKE

Online Editor and News Editor

On Nov. 14, just minutes into Act II of UMW Theatre’s production of “Godspell,” Fredericksburg Police issued a shelter in place order that included campus, forcing the cast, crew and audience to stay in Klein Theatre after the show concluded while police investigated the scene.

The student crew, led by Stage Manager, senior theatre major Katherine Farmer, worked to keep the audience occupied and maintain a safe and calm environment until the shelter in place was lifted at 10:47 p.m.—over an hour after the actors took their final bows. 

Ultimately, the crew and actors participated in an impromptu Q&A to keep the audience engaged as the police continued their investigation outside. 

“I tried to put myself in the audience’s shoes of like, what would I want to hear in this situation?” Farmer said. 

The shelter in place order was issued in response to a shooting that took place near campus on William Street shortly before 8 p.m. that left two individuals wounded. As the actors continued their performance on stage, Farmer and Nichole Griffin, a sophomore theatre major and assistant stage manager, locked the doors and coordinated with their team to ensure a swift and safe response.

House Manager and senior theater major Liz Ashby assisted with the efforts and made contact with a UMW police officer stationed outside of duPont. While the team of students secured the building, they simultaneously kept the show running without disruption. 

“I was talking to four people at one time and also calling a show,” Farmer said.

To minimize panic, the actors and audience were not made aware of the situation until after the show concluded and the team was adequately prepared to manage the crowd. 

“I wanted them to be able to stay in the moment of the show,” said Farmer. “For their protection, I didn’t want them worried about it because I was already worried for all of us.”

Shortly after the shelter in place went into effect, Brandon Prendergast, UMW Theatre’s production manager, contacted Farmer with additional information about how to mitigate chaos after the show. 

“The stage managers handled the situation beautifully,” Prendergast said. “They responded calmly and thoughtfully.” 

For over an hour after the anticipated end time, the 215-person audience and members of the cast and crew sheltered in Klein Theatre as they awaited the notification that it was safe to leave. Farmer and her team welcomed audience questions and facilitated an open discussion that gave insights into the production. 

“This not only mirrors professional practice, a hallmark of our program, but is a natural extension of the work our students do every day,” said Prendergast. 

According to ABC News 7, the shooting took place a few minutes before 8 p.m. on Nov. 14, a suspect described as a Black shirtless man wearing joggers fired shots on William Street, wounding two individuals who were treated at Mary Washington Hospital. The victims are in stable condition and both knew the shooter, according to Fredericksburg Police. The suspect has not been caught.“I talked with the stage managers on Monday and we debriefed on the performances from the weekend,” said Prendergast. “I was pleased to share with them that I would not have done anything differently regarding the shelter in place. I am very proud of how they handled it.”