Student Activities Hosts Spring Coffeehouse: The Great Beyond
Pmrops scattered around the Vines Center allowed students to travel to the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon from “Star Wars” or become a “Toy Story” alien in the claw machine. Other props included a hallway filled with space-related cardboard cutouts, a homage to Area 51 and a photo opportunity with Groot from “Guardians of the Galaxy.”
Liberty students experienced an out of this world event in the Vines Center on March 26 as Student Activities welcomed them to Coffeehouse: The Great Beyond with elaborate props and space-themed music.
After the festive cheer of Christmas Coffeehouse during the fall semester, this semester’s Coffeehouse traveled beyond planet Earth.
“Coffeehouse was like never before; we had entirely new elements added to the show,” Student Activities’ Coordinator of Special Events Sarah Byrd said. “Some moments were shocking and jaw-dropping and we even had a few that were emotional and inspiring.”
Students could also move through a wormhole, which consisted of a black hallway covered in stars and other atmospheric projections.
Space trivia flashed across the big screen leading up to the launch of the show with a blastoff countdown. On stage, performers dressed as astronauts started off the night with an animated performance of Electric Light Orchestra’s “Mr. Blue Sky.”
“We host Coffeehouse every semester, year after year, because Liberty students are incredible performers and really understand the practice and hard work it takes to make it on that stage,” Byrd said. “Unlike a bingo night or a movie night, Coffeehouse offers students a chance to see the best performers on campus playing at the peak of their ability.”
During the rest of the event, performers exemplified the theme by singing, dancing and playing instruments to songs like Owl City’s “Fireflies,” Chris Stapleton’s “When the Stars Come Out” and Far East Movement’s “Rocketeer.” The Flamettes dance group transformed into the “Women in Black” for the occasion, and hip-hop group D-Trex portrayed an invasion of an alien planet through dance.
Student-made videos also contributed to the theme with many references to classic science fiction movies. Skits like “Men in Red,” “Lustbusters” and “Beyond the Mountain” applied a Liberty twist to the movies “Men in Black,” “Ghostbusters” and “Star Wars.” Every video was filled with special effects and inside jokes that had the audience laughing and cheering along.
“I’ve never been to a themed Coffeehouse before, so this was honestly super-duper fun,” sophomore Jake Griffin said. “I just really liked the going-back-to-the-80s kind of feel but for space. It’s just fun to watch that.”
Games like “Finish the Lyric” and “Hot Takes” incorporated audience contestants into the show with gift cards offered as prizes. Student Activities also took time out of the event to honor the memory of Jane “Nightbirde” Marczewski, a former Liberty student and Coffeehouse performer who recently lost her battle with cancer.
For years, Coffeehouse has punctuated
Liberty semesters with a night of bright lights, loud music and talent.
“It kind of makes you forget about all the deadlines, all the assignments due,” sophomore Rye Maclone said. “You have to get them done at some point, but this is kind of a time where you just forget about that, have fun, hang out with friends and just chill out – even if it is a late night.”
During the show, host Anna Pender and co-host Jordan Hassler reminded the audience about upcoming Student Activities events. The group will be holding movie nights, a concert by Chris Renzema, a yard sale and other events in the upcoming weeks. For more information, students can visit liberty.edu/sa.
kamman is a news reporter.