From Ontario to Wichita: An in-depth look at Karen Robu's lifelong relationship with the theatre
From Ontario to Wichita: An in-depth look at Karen Robu's lifelong relationship with the theatre
A handful of states and two different countries later, Bethel's Director of Theatre is using her skills to shape aspiring actors and actresses.
When Bethel College director of theatre Karen Robu graduated from high school, she wanted to be a veterinarian.
Then, she was introduced to the theatre. And during her time on stage, her plans quickly started to change.
“I really started to put my heart into it,” Robu said — despite the fact that it wasn’t easy for her to follow her blossoming dream of becoming an actress because of her father’s opposition. Regardless, she still applied for colleges with theatre in mind, because she knew after a conversation with her school counselor that her grades simply wouldn’t suffice for veterinarian school.
Then, after attending and graduating from Windsor University in Ontario, she admitted to her family her dream of performing. And as the first person in her family to pursue such a route, her journey of acting officially began.
After working in theaters in Toronto and Michigan, she applied for the National Dinner Theatre Association, where she met Tom Morris — who worked in Wichita’s theater — and offered Karen a six-month contract. She would accept and stay for a year before turning her focus to traveling and performing across North America.
From Wichita to Canada, from Canada to Florida, from Florida to Indianapolis to Wichita again, she eventually decided to settle down in the Sunflower State with her boyfriend at the time.
Then, after collecting seven years of customizing and performing in and around Wichita and teaching on an adjunct basis for six years at Wichita State University, Christine-Crouse Dick — professor and Chair of Communication Arts at Bethel — contacted and offered Karen a full-time professor and the director of theatre position. Now, Robu’s not only a professor in communication arts, but she’s also still performing in Wichita and has a full-time job as a minister at Plymouth Congregational Church.
Her latest venture with the Bethel theatre program is the upcoming Fall Fest show, Quiet in the Land. The idea of performing this play came to Robu’s mind in February during the Russia-Ukraine, when she started to think deeply about wars and the reasons behind them.
For Robu, there’s also a historical connection between the Amish and Mennonites — so she felt it would be a natural fit for one of Bethel’s busiest weekends. And this year, she opened up the audition to the greater Newton community and is rolling out a cast comprised of nine Bethel students and five community members. By doing so, Robu entered into a collaboration with the Hesston College theatre program to enhance the play’s all-encompassing storyline.
What audience members this weekend will witness is just one of countless productions that Robu has played a monumental role in. From state to state and country to country, those who have worked with or under her can surely attest to her keen eye for the theatre.
And it all started with a high schooler who wanted to be a veterinarian.