Buried beneath campus are the seeds of one of the world’s longest continuously monitored scientific experiments. This year, a new MSU Department of Theatre production brought that history to life.
Currently in its 147th year, the William J. Beal Seed Experiment serves as the inspiration for “Echoes from the Banks of the Red Cedar,” an immersive dance theatre production written, choreographed, and directed by Assistant Professor of Dance Alexandria Davis. The work explores the resilience of dormant seeds and the unseen forces shaping education.
For Davis, the experiment’s long arc of waiting and renewal offers a powerful metaphor for how institutions and identities evolve over time. Through choreography, Davis traces how values are transmitted and transformed across generations. The production weaves together multiple narratives to examine the cultural foundations and values that continue to shape the Spartan identity.
READ MORE about the production and see photos from the performance.
