Louan Hilty was initially neutral about theater.

A college theater course filled her with passion, however - a passion that led Hilty to pursue her master's in theater at Miami University.

Hilty now is the newest member of the University of Dayton's theater department. She will direct this fall's play, "The Diviners," and will teach a theater course part-time. Hilty has directed plays for numerous organizations including Eaton High School and Zoot Theatre Company in Dayton.

Hilty is essentially a guest artist at UD, said Darrell Anderson, director of the theater program.

"Each [director] brings a different perspective and a unique approach to the play," he said.

Excited to begin, Hilty said she has high hopes for her students and actors. Her wish for her students is that they have fun while gaining a new respect for theater.

"I'm hoping the actors will learn something about themselves as well as learn to collaborate and become part of a team," she said.

For the last three school years, direction of Boll Theater productions has been split among four regulars: Kay Bosse, Tony Dallas, Linda Dunlevy and Gina Kleesattel.

"Some of the students have already mentioned they're anxious to work with [Hilty] to get the different perspective," Anderson said.

Hilty said she has been enjoying her time at UD thus far.

"Everyone has been so nice; everybody has welcomed me," she said. "I just hope to learn and grow as a person and hope the students can teach me as much, if not more, than I can teach them."

Hilty said she wants not only to affect her students and those actors she will be directing but also the community in general.

"I would hope they would enjoy their theatrical experience and leave the theater with a new perspective on the human condition," she said. "It might teach them something about themselves."

She said her wish is for the community to enjoy the theater and be entertained, but also to take a look at themselves and the world in which they live.

Auditions for "The Diviners" will be held 6:30 p.m. today and tomorrow in Boll Theater located in Kennedy Union.

The script is available on reserve in Roesch Library for those wishing to read it before auditions.

Anderson and Hilty want to encourage everyone, regardless of what his or her major is, to audition. Roles in Boll productions are not exclusively for theater majors.

"We want anybody who is interested in theater," Hilty said. "We want everybody to learn."