"You're on the top of my college list."
I've wanted to come to VCU since I was ten."
"Everybody I called back showed up. At 7:15 there were still eight performers waiting to meet with me. I decided to meet all eight together and after I finished describing the Senior Showcase opportunities it was as though they all became VCU cheerleaders! They were so excited! - Lorri Lindberg
"These renderings are AMAZING!
"You can only take a Baby Ruth if you take a brochure."
"I like to spend my summers focusing lights on productions that I want to light."
"You're obseessedwith lighting."
(big sigh) Yes. Yes I am." (sigh)
" See you next week at the Open House! I just registered - I hope I'm not too late!!!!"
"Lou's Lighting Workshop was amazing. It was as if he was able to condense the entire Intro to Lighting class into a 45 minute master workshop. I learned so many solutions to my lighting problems at our high school. Be sure to thank him."
"Hi, my name is -----. my name is on the callback list. VCU is the only school I want to go to."
Also heard at VTA:
"Shhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!
"I'm only here to get more friends on Facebook."
" I want to go to VCU so that I can get to NYC in a New York minute."
If you get a chance please say a big thankyou to all the hard-working participants:
Neno Russell, who tirelessly critiqued portfolios and advised young designers.
Lorri Lindberg, who spent many hours on Fri. & Sat. sitting through endless high school auditions, and then stayed late both evenings meeting with each and every call-back (and quite a few non-call-backs who still aspire to join the Theatre VCU family).
Barry Bell, who was led from production to production from 8am to 8pm for two days, judging the hard work of high school theatre departments from across the state. He witnessed the good, the bad, and the inspired, and survived to tell the tale and make the call.
Lou Szari, the great champion of high school drama teachers throughout the state of Virginia.
Our grad students whose workshops inspired gangs of high schoolers who then came to our table spilling over with enthusiasm.
And of course the VCU students who help us out all weekend. Thank you Thomas Bell for herding cats Friday night. Thank you Lucian and Tommy for the soup. And Walid, your energy is memorable!
Theatre VCU performers - please let this blogger know how you did at your SETC auditions - will we
see you in Atlanta this March?
And all you high school dramatists - keep in touch. Let us know about your productions, and your college aspirations and remember, SHHHHHHH!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Check out the energy behind this photo!
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| Josh Chenard and the cast of Animal Farm warming up |
Another exciting Shafer Street Theatre production? Of course.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Will this key unlock your heart?
Apartment 3a opens this Thursday at the Shafer Street Playhouse
October 28th (IDR) @ 7:30
October 29th @ 7:30pm
October 30th @ 2pm, then again at 7:30pm
It's FREE so come out and see it!
Starring: Caitlin Carbone, Josh Marin, Austin Seay, Tyler Weaver and Mauricio Marces
Director: Anna Kurtz
Stage Manager: Rebecca Wylie
Assistant Stage Manager and Props Master: Brandon Butts
Set Design: Chris Raintree
Light Design: Tory Coleman
Waltz Choreographer: Meghan Kelleher
October 28th (IDR) @ 7:30
October 29th @ 7:30pm
October 30th @ 2pm, then again at 7:30pm
It's FREE so come out and see it!
Starring: Caitlin Carbone, Josh Marin, Austin Seay, Tyler Weaver and Mauricio Marces
Director: Anna Kurtz
Stage Manager: Rebecca Wylie
Assistant Stage Manager and Props Master: Brandon Butts
Set Design: Chris Raintree
Light Design: Tory Coleman
Waltz Choreographer: Meghan Kelleher
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
A Balancing Act - Internationally Known Guest Artist Emmanuelle Chaulet is Coming to Theatre VCU!
We are thrilled to welcome Emmanuelle Chaulet November 1- 5, 2010.
Listen to what Professor Josh Chenard has to say about Ms. Chaulet: "I am so thrilled Emmanuelle will be leading workshops at VCU in November. Emmanuelle has directed me in several productions including the American Premiere of Xavier Durringer’s A Taste of the Killing on the Tip of the Tongue. We formed a succesful, New England based theatre company called Two Lights Theatre Ensemble in 2000, and Emmanuelle continues to direct, teach and act most recently in the award winning Sundowning directed by Jim Cole. She is an international film actress, an amazing director, an author, and a vibrant and giving teacher."
She toured with several theatre productions including three written and directed by Xavier Durringer. Her directing credits include: Chekhov’s The Marriage Proposal and The Brute, Strindberg’s Miss Julie, The Maids, by Jean Genet and an American premiere by Jean-Luc Lagarce, Music Hall. At USM she directed A Taste of Killing on the Tip of the Tongue by Xavier Durringer, Rest Stop, an original play by Elias A. Bresnick, Phaedra by Jean Baptiste Racine, and Africa/Portland about African women refugees in Portland. In 2002 and with Two Lights Theatre Ensemble, she translated and directed La Promise by Xavier Durringer, thanks to a major grant from Etant Donnés, the fund for the performing arts from the French Embassy in New York, and another grant from the Maine Arts Commission and Maine Humanities Council. Most recently she directed El Cid Au Flamenco at Saint Lawrence Arts Center in Portland and at the Theatre At Monmouth.
Emmanuelle is the founder and director of Starlight Acting Institute and Adjunct Faculty at the University of Southern Maine Department of Theatre, where she has directed several main stage shows. She also holds the position of Arts Events Director for both the USM School of Music and the Department of Theatre.
Additionally, she is a certified Energy Awareness Counselor, and RYSE® III Practitioner from the Polarity Realization Institute of Massachusetts and Maine, where she studied healing modalitites with Nancy Risley, and Lasca Hewes. For the last ten years, she has developed and applied a new acting technique called Energize! a holistic approach to acting which Starlight Acting Institute is dedicated to teach.
As a teacher she has conducted workshops in French cinema, acting, energy awareness, public speaking and Energize! a holistic approach to acting for the University of Southern Maine, Bates College, American College Theatre Festival, L’Oreal and most of the graduate schools of Paris, including La Sorbonne.
At USM, she received the 1998-99 Theatre Faculty Award presented by the Student Performing Artists. She was guest of honor at La Mostra, Venice Film Festival, Cannes, London, Montreal, Paris Festival D’Automne, Avignon, Toronto and the New Caledonia Film Festival and was was President of the Jury at Québec Film Festival in 1990. She was selected for inclusion in the 2007 “Who is Who in America” and in the 2008 “Who is Who in the World.”
Listen to what Professor Josh Chenard has to say about Ms. Chaulet: "I am so thrilled Emmanuelle will be leading workshops at VCU in November. Emmanuelle has directed me in several productions including the American Premiere of Xavier Durringer’s A Taste of the Killing on the Tip of the Tongue. We formed a succesful, New England based theatre company called Two Lights Theatre Ensemble in 2000, and Emmanuelle continues to direct, teach and act most recently in the award winning Sundowning directed by Jim Cole. She is an international film actress, an amazing director, an author, and a vibrant and giving teacher."
Emmanuelle Chaulet's biography:
Emmanuelle Chaulet studied acting and the Michael Chekhov technique with Robert Cordier in Paris and also with Lisa Dalton and Mala Powers. A Fulbright Scholar from the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York, she is a theatre director, teacher and actress with over 25 years of experience in theatre and film both in France and the United States.
As a professional actress, her credits include lead roles in such movies as Boyfriends and Girlfriends by French New Wave master Eric Rohmer, and All the Vermeers in New York by Jon Jost (an American Playhouse Production and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association’s best independent film of 1991), and supporting role in Chocolat by Claire Denis. Most recently she performed the role of Darcie, opposite Minor Rootes in the award winning film Sundowning, by Jim Cole.
As a professional actress, her credits include lead roles in such movies as Boyfriends and Girlfriends by French New Wave master Eric Rohmer, and All the Vermeers in New York by Jon Jost (an American Playhouse Production and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association’s best independent film of 1991), and supporting role in Chocolat by Claire Denis. Most recently she performed the role of Darcie, opposite Minor Rootes in the award winning film Sundowning, by Jim Cole.
She toured with several theatre productions including three written and directed by Xavier Durringer. Her directing credits include: Chekhov’s The Marriage Proposal and The Brute, Strindberg’s Miss Julie, The Maids, by Jean Genet and an American premiere by Jean-Luc Lagarce, Music Hall. At USM she directed A Taste of Killing on the Tip of the Tongue by Xavier Durringer, Rest Stop, an original play by Elias A. Bresnick, Phaedra by Jean Baptiste Racine, and Africa/Portland about African women refugees in Portland. In 2002 and with Two Lights Theatre Ensemble, she translated and directed La Promise by Xavier Durringer, thanks to a major grant from Etant Donnés, the fund for the performing arts from the French Embassy in New York, and another grant from the Maine Arts Commission and Maine Humanities Council. Most recently she directed El Cid Au Flamenco at Saint Lawrence Arts Center in Portland and at the Theatre At Monmouth.
Emmanuelle is the founder and director of Starlight Acting Institute and Adjunct Faculty at the University of Southern Maine Department of Theatre, where she has directed several main stage shows. She also holds the position of Arts Events Director for both the USM School of Music and the Department of Theatre.
Additionally, she is a certified Energy Awareness Counselor, and RYSE® III Practitioner from the Polarity Realization Institute of Massachusetts and Maine, where she studied healing modalitites with Nancy Risley, and Lasca Hewes. For the last ten years, she has developed and applied a new acting technique called Energize! a holistic approach to acting which Starlight Acting Institute is dedicated to teach.
As a teacher she has conducted workshops in French cinema, acting, energy awareness, public speaking and Energize! a holistic approach to acting for the University of Southern Maine, Bates College, American College Theatre Festival, L’Oreal and most of the graduate schools of Paris, including La Sorbonne.
At USM, she received the 1998-99 Theatre Faculty Award presented by the Student Performing Artists. She was guest of honor at La Mostra, Venice Film Festival, Cannes, London, Montreal, Paris Festival D’Automne, Avignon, Toronto and the New Caledonia Film Festival and was was President of the Jury at Québec Film Festival in 1990. She was selected for inclusion in the 2007 “Who is Who in America” and in the 2008 “Who is Who in the World.”
DO NOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY to work with Ms. Chaulet!
Sign-up sheet is in the Student Lounge.
Friday, October 22, 2010
VCU simply shone on the RTCC award night, didn't we?
Last Sunday, October17, 2010 the Richmond Theatre Critics Circle threw themselves their lovely annual, black-tie party, and guess who came back to the theatre department with some lovely party prizes?!
Second year performance major, Antonio Tillman Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Musical for Rent
Alumni BFA Lighting major Derek Dumais
Outstanding Achievement in Sound for The Sound of Music
Outstanding Achievement in Sound for The Sound of Music
Alumni Joy Newsome -
Best Actress in a Leading Role - Musical for Rent
Not shown :
Grad student and scene designer Betsy Muller
Outstanding Achievement in Set Design for Is He Dead?
And look who else showed up to entertain the guests!
Grad student Jacquelynn Camden singing a number with Miss Joy from Rent
Grad student Stacey Cabaj and the entire Trapp family!
Isn't that our own Ron Keller presenting an award?
And congratulations to the lovely Leilani Mork, who's music direction has never steered us wrong.
A great night, a fun party... and the prizes could not be beat.
Great work everyone!
The birth of a costume, from drawing to first fitting....
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| It all starts with Joh Quinn's delicious watercolors. This is Cecile, the innocent virgin. |
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| Undergrad Elizabeth (Bizzy) Ensminger, and grad student/designer Josh Quinn look on as Neno Russell (costume shop supervisor), and our innocent Cecile (Jai Goodman) has her petticoat fitted. Can you breath Jai? |
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| Now the taffeta skirt and underskirt. |
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| And the critical fit of the bodice. Take out here, tighten up there. Jai is a confection of pink taffeta. This blogger will post the finished costume as soon as the last hem is sewn. |
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| Josh also shared the first wigs.... and these are just for the servants. | I had to laugh as I shot the fitting wearing my most comfortable jeans, clogs and my hair? Don't ask. |
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| Josh's design of Valmont's traveling coat. The costume is on a form in the shop. Absolutely stunning. Makes me want to run away and join the costume shop circus! |
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Ten minutes early is on time. An interview with Joe Carlson
You have worked with Dr. T many times in the time you’ve been in this department. What is your relationship with her and how has it evolved over the years?Y
At first she was a myth to me, a woman whose reputation far preceded her. Then she was my director, then teacher, then mentor, and guide, a collaborator. Now I regard her as my friend who has taught me what it means to cover my ground, and that knowledge isn’t yours until you give it away.
You’re a very active member of the community. As well as participating in local productions, you also helped spearhead Richmond’s only current outdoor theatre company, Theatre in Battery Park. Give us a brief history of the inception of Theatre in Battery Park and how working in the community has influenced your work here on campus.
Well I’m gonna flip that. Work on campus is what got me interested in work in the community at large. A VCU alum and I along with a few others began S.A.L.T. and it was that successful initiative that was part of my desire to be a generator of community oriented projects. It began by facilitating opportunity for students, or as we said, championing student theatre, and it has grown into a mighty generative theatrical force that provides hundreds of opportunities every semester. I’m just blown away by how new board members continue to enhance the organization.
From there I became interested in site-specific productions that brought theatre “to the people.” I literally see theaters just about anywhere I look. When I directed a production of The Zoo Story in Monroe Park at the beginning of my Junior year, my hope was to bring theatre out into a public sphere. To say: Here it is! It happens! It can be good! It’s vital, it’s relevant. Monroe park was the perfect place, because it’s all about this intense psychological battle over possession of a bench which translates into territorial claims over a piece of public land. Also it’s a place heavily populated by members of the homeless community, and I wanted to give them access to art by bringing it to their space as an offering. Theatre has this incredible ability to bring people from all walks of life into a common experience. That’s its power, and it can teach us new things about one another and provide an arena for dialogue with people we may not otherwise engage with in our ordinary day to day. That’s why theatre is extra-ordinary!
Fast forward to last December when I’m dog sitting Dr. T’s beautiful boxer, and one of my kindred spirits, Ali. We’re going for a run late at night, he’s doing more running than I am, I’m more sauntering around this big empty park. Suddenly I was struck by the awesome potential, and magnificent beauty of the space. In my mind’s eye I saw hundreds of people sprawled out on blankets, kids riding high on their parents shoulders, picnic baskets and lawn chairs. I knew I wanted to make theatre happen there. So I started running my mouth, which is what I tend to do when I get excited about something. Low and behold a lot of other people thought it was a good idea. I mean A LOT. The whole company was really fortunate to receive a great deal of support from Keith Martin the Managing director of the Richmond Ballet, John Bryan and company at Culture Works, Richard Taliafero, Battery Park’s supervisor, Ginnie Marrow and crew from Friends of Battery park, and so many others that helped offer vital support outside of the artistic process. Oh, and an incredible cast of 13 as well as a professional New York based director, award winning costumers, and musicians that agreed to work for no money! They were down for the mission and the cause! Theatre is not a luxury, it is a necessity, and they all shared that belief. Of course they did get paid because we received an Innovative Projects Grant for the production and raised enough money through donations and concessions to financially be in the black! But who really profited were the citizens of the North Side, and Richmonders at large whose misconceptions about that ‘side of town’ were shattered.
The thing is Theatre has the power to transform. We took an unloved corner of a neglected space and transformed it for a few evenings into a beautiful theatre. I still go for runs down in the park, and that same corner is still in pristine condition. No more broken beer bottles and trash-bags. We helped changed how that space was perceived, we showed members of the community one of a hundred possibilities as to what it could be, and now they have plans to renovate that section of the park and are thinking about some form of an amphitheatre.
Besides Liaisons, what other projects are you working on / looking forward to?
Shot a police training video - that paid well - wherein I was a cigarette peddler in a NY train station but really it was at Main St. Station, which goes to show that there are opportunities to work here in Richmond. You just have to be vigilant, tenacious, and always make good on your name and on your word.
I have some work lined up with Synetic Theatre in DC including acting, instructing, and directing/devising Children’s shows for their Classika branch. I’m also trying to book a gig at The Forum Theatre on Chuck Mee’s bobrauschenburgsamerica, hoping to devise some stunningly beautiful physical theatre next semester while I’m working on my thesis. Oh! And a full-length independent feature film that stars myself and a bunch of radical VCU alums. It’s entitled Anti-Heroes, directed by Joseph Weindell, and will be screened at the Byrd Theater in January - for free!. Free except of course delicious popcorn, bubbly fountain drinks, and smuggled candy. Also, I’m sure there are a dozen other things that will happen.
You are reputedly one of the busiest people in the department. Between all your projects, classes, and thesis, how do you manage your time successfully?
Step by step, inch by inch, day by day; keep breathing - it’s the most important part. Remember It’s never that there’s not enough time, it’s what you do with the time you have. Go ahead and get overwhelmed, it’s part of the fun, and know that work is love made visible. Ten minutes early is on time. Also keep calendars, appointments, deadlines, and promises. Lastly, learn to nap any and everywhere.
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| Andrew Donnelly and Joe Carlson in The Grapes of Wrath |
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Gerron Atkinson (Theatre VCU 2008)
A Facebook note that deserved to be shared!
Hey all - I was recently cast in the Queens Players/Secret Theater production of: The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis De Sade where I played the Marquis De Sade. My performance in Marat/Sade earned me a nomination under the category of "Outstanding Actor in a Lead-Role" from the New York Innovative Theater Awards!
I booked my first National Voice-Over Commercial for Verizon Wireless!
I also booked my first speaking role in a feature film called: "Damsels in Distress" where I will play Highway Worker #1. I was submitted for this gig from my manager/agent Richard Rosenwald of Rosenwald & Associate, whom I met after my Theatre VCU NYC Showcase.
Welcoming the newest member to the Theatre VCU family!
Miss Joy Annabelle Hutton made her entrance October 14, 2010 at 4:12 pm.
As the event's Stage Manager, Ms. Amy Hutton would of probably preferred an earlier on-stage call, but clearly, the Director had something else in mind. In any event, the outcome is beautiful.
Welcome Miss Joy Annabelle, congratulations Amy and Daniel, .... and places.
As the event's Stage Manager, Ms. Amy Hutton would of probably preferred an earlier on-stage call, but clearly, the Director had something else in mind. In any event, the outcome is beautiful.
Welcome Miss Joy Annabelle, congratulations Amy and Daniel, .... and places.
Are you on the Fringe??
A Message from Dr. T
Auditions & Call Backs for Acting Roles will be held on Monday October 25th from 6-10PM Please sign-up on the sign-up sheet posted in the Student Lounge Bulletin Board Information is posted. Auditions will be held in Shafer 302.
Students interested in Technical Support Responsibilities Please submit your resume to Dr. T by Oct 25th. You will be contacted for an interview
Students interested in the Study Abroad Experience Only w/o performing remember
your $500.00 deposit is due not later than Dec 1st to secure your space. If you need any further information about this please contact Dr.T via email.
So much going on... but there's always time to brag...
What with Les Liaisons in rehearsal for the Nov. 12th opening, and with Reading Days, and Advising right around the corner - there is a lot of chatter, and high energy in the department... all of which this blogger will duly note.
But - before another moment passes we need to shoot off some confetti, and toot our horn in celebration of the awards presented to Theatre VCU students and alumni at Sunday nights 3rd Annual Richmond Theatre Critics Circle Award night!!
And the winners are:
Alumni:
Derek Dumais
Outstanding Achievement in Sound for The Sound of Music
But - before another moment passes we need to shoot off some confetti, and toot our horn in celebration of the awards presented to Theatre VCU students and alumni at Sunday nights 3rd Annual Richmond Theatre Critics Circle Award night!!
And the winners are:
Betsy Muller
Outstanding Achievement in Set Design for Is He Dead?Antonio Tillman
Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Musical for RentAlumni:
Joy Newsome
Best Actress in a Leading Role - Musical for RentDerek Dumais
Outstanding Achievement in Sound for The Sound of Music
Congratulations to all our students - winners & nominees!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Costume Sale Second Floor Sensation!!
This blogster could not attend the Costume Sale Extravaganza this week held on the second floor of the Singleton Building... but these photos speak for themselves....
A huge success. A wonderful time. Nothing over $5.00. All profits going to bigger and better costumes (and perhaps one box of warm Krispie Kreems for the organizers?) PLUS - Halloween in Richmond is going to be a Theatre VCU extravaganza this year!!
But two questions from looking at the photos: Why did the theatre department harbor countless Star Trek costumes (what shows were those???)?.... and who walked away with that fabulous high collared peacock feathered, fur trimmed cloak that had MY name written all over it!!!???
A huge success. A wonderful time. Nothing over $5.00. All profits going to bigger and better costumes (and perhaps one box of warm Krispie Kreems for the organizers?) PLUS - Halloween in Richmond is going to be a Theatre VCU extravaganza this year!!
But two questions from looking at the photos: Why did the theatre department harbor countless Star Trek costumes (what shows were those???)?.... and who walked away with that fabulous high collared peacock feathered, fur trimmed cloak that had MY name written all over it!!!???
Many thanks to Miss Nicole Slaven for the photos and all her efforts!
Friday, October 15, 2010
More Amazing Theatre VCU Alumni News!
This is what Dallas Tolentino has to say:
The Advent of an Artist
Dear VCU Friends and Faculty,
Just dropping in a little update, while I have the chance. Since graduation, life has been a rocket at full speed and I have embarked upon the advent of my career. In the middle of summer I auditioned for Synetic Theatre in Washington D.C. and it was a blast. I was grouped with an incredibly diverse mix of artists from all different backgrounds, languages and cultures, but who all shared a common love for creation, collaboration, and movement. I was called back for the arduous two week training period, which was much like an actor boot camp. Our days were busy testing our capabilities in mime, ballet, martial arts, stage combat, modern dance, Grotowski and Bogart exercises, improvisation, and gymnastics.
The nights would end parting ways with a great fellowship of artists altogether drenched in sweat and ready to wake up the next morning sore and ready to do it all again. The training room was filled with a visceral passion to work. At the end of the two weeks, after being observed by The core company members, Paata Tsikurishvili & Irina Tsikurishvili (The Director, choreographer, and together founders of the company), and other Directors of the company, they selected a few members for the Season of King Arthur, The Master and Margarita, Don Quixote, and King Lear. I received an E-mail as the night I got back to Richmond from D.C. offering me roles in both King Arthur and King Lear. This is the Company's 10th Anniversary season and they just bought a space from Arena Stage which is our permanent home now in Crystal City. King Arthur opened October 2nd and runs through October 31st, with and extension through November 11th.
This rehearsal process has been a challenging and remarkable journey of creating original work grounded in physicality and movement. The show takes place on a stage covered in a shallow pool of water. The trailer for the show should be out soon and I'll be sure to send that your way. The reviews in Washington Post and other D.C. Theatre scene articles have been great. I have been asked to be in the Children's Theatre production of the Nutcracker which will go up around November/December before I begin rehearsals for King Lear in the Spring. I plan on working with this Company for a while, as I have been embraced by a family of artists who share in my passion for acting, moving, and creating. They are beginning a touring company next Season and I plan on working my ass off to be a part of that. This is my beginning and I am on an extraordinary ride. Thanks to the VCU faculty, class of 2010, and the wonderful program of Theatre VCU, I am in full speed pursuit of my dreams.
Thank you for sharing your time, energy, and insight over the past four years,
--
- Dallas Tolentino
See him here:
http://vimeo.com/15552115
Here are some links to reviews and pics of the show:
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/lifestyle/Synetic-presents-a-bold-dynamic-take-on-King-Arthur-104313293.html
http://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-arts/2010/10/scorched-king-arthur-and-borf-maura-judkis-picks-for-oct-4-10-2613.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/04/AR2010100406926.html
The Advent of an Artist
Dear VCU Friends and Faculty,
Just dropping in a little update, while I have the chance. Since graduation, life has been a rocket at full speed and I have embarked upon the advent of my career. In the middle of summer I auditioned for Synetic Theatre in Washington D.C. and it was a blast. I was grouped with an incredibly diverse mix of artists from all different backgrounds, languages and cultures, but who all shared a common love for creation, collaboration, and movement. I was called back for the arduous two week training period, which was much like an actor boot camp. Our days were busy testing our capabilities in mime, ballet, martial arts, stage combat, modern dance, Grotowski and Bogart exercises, improvisation, and gymnastics.
The nights would end parting ways with a great fellowship of artists altogether drenched in sweat and ready to wake up the next morning sore and ready to do it all again. The training room was filled with a visceral passion to work. At the end of the two weeks, after being observed by The core company members, Paata Tsikurishvili & Irina Tsikurishvili (The Director, choreographer, and together founders of the company), and other Directors of the company, they selected a few members for the Season of King Arthur, The Master and Margarita, Don Quixote, and King Lear. I received an E-mail as the night I got back to Richmond from D.C. offering me roles in both King Arthur and King Lear. This is the Company's 10th Anniversary season and they just bought a space from Arena Stage which is our permanent home now in Crystal City. King Arthur opened October 2nd and runs through October 31st, with and extension through November 11th.
This rehearsal process has been a challenging and remarkable journey of creating original work grounded in physicality and movement. The show takes place on a stage covered in a shallow pool of water. The trailer for the show should be out soon and I'll be sure to send that your way. The reviews in Washington Post and other D.C. Theatre scene articles have been great. I have been asked to be in the Children's Theatre production of the Nutcracker which will go up around November/December before I begin rehearsals for King Lear in the Spring. I plan on working with this Company for a while, as I have been embraced by a family of artists who share in my passion for acting, moving, and creating. They are beginning a touring company next Season and I plan on working my ass off to be a part of that. This is my beginning and I am on an extraordinary ride. Thanks to the VCU faculty, class of 2010, and the wonderful program of Theatre VCU, I am in full speed pursuit of my dreams.
Thank you for sharing your time, energy, and insight over the past four years,
--
- Dallas Tolentino
See him here:
http://vimeo.com/15552115
Here are some links to reviews and pics of the show:
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/lifestyle/Synetic-presents-a-bold-dynamic-take-on-King-Arthur-104313293.html
http://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-arts/2010/10/scorched-king-arthur-and-borf-maura-judkis-picks-for-oct-4-10-2613.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/04/AR2010100406926.html
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Congrats to Justin King, 2007 Theatre VCU alumnus!!
ETC’s LDI 2010 Student-Sponsorship Recipients
10/13/2010Each year, ETC selects six talented graduate-level students to attend the LDI tradeshow with the company. The all-expense-paid trip is not a mere prize -- it is meant to be a bridge to the future -- opening up doors and extending new horizons. The students not only go behind the scenes of a global entertainment-technology company’s tradeshow effort, they gain first-hand knowledge of the latest product innovations throughout the industry, meet mentoring professionals in the field, and take away invaluable inspiration for their creative careers. Meet this year’s ETC LDI Student Sponsorship recipients:
Justin W. King
Justin W. King is a master of fine arts candidate at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. In 2007 he earned his bachelor of arts from Virginia Commonwealth University, with a degree in lighting design. Justin was inspired to pursue the art when he worked behind the scenes as a youth volunteer at Faith Landmarks Ministries in Richmond, Virginia, and says he hasn’t “turned back.” He aspires to work in all fields of professional lighting design – TV, film, dance, theater – as well as 3-D digital production. Justin has been the recipient of various fellowships and awards and anticipates his degree in 2011.
Here's the website
http://www.etcconnect.com/news.aspx?id=20395
Welcome to Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc. Lighting solutions for Theater, Film & Television studios and Architectural spaces
Theatre VCU students I ADVISE you to read this... oh so clever... a pun...
Theatre Advising Day!
A Guest Blog post by Shaun M. McCracken, Academic Advisor to the Stars*
(*star status pending)
The weather is turning, the leaves are changing, and our students are emoting at a fever pitch! That can mean only one thing in TheatreVCU-land…it’s almost time for Theatre Advising Day!
Now for some strange reason, academic advising makes students nervous. But contrary to popular belief, advisors do not require bribes for good class selection. Nor do we have poison-tipped nails…or great big teeth (Monty Python reference—ha!) Seeing your advisor is a chance for you to check in with your departmental advisor, make sure you’re progressing in your degree, and see how you’re doing in your tech or performance classes. But if you’re STILL nervous, here are some tips to help make advising run more smoothly:
1). Print out all important/required materials BEFORE your scheduled appointment! All Theatre Advisors are requiring that students have a copy of their degree audit with them when they attend their advising sessions—don’t forget it! If you don’t remember how to get your degree audit:
3). Know when you’re going to register…and make sure you don’t have any holds! Your advisor should have a copy of the Spring Registration Schedule, but why not be proactive and look up the date yourself? You can find the schedule here: http://www.enrollment.vcu.edu/rar/docs/1011_advance_reg_date.pdf
Then do yourself a HUGE favor and check your eServices account to make sure you don’t have any holds that might prevent you from registering.
4). Find the balance. The best way to create a schedule is to put in your required Theatre classes first (make sure you have the absolutely necessary Performance or Tech classes, and then see if you can’t add in one of your Theatre “core” classes)—then fill out the rest of your schedule with General Education classes. Remember that Theatre students should be taking 15-16 credits each semester to stay “on track” with their degree progress.
5). Know the registration “secret”. When you look at the available courses for next semester, you will see a five-digit number in blue printed in a column on the left (in eServices). That number is the Course Reference Number (the CRN) and it will unlock a TON of extra information. Want to know if a class has major or class restrictions? Click on the CRN! Want to register super-fast the morning of registration? Write down the CRN’s for all of your classes! When the system “opens” for you (at 8am), you can literally just go to the Add or Drop Classes screen; type in all of your CRNs; click Submit Changes; and register for ALL of your classes in one easy step! Do yourself a favor and double-check to be sure all of your classes are still open the night before you register—and then verify that you were able to add all of your classes the morning of registration.
6). Be flexible! You already know that your Theatre classes have set times and days of the week—and there really isn’t any changing on those. But if you try to be flexible with your General Education classes, you will find yourself to be a lot less stressed. If you only give yourself one option for a General Education class, and that class isn’t open, then of course you’re going to freak out when things don’t go your way!
7). Talk to other students about good professors and good classes…NOT about which classes fulfill which requirements! Yes, getting input from your peers is important. No one knows better than someone who has taken a class how much work will be involved. But PLEASE (your advisor is begging on her hands and knees here), do NOT (under any circumstances) check with your friends to see which class will fulfill which requirement! Different students follow different requirements, depending on what year they started. A class that fulfills a requirement for one student will do absolutely nothing for someone else. Don’t waste your academic time needlessly. If you’re concerned or you have a question about a class—ask your advisor!
So be organized, be smart, be flexible…but more than anything else—HAVE FUN!! You have a half hour of your advisor’s undivided attention…enjoy it!
Thank you Ms. McCracken!!!
A Guest Blog post by Shaun M. McCracken, Academic Advisor to the Stars*
(*star status pending)
The weather is turning, the leaves are changing, and our students are emoting at a fever pitch! That can mean only one thing in TheatreVCU-land…it’s almost time for Theatre Advising Day!
Now for some strange reason, academic advising makes students nervous. But contrary to popular belief, advisors do not require bribes for good class selection. Nor do we have poison-tipped nails…or great big teeth (Monty Python reference—ha!) Seeing your advisor is a chance for you to check in with your departmental advisor, make sure you’re progressing in your degree, and see how you’re doing in your tech or performance classes. But if you’re STILL nervous, here are some tips to help make advising run more smoothly:
1). Print out all important/required materials BEFORE your scheduled appointment! All Theatre Advisors are requiring that students have a copy of their degree audit with them when they attend their advising sessions—don’t forget it! If you don’t remember how to get your degree audit:
- 1) Log on to eServices.
- 2). Click the “Student” tab.
- 3). Select the “Student Records” option.
- 4). Select “Degree Evaluation”.
- 5). Select the term (it will usually be the upcoming semester, i.e. Fall 2010). Then click “Submit”.
- 6). You will see your current degree information (major, concentration, year started, etc.)—look at the bottom of the screen and click “Generate New Evaluation”.
- 7). Select your program and click “Generate Request”.
- 8). You will see 2 options (General Requirements and Detail Requirements)—select “Detail Requirements” and click “Submit”
3). Know when you’re going to register…and make sure you don’t have any holds! Your advisor should have a copy of the Spring Registration Schedule, but why not be proactive and look up the date yourself? You can find the schedule here: http://www.enrollment.vcu.edu/rar/docs/1011_advance_reg_date.pdf
Then do yourself a HUGE favor and check your eServices account to make sure you don’t have any holds that might prevent you from registering.
4). Find the balance. The best way to create a schedule is to put in your required Theatre classes first (make sure you have the absolutely necessary Performance or Tech classes, and then see if you can’t add in one of your Theatre “core” classes)—then fill out the rest of your schedule with General Education classes. Remember that Theatre students should be taking 15-16 credits each semester to stay “on track” with their degree progress.
5). Know the registration “secret”. When you look at the available courses for next semester, you will see a five-digit number in blue printed in a column on the left (in eServices). That number is the Course Reference Number (the CRN) and it will unlock a TON of extra information. Want to know if a class has major or class restrictions? Click on the CRN! Want to register super-fast the morning of registration? Write down the CRN’s for all of your classes! When the system “opens” for you (at 8am), you can literally just go to the Add or Drop Classes screen; type in all of your CRNs; click Submit Changes; and register for ALL of your classes in one easy step! Do yourself a favor and double-check to be sure all of your classes are still open the night before you register—and then verify that you were able to add all of your classes the morning of registration.
6). Be flexible! You already know that your Theatre classes have set times and days of the week—and there really isn’t any changing on those. But if you try to be flexible with your General Education classes, you will find yourself to be a lot less stressed. If you only give yourself one option for a General Education class, and that class isn’t open, then of course you’re going to freak out when things don’t go your way!
7). Talk to other students about good professors and good classes…NOT about which classes fulfill which requirements! Yes, getting input from your peers is important. No one knows better than someone who has taken a class how much work will be involved. But PLEASE (your advisor is begging on her hands and knees here), do NOT (under any circumstances) check with your friends to see which class will fulfill which requirement! Different students follow different requirements, depending on what year they started. A class that fulfills a requirement for one student will do absolutely nothing for someone else. Don’t waste your academic time needlessly. If you’re concerned or you have a question about a class—ask your advisor!
So be organized, be smart, be flexible…but more than anything else—HAVE FUN!! You have a half hour of your advisor’s undivided attention…enjoy it!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Costume shop sale ... as we speak
A quick reminder to everyone in the Monroe Campus vicinity - the Theatre VCU Costume Department is having a HUGE Halloween costume sale on the second floor of the Singleton Performing Arts Center - RIGHT NOW!!!
Cash only, nothing over $15.00. We should have outfitted thousands of zombies by 5:00 today.
Don't miss the fun or the deals!!!!
Cash only, nothing over $15.00. We should have outfitted thousands of zombies by 5:00 today.
Don't miss the fun or the deals!!!!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Delighted with Dead Man!
I have a confession to make. When it comes to theatre performance, I'm a bit ... thick. In fact, I have a difficult time sitting down to watch pretty much anything that lasts more than 20 minutes, even a television show or a movie. (No, I have not been diagnosed with ADD - yet.) As an outsider to the theatre world, I find myself alternately under-whelmed and over-stimulated by what I experience during a staged performance. Over the past few years, I have reflected that my aversion to passive entertainment has less to do with the performances themselves than it has to do with ME. As a musician, I prefer to use my ears more than any other sense to take in and understand information, and so the spectacle of theatre can be too much - the combination of light, sound and movement onstage either leaves my head spinning or forces me to disengage myself from a performance. I have told myself that I'm just terrible at suspending reality and left it at that. That's why I was so delighted and appreciative of Theatre VCU's performance of Dead Man's Cell Phone for letting me off the hook.
I'm normally that annoying person in an audience who is cackling alone during the most reverent or sentimental moment during a movie, drawing looks from my neighbors and elbows from my companions. But Ruhl's script - beautifully executed by the cast - so well juxtaposes the gruesome and the hilarious that I had tons of guilt-free laughs throughout the evening. (Really, organ trafficking has never been so funny, and probably never will be again.) But what impressed me most about the show was not the exceptional delivery of the script's nuances - who would expect anything less from Theatre VCU performance students? - but the excellent use of space, color, and light on stage.
This show drew me in with its use of light - from the beautiful rectangles sliding across the screen at the show's beginning, to the versatile overhead lights that transformed the stage from cafe to dining room, bar, and PURGATORY, of all places. In keeping the set minimalist and using light and color effectively, the show engaged me by focusing my attention during its most important moments, and with hardly any effort on my part. I didn't have to try to believe Gordon's joy at the discovery that his mother does indeed love him - his brightly illuminated face showed his transformation from indifference and cynicism to love. His rapture was so tangible that I could have followed him right out the door to his heaven.
So congratulations to the director, cast and crew of Dead Man's Cell Phone for impressing this tough critic. Thanks for presenting a show that wholly charmed me, in spite of my very practical self.
Mara E. Smith
I'm normally that annoying person in an audience who is cackling alone during the most reverent or sentimental moment during a movie, drawing looks from my neighbors and elbows from my companions. But Ruhl's script - beautifully executed by the cast - so well juxtaposes the gruesome and the hilarious that I had tons of guilt-free laughs throughout the evening. (Really, organ trafficking has never been so funny, and probably never will be again.) But what impressed me most about the show was not the exceptional delivery of the script's nuances - who would expect anything less from Theatre VCU performance students? - but the excellent use of space, color, and light on stage.
This show drew me in with its use of light - from the beautiful rectangles sliding across the screen at the show's beginning, to the versatile overhead lights that transformed the stage from cafe to dining room, bar, and PURGATORY, of all places. In keeping the set minimalist and using light and color effectively, the show engaged me by focusing my attention during its most important moments, and with hardly any effort on my part. I didn't have to try to believe Gordon's joy at the discovery that his mother does indeed love him - his brightly illuminated face showed his transformation from indifference and cynicism to love. His rapture was so tangible that I could have followed him right out the door to his heaven.
So congratulations to the director, cast and crew of Dead Man's Cell Phone for impressing this tough critic. Thanks for presenting a show that wholly charmed me, in spite of my very practical self.
Mara E. Smith
"The fine line between fun & work..."
We followed (read: harassed) the very busy Anna Kurtz around the theatre department this week begging for a quick five minute interview about her experiences as Barry Bell's Assistant Director on Dead Man's Cell Phone. One thing led to another, and we got much more than we bargained for. Grad students are busy people, (Miss Kurtz is among the busiest), and frankly, we would of been satisfied with just a couple of honest observations. But ask Anna a question and you will always be served large helpings of wisdom, enthusiasm, and some delightful insights from this actor/director/pedagogical theatre grad student.
Thank you Anna for being our first Backstage Pass interview:
How was it working Barry Bell and the cast?
Amazing! I was Barry’s T.A. for Acting 1 last year so I knew he would establish a rehearsal environment that balanced the fine line between fun and work…taking the rehearsal seriously but allowing time for discovery and play, which was exactly what happened. The actors brought an incredible amount to the table those first days of rehearsal; I remember thinking how far along they already were, but they continued to try new things and grow in their characters. It was a long rehearsal process but everyone rose to the challenge; they did not succumb to the sometimes problem of peaking too early or letting rehearsals get stale. Also, Barry was extremely gracious in letting me work with the actors and share my opinion. I felt greatly invested in this project and was able to learn a lot in regards to collaboration, the production process, and myself as a director.
What were some challenges working on Dead Man’s Cell Phone?
I think most people will agree that this script is a bit bizarre. The greatest challenge was dealing with some of the more strange moments…as a company finding the meaning in those moments and working them into our vision of the show. It’s also difficult in any show that incorporates humor, keeping those moments alive in rehearsal…wondering how an audience will react.
How has the audience response been on the show? Has it changed night to night or stayed relatively consistent?
I think the biggest contrast has been between the Thursday night VCU Theatre student opening and the Friday night general public opening. The Thursday night crowd had a great personal investment in the show; their friends and peers were on stage- it’s an incredible support system in which the energy permeates the theater. Plus, “theatre people” know it is ok to laugh and enjoy themselves during a live production; the students and faculty had no qualms about vocally reacting to the show. Sometimes the general public is more reserved in their reactions to a show. That happened Friday night; they were most definitely engrossed in and enjoying the show, but the energy, the reactions were diminished from the night before. However, audience reaction has been positive on each night in not vocally expressive.
What are your future projects?
I am currently directing Apartment 3A by Jeff Daniels with an incredible cast (Caitlin Carbone, Josh Marin, Austin Seay, Tyler Weaver, and Mauricio Marces), which will open in the Newdick Theatre October 29. I will also hopefully be co-directing a modern adaptation of Henry V with Kerry McGee in the spring; it will be a project that combines the efforts of several graduate students including the military expertise of Ted Carter. Planning for this project has already been an extremely rewarding collaboration.
How has time management played a part in your time here at TheatreVCU?
I have always been diligent in my school work, ever since high school. However, this semester has really stretched me; I feel I have not dealt with real time management issues until now. With classes I am taking and teaching, directing projects, work, my thesis, and planning for my future beyond VCU things have been slightly crazy making time management a must, especially if I want to have some free time for myself- which is something I strive to give myself (especially now that I have discovered the glory of Netflix). The most helpful thing I have done for myself is plan thesis research hours into my weekly schedule as if it were a class; without this planned time I do not think I would actually work on it.
What is some advice you can give to budding students of VCU?
Wow, this is a big question. There is so much for them to experience in regards to life and theatre. I guess my biggest advice would be this: allow yourself time to have life experiences. Sometimes we get bogged down by trying to have the right preparatory and professional experiences, but give yourself time to grow in other ways; study abroad, branch out beyond theatre. And never think that your general education requirements are pointless; challenge yourself to assimilate what you learn in those courses with what you experience in the theatre classroom and on stage.
Wise words Miss Kurtz!
Thank you Anna for being our first Backstage Pass interview:
How was it working Barry Bell and the cast?
Amazing! I was Barry’s T.A. for Acting 1 last year so I knew he would establish a rehearsal environment that balanced the fine line between fun and work…taking the rehearsal seriously but allowing time for discovery and play, which was exactly what happened. The actors brought an incredible amount to the table those first days of rehearsal; I remember thinking how far along they already were, but they continued to try new things and grow in their characters. It was a long rehearsal process but everyone rose to the challenge; they did not succumb to the sometimes problem of peaking too early or letting rehearsals get stale. Also, Barry was extremely gracious in letting me work with the actors and share my opinion. I felt greatly invested in this project and was able to learn a lot in regards to collaboration, the production process, and myself as a director.
What were some challenges working on Dead Man’s Cell Phone?
I think most people will agree that this script is a bit bizarre. The greatest challenge was dealing with some of the more strange moments…as a company finding the meaning in those moments and working them into our vision of the show. It’s also difficult in any show that incorporates humor, keeping those moments alive in rehearsal…wondering how an audience will react.
How has the audience response been on the show? Has it changed night to night or stayed relatively consistent?
I think the biggest contrast has been between the Thursday night VCU Theatre student opening and the Friday night general public opening. The Thursday night crowd had a great personal investment in the show; their friends and peers were on stage- it’s an incredible support system in which the energy permeates the theater. Plus, “theatre people” know it is ok to laugh and enjoy themselves during a live production; the students and faculty had no qualms about vocally reacting to the show. Sometimes the general public is more reserved in their reactions to a show. That happened Friday night; they were most definitely engrossed in and enjoying the show, but the energy, the reactions were diminished from the night before. However, audience reaction has been positive on each night in not vocally expressive.
What are your future projects?
I am currently directing Apartment 3A by Jeff Daniels with an incredible cast (Caitlin Carbone, Josh Marin, Austin Seay, Tyler Weaver, and Mauricio Marces), which will open in the Newdick Theatre October 29. I will also hopefully be co-directing a modern adaptation of Henry V with Kerry McGee in the spring; it will be a project that combines the efforts of several graduate students including the military expertise of Ted Carter. Planning for this project has already been an extremely rewarding collaboration.
How has time management played a part in your time here at TheatreVCU?
I have always been diligent in my school work, ever since high school. However, this semester has really stretched me; I feel I have not dealt with real time management issues until now. With classes I am taking and teaching, directing projects, work, my thesis, and planning for my future beyond VCU things have been slightly crazy making time management a must, especially if I want to have some free time for myself- which is something I strive to give myself (especially now that I have discovered the glory of Netflix). The most helpful thing I have done for myself is plan thesis research hours into my weekly schedule as if it were a class; without this planned time I do not think I would actually work on it.
What is some advice you can give to budding students of VCU?
Wow, this is a big question. There is so much for them to experience in regards to life and theatre. I guess my biggest advice would be this: allow yourself time to have life experiences. Sometimes we get bogged down by trying to have the right preparatory and professional experiences, but give yourself time to grow in other ways; study abroad, branch out beyond theatre. And never think that your general education requirements are pointless; challenge yourself to assimilate what you learn in those courses with what you experience in the theatre classroom and on stage.
Wise words Miss Kurtz!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
... and now, a word from the department to the department.
Pssst... hey you Theatre VCU actors.
Scripts are available in the main office for the upcoming auditions for the spring mainstage productions_ Legacy of Light and The Bluest Eye. You may check the scripts out for 24 hours. If you are really smart you will check them out tomorrow and may keep them for the entire weekend.
Spring 2011 Mainstage Auditions are next weekend - Cattle Call is on October 16th from 9am to noon in the Newdick. The sign-up sheet is up in the student lounge. Sign up early for the best time selection.
Polish up those one-minute monologues.
Scripts are available in the main office for the upcoming auditions for the spring mainstage productions_ Legacy of Light and The Bluest Eye. You may check the scripts out for 24 hours. If you are really smart you will check them out tomorrow and may keep them for the entire weekend.
Spring 2011 Mainstage Auditions are next weekend - Cattle Call is on October 16th from 9am to noon in the Newdick. The sign-up sheet is up in the student lounge. Sign up early for the best time selection.
Polish up those one-minute monologues.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Theatre VCU: Backstage Pass: It's so popular, that....
Theatre VCU: Backstage Pass: It's so popular, that....: "...we're going to do it again! Because our Thursday promotion has been so successful we will be offering 'Buy One, Get One Free!' tickets"
It's so popular, that....
...we're going to do it again!
Because our Thursday promotion has been so successful we will be offering "Buy One, Get One Free!" tickets for our last performance of Dead Man's Cell Phone on Sunday, October 10th at 3:00 pm.
Tell your friends... bring your aunt Ethel... plan a great dinner after the show... What a wonderful way to celebrate a great show!
Our students have worked weeks designing, building, lighting, costuming, and rehearsing Sarah Ruhl's quirky little play about life, death and how we manage to remain connected in the anonymous age of "social media".
Our actors ask the questions you should be asking yourself: Ever taken a call in church? In the bathroom? While kissing someone?
If someone should find your ringing cell phone, what would it say about you?
Dead Man's Cell Phone.... it's funny, poignant, outrageous, magical. You don't want to miss it.
Order tickets here:
vcutheatre.showclix.com
Because our Thursday promotion has been so successful we will be offering "Buy One, Get One Free!" tickets for our last performance of Dead Man's Cell Phone on Sunday, October 10th at 3:00 pm.
Tell your friends... bring your aunt Ethel... plan a great dinner after the show... What a wonderful way to celebrate a great show!
Our students have worked weeks designing, building, lighting, costuming, and rehearsing Sarah Ruhl's quirky little play about life, death and how we manage to remain connected in the anonymous age of "social media".
Our actors ask the questions you should be asking yourself: Ever taken a call in church? In the bathroom? While kissing someone?
If someone should find your ringing cell phone, what would it say about you?
Dead Man's Cell Phone.... it's funny, poignant, outrageous, magical. You don't want to miss it.
Order tickets here:
vcutheatre.showclix.com
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Buy one ticket get one FREE!!!
For Thursday night's 7:30 performance of Dead Man's Cell Phone you can BUY ONE TICKET GET ONE FREE!! This offer is for everyone - students, faculty, seniors and general public!
"I made you a kidney lamp!"
What a great deal for a great night of theatre!.... really? ... a kidney lamp?
What a great deal for a great night of theatre!.... really? ... a kidney lamp?
FDP - First Time First Years!
Last night was the first night of the First-Year Performance Majors's First-Year Discovery Project (FDP). If you think there are a lot of firsts in that sentence, think how the Freshmen feel! First time on the Newdick Stage, first time working with a grad student director, first time in front of their faculty and peers, and finally, due to a technical problem, first tech. The word after show was, yes there may have been some first-time jitters, but FDP was a hit!
The good news is - if you belong to the Theatre VCU family, you have a chance to see the second First-Year Discovery Project tonight at 7:30 pm. And like any good family member, you will want to support the next generation with your attention and applause!
Lucian Restivo created this wonderful video that captures the energy of FDP:
The good news is - if you belong to the Theatre VCU family, you have a chance to see the second First-Year Discovery Project tonight at 7:30 pm. And like any good family member, you will want to support the next generation with your attention and applause!
Lucian Restivo created this wonderful video that captures the energy of FDP:
Monday, October 4, 2010
CURTAIN UP: Please Give it up for the NEW Theatre VCU Blog
Places everyone....
With so much going on here at Theatre VCU it's impossible to update our website fast enough to keep current. There are always new openings, castings, reviews, comedies, and tragedies - and that doesn't even describe what's on-stage!
So with the help of some witty and articulate grad, undergrad students and faculty we're lifting the curtain on a departmental blog that will explore the latest happenings and personalities on both the Richard Newdick Theatre, and the Raymond Hodges Theatre, as well as the rehearsal halls, design studios, student lounge, even that brick wall opposite the Shafer Street building.
We chose our blog title with a Survey Monkey Vote (thank you to all who participated) - and here are the results:
5th place: What’s New at TheatreVCU (6 votes) - Crystal Johnson
4th place: A Blog By Any Other Name... (9 votes) - Bryan Gabriel Lamorena
3rd place: The Read-Through (10 votes) - Alan Sader
2nd place: The Call Board (27 votes) - Alan Sader
1st place: TheatreVCU - A Backstage Pass (28 votes) - Melissa Terrell
Great ideas (it was hard to resist Miccki O'Carroll's blog, blog, damn spot), but everyone wants a backstage pass - and it squeaked by with one vote - Thank you Melissa Terrell, call the Box Office to arrange your comp tickets for our last week of Dead Man's Cell Phone.
Speaking of which, what a clever funny little show. The audience has loved it - what's not to love?!
Rachel McManus as Jean and Nate Betancourt as dead
Gordon opens Dead Man's Cell Phone
with more questions than there are answers...
We have one more wonderful weekend of our first Mainstage Production Dead Man's Cell Phone - Thursday - Saturday at 7:30 pm and Suday at 3:00 pm, and for the first time you can order tickets on-line at vcutheatre.showclix.com
Tonight is our opening night of our two-night presentation of our annual First-Year Discovery Project (FDP) in the Newdick. Sorry... the general public cannot attend this Theatre Department baptism. But we hope to see the entire Theatre VCU family supporting our first-year performance majors on their inaugral appearance on the Newdick stage. FDP is always wonderfully entertaining - for all the right (and sometimes a couple of wrong) reasons. Funny, sweet, moving and surprising - don't miss it - the fun begins at 7:30 pm. Break legs First-year actors!!
... and scene.
With so much going on here at Theatre VCU it's impossible to update our website fast enough to keep current. There are always new openings, castings, reviews, comedies, and tragedies - and that doesn't even describe what's on-stage!
So with the help of some witty and articulate grad, undergrad students and faculty we're lifting the curtain on a departmental blog that will explore the latest happenings and personalities on both the Richard Newdick Theatre, and the Raymond Hodges Theatre, as well as the rehearsal halls, design studios, student lounge, even that brick wall opposite the Shafer Street building.
We chose our blog title with a Survey Monkey Vote (thank you to all who participated) - and here are the results:
5th place: What’s New at TheatreVCU (6 votes) - Crystal Johnson
4th place: A Blog By Any Other Name... (9 votes) - Bryan Gabriel Lamorena
3rd place: The Read-Through (10 votes) - Alan Sader
2nd place: The Call Board (27 votes) - Alan Sader
1st place: TheatreVCU - A Backstage Pass (28 votes) - Melissa Terrell
Great ideas (it was hard to resist Miccki O'Carroll's blog, blog, damn spot), but everyone wants a backstage pass - and it squeaked by with one vote - Thank you Melissa Terrell, call the Box Office to arrange your comp tickets for our last week of Dead Man's Cell Phone.
Speaking of which, what a clever funny little show. The audience has loved it - what's not to love?!
Rachel McManus as Jean and Nate Betancourt as dead
Gordon opens Dead Man's Cell Phone
with more questions than there are answers...
We have one more wonderful weekend of our first Mainstage Production Dead Man's Cell Phone - Thursday - Saturday at 7:30 pm and Suday at 3:00 pm, and for the first time you can order tickets on-line at vcutheatre.showclix.com
Tonight is our opening night of our two-night presentation of our annual First-Year Discovery Project (FDP) in the Newdick. Sorry... the general public cannot attend this Theatre Department baptism. But we hope to see the entire Theatre VCU family supporting our first-year performance majors on their inaugral appearance on the Newdick stage. FDP is always wonderfully entertaining - for all the right (and sometimes a couple of wrong) reasons. Funny, sweet, moving and surprising - don't miss it - the fun begins at 7:30 pm. Break legs First-year actors!!
... and scene.
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