HONK!

Look at our own Martha Johnson and Brent Gallagher in Honk! at Theatre IV

So much end-of-year theatre!! Mark your calendars!

Callbacks for the Fall Mainstage tonight and tomorrow night.

 Remember to breathe.


Final NO-SHAME is tonight and it is chock full of surprises. Newdick Theatre 11:00
 ... way past some people’s ( who may be in the show) bed time.


The Spring 2011 Musical Theatre Class presents “We Got Rhythm”
on Monday, May 2 at 2pm in B-72


Spring One-Act Festival/Undergrad Directing Projects
“The play’s the thing!” Come out and witness S.A.L.T.’s annual Spring One-Act Festival/Undergrad Directing Projects! The show runs right under 2 hours.

When: Only two opportunities! Saturday, April 30 at 8:00PM and Sunday, May 1 at 2:00PM

Where: Newdick Theater, Shafer St. Playhouse


Self - Release April 30 at 9:30pm
This is a Solo Performance exploration. Meaning these actors have written, directed, and conceptualized all of the pieces. Ranging from the absurd to the profound, this night of theatre will be sure to engage the audience on a multitude of new and exciting levels each night.

A one week only sharing. Please come out to support and be a part of something unique.

ALL performers will perform each night.

Tickets are only $5.


2011 Senior Departmental Showcase Extravaganza!

4:00 PM
May 4th, 2011
Raymond Hodges Theatre

Showcase followed by a Senior Talkback for the Juniors.  Stay afterwards as the class of 2011 offers their knowledge and mentorship to the class of 2012.



Also. Masquerade Ball tickets on sale in the Main Office!!

Jeff Bruckerhoff - Lighting Faculty Candidate here tomorrow - Friday, April 29th

Black and White Baby- may 7!!!

NINE DAYS until our end of the year celebration!!
So here are some facts:

Ball Date: May 7, 2011 •  7:30 pm

Tickets: On Sale in the Main Office - $7.00 per ticket. (From 8:30 - 4:30 Mon. - Fri.) for a ticket and a mask ( YES the masks are now in - if you have bought a ticket come by and get your mask)
    YES you may bring a guest who is not in the Theatre Dept.
    Tickets are FREE for faculty, staff, and grad students who teach at VCU, and those of you (and you know who you are) who have worked to pull this extravaganza together. (Bring a plate of brownies instead... c'mon you know you want to help)
    The first 50 people who buy a ticket get a "song choice" for the evening.

Dress: Black or white or black and white..... duh. And a mask
    There will be prizes for:
    • Best Mask
    • Best ensemble
    • Most historically accurate
    • Funniest
    • Best couple

Photos: Send (high res) photos to Sam Byers  - sbyers81@gmail.com so they can be projected on the big screen all during the evening!!! - send candids, and fun shots from the last 4 years!

Evening's events
7:30 - 8:30 -     Food, Photos and mingling in the lobby
8:30 - 11:30-    Dance, Dance, dance in the Hodges
9:30 -               Contest
10:30 -             Desserts (We need you to contribute to our dessert table - contact Glynn at gmbrannan@vcu.edu)

This is OUR celebration.
OUR night.
WE ARE Theatre VCU and we can  have the BEST time... May 7!

Auditions for Sycamore Rouge's Odysseus

Subject: The Odyssey auditions

Sycamore Rouge, Petersburg’s Professional Theatre for the Community, announces auditions for Mary Zimmerman’s adaptation of The Odyssey.

Audition dates will be May 6, 2011 from 6 pm – 9:30 pm and May 7, 2011 from 12 pm – 6 pm at Sycamore Rouge. (21 W. Old St. Petersburg, VA)

Director kb saine is seeking 11 males and 10 females between the ages of 20 and 60 to play a total of over 65 roles in this epic tale of Odysseus' journey home from the Trojan War.

Auditionees are asked to prepare two 30-90 second, contrasting monologues of their choice.
Rehearsals will begin May 12, 2011. Production dates run June 17-July 9, at the Battersea Estate. All rehearsals will be held at Sycamore Rouge.

Appointments are necessary; please call 804-957-5707 to schedule a time and for additional details. This audition call and additional information is also posted at http://www.facebook.com/l/6d80euSKdVFLWNvJvJpR_KahJBw/www.sycamorerouge.org.

Look who went to the Helen Hayes Awards in DC!!! Isn't that Theatre VCU?

 

 

Austin Bren Johnson, Eric Arnold, Dallas Tolentino, Marley Monk, Trevor A. Riley.

Thank you Marley for the great photo!!

Undergrad Directing Project - April 31 & May 1

Solo Performances this Thurs through Sat at the Firehouse Theatre at 7:30 pm - ONLY $5.00!

Robert Perry Lighting Candidate. Schedule and website

Tentatively this is robert Perry's schedule for today:
(please note that the candidate is driving in from Philly after his flight was cancelled)

Taking place in Newdick:


2:30 Portfolio presentation
3:30 Review of student projects
4:15 Q and A Students only

and 5pm Meet with search committee in David or Aaron's office

In the meantime here is his website.

Student Voices 2011 cast announcement

Congratulations to the cast of Student Voices 2011
First shows June 13th.

Great job everyone!!

Richard Chan
Alina Collins
Jasmine Hammond
Zach Page
Jessica Johns
Anna Jones
Ian Stearns
Courtney McCotter

Technician - Becky Brooks
Director - Barry Bell

Welcome Michel Savoia - Master Men's Tailor!

The VCU Dept. of Theatre, Costume Design Program is pleased to announce next week's schedule for the Tailoring and Men's Styling Master Class taught by bespoke tailor, Michel Savoia.

The times for the Master Classes are as follows:

Monday April 25th 2:30 - 4:30 PM Location:      PAC building RM 72
Tuesday April 26th 2:30 - 5:30 PM Location:      Costume Shop
Wednesday April 27th 3:30 - 5:30 PM Location: Costume Shop
Thursday April 28th 2:30 - 5:30 PM Location:    Costume Shop
Friday April 29th 4:00 - 7:00 PM Location:         Costume Shop


Michel Savoia was born in Hoboken, New Jersey and began his training as a tailor at the age of four under his grandfather.  By the time he entered FIT, he had been building men's clothing since his early teens and had an established client list of celebrities by the time he graduated, his first celebrity clients were the band Kid Creole and the Coconuts. He is an authority of men's styling and tailoring, in particular men's clothing and fashion from 1920-1960's, has been building custom bespoke suits for private individuals, celebrities, television, film and Broadway since 1984. Savoia has been featured in more than 75 publications and style features worldwide including the "E" Network and the Style Channel. Most recently for Broadway, he was the principle tailor for The Scottsboro Boys, Promises, Promises, Finian's Rainbow, and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and supplied additional clothing for Swing.  Off Broadway and regionally:  The Long Wharf Theatre, Hartford Stage, The Guthrie Theatre, The Vineyard Theatre and The Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, GA.  Savoia is the owner of the NYC boutique, House of Savoia, located in the heart of the East Village and teaches men's styling at FIT.

All are welcome, please join us.

Meet the Lighting Candidate Robert Perry - Monday, April 25th

Auditions for Fall 2011 - Are you ready??!!

Audition Requirements:

R&J – 1 minute Shakespeare monologue

Grease – 1 minute contemporary monologue AND 16 bars of a 1950s song




Schedule:

Thursday, April 28th, 2011:

6:30-8:30pm - R&J Female auditions in Hodges Theatre (1 minute Shakespeare monologue)

8:30-10:30pm - R&J Male auditions in Hodges Theatre (1 minute Shakespeare monologue)

6:30-11pm - Grease auditions in B-72 (1 minute contemporary monologue and 16 bar 1950s song)




Friday, April 29th, 2011:

7-10pm - Grease dance callbacks in B-72

Evening - Callbacks for Female R&J in B53

Evening - Callbacks for Male R&J in B57

Note: As some actors will be called back for multiple shows, the stage managers will help coordinate the actors who are double booked.




Saturday, April 30th, 2011:

10am / 11am until done - Grease callbacks in B-72 (Please let me know what time)

Time TBA - Callbacks for Female R&J, if needed

Time TBA - Callbacks for Male R&J, if needed


As a Reminder Here is

NEXT YEAR'S MAINSTAGE SEASON

SEPTEMBER 2011
Shakespeare’s R & J - Audition April 28 - 30
Adapted by Joe Calarco
Female cast directed by Keri Wormald  • Male cast directed by Stephen Fried
When a group of students at a repressed Catholic school discover a forbidden copy of Romeo and Juliet, they are transformed from mocking adolescents to soulful re-enactors of Shakespeare’s gripping story. Performed in rotating repertory, Theatre VCU will present two different casts on an alternating schedule.  Stephen Fried, is a directing faculty member at The New School of Drama and former Resident Assistant Director at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C whose recent work includes All’s Well That Ends Well, The Comedy of Errors,  and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Shakespeare Theatre of NJ.  Keri Wormald is an award-winning director and VCU alumnus whose work has been produced locally with Barksdale Theatre and internationally at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

NOVEMBER 2011
Grease!- Audition April 28 - 30
Written and arranged by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey • Directed by Patti D’Beck
Winner of 7 Tony Awards, and everybody’s favorite movie musical, Grease! is a nostalgic 1950s celebration. Set at Rydell High School, “greasers” and “pink ladies”  rock out to classic songs such as “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee,” “Greased Lightning” and “You’re the One that I Want.”  Join us as the romance unfolds between Sandy (a nerdy but cute new student) and Danny (the cool greaser king), summer lovebirds from drastically different high school cliques.  Under the direction of Patti D’Beck, who served as Associate Choreographer for the original Broadway production with Rosie O’Donnell, Grease! will prove to be an evening of music, dancing, comedy, romance, and fun!

FEBRUARY 2012
Arabian Nights - Audition Fall Semester 2011
In collaboration with Barksdale Theatre, performed at the Willow Lawn Theatre
Adapted by Dominic Cooke • Directed by Casey Biggs
Persian rugs, caves of jewels, and sensuous belly dancers: a bold visual feast accentuates the magic of storytelling and its power to transform people in this RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company) award-winning script.  When King Shahrayar discovers his wife in another man’s arms, he vows to ruthlessly murder every virgin in his kingdom.  His brutality is interrupted only by the brave and wise maiden Scheherezade, whose captivating stories just might save her life.  This imaginative show of high adventure, low comedy, peril, death, and life lessons is directed by well-known film, television, and stage performer Casey Biggs, artistic director of the Greene Arts Foundation and member of the directing faculty at The New School of Drama in New York City. Audiences may remember his five seasons as the leader of the Dardassion race on “Star Trek Deep Space Nine”.

An Evening of Stand-Up Comedy
Directed by Stephen Rosenfield
Nationally reknowned comedian, writer, coach and Director of the American Comedy Institute, Stephen Rosenfield, will work with Theatre VCU students to develop two weekends of stand-up comedy  in the Hodges Theatre.  Rosenfield has produced, written and directed comedy shows at Caroline’s on Broadway, Stand-Up New York, The Comic Strip, Don’t Tell Mama and The Improv as well as directed and co-authored the Obie Award-winning musical comedy review, The Present Tense. His students have appeared on The David Letterman Show, The Conan O’Brien Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Last Comic Standing. Both performances  will also feature the best comic/Improv talent from central Virginia as guest artists. Comedy Fans circle these dates!

APRIL 2012
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Audition Fall Semester 2011
Conceived by Rebecca Feldman with music and lyrics by William Finn • Directed by Gary C. Hopper
A hilarious tale of six geeky adolescent overachievers vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime, this Tony Award winning musical is both tender and quirky. Simple and sweet, “Spelling Bee” features a wide range of misfits varying from a liberal young girl with gay dads, to a slightly obnoxious speller who uses his “Magic Foot” to spell out the words, to a girl whose parents never seem to notice her. Directed by former Theatre VCU faculty member and award-winning director, Gary Hopper, this fast-paced production will end our season and capstone the Theatre VCU April Alumni weekend celebration (April 21, 2012)!

A note from Patti D'Beck - too good not to share.

Hello all!
I just wanted to tell you that our students in the musical theatre class were invited to perform for an RPI Alumni event at the Scott House this past Saturday. They did an amazing job, and were a huge hit!!!!  We've received emails already about it.  
 
You would have been very proud of them.  Due to weather and other circumstances, the space in which they were performing kept changing, so they were given many last minutes changes, restaging, etc, and handled that all beautifully and very professionally.  And Amy, Justin and Penny did an amazing job in making it happen.  At some point there will be pictures on the blog about it.  
 
Anyway, congrats to all of you as well.  They have learned to stay focused, be professional, are ready for change, while still keep the performance values that we all work on with them!!!!!
 
We could not have asked for more!
pd'b 

TWO-FOR-ONE tickets for The Bluest Eye THIS THURSDAY

Yes. 2 for 1 tickets this Thursday to kick off our last weekend of The Bluest Eye.

Such a beautiful show - critics have called it "a jewel of a show" (Richmond Times Dispatch)

Reception following the show tonight!

The Bluest Eye's audience will be treated to a reception following the show tonight.

A bit of a gnosh and a chance to mingle with the actors.

What a lovely way to celebrate such a fine show!

Performances tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30 pm and Sunday matinee at 3:00pm.

Congratulations to Dr. T!!... Again!!

Our very own Dr. Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, who was looking gorgeous in lime green, received, not only the PACME Faculty Award (Presidential Awards for Communigy Multicultural Enrichment), but also the Riese-Melton  Award from Dr. Michael Rao on Wed. April 13, 2011.

As the VCU News Center said: "There’s a vast difference between talking about the importance of diversity and actually implementing it into everyday life. The leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University values that difference and each year commends faculty, staff and students with the Presidential Awards for Community Multicultural Enrichment for their efforts in promoting diversity at the university.
....Pettiford-Wates, who also won this year’s Riese-Melton Award, integrates ideals and fostering open dialogue in the areas of justice inclusion, cross-cultural awareness and equality."

And to quote Janet Rodgers who was at the Awards Ceremony "It was a very thrilling moment" when Dr. T was surprised with the capstone Riese-Melton Award.

When you see Dr. T. congratulate her!!
 

A Great interview with Director April Jones - Urban Weekly

It was April Jones' vision and hard work that brought The Bluest Eye to life.

In a touching and perceptive article - here -  from Richmond's Urban Weekly she talks about her journey and the influences of her family and especially her grandmother.

She brings her experiences and boundless energy to the Theatre VCU stage in The Bluest Eye.

Thank you April.

Richmond Times Dispatch calls The Bluest Eye "a jewel of a play"!

TheatreVCU, Barksdale put on moving production of 'Bluest Eye'

» 0 Comments | Post a Comment

RICHMOND -- Even though it has been awhile since I read Toni Morrison's 1970 novel about racism, race-based concepts of beauty, incest, and child molestation, I think Lydia Diamond's two-act adaption of Morrison's first novel does justice to the work on many levels.
This jewel of a play, a joint production of TheatreVCU and the Barksdale Theatre, has pared down the novel's characters to a cast of 10 essential players -- three of whom do double duty as a sort of Greek chorus of nameless, faceless "gossips" -- who remain hidden behind impossibly large brimmed hats.

Crystal Johnson as Pecola

The plot revolves around a year in the life of young Pecola, played to perfection by Crystal Johnson, a fourth-year theatre student. Johnson is entirely believable in speech, mannerisms, even appearance, as she takes us through a horrific year in the life of this unloved pre-teen. Her quiet determination contrasts perfectly with her crestfallen disposition after she successfully maneuvers the invisibility of racism to purchase three penny candies that will bring her a few moments of happiness.
With the aid of flashbacks and the narrative voice of young Claudia MacTeer, one of Pecola's few friends, Johnson makes Pecola's actions and descent into madness believable and inevitable. Olivia Luna and Brittney DeRizzio, third- and second-year theatre students, respectively, are entirely credible as the girls who share their room with Pecola when her family is "put outside."
This is as much a credit to their blooming acting skills as it is to their smooth, innocent faces, and visual support provided by the on-point costuming by Adrian Boyes and the rough-hewn, utilitarian set by Reid Patton.
Moments of normalcy, as when Mrs. MacTeer rubs salve on the chests of her daughters, ending with a small dab on the tongue to be swallowed, just as my own grandmother did, help balance out the "cloak of ugliness" that enshrouds the lives of Pecola and her family.
Flashbacks help us understand how Pecola's mother, Pauline, and father, Cholly, arrived at the station they occupy in life, but nothing lessens the shock of Pecola's rape by her father, leaving her pregnant. Margarette Joyner brings humor and authenticity to her role as Pecola's mother. Thomas E. Nowlin plays the alcoholic Cholly with authenticity as well, but it's hard to feel any sympathy for Cholly's inexplicable and inexcusable actions, and even Nowlin must detach himself from his role when he watches the results of Cholly's actions.
At the end, Pecola looks in the mirror and believes her eyes have turned blue -- the only way she believes she can be loved.
Theatre students Ashley Davis and Aliki Pappas and veteran actors Ronnie Brown, Katrinah Carol Lewis, and David Raine complete the cast of this moving production, so insightfully directed by April A. Jones.

Thank you - a great Bakesale! We need Photos!!

Thank you to everyone who assisted in making today's last minute bake sale such a rousing success!

Augustin - I will try and try again to replicate your family's recipe of spicy oyster crackers.
Thanks for the disappearing brownies Ms. McCracken, and Miss Katie's (and Sarah's?) cupcakes. Everyone who sat at the table, and everyone who accosted high schoolers and seperated them from their dollar bills. We made $77.00 and there are leftovers in the Main Office as we speak if you would like to bring a dollar to Jett.

Thanks again - you guys rock!

Tomorrow afternoon 4:30 a important meeting for the Ball - we will swing into action after this meeting

ALSO ALL Theatre VCU students please send your large jpegs to gmbrannan@vcu.edu.

We want to project a powerpoint of all kinds of photos from the year - shafer stuff, mainstage stuff, SETC stuff, backstage, rehearsals, senior showcase, undergrads, grads embarassing closeups, faculty... you get it, right?

WE NEED the photos in the next 2 weeks in order to pull it together. You're all theatre people - you want to see yourself on the big screen - now is your chance!

Black & White Ball update

Bakesale TOMORROW morning!!!

Because we will be having a high school matinee - we are having a BIG ol' Bakesale!! At 9:30 am in the lobby of the PAC building.

I know. I know. Last minute.


There will be muffins and cookies and brownies.

Anybody? Anybody? Bueller?

Could someone please bake a delicious surprise for the Ball? Please?

Meeting is not tomorrow afternoon - it will be THURSDAY afternoon at 4:30.

Tickets go on sale SOON! Stay tuned!

Don't forget to spread the word - The Bluest Eye - Thursday night - 2 for1 tickets!!

TWO-FOR-ONE tickets for The Bluest Eye THIS THURSDAY

Tell your friends, tell your classmates, tell your professors, tell your family, tell complete strangers!

This Thursday, April 14, 2011 Theatre VCU is offering 2 for1 tickets for EVERYONE who would like to attend the 7:30 showing of The Bluest Eye at the Raymond Hodges Theatre, in the Singleton Performing Arts Center, 922 Park Ave., Richmond, VA 23284.

You can get tickets for this show here. Or you can call the Box Office at 828-6026.

Listen to what the CT said about  us:
"...breathtaking....phenomenal...clever staging, set
development and lighting... shines with brilliant acting
with standout performances...”

The Bluest eye OPENS TONIGHT!!!

The Blogster saw last night's IDR/preview of The Bluest Eye and was blown away by the power and beauty onstage at the Raymond Hodges Theatre.

Toni Morrison's characters were given life and urgency and this production pulled the audience into her story of  how perception can change everything.


This is not an easy play about simple people.

Yet the Director, April Jones, was able to take complex and difficult issues, and with her actors, find compassion, and humor to make even dark moments full of humanity and truth.

We are presenting The Bluest Eye until April 24th.


It is good theatre, beautifully presented.

The Bluest Eye Opens THIS FRIDAY!!!

Tickets: vcutheatre.showclix.com 

828-6026 • theatretix@vcu.edu

Lot's of theatre news --- all in one blog! Congratulations to Dr. T. Kelly Walker, Shatera Hillyer Benjamin Burke & the cast of The Bluest Eye

When you see these folks please join the Bloginator in an enthusiastic Congratulations!!

Dr. Tawnya Pettiford-Wates

She has has received the 2011 faculty Presidential Award for Community Multicultural Enrichment (PACME)  fromVCU President Dr. Rao.

Kelly Murphy

She has received a Teaching Assistantship to France for the 2011/2012 academic year.  She will be teaching English in several schools in the Nantes area.  Kelly received this opportunity through her Fulbright Scholarship application.

Shatera Hillyer

She will be spending the summer in Hershey, PA with Matt Davenport Productions Entertainment Company as one of their 3 lead singers for the Rock The Jukebox Show. She got this great gig through the UPTA auditions.

Benjamin Burke, (a Theatre VCU First year Honors student)
His abstract submission, "Scenic Design for Theme Parks: Creating Meaningful Experiences and a Lasting Brand," was approved for presentation for NCUR 2011 at Ithaca College. Chosen from more than 3,500 submissions, his abstract demonstrates a unique contribution to your field of study and we are pleased to offer you the opportunity to present your work to your peers, faculty, and staff from around the world.

The Cast of The Bluest Eye

Crystal Jones and David Raine appeared on yesterday's Channel 6 morning show and were marvelous! Well done guys! Check it out!