You too can study abroad in Eastern Europe with the marvelous JRo and company

 

JOIN US ON A THEATRE

ADVENTURE TO 

EASTERN EUROPE!

Students will travel throughout Eastern Europe for three weeks, participating in Grotowski- and Barba-based theatre training with the world-renowned DAH Theatre of Belgrade, Serbia. Students will travel to the medieval walled city of Sibiu, Romania where they will participate in the Sibiu International Theatre Festival.

While in Romania, students will have the opportunity to see plays from around the world and meet theatre artists from many cultures.  Following the festival the group will visit the famous medieval Bran Castle, the inspiration for Bram Stocker’s 1897 novel Dracula, and will travel to Sighishoara, the birthplace of the infamous Vlad the Impaler.  There will also be ample opportunities to visit historic and cultural sites in both Belgrade and Sibiu.

The travel dates for this program are May 19 through June 8.  Professor Janet B. Rodgers, a former Fulbright Scholar to Romania and leader of study abroad trips to Eastern Europe since 2000, will be directing this program alongside Professor Pam Arkin from Longwood College. Participants will receive three to six upper-level theatre credits. The group will travel to and from the United States as a group.

The program fee (which includes airfare, housing, food and other expenses) is $3,425.  Students must also pay for the cost of tuition (three or six credits).  The cost of the program fee is based on estimated costs and is subject to change should actual costs be lower than estimated figures.

Students & Faculty - Voice and Speech candidate meeting this Thursday

huge weekend! and ain't that grand!!

 Roulette

#1 SALT show for Spring semester

January 27th and 28th at 8:00 pm

Shafer Street Theatre

Featuring Anna Jones and Daniel Braunstein

Directed by Maxwell Shane Moore

Opening TONIGHT!

Lord of the Flies, by Nigel Williams
Based on the novel by Nobel Prize winner William Golding
January 26 – February 25, 2012
Wednesday through Saturday at 8pm 

Directed by Josh Chenard

Featuring many fine Theatre VCU actors

SPARC Community Center, 2106-A N. Hamilton St.

and one more thing...

If you are a senior and wish to graduate this May

let this sign be a reminder:

All y'all need to get those Graduation Applications in by tomorrow!!

Do you have any idea how cool this is?!

Our very own Blair Russell is in Las Vegas interning for Cirque du Soleil's production of ZUMANITY.

He emailed the Bloginator with a link to his very entertaining Blog about his adventures.
Take a minute and Facebook him a Hello.
Let him know he is missed.

Go for it Blair!!

From Blair: "Here is the link to my blog:  http://zumanityintern.tumblr.com/
Feel free to post it on the Backstage Pass, which is how I  have been getting all my VCU news lately. I feel so out of the loop.
Have a fun semester, and I will still be morale boosting for the masquerade ball all the way over here!"

Job Opportunities for Actors and Costume Design Consultant - YES - Paid local gig!

Attention Theatre VCU Students -
Just seeing if you are paying attention to your Departmental Blog -
This is paid work for a variety of actors and a costume designer (to act as a consultant).





Call for Acting Talent for Historic Site in Hanover County

We are looking for actors to portray "living characters" for one week during the month of March (March 12-16) as elementary students visit our historic site.  Each character will wear period costume and deliver a presentation of approximately 8 minutes, twice a day, for five days.  We are in need of actors to play Patrick Henry, a slave named Thornton (who was a blacksmith and a lead conspirator in a planned slave uprising), and a lively individual to portray a Tavern Keeper.  Auditions for these parts will be held in February (date TBD) and selected actors will be compensated $250 for the week.  In addition, we are in need of understudies for these same three roles.  Understudies must attend 2 of the 5 performance days and be available to step into the role on any of the 5 days.  We are also seeking two individuals to serve as "acting coaches", helping students to engage with the script during a brief reader's theater performance twice each day.  Understudies and acting coaches will be compensated $100 for the week.  Interested actors should reply to lovebooks@happyreading.org.  We look forward to your response.


I appreciate your posting this.  In addition, I wonder if you know of anyone with costuming talent who might consult with us about wardrobe.  Eager to hear from you and from talented individuals in your department, as well.

Best
Angie Miles

Alumnus Frank Alfano - you are totally ON FIRE!! No really, man, I mean it... you're on fire dude!!!

This Blogster is a blogging FOOL today - 

Check out this promotional video for Alumnus Frank Alfano who is ON FIRE!!!

Literally and Figuratively!

Take a moment for a belated welcome...

December 19, 2011 this beautiful little girl joined the Anderson family... and therefore also joined our Theatre VCU family.

World, this is Zoey Anderson.

Daughter to Aaron and Jennifer Anderson.
and little sister to Koa and Kai!

What a beauty!

Please take 10 minutes at 5:30 to meet about the 2nd Annual Theatre VCU MASKED BALL

WE NEED YOUR HELP 

AND INPUT!

A brief meeting on the second floor lobby for everyone who would like help put together our 2nd Annual Theatre VCU Masked Ball - 

Monday, (today) 5:30 pm

We'll meet for 20 minutes tops and pull together another fabulous bake sale, and start building the excitement!!!

The Ball is to be held Friday May 4th, 2012 - YES - mark your calendar NOW. 

Freshman - get involved!!! This is too much fun!

Performance Majors - are you REALLY going to let the Techs have ALL the fun this year???

Grad students - yes - this BALL is for you too!!

There will be other meetings...    BUT the semester will fly and we need to make this celebration even more audicious then last years Ball! Let's start pulling it ALL together TODAY!!

The first of some BIG TIME reminders for Theatre VCU students

Who was that handsome Alumnus in Alcatraz last night?

YES! That was Jason Butler Harner  (graduate of Theatre VCU ) in the premiere 2 hour episode of Alcatraz on Fox playing the role of Associate Warden E.B. Tiller.

Alcatraz was developed by the same creative team that produced Lost! And the buzz has been terrific.

Thank you Courtney Dearing for the heads-up.

SALT SEASON SPRING 2012

Because the Bloginator stalks Facebook - things are revealed.
Here's an announcement that should make hearts pound.
Please let us know about auditions and we will post any and all info right here!

SALT is thrilled to finally announce the 2012 Spring Season!!!

Here is the breakdown in order of show weekends.

Weekend of:

Jan 27th--Roulette by Douglas Hill. Directed by Anna Jones and Max Moore

Feb 3rd--Almost Maine by John Cariani. Directed by Pam Webb

Feb 17th--Members Only Directed by Dan Granke

March 2nd--24hr Play Festival. Directed by Zach Campion.

March 23rd--Based On A Totally True Story by Roberto Aguirre--Sacasa. Directed by Mauricio Marces.

March 30th--Glory Days by Blaemire and Gardiner. Directed by Tony Tillman.

April 13th--Fat Pig by Neil Labute. Directed by Mike Hegarty and Robin Knepp.

April 20th--Sylvia by AR Gurney. Directed by Sarah Stepahin.

April 27th--Corner of the World Directed by Rachel Blackburn.

May 3rd--Killer Joe by Tracy Letts. Directed by David Zimmerman.

LET'S GET EXCITED EVERYONE!!!

Another opening... another show....

Justin Amelio, alumnus and current adjunct faculty, is the director of:

Written By James Edwin Parker

It’s 5 a.m. during the winter of 1987, in a spare but well-appointed apartment in Greenwich Village, NYC. Daryl (Nick Baldock, left) and Peter (Nicholas Wilder, right) met earlier that evening in a pick-up bar. They don’t really know anything about each other, except that they share an attraction and that they just had some great sex. Peter, rugged and taciturn, wants to sleep, but Daryl is chatty. He wants to discuss relationships, jobs, and generally try to determine if he and Peter are compatible. Daryl is looking for a boyfriend; Peter is just looking for a good time. As the show plays out in real time, the men sexually, verbally and emotionally joust with each other in what becomes a poignant, frightening and intimate, yet frequently humorous encounter. Contains full nudity and strong sexual situations.

Richmond Triangle Players

Thursday January 12 at 8 pm

Performances Thursday – Saturday evenings at 8 pm
through February 4

Also look for lighting design by current undergraduate student  Johnny Kernisky.

The Blogster has heard wonderful things about this production- 

Congratulations Justin. 

What a wonderful way to spend a winter's evening.

 

Great alumni news - We're so proud of you guys!

As the bloginator procrastinates pulling the looming Blog presentation two wonderful items appeared in the Theatre mailbox.

Our Alumni are out there making some remarkable work!

Margaret Joyner's work of passion will be at the Sycamore Rouge this February.

Starring current and graduated performance majors:

Brandon Butts

Jasmine Hammond

and

Ahjah Prom

Look a this remarkable email from alumnus 

Wesley Du

I'm blessed to tell you that "Dumpling" has officially been selected to be a part of the New Filmmakers Los Angeles Film Festival in April.  It will be shown at the Sunset Gower and Movie Maker Magazine will be doing interviews with all the filmmakers as well.

I was sharing with my small group from church that being a part of something bigger than myself and following my dreams is what makes me feel the most alive.  I assume that's because I'm doing what God has put me on this earth to do.  With that said, I wanted to thank you all for being so supportive of my dream.  I'll send more details out later as I get them.

Sincerely,

Wesley

Here is Wesley's Kickstarter site:

Funny... the Bloginator has been asked to speak to baby bloggers about blogging at VCU

Funnier yet... the blogster is speechless.



where to start..............

Rehearsals starting today for The Elephant Man

Casey Biggs is in the building - and the work has begun.

Ghost Light After Party - Get ready to belt out that BIG number!

The Bloginator is happy to promote YET another Richmond event hosted by two Theatre VCU alumni - Matt Shafner & Maggie Roop, on "select" Sunday evenings at  RTP - see below for more information.... personally I'm thinking of presenting a fully choreographed version of Hello Dolly" - complete with a HUGE red befeathered hat.....
too much?

Here's a great note from Matt & Maggie


Hello again!

Thanks so much for adding our event details to the blog!  We hope to
see lots of TheatreVCU faces in the crowd!

I have attached our digital postcard, and here is a little description
of the event:

The Ghost Light After Party is an open-mic celebration of Broadway
show tunes inspired by the vibrant cabaret scene that thrives today in
the West Village of Manhattan.  Any & all lovers of musical theatre
are invited to take the stage and croon a classic, belt out a tune of
today or simply sit back, have a cocktail and enjoy!  Hosted by
TheatreVCU Alumni Matt Shofner & Maggie Roop on select Sunday evenings
at the Richmond Triangle Players Theatre, The Ghost Light After Party
provides a fun and social environment for Richmond theatre artists and
enthusiasts to come together and unwind after the curtains have
closed.  No audition--no rehearsal--just fly by the seat of your pants
and have a ball!  For more information, special guest announcements
and drink specials, check out www.facebook.com/ghostlightparty.

Have a great weekend!
Matt and Maggie

Theatre VCU: Backstage Pass: Goin' LIVE!

Theatre VCU: Backstage Pass: Goin' LIVE!: Theatre VCU's April 21, 2012 Alumni Reunion Schedule & Registration pages have gone LIVE on the Theatre VCU website! Go HERE check out...

Goin' LIVE!

Theatre VCU's April 21, 2012 Alumni Reunion Schedule & Registration pages have gone LIVE on the Theatre VCU website!

Go HERE check out our events and make your reservation.

ALSO

Alumni who would like to present a workshop, round table, symposium or present any information in any format please contact Aaron Anderson at adanderson@vcu.edu.

This promises to be a wonderful weekend in April for all of our alumni. We've got a  limited block of rooms at Crowne Plaza (with a free shuttle bus). You might want to make your reservation early.

So, come to Richmond in April (you remember how beautiful it is here in the spring) and rediscover each other, hang out at the Village, get up on the stage at the Shafer Playhouse, talk to our students, reminisce, mentor, enjoy the heck out of the mainstage production of Spelling Bee (directed by the one and only Gary C. Hopper), with a wine reception to follow. Liz, Lou, Gary, Ron and Janet will be here, along with David and faculty you haven't met yet and our current students..

This is going to be a 
good time. 

You do not want 
to miss it.

And we definitely 
do not want to miss you!

Some people really know how to enjoy a winter holiday!

Josh Chenard... and the boys from 

Lord of the Flies

The here and now...

Studio B Theatre Company auditions for Edges: A Song Cycle - by appt. only - Friday January 13, 2012 at 7:00 pm & Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 10:00 pm
Email stagebtheatrecompany@gmail.com to reserve a time slot.
find more info on Facebook.

This week is your last chance to see My Fair Lady at the Barksdale - Last show Sunday matinee.
Our own Stacy Cabaj is a darling Eliza
And our own Maggie Horan working the high kick!


We've got Alums in it too!

Matthew Costello

Brian Baez

Lauren Leinhaas Cook

Michael Hawke

Did the Blogster miss anyone? 

Why yes she did!!

Derek Dumais - Lighting Design - VCU alumnus

Brian Barker - Set Design - VCU Alumnus 

Great music!
Great Fun!
Great reviews!

in rehearsal, as we speak

Lord of the Flies by Nigel Williams

January 26 – February 25, 2012

Based on the novel by Nobel Prize winner William Golding
Directed by Josh Chenard
A Richmond Premiere!

with our students:

Brent Gallahan - Eric

Josh Marin - Bill

Zach Page - Sam

Drew Sease - Jack

Sean Wyland - Simon 

Nicole Slaven - Costume Design

Pretty wonderful to see all those Theatre VCU folk out there celebrating theatre!

 

...And... We're Back.

January 2012.
Take a deep breath and jump in...

We've got a wild ride for the next five months. So if you haven't caught up on your sleep, organized your life, or shaken off the Fall semester by now... I'm just sayin'...

January 16 is Martin Luther King Day...

... a picture's worth a 1,000 words.

...and then... 

... (two weeks from today)

... the day after MLK Day...

...it begins...

The Bloginator has been persuaded to present 

the next 5 months 

in a series of provocative, enticing, exciting, seductive, 

enchanting entries.

To quicken your pulse

and fill you, 

dear reader

with anticipation.

The circus is back in town...

is ready for