Wednesday, August 28, 2013

What's up this week?... How 'bout this?

 First-year actors waking up with Chris Baker
 Bonnie Brady's Stage Mangement class




More First-Year students gathering for Stagecraft
More fFrst-Year students gathering for Stagecraft  part Two




The magnificent Toni-Leslie James and Jenna Ferree gird their loins for their first classes



Jorge Bermudez and his class of actors.













James Russell is overwhelmed by the Student Handbook.




Have you read it yet?



Chris Baker, the brilliant Noreen Barnes and Wesley Broulik comparing notes.









Olivia & Chris are waiting until the very last minute to go in.


Wesley.
That's all folks!

Friday, August 23, 2013

Audition Monday for Translations directed by Shaun McCracken!!!


Auditions for Brian Friel’s 
Translations

Directed by Shaun McCracken

When: Monday, August 26 at 7pm
Where: Shafer 201

Prepare: Your best monologue 
(1 minute max.  May be comedic or dramatic.  Dialect work is encouraged but not required.)

Roles available:

Manus—late 20’s/early 30’s, the lame son of a schoolmaster in a Gaeltecht community in Donegal (M)

Sarah—17/20, a poor girl from the community with a terrible speech defect.  She speaks in grunts (if at all) and communicates largely with gesture. (F)

Jimmy Jack Cassie (The Infant Prodigy)—60/65, fluent in Latin and Greek.  Never bathes.  Attends the school each night for company. (M)

Maire—20/22, strong-minded and strong-bodied (F)

Doalty—20/22, open-minded and open-hearted, generous, and slightly thick (M)

Bridget—18/20, plump, fresh, country girl, cunning, but in a harmless way, always ready to laugh (F)

Hugh—60/65, Manus’ father, a large man with residual dignity (M)

Owen—23/24, Hugh’s other son/Manus’ brother, a city man with an easy, charming manner (M)

Captain Lancey—30/40, British, precise and orderly.  Good with deeds, not words. (M)

Lieutenant Yolland—23/24, British.  Has a shy and awkward manner—a soldier by accident. (M)

Thursday, August 22, 2013

This Weekend Only!! A Romeo & Juliet


THIS WEEKEND ONLY!!!



After a successful run in the beginning of August, A Romeo &
Juliet will be presented once more in the Shafer Street Playhouse, this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  A Romeo & Juliet is an adaptation that strips away the costumes, set, and design of a traditional Shakespearean Drama in order to make it more accessible to modern audiences.  There are moments of huge hilarity mixed in with moments of true sorrow.  The show lasts 100 minutes, exactly, with no intermission and there are only 40 seats available each night so get there early. 

Here’s what you need to know:


Show Times & Information

Friday and Saturday Night at 7:30, Doors open at 7:00

Sunday at 3:00, Doors open at 2:30

Newdick Auditorium in the Shafer Street Playhouse

Free



Cast

Adam Valentine as Romeo

Dominique Carr as Juliet

Richard Chan as Friar Ben Laurence

Tyler Stevens as Mercutio

Kaelie Ukrop as Benvolio (Friday, Sunday Only)

Jasmine Hammond as Benvolio (Sat. Only)

Justin Bell as Tybalt

Dorian Dozier as Capulet

Shelby Smith as Montague/Nurse

A Teddy Bear as Paris

A Slot Machine as the Prince

A Flask as the Apothecary

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Congratulations to Theatre VCU students & Alumni!! The Artsie Nominations have been announced!!


The blogster has highlighted ALL the current Theatre VCU students, faculty & alumni who have been nominated for the Richmond Theatre Critics Circle for the BEST of this past year's Richmond VA theatre.
Pretty sweet!!
(please email if anyone has been missed!! email gmbrannan@vcu.edu)

The Richmond Theatre Critics Circle (RTCC) has announced nominations for the Sixth Annual “Artsies” awards. The gala at is 10/20, at Virginia Rep’s November Theatre. This year’s show will have 2 hosts: local theater favorites Michael Hawke and Melissa Johnston-Price, who were recently seen together in Richmond Triangle Players’ “Regrets Only.” (Directed byTVJerry himself)

Best Musical
bare: a pop opera, Richmond Triangle Players
La Cage aux Folles, Richmond Triangle Players
The Music Man, Virginia Repertory Theatre
Next to Normal, Cadence Theatre Company in partnership with Virginia Repertory Theatre
The Producers, Virginia Repertory Theatre

Best Direction (Musical)
Justin Amellio, bare: a pop opera
Patti D’Beck, The Producers
Chase Kniffen, Next to Normal
John Moon, The Music Man
Joe Pabst, La Cage aux Folles

Best Actor (Musical)
Matt Beyer, La Cage aux Folles
Larry Cook, The Music Man
Duke Lafoon, Next to Normal
Ian Page, bare: a pop opera
Scott Wichmann, The Producers

Best Actress (Musical)
Grey Garrett, I Love a Piano, Swift Creek Mill Theatre
Amanda Johnson, The Music Man
Morgan Meadows, bare: a pop opera
Andrea Rivette, Next to Normal
Debra Wagoner, The Magic Flute, Virginia Repertory Theatre

Best Supporting Actor (Musical)
Jody Ashworth, The Producers
Michael Hawke, The Producers
John Mincks, Next to Normal
Ian Stearns, Pop! Who Shot Andy Warhol?, Firehouse Theatre Project
Terence Sullivan, Next to Normal

Best Supporting Actress (Musical)
Kelsey Cordrey, bare: a pop opera
Audra Honaker, Pop! Who Shot Andy Warhol?
Christie Jackson, Next to Normal
Nicole Oberleitner, La Cage aux Folles
Liz Blake White, A Child’s Christmas in Wales, Richmond Shakespeare

Best Musical Direction
Paul Deiss, I Love a Piano
Andrew Hamm, A Child’s Christmas in Wales
Kim Fox, bare: a pop opera
Kim Fox, Next to Normal
Douglas Minerd, The Producers

Best Choreography
Patti D’Beck, The Producers
Starr Foster, Pop! Who Shot Andy Warhol?
Nicole Oberleitner, La Cage aux Folles
Leslie Owens-Harrington, The Music Man

Best Play
The Beauty Queen of Lenane, Henley Street Theatre
The Comedy of Errors, Richmond Shakespeare
Death of a Salesman, Firehouse Theatre Project
Julius Caesar, Henley Street Theatre
Sons of the Prophet, Cadence Theatre Company in partnership with Virginia Repertory Theatre

Best Direction (Play)
Anna Johnson, Sons of the Prophet
Steve Perigard, The Comedy of Errors
Jan Powell, King John
James Ricks, Julius Caesar
Bo Wilson, Beauty Queen of Lenane

Best Actor (Play)
David Bridgewater, Red, Virginia Repertory Theatre
Deejay Gray, Riding the Bull, TheatreLAB
David Janosik, King John, Richmond Shakespeare
Billy Christopher Maupin, A Bright New Boise, Firehouse Theatre Project
Joe Pabst, Faith Healer, Henley Street Theatre

Best Actress
Maggie Bavalack, Riding the Bull
Mary Best Bova, The Beauty Queen of Lenane
Eva DeVirgilis, The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, Henley Street Theatre
Terry Menefee Gau, The Glass Menagerie, Sycamore Rouge
Jill Bari Steinberg, The Beauty Queen of Lenane

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Play)
Nick Aliff, Any Given Monday, Firehouse Theatre Project
D J Cummings, Sons of the Prophet
David Janeski, The Pillowman, Cadence Theatre Company in partnership with Virginia Repertory Theatre
Adrian Rieder, Death of a Salesman
Jeffrey Schmidt, Julius Caesar

Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Play)
Stacie Rearden Hall, The Pride, Richmond Triangle Players
Molly Hood, The Comedy of Errors
McLean Jesse, The Glass Menagerie
Melissa Johnston Price, Sons of the Prophet
Maggie Roop, Hay Fever, Virginia Repertory Theatre

Best Ensemble Acting
The Beauty Queen of Lenane
Gidion’s Knot, Carol Piersol Production
The Glass Menagerie
The Pillowman, Cadence Theatre Company in partnership with Virginia Repertory Theatre
Steel Magnolias, Virginia Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Design
Andrew Bonniwell, Julius Caesar
K. Jenna Ferree, Next to Normal
Lynne Hartman, The Music Man
Lynne Hartman, Red
Robert Perry, Bright New Boise

Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design
Sarah Grady, The Music Man
Sue Griffin, Hound of the Baskervilles, Virginia Repertory Theatre
Thomas Hammond, Whoop-Dee-Doo, Richmond Triangle Players
Margarette Joyner, Julius Caesar
D. Mark Souza, La Cage aux Folles
Alex Valentin, bare: a pop opera

Outstanding Achievement in Set Design
David Allan Ballas, The Busy World is Hushed, Richmond Triangle Players
Tennessee Dixon, Julius Caesar
Jacob Sailer, Red
Todd Schall-Vess, King John
Mercedes Shaum, Hay Fever

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design
Derek Dumais, Hound of the Baskervilles
Joey Luck, A Bright New Boise
James Ricks, Julius Caesar
James Ricks, The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe
Brittany Simmons/Alecia Shulz, King John

Liz Marks Memorial Award for Ongoing Contribution to Richmond Area Theater
Tom McGranahan - Kevin's dad!

Friday, August 9, 2013

In Memory of Jett - TheVCU School of the Arts Jett Gerald Higham Scholarship Fund

This Toni-Leslie James post from Facebook deserves your attention:


We are eternally grateful to all who contributed to the Brady Center in our sweet Jett's name. 

I am also wish to express our appreciation to the VCU School of the Arts for establishing a design/tech scholarship in Jett's name -The Jett Gerald Higham Scholarship.


We have received donations to the scholarship, which is a will shortly reach endowment status. 


If you wish to contribute, please send contributions to care of  

Sarah Kim
VCU School of the Arts
325 N. Harrison St.
PO Box 842519
Richmond, VA 23284-2519. 
 
Checks should be made to the VCU School of the Arts, Jett Gerald Higham Scholarship Fund. 


It usually takes 1-2 years to set up a scholarship
fund and the dean of VCU SOTA, Joe Siepel, Julia Carr and Sarah Kim (Development), Holly Price (Fashion), and the beloved Bonnie McCoy made it happen in a week.

There are no words to express our gratitude.

Friday, August 2, 2013

Friday BLOGFEST Third of Three

Say Hello to

The new Theatre VCU
Lighting Design/Tech Professor

Christian DeAngelis

Go HERE to see his website.


Friday BLOGFEST Second of Three!!!

This is what we heard about the VCU Arts
Theatre VCU 2013 Summer Intensive
From the students:
"Best experience of my life"
"Very different - intense & industry savvy"
"Every day there was endless new knowledge"
"Personal - small classes"
"We bonded"
Challenging - full of discovery"
"Now I can definitely fake fight"
"We felt welcome, not intimidated"
"This has been an amazing three weeks"

 




 
Thank you to the students:
Braelyn Chatterjea, Sam Cooper,
Cameron Daly, Alex Donato,
Cassidy Dyce, Kimberly Geipel, 
Jenneca Graber-Grace
Brigid Nunan, Ali Rocha

One more quote from Barry Bell, Acting for the Camera instructor:
"A lovely group of very naturally talented actors willing to learn & explore.
This summer has been a pleasure."

Thank you also to 
Clayton Winters & James Murphy - Stage Combat instructors
Barry Bell - Acting for the Camera instructor
Sean Wyland - Acting for the Camera, Assistant Director
Patti D'Beck & Marisa Guida - Musical Theatre Instructors
Ben Miller - Accompanist
Maura Cravey - Make-Up Design Instructor

Friday BLOGFEST First of Three!!!

 LADIES & GENTLEMEN!!
The Prop Room 
under the Mainstage is being cleaned...
woo-hoo


The dumpster FUll of the "bad" stuff

B-72 FULL of the "good" stuff

(It's amazing what you can find under the pile)
Nathan Wunderlich, Ben Burke (Nanook), 
King Matt Grisdela, Hannah Adaway &
Lydia Millet.

The team!