The Resurrection of the Blog Monster - with news about Frankenstein: Dawn of a Monster

The Bloginator has woken from a deep sleep and dragged her undead body over to the keyboard to share news about a fellow monster…. Frankenstein… who terrorized Richmond's Channel 6's Virginia This Morning Show yesterday.

It was wonderful show!

Go HERE and you can see that it's clear - the Monster (Brandon Sterrett)and the darling young William Frankenstein (Ryan Poquis) will live happily ever after…….

….or not.


Both actors and the playwright (David Emerson Toney) were interviewed by the show hosts as well.

Kudos to the crew who traveled to Channel 6 - Ariane Belcher, Telos Fuller (amazing makeup!); Alexis Black (on-the -spot movement coaching and direction); and Ryan's parents - Greg and April.

A great morning! Thanks to everyone at Virginia This Morning!

BOGO NIGHTS!!
Thursday April 17, 2015
ALL VCU STUDENTS - Buy One Get One Ticket FREE!! Bring your ID to the Box Office

Thursday April 23, 2015
ALL VCU STAFF & FACULTY- Buy One Get One Ticket FREE!! Bring your ID to the Box Office

Guest Artist Kevin Jones invites Theatre VCU students & faculty to his master class Wednesday, Feb. 4, 5 - 6 pm in B72, PAC

Kevin Jones is an accomplished musical director, director, and choreographer of musical theater, and teacher of acting and musical theater (including musical theater performance, acting for the stage, acting for film and television, musical theater history, and music theory). 

Over the course of his career Kevin has acquired one of the largest private collections of musical theater scores (in excess of 10,000 songs) in the United States. 

Kevin has a natural gift where he is able to assess an actor and select the perfect audition song and monologue from his collection in just a matter of minutes. He then coaches the actor on all aspects of the audition (vocal technique, musical staging, character work, etc.). His success rate is extraordinary. He has coached hundreds of actors into Broadway shows, national tours, and regional theater productions. 

As a musical director, Kevin has a most unique insight into the rehearsal process because he has also worked professionally as an actor, singer, dancer, director, choreographer and producer. He is extremely organized and often breaks his rehearsal schedules down to fifteen-minute time blocks. 

Actors and musicians alike appreciate his work ethic, specificity in his conducting and musical direction, and the tremendous amount of positive energy that he brings to each production. Kevin has a true passion for the theater. He founded the Opening Doors Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit in 2003 to provide theater training and performance opportunities for youth, while at the same time, offer free, quality theater productions for the people of the Roanoke Valley - thus making live theater accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial status.

Specializing in teaching actors proper singing technique, how to “belt” safely, and how to dramatically interpret musical theater songs. Kevin will work with selected students and take questions from the observers. This is open to all VCU students and faculty.

SUPERHEROES!!

The Superheroes are Mariah, Tyler, Devin and David

and some other guys.

YOU will be able to buy one of the cardboard heroes 

(for just $1)

 next week at the first official

2015 Ball Bake Sale & Hero Raffle!

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 • 10 AM - 2 PM • PAC LOBBY

Can you bake or sit at the table?

Please email gmbrannan@vcu.edu or Facebook

Theatre VCU

Save the Date! High School Theatre Design & Technology Exposition - April 25, 2015

Design, Technology and Craft Exposition & Competitions! 

Scenic, Costume, Lighting, Sound & Makeup Design 

as well as

Costume Construction, Scenic Construction/ Painting, 

Props, Stage Management

A full day of Workshops such as:

Makeup  Model Making

Costume Design  

Costume Construction 

Lighting Design 

Props  

Projections

Stage Management

Portfolio Development &

Applying to Universities 

Your work will be critiqued by our professional

designers including Broadways' Toni-Leslie James!

 

Lunch with the Design Faculty and 

Theatre VCU students

Exhibition of award-winning 

Theatre VCU student designs

Attend an evening performance of 

Frankenstein: Dawn of a Monster

$30.00 per student for entire day

Additional

$10.00 per student for  

Frankenstein: Dawn of a Monster

Send your Application in BEFORE March 15 and  attend 

Frankenstein: Dawn of a Monster for FREE!

For More Information

Contact:

Ron Keller (rkeller@vcu.edu)

or call

804-828-1514

Be a part of the first HS Exposition at Theatre VCU!

Opening Night for Amazing Grace in Chicago!!

WOW!

It was a wonderful night in Chicago for Theatre VCU!

Here's what Paul W. Thompson wrote in Broadway World.com:

"Director Gabriel Barre and music director Joseph Church, guided to no small degree by the willingness of producer Carolyn Rossi Copeland to give Smith’s musico-dramatic vision a chance to live, have crafted a complex and moving piece of theater, with thrilling musical moments, stunning visual imagery and roles that actors would give their eyeteeth to sink their molars into. Passion here takes the form of the struggle to live, to love, to be free, to live in peace in community. These are universal themes, and John Newton’s story lends itself well to this passion and these themes."


He also points out:

"exquisite and sexy costumes by Toni-Leslie James"

And references are made to:

"And it’s a highly physical role (gunfights, fistfights, beatings, dancing, falling overboard, all sort of shirts coming on and off)." (Fight Choreography - our own David Leong & Brad Wilcuts.)

Yep, It was a wonderful night - the pictures tell the story!

Brad Willcuts, Ron Keller, David Leong, Josh Quinn (Assistant Costume Designer - MFA 2012)

Brad Willcuts, Ron Keller, Matt Armentrout (Assistant Wig Designer - BFA 2012), David Leong, Josh Quinn

Brad Willcuts, Ron Keller, Gabriel Barre (Director - Theatre VCU Guest Director 2014), David Leong, Josh Quinn

Brad Willcuts, David Leong, Vince Oddo (Fight Captain)

Macbeth - Rehearsal photos show the tension… the work… the process

Theatre VCU Performance major Seth Ray Hewitt has been posting some beautiful Macbeth rehearsal photos of the cast on stage before the beautiful costumes and the full make up.

The Bloginator loves seeing the work behind the show.

What do you think?

Meanwhile… there's some magic being made in the Costume Design/Tech department 

(thank you Emily Atkins for the photo)

Look Who's On a National Tour!!

Our very own Tony Tillman (BFA Performance 2013) is on the Mamma Mia! National Tour!

Tony is playing Eddie. Take a look at his career on the Mamma Mia! site: http://www.mammamiaontour.com/mm/mamma-mia-cast-creative.asp#

Let us know how it's going Tony!

Reminder to all current 

Theatre VCU students:

Next Thursday, September 25 is MACBET's open night

That night only tickets are $5.00 for all Theatre VCU students! 

Buy your tickets now at the Box Office 

& be sure to bring your student ID!

Dress up and join the celebration! There will be a reception in the lobby following the show.

We will all be there to support the hard work of the Macbeth cast and crew!

News From VA REP to 

ALL VCU Students 

We are holding seats for VCU students for the evening of Friday, October 3 for $14.  The students can call 282-2620 and pay for their seat as a part of this group.  

VCU students are invited to join UR students that evening at 6:45 for a reception and comments by Bruce Miller and Jan Powell.    

Students who cannot attend that evening can attend any performance for $10.  That rate is only good day of show but there should be tickets.  

Other adults in the VCU community - faculty, alumni, etc can use this code for a $5 discount for any show by using the code VCUSHAKES online or at the box office.

Here's more about the show:

It is 1606, and Shakespeare has been commanded to write a propaganda play about the Gunpowder Plot, in service to King James. Will he agree to be a pawn in the cynical gamesmanship of the king’s spymaster, or will he equivocate—lie by telling the truth? The playwright, his acting company, and a variety of historical figures clash in this high-stakes political thriller about the complexities of the truth and the terrible consequences of compromise. Read the Press Release (PDF)

“One of the most bracingly intelligent, sizzlingly theatrical American plays in a decade.” Variety

Much goes on…. and on… and on

We've got Man of La Mancha rehearsals starting to percolate - One week in already!

Stage managers  - look at Miss Kat working that ruler.

The cast on the first night of rehearsal. 

Xiolin's costumes are amazing distressed leather 

...take a look at the designer with the armor.

Speaking of Costume Design/Tech…

Lindsay Austria

Toni-Leslie James, head of Costume Design) has been hard at work on two pre-Broadway musical productions slated to open on Broadway in the spring of 2015. Bull Durham and Amazing Grace.

Amazing Grace: A New Musical (music and lyrics by Christopher Smith, book by Smith and Arthur Giron) will have it’s pre-Broadway premiere in Chicago in October. This huge musical has over 160 18^th century costumes. Theatre VCU alumni and current students has been hired to create many of these gorgeous costumes.

Matt Armentrout

The VCU team consists of:

Joshua Quinn – Asst Costume Designer, United Scenic Artists 829 – VCU MFA 2013

Gloria Kim – Costume Illustrator, Shopper, 18^th Century Fan Designer – VCU BFA 2013

Michael Magaraci – Shopper, Men’s 18^th Century Neck Wear Designer - VCU BFA 2012

Neno Russell – Draper, Pattern Maker – Theatre VCU, Director of Costume Technology

Matt Armentrout – Draper Pattern Maker, Asst. Wig Designer, VCU BFA 2012

Theatre VCU current students and alumni have been responsible for the production of 115 Amazing Grace garments. The stitchers include:

Neno Russell

Sophia Choi - VCU BFA 2015

Lindsay Austria - VCU BFA December 2014

Isabela Tavares de Melo  - VCU MFA 2014
Devario Simmons – VCU MFA 2015

Emily Atkins – VCU MFA 2015

Casey Jones – VCU BFA 2016

Willa Piro – VCU BFA 2016

Kiyoshi Shaw – VCU BFA 2014

Anastazia Whittle – VCU BFA 2015

Breanne Levandowshky – VCU BFA 2015

Maura Cravey – VCU Faculty

Also assisting the Theatre VCU Shop Assistants

Grenville Burgess – VCU MFA 2016

Raven Wilkes – VCU BFA 2015

Meanwhile, in Atlanta, Bull Durham has over 150 costumes, the majority of which are shopped. The Bull Durham team has been led by J. Theresa Bush (VCU MFA 2013).

Toni-Leslie James believes in our students!

Let's Get This Party Started!!

It's true the 2014/15 year is about to roar out of the gate - and there are all kinds of news you need to know. Let's start with this:

The Scottish Play is in Rehearsal

Warming up in 72

 Director Barry Bell explaining the finer points

The Team - Stage Managers Rachel, Hannah & Barry

Check out Xiaolin Lan's 

gorgeous Macbeth costume renderings:

Lady Macbeth

One of the Witches

Murderer I

MacDuff

MacBeth Himself.

ALL THEATRE VCU STUDENTS:

Don't forget

Departmental Welcome on 

Wednesday, Aug. 20th is 

FOR EVERYONE

First years - 2:00 in the PAC lobby

EVERYONE 

(you too grad students)

3:00 pm

You don't get in the building if you don't fill out a 

NEW Locator Card.

(We don't care if you filled it out last year, really, we don't.)

Senior Showcase 2014 - Friend and Family performances April 28th 5 & 7 pm at the Newdick Theatre (Shafer Street)

The Bloginator is pleased to introduce the  Theatre VCU 2014 Senior Showcase

Catch them in Richmond before 
their LA and NYC

performances.
Friends & Family Show
April 28 - 5 &7 pm
Newdick Theatre
221 N. Shafer St.


LA
Monday, May 12 - 1 & 7 pm
Matrix Theatre
7657 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
RSVP
VCUShowcase2014LAA@gmailcom

NYC
Monday, May 19 - 6, 7, & 8 pm
The Studio Theatre at Theatre Row
410 W. 42nd St.
New York, NY 10036
RSVP
VcuShowcase2014NYC@gmail.com



Performance run 45 minutes.
Space is limited, please RSVP by May 9th.

http://youtu.be/1V8nWrmxREo

Arabian Nights on Channel 6's Virginia This Morning show!

We love the CBS/Channel 6 show Virginia This Morning!

Yesterday Theatre VCU's cast of Arabian Nights were asked to visit Virginia This Morning to perform scene from the play, which is opening FRIDAY NIGHT at 7:30 in the Singleton Performing Arts Center!!

FIRST the fabulous David Toney & Ciara McMillan spoke with the lovely Cheryl Miller

Followed by a wonderful performance

Go HERE to see our actors on television!

We got to watch it later in the green room. It was a fun morning!

Hey Theatre VCU performance majors - in case you haven't signed up for the Fall MainStage Shows Audition - here's the skinny:

Mainstage Audition Sign Up Sheet for

Macbeth & 

Man of La Mancha

 Cattle Call for Both Shows 

Friday April 18, 1pm - 6pm • Shafer 302

REQUIREMENTS: Please come prepared with a one non-gender specific minute monologue from Macbeth and 16 bars of a song (bring the sheet music with you). Songs from “the Golden Age” are recommended. IF YOU PLAY THE GUITAR - bring the instrument & 16 bars of music & be prepared to play.

All performance majors are expected to audition with a monologue and a song

 Arabian Nights cast members - please sign up for an early slot on Friday so as not to conflict or 

cut it too close to your call for the performance that night.

Call backs (including a dance call) will be posted Friday night on the callboard and on the

SM Blog (http://vcucastlist.blogspot.com/ ). It will begin Sat., April 19 at 10 am in Shafer 302.

Copies of both scripts will be available in the main office to be signed out for 24 hours.

PLEASE ARRIVE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TIME SLOT YOU HAVE SIGNED UP FOR. THANK YOU!

Sign-up sheet on the board across from the elevator - 2nd Floor PAC

SETC 2014 - Theatre VCU showed up and won big!

The ENTIRE SETC Design Competition Winners

Undergraduate Costume Design Awards in Honor of Irene Smart Rains 
Honorable Mention
Emily Faulkner, The Comedy of Errors, Berry College

Third Place

Kiyoshi Shaw, Dracula, Virginia Commonwealth University 

Second Place
Matt Adkins, Miss Witherspoon, Francis Marion University 

First Place
Sophia Choi, Love Never Dies, Virginia Commonwealth University


Undergraduate Scenic Design Award Sponsored by Sculptural Arts Coating, Inc. 
Third Place
Jacob Sailer, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Virginia Commonwealth University 

Second Place
Benjamin Burke, Other Desert Cities, Virginia Commonwealth University 

First Place
Matthew Buttrey, The Tempest, Southeast Missouri State University


Undergraduate Lighting Design Awards Sponsored by Electronic Controls, Inc. 
Honorable Mention
Tyler Rowe, The Sweetest Swing In Baseball, Centre College

Third Place
Elisabeth Becraft, Psycho Beach Party, Frostburg State University 

Second Place
Luke Cresson, Hairspray!, Virginia Commonwealth University 

First Place
Margaret Peebles, Legally Blonde, Kent State University


Costume Crafts and Technology Awards Sponsored by Norcosto
Third Place
Annie Rupprecht, 19th Century Hand Embroidery Silk Shoes, Florida State University 

Second Place
Grace Mimbs, Baroque Wired Whisk Collar, Savannah College of Art and Design 

First Place
Lindsay Austria, 18th Century Woman’s Gown, Virginia Commonwealth University


Properties Design and Construction Awards Sponsored by Friends of Props 
Second Place
Kristin Viola, Scenic Art for Dancing at Lughnasa, University of Southern Mississippi 

First Place
Christopher Foote, Confetti Canon for Hairspray!, Virginia Commonwealth University


Sound Design Sponsored by Shure, INC. 
Honorable Mention
Joseph Palermo, The 30 Steps, Stetson University 

Third Place
Andrew Crews, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Florida School of the Arts 

Second Place
Kurt Davis, Marisol, University of Mississippi

First Place
William Wacker, Sweeney Todd: The Melodrama, Virginia Commonwealth University


Graduate Lighting Design Awards Sponsored by Electronic Controls, Inc. 
Third Place
Cyndi Hoffman, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Kent State University

Second Place
Jacquelyn Cox, Tribes, University of Arkansas

First Place
Kenneth Forster, The Whipping Man, University of Tennessee
(no VCU entries)


Graduate Scenic Design Awards Sponsored by Sculptural Arts Coating
Honorable Mention
Christian Hershey, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Diety, Virginia Commonwealth University 

Third Place
Jason Ammons, The Whipping Man, Universityof Tennesse

Second Place
Christopher Rhoton, Chicago, Indiana University

First Place
Josafath Reynoso, The Hairy Ape, University of Tennesee


Graduate Costume Design Awards In Honor of Irene Smart Rains 
Three Way Tie For First Place


Alyssa Couturier-Herndon, Rocky Horror Show, University of Florida 

Isabela Tavares de Melo, Harspray!, Virginia Commonwealth University 

Poua Yang, Mary Stuart, University of Tennessee

Theatre VCU went up against schools from Florida to Massachusetts, Ohio, Indiana to South Carolina.

TEN Theatre VCU students won awards. (the next closest school was Univ of Tenn with 4 awards total)

PLUS THESE GUYS WERE THERE:

LIGHTING & SOUND!!

SCENE DESIGN TECH!!

STAGE MANAGERS!!!

What's not to love!