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.

A Little Support and Love for all Things Theatre VCU

The great weekend of Macbeth!! Do not miss this beautiful show. Go here to see some of the photos. 

Take a look at this wonderful video made by the Commonwealth Times!







There's also Chicago where David Leong (Theatre VCU Chair) and Brad Wilcuts (Theatre VCU grad student) are designing and polishing the fight choreography of
Amazing Grace
and Toni-Leslie James (Theatre VCU, Director of Costume Design/Tech) with her crew of Theatre VCU alumni, is putting the finishing touches on the extraordinary costumes for the of Amazing Grace - the pre-Broadway, world premiere.  Opening October 9th!!

 Here are some great random photos of rehearsal work with Brad in the top photo; David and Brad looking on the sailors to the left; and Brad firing rifles below.

Five days until opening in Chicago! You guys must be exhausted!!

Only one week left for you to see Theatre VCU's beautiful production of MACBETH!

Theatre VCU's Macbeth has everything 

that makes live theatre fun…. and exciting!

Take a look…

Sexiness….

Lots and Lots of Blood

Comedy…. yes. really...

Fighting….

More Fighting…..

Bloody Ghosts…..

And Macbeth Madness.

 One last week.

Don't miss MACBETH

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

Something wicked this way comes….

Tickets to Macbeth are moving fast…
vcutheate.showclix.com

Theatre VCU is all over town… and if you're a student there are some great ticket deals!

Our very own David Emerson Toney is directing Frederick Knott's 
Wait Until Dark 
at Firehouse Theater. 
Opening Sept. 18 and running until Oct. 18.

An apartment in 1970’s Greenwich Village becomes the site of theatre’s most terrifying game of cat and mouse. Desperate to reclaim a mysterious doll stuffed with illegal drugs, a con man lays a trap to ensnare a blind woman.  With the help of his criminal cohorts and a few clever disguises, he spins a tale to fool the innocent and unsuspecting woman.  But when the doll can’t be found, the situation spirals out of control.   From the author of Dial “M” for Murder, Wait Until Dark proves that what you can’t see can most definitely hurt you.

Also the main character, Susy, is being played by Ciara McMillan (3rd year performance, Arabian Nights)

Other VCU students & alumni  in the cast:
Sam - Saidu Tejan-Thomas (Mass Comm, VCU, Arabian Nights)
Mike - Nicklas Aliff (Theatre VCU alumnus)
Policeman 1 - Jordan Jones (1st year Theatre VCU Performance)

Policeman 2 - Andrew Reid (2nd year, Theatre VCU Performance)

Preview Night (College Night) is this Thursday Sept. 18. All student tickets are $5.00 (with your VCU ID). During the run student tickets will be $16.00


According to Style Magazine:
The powerful "H2O" marks an auspicious debut for 5th Wall Theatre."

Starring two Theatre VCU alumni : Landon Nagel and Liz Earnest.

Here's what Style says about Landon and Liz:

"With his Everyman face and obvious charm, Nagel puts in an effortless performance as Jake."

"In the hands of a lesser actress, the role could easily be seen as supporting and one-dimensional, but Earnest works to show the character's complexity."

Thursday - Saturday at 8PM, Sunday at 4PM at Theatre Gym at Virginia Repertory Center, 114 W. Broad Street

September 4 – 27, 2014
http://www.5thwalltheatre.org/

Contact Billy Christopher Maupin for student ticket information - billychristopher@5thwalltheatre.org.

Opening September 24 at Richmond Triangle Players
Noel Coward's Design for Living

Directed by alumnus Justin Amellio

and featuring alumnus Jeffrey Cole

Sept 24 – Oct 18, 2014

Three bohemian artists grapple with the pleasures and challenges of a ménage à trois lifestyle in this sophisticated and innovative comedy that scandalized two continents when it premiered! Gilda loves Otto, and it’s entirely mutual. But Gilda is rather fond of Leo as well. Leo adores Gilda – but come to think of it, Leo and Otto have a bit of history, too. So which of them will pair off, and who’ll be left out in the cold? Well, why should they have to?  What’s that all-too-common comment on relationships: “It’s complicated?” This one just happens to be rather more complicated than most!  A classic comedy where the morality is in the eye of the beholder.

Meanwhile in NYC David Leong (Theatre VCU Departmental Chair) with the assistance of  Brad Willcuts (Theatre VCU MFA 2015) is choreographing the many complex and exciting conflicts in the Broadway bound Amazing Grace - opening in Chicago this October! How cool is that?

Olivia Luna (Theatre VCU Perfomance Alumnus) was that you we saw on the new ABC dramatic series How to Get Away with Murder? PremieredThurs. Sept. 25.

 Looking great and living the dream!

Congratulations and Break Legs to ALL our Theatre VCU peeps!!

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.)

A letter from Wesley Broulik with Theatre VCU's Senior Showcase 2014 in LA

The beautiful girls!

Hello everyone,

Los Angeles has been going swimmingly so far.

Better than expected so far.

The house is terrific, students are driving and dealing with traffic and everyone has had some In-N-Out Burger. (Yay!)

Yesterday was the workshop with Arlie Day and today is the day that focuses on moving, living and surviving here. (Arlie was AWESOME and the students loved her.)

The handsome guys!

After this trip, everyone should have a clear picture of what Los Angeles is like and is it right for them.

Attendance at the performances was light but we got enough of what we wanted. (CBS came!)

There are several agent/manager appointments so far and more will roll in today as well.

I have had some feedback (in writing) from the agents and it was all really good.  The industry people were very pleased, and they wrote to me unsolicited. That makes me feel like we are on the right track, and after this year, we will actually have relationships with some industry.

So, for our first stab at actually showcasing in Los Angeles, I don’t know how it could have gone better. Especially since nobody had ever heard of our program. (Yes I had to explain who we are, where we are and what we do to everyone.)

Let’s hope next year is easier and our brand grows a little more through word of mouth. These things take time and don’t happen over night.

Now it’s time to get back to work on NYC from beautiful, sunny California. More later!

The whole gang with Arlie Day

Best,

Wesley