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

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

Photo Homage to Cuckoo's Nest

We've got a hit here! People are raving about HAIRSPRAY!

No. I'm not talking reviews in the New York Times (we're a bit off their radar) or even the Richmond Times Dispatch (they won't review university productions")...

We're talking about the folks pouring out of the theatre at the end of the three shows of opening weekend (three SOLD OUT shows).

VCU Students love HAIRSPRAY! 

Pollack Society love HAIRSPRAY! 

Richmond loves HAIRSPRAY!

We know that parking is always difficult around Theatre VCU - to relieve the stress go to  https://vcu.clickandpark.com/event https://vcu.clickandpark.com/event  and pay in advance for a spot at the NN lot (across the street from the Broad St. Deck on Harrison St. - where the old Ukrops used to be). Affordable ($6.00) and stressless AND you will get to the show on time!!

If you are a VCU faculty or staff member Thursday, Nov. 14th is BOGO night! Buy one ticket - Get one FREE. Order your tickets now (they're going fast). In order to qualify you need a VCU ID, and because of popular demand it's only 2 tickets per customer. It's VCU Appreciation Night for all the hardworking employees from both campuses. 


Reminder to all our fabulous First -Year students - this friday is FIRST-YEAR FRIDAY. 

All first-year Theatre VCU parents are invited to spend a day with their student  with the grand finale  - FREE tickets for HAIRSPRAY! We even provide lunch for all of you!

This is a great opportunity for parents to find out what you are learning as a Theatre major. Special presentations with lots of time for parental Q&A's. This is a memorable day for every first-year student and their parents. It's not too late to make reservations!!  Email Bonnie McCoy at bsmccoy@vcu.edu or give her a call at 804-828-6026 and she will save a spot for you!

ONE WEEK until HAIRSPRAY OPENS!!

 Theatre VCU's production of HAIRSRAY is in tech - 

First Dress is this Sunday!

The set is coming along...

 The band is onstage rehearsing with the cast.

Best of all...

there are Stage Managers in onsies.

Also

This is also happening:

Ron Keller & Toni-Leslie James

speaking at a forum on design and performance

Nov. 5 at the VCU Common Theater, 907 Floyd Ave.

FREE & FASCINATING

Hairspray: Hard at Work and Loving It!!

Every night from 6:30 to 11:30 The Hairspray cast 

sing and dance....

then they it do all again, and even better the next night.

A SHOUT OUT

to the hardworking cast, stage managers directors & assistants for 

making this show so great!!

And to the costume designers for making it sparkle!

go HERE to buy tickets!

HURRY!! TICKETS ARE FLYING OUT THE DOOR!

What a wonderful radio interview with John Ogle with the stars and director of Love Letters

Listen HERE for John Ogle's interview.


Join us this weekend for a love story.

Saturday - 7:30 pm

Sunday - 

A weekend of Love Letters at Theatre VCU - OPENS THIS WEEKEND FOR 2 NIGHTS ONLY!

Two Wonderful Nights of Theatre:

Starring the much beloved Nancy F. Langston, former VCU School of Nursing Dean, and internationally renowned expert in infectious diseases Richard P. Wenzel.

The emotionally intimate play covers the lifetime of its two characters without ever changing scene. Melissa and “Andy” sit at opposite ends of a table reading letters they have written to each other, starting in grade school and continuing through the subsequent decades. There’s no actual interaction between the two. It sounds like a personal and difficult play for even the most seasoned actors, which, paradoxically, is exactly why Leong cast Wenzel and Langston rather than experienced theater students.

“The (characters) are I’m guessing in their 60s maybe when they’re doing the play,” Wenzel said. “So it would be harder for a 20-year-old to do that role. I think just having life experiences that we share in a sense and recognizing the exchange that the two characters have — it’s very real.”

For Langston, who has not acted since high school, the role was a little daunting. But through previous collaborations, Leong knew she could take direction well and possessed the right kind of presence and sincerity for the role.

“I’m pretty good at delivering speeches, presentations and stuff,” Langston said. “I’ve never had to do anything other than speak from the heart.”

And that’s all that Leong wants from his actors.

Love Letters - A journey of the heart.

Raynor Scheine, Theatre VCU Graduate 1970 - A Wonderful Profile in This Week's Style Weekly

Go HERE to read about the charming
 Raynor Scheine and his Brilliant Career!

“You could call him VCU’s most renowned film character actor.”

What great coverage in VCU News!

Go HERE to read a wonderful article appearing VCU News, written by Leila Ugincius, about this weekend’s production of  LOVE LETTERS starring Dr. Richard Wenzel & Dr. Nancy Langston!

One of the quotes says it all:

“When you go to see a movie, read a book, you want to go on a journey, you want a story and you want to go on a journey. You want all the ups and downs. This play takes you on the journey and this play takes you on the journey of your life. Every person in the audience, they will be taken on a journey of their life and that’s what’s wonderful about it.”

Love Letters will be shown on Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and on Sept. 15 at 3 p.m. in the Raymond Hodges Theatre of the W.E. Singleton Performing Arts Center, 922 Park Ave.

For ticket information, visit http://www.showclix.com, email theatretix@vcu.edu 

or call (804) 828-6026.

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!