UNCOMMONWEALTH - one night only in Richmond - THIS THURSDAY, APRIL 30 - HODGES - PAC

Support & Share the Love.

This Thursday in Hodges.

7:30 pm

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

End of the year at Theatre VCU - so much great stuff...

So many things they should be numbered…
                        (not in order of importance)

one.

Isabel in front of her work at the Anderson Gallery

For the FIRST time our Theatre VCU Grad students have been included in the School of the Arts MFA Thesis Exhibitions (April 25 - May 18, Anderson Gallery). Isabel Tavares de Melo (Costume Design) and Torrie Sanders (Scene Design) are both exhibiting and their work is brilliant!

Please go HERE for more information, and then take a stroll to the Anderson Gallery.

Congratulations to both Isabel & Torrie, as well as many thanks to the fabulous Toni Leslie-James for her perseverance in making this happen!


two.

Yesterday was the 3rd year Musical Theatre Final.

It was a wonderful conclusion to their year. Kudos to the students and to Miss Patti D'Beck and her talented assistants Brad Willcuts and Rebecca Frost Mayer who created SO MANYshow-stopping moments. Ya' know, it's pretty wonderful when a Broadway legend creates magic in your basement, right?

three.

Monday was the Family and Friends night for the 2014 Senior Showcase. It was a great night Two packed performances - ready to hit LA and NYC with 45 minutes of fast tight scenes and 2 great songs. SO much fun. So much talent. A few highlights in photos...

four.

The ball.

coming soon to the blog…. the AMAZING Portfolio Review Day 2014.

An Interview with the 2014 Showcase Seniors - Knocking it Out of the Park.

What a great half-an-hour.

The Bloginator had a chance this afternoon to grab all thirteen Senior Showcasers and ask them about their journey this year. it was a lovely conversation…

So, what have you learned since coming together 8 months ago….

Laughter…. "Everything!"….

Maggie Monk

Maggie Monk - Originally, I thought I wouldn't be able to get involved with the Senior Showcase because of  the financial burden. But because we did EVERYTHING on our own I was able to commit. I knew what it was going to cost, where the money was going,  and then we worked together to raise the cash.

Lauren Davis

Wesley Broulik (professor) - They even made decisions about the theatre spaces.

Lauren Davis - We worked on fundraising all year. We were our own
producers!

Eilis Godfrey

Eilis Godfrey -The ideas for fundraising were fun. We wanted our supporters to be involved with our process. So we tried to develop fun incentives with a lot of humor

Aquirra Lundy

Aquirra Lundy - That's right! Just take a look at our Sizzle Reel. It was so much fun to film and put together!


Ian Stearns - With only 13 of us it was a great group size to work with - we could split up the work, and
reasonably debate our decisions.

Ian Stearns

What are you passing on to the next Senior Showcase?

Catherine Reagan

(More laughter)… followed by "Spreadsheets!"

Madeline (Maddy) Bryan - We researched and collected every agent and casting director from NYC and LA AND DC.

Madeline Bryan

Catherine Regan - We checked and DOUBLE checked!


Zach Brown - We came up with cost
estimation and how we raised every dime!

Zach Brown

Lauren - We even acquired the TheatreVCUShowcase.com domain name!



Tell me about your creative journey this year

Dorian Dozier

Dorian Dozier - I think we started coming together at the Christmas Cabaret.


Maddy - Yes! We really bonded as an ensemble!

Morgan Meadows

Morgan Meadows - We learned how important it is and how to be consistent. Wes says "You have to leave your heart on the stage EVERY time." We learned how to do that!

Blair Wingfield - We found out that you can
get closer and closer to a consistently fine performance every day you work on the material.

Blair Wingfield

James Murphy - Wes and Jorge and Kiersten held us ALL to higher standards and expectations. And the group really supported each other.

James Murphy

Maggie - The group was so generous - we shared material and worked together on what was the best option for everyone.


Maddy - Wes worked for us too. He never clocked in and out - and always worked for what was best for the the students and for VCU

Andrea Willcockson

Andrea Willcockson - We started from scratch and made something that Theatre VCU seniors can benefit from for years after we leave here. We created our own tools and resources. I think we have a lot to show for all our hard work.


Zach - Together we are working for our future. We really started from nothing and now none of us feel unprepared to handle this business.


James -  Wes, Jorge and Kiersten told us what honestly to expect. They have encouraged our dreams while we establish realistic expectations. They have been our champions.


Maggie - We have learned how to knock it out of the park.


Come see the 2014 Senior Showcase Friends and Family Show - April 28th, Newdick Theatre, Shafer Street Playhouse, 5 & 7 pm

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

Theatre VCU (and Morgan Meadows) make it real

This is from one of our seniors, Morgan Meadows:
"I haven't been able to talk about it for almost a month, but now that is airing, I am SO excited to announce that I am the new voice of Virginia Commonwealth University. Here is one of two commercials I did, and they will be airing nationally on television as well as at all the VCU Basketball games! This is truly a full-circle moment for me because if it wasn't for my training, teachers and mentors at VCU, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to get the job of dreams.
Check out this gorgeous commercial! I am so proud to be a Ram. VCU. Make It Real."

GO HERE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4C-IegZmHg