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.

David Leong & Mother Courage - Read what Kathleen Turner has to say!

Kathleen Turner gave an interview On Washington DC's Arena Stage's Blog - GO HERE for the complete interview.

In it she describes the complexity and appeal of Mother Courage and Brecht's work.

She also credits our department chair, David Leong, for his vision and creativity as Movement Director for the production.

Here is what she has to say:

What discovery has surprised you the most during rehearsals?
I’m learning a great deal from our movement director, David Leong. What his creativity through movement is bringing to this production is huge. There are no scripted transitions. The lines are “Scene 1, Sweden, 1624” and then “Scene 2, Poland, 1626.” There has to be something in the movement that gives the audience a sense of the passage of time and distance, and that’s what David is creating. It’s extraordinary. I don’t think I ever realized how powerful that use of movement can be.

Congratulations to David and his crew of Theatre VCU graduate students who have devoted themselves to this production since before Thanksgiving.

We can't wait to see Arena Stage's production of Mother Courage opening january 31st and running through March 9, 2014!

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!