Theatre VCU plays Richmond! Last weekend for one, first for the other!

Theatre VCU students, alumni and former faculty are all over Richmond!

Some examples:
 This will be the last weekend to see Annie Baker's
The Aliens at the Firehouse Theatre

Directed by retired Theatre VCU professor Gary Hopper and featuring two current Theatre VCU students - Maxwell Moore and Denver Crawford and one Theatre VCU alumni Ben Hill.

Other Theatre VCU folks involved in the production:

Phil Hayes – Scenic Design (alumnus)

Liz Hopper – Costume Design (Head of Costume Design, retired)

Erica Hughes – Vocal Coach (MFA student, May 2015 graduate)

Here's a description of the plot:

A pair of thirty-something dropouts hang out by the dumpster behind a coffee shop and meditate on music, philosophy, ‘shrooms, and Charles Bukowski. When a teenage employee tells them to relocate, they decide to teach him everything they know. Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Annie Baker creates a  humorous and theatrically poetic story of friendship and rituals.

PRESS

“…director Gary Hopper – realizing how carefully Baker builds a schematic of trust and familiarity among her characters through banal, tentative wordplay – leaves the pacing and rhythm of The Aliens loose, jangly and full of open space.”

“Ben Hill brings jarring intensity to the role of Jasper…As KJ, Maxwell Moore carefully distracts us from his character’s lurking genius…And Denver Crawford, as the repressed, rule-bound Evan, needs only to flick his eyes to communicate how those who unexpectedly come into our lives might have the power to transform us.”

—Richmond Times-Dispatch

GO HERE for more info About The Aliens

Opening this weekend at Richmond Triangle Players

YANK! The WWII Musical

Book and Lyrics by David Zellnick; Music by Joseph Zellnick

May 13 – June 13, 2015

YANK! is a love song to Hollywood’s “it takes one of every kind” platoon flicks and to 1940s Broadway.   Suffused with songs reminiscent of the era – from swing to big band to boogie-woogie – YANK! concerns what stories get told in wartime, and how WWII became the great catalyst in bringing gay men and women together.  “… a bright and enjoyable score that pays homage to the Rodgers & Hammerstein sound …  YANK! is a bright, original and moving winner of a musical that earns its exclamation point!” – Variety.

These are the Theatre VCU students & alumni involved:

Directed by James Stover (MFA student, graduated May 2015)

Choreographed by Rebecca Frost Mayer (current MFA student)

Stage Managed by Brennan Jones (current undergrad) - He is also Assistant Director and playing the part of "Speedy" (which is just fun to say)

Set Designer - Grenville Burgess (current MFA student)

with

Alex Burkart - Artie Goldberg (current MFA student)

Drew Colleti - Stu (current BFA student)

Patrick Bello - the Professor (current BFA student)

Matt Riley - Cohen (current BFA student)

Keith Fitzgerald - the Sargent (MFA alumni)

Joe Winters - ensemble (BFA alumnus)

And of course our very own Noreen Barnes (Director, Graduate Studies) is the RTP Artistic Director

Looks like the perfect weekend to go out and support some great Theatre VCU talent!

Two BLOGS in ONE DAY?! Yes - because you shouldn't have to wait to hear about By the Bi taking Dublin!!

Shaun McCracken just forwarded the email below from Caroline Downs 

(just recently returned from a triumphant presentation of the original theatre piece By the Bi).

By the Bi - ROCKED Dublin!!

“Hello Shaun!

Our week of showing in Dublin was a huge success! It was known to us before arriving at the festival that we would be somewhat the underdogs of the week, as we not only had the youngest cast, but were the youngest company, the only all female run company, and the only show about bisexuality to be shown at the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival EVER in the history of it’s 12 year run. However, this began to work to our advantage. As people were very curious, some even viewing us as a “novelty”, we stirred up a lot of talk surrounding the show, and our reputation began to precede us at the nightly festival gatherings. We opened to wonderful reviews, some of which I have attached. To quote the end of our first review by a festival critic, “There is an integrity in this pleasing production that deserves audiences of all ages and persuasions. Is the B silent in LGBT? It no longer is in “By the Bi”. Worth seeing.” 

All of the very best,

Caroline Downs

Co-Founder/CEO

Blazing Change Players

First festival review! 

FESTIVAL REVIEW: “By The Bi” Teachers Club Main Hall until Saturday May 9th. Just as lesbian, gay and Trans people are on the cusp of getting equal rights, the Bisexuals roar onto the stage in “By the Bi” from USA’s “Blazing Change Players”. In a strong performance piece combining storytelling, dance, monologue and live music with a great soundtrack, this talented young ensemble bring a voice to the often confused and cast aside bisexual community. There are many finely narrated scenarios about the girl who loves a girl and a boy, and the boy who loves a boy and a girl, religious views well articulated and the confusion caused by lack of recognition and rejection of the binary system of human attraction and love. The ensemble of seven, four girls and three boys are multi-talented. They perform with passion and conviction in an imaginative piece created by Caroline Downs and Morgan Barbour. There are no individual cast credits or programme but suffice to say this is a well balanced team, with fine performance skills that connect and impress throughout. Homophobia, rape, suicide, first love, school and church stereotypes are all present in a spirited definition of the duality of sexuality. Bisexuals live as a ghost in the LGBT community. In this they have a clear voice that resonates and entertains. Diction was clear and the energetic physical movement ranged from graceful to acrobatic. The dancers centre of gravity will grow with performance experience and the abrupt endings of some scenarios will also smooth over. The unpacking of biblical condemnation should be heard by all on the NO side of current debate. There is an integrity in this pleasing production that deserves audiences of all ages and persuasions. Is the B silent in LGBT? It no longer is in “By the Bi”. Worth seeing. AO’B

Go HERE for another wonderful review found in the Unforgettable Lines blog.

With Katie Marlene Crescenzo, Dante Piro, Jake Ehrlich, Gabby Rojtman, Caroline Downs, 

Ann O Donnell, Natalie Morales and Dion Torres in Dublin, Ireland. 

Congratulations to everyone involved in the production of 

By the Bi!

Please go HERE if you are interested in auditioning for the European tour of By the Bi

Kudos for Toni-Leslie James from VCU News!

VCU News just posted a wonderful article about Theatre VCU's very own Toni-Leslie James - Director of Costume Design/Tech.

"James joined Theatre VCU in 2007, and she has eagerly shared her vast experience, as well as the attendant prestige and opportunity, with her students and colleagues during her tenure, including hiring them to work with her on productions."

Illustrated with her work from Amazing Grace (previewing in Chicago right now) and Bull Durham (in previews in Atlanta), the article talks about how she is giving our students and alumni opportunities to work on shows bound for Broadway.

In the article J. Theresa Bush (theatre VCU MFA, 2011) says: 
“She works in the business, and she trains us to do so,” Bush said. “She also has an impeccable eye, a spot-on intuition and 40 years of experience working at full tilt. She is a woman of discerning tastes and has the highest standards for herself and everyone in her sphere, and she has elevated me to a level that I did not know I could reach.”

Go HERE and read the complete article

Thank you Toni!

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

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.)

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