Man of La Mancha comes to Channel 6

This was SUCH a great experience yesterday at Virginia This Morning on Richmond's Channel 6 (CBS)

Go here: http://wtvr.com/2014/11/13/the-epic-tale-of-don-quixote-comes-to-life-on-the-theatre-vcu-stage/

Check out James Taylor (Don Quoxite) mahlon Raoufi (Sancho) and Emily Adler & Alex Burkart (the Horses) singing and galloping their way through "I Don Quixote" - SO much fun!

Don't miss this show - it's one of the last Golden Age musicals -

winner of 5 Tony Awards - and the Theatre VCU production features a magnificent set, exquisite costumes and the beautiful voices of our students. Plus Don Quixote is played by James Taylor, known for his international operatic work. He brings not only his incredible vocal talent, but also his true understanding of Cervantes magical character…. James Taylor IS Don Quixote!

There is still a GroupOn deal out there…. shhh… don't tell anyone, but it's:
https://www.groupon.com/deals/gl-vcu-dept-of-theater-2012-1-4

Come downtown and support the work of our artists - it's well worth the trip.

Two more weeks of Man of La Mancha!!

MAN OF LA MANCHA IS ABOUT TO ENTER IT'S SECOND WEEK! 
Audiences are raving!
Here's what John Porter (Theatre Reviewer of WCVE) has to say:

If you need a reason to head over and see one of the great musicals of the American theatre  currently playing at VCU trust me, MAN OF LA MANCHA is well worth the effort if only to admire Ron Keller’s towering set. In an era of tiny stages with rotating turntables, this set rises a good thirty feet in the air with a staircase that lowers out of the ceiling like the hand of God passing judgment or deliverance to the actors below.

Since most theatre goers don’t just go to be amazed by the set, let’s look at some of the other reasons to enjoy the play. MAN OF LA MANCHA is a play within a play detailing the life and adventures of Don Quixote de La Mancha – a chivalrous knight roaming the land some 300 years after knights stopped serving king and country.

As the nobleman knight, James Taylor (not the pop singer) is a commanding presence. In the dual role of Don Miguel de Cervantes and Quixote, he has to move from madness to lucidity and back again. His voice is strong and clear, and his interpretation of the big song, “The Impossible Dream” is a highlight.

Kamaron Carter makes a strong Aldonza – the stable girl who becomes the noblewoman muse of Quixote and is elevated by his adoration.

The rest of the cast takes on multiple roles, most without much of a hitch, and under Patti D’Beck’s direction and choreography handle the varied dance moves well. These characters start off waiting trial – some portray murderers and thieves while others play characters with mental disorders and must move accordingly.

David Leong provides the fight choreography and utilizes stylized movements for one fight to comedic effect, and brutal more realistic movements for another in order to emphasize the horror that Aldonza faces.

Devario D. Simmons’ costumes work very well – showing differences in status, and in the case of Quixote versatility moving him back and forth between his two characters. Michael Jarett’s lights are very good – equal to just about any seen on a professional stage this season. Ben Miller serves as the Musical Director and keeps the music moving very well.

I don’t get out to see University productions as often as I would like. Often they operate on short schedules and are in conflict with professional shows I need to see. However, I may have to reevaluate that policy as invariably I find things that excite me and give me hope for the future of theatre.

Now if we could only offer these talented performers more incentive to stay in Richmond after graduation and continue to grace our stages. Even though there are more and more opportunities to perform, making a living creating the art they love is always going to be a struggle.

Okay, I’ll climb off my soapbox now and get back to MAN OF LA MANCHA. This production will be running through November 23 and is well worth making the journey.

For 88.9 WCVE, I’m John Porter.



Thank you John Porter!!

We have heard such wonderful things from our audience about Man of La Mancha - Don't miss it!

This weekend  - Nov. 13-15 at 7:30 pm and 
Sunday Nov. 16 at 3:00 pm

Next weekend - Nov. 20 - 22 at 7:30 pm and 
Sunday Nov. 23 at 3:00 pm

vcutheatre.showclix.com

Opening Night for Amazing Grace in Chicago!!

WOW!

It was a wonderful night in Chicago for Theatre VCU!

Here's what Paul W. Thompson wrote in Broadway World.com:

"Director Gabriel Barre and music director Joseph Church, guided to no small degree by the willingness of producer Carolyn Rossi Copeland to give Smith’s musico-dramatic vision a chance to live, have crafted a complex and moving piece of theater, with thrilling musical moments, stunning visual imagery and roles that actors would give their eyeteeth to sink their molars into. Passion here takes the form of the struggle to live, to love, to be free, to live in peace in community. These are universal themes, and John Newton’s story lends itself well to this passion and these themes."


He also points out:

"exquisite and sexy costumes by Toni-Leslie James"

And references are made to:

"And it’s a highly physical role (gunfights, fistfights, beatings, dancing, falling overboard, all sort of shirts coming on and off)." (Fight Choreography - our own David Leong & Brad Wilcuts.)

Yep, It was a wonderful night - the pictures tell the story!

Brad Willcuts, Ron Keller, David Leong, Josh Quinn (Assistant Costume Designer - MFA 2012)

Brad Willcuts, Ron Keller, Matt Armentrout (Assistant Wig Designer - BFA 2012), David Leong, Josh Quinn

Brad Willcuts, Ron Keller, Gabriel Barre (Director - Theatre VCU Guest Director 2014), David Leong, Josh Quinn

Brad Willcuts, David Leong, Vince Oddo (Fight Captain)

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!

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.)

SETC 2014 - Theatre VCU showed up and won big!

The ENTIRE SETC Design Competition Winners

Undergraduate Costume Design Awards in Honor of Irene Smart Rains 
Honorable Mention
Emily Faulkner, The Comedy of Errors, Berry College

Third Place

Kiyoshi Shaw, Dracula, Virginia Commonwealth University 

Second Place
Matt Adkins, Miss Witherspoon, Francis Marion University 

First Place
Sophia Choi, Love Never Dies, Virginia Commonwealth University


Undergraduate Scenic Design Award Sponsored by Sculptural Arts Coating, Inc. 
Third Place
Jacob Sailer, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Virginia Commonwealth University 

Second Place
Benjamin Burke, Other Desert Cities, Virginia Commonwealth University 

First Place
Matthew Buttrey, The Tempest, Southeast Missouri State University


Undergraduate Lighting Design Awards Sponsored by Electronic Controls, Inc. 
Honorable Mention
Tyler Rowe, The Sweetest Swing In Baseball, Centre College

Third Place
Elisabeth Becraft, Psycho Beach Party, Frostburg State University 

Second Place
Luke Cresson, Hairspray!, Virginia Commonwealth University 

First Place
Margaret Peebles, Legally Blonde, Kent State University


Costume Crafts and Technology Awards Sponsored by Norcosto
Third Place
Annie Rupprecht, 19th Century Hand Embroidery Silk Shoes, Florida State University 

Second Place
Grace Mimbs, Baroque Wired Whisk Collar, Savannah College of Art and Design 

First Place
Lindsay Austria, 18th Century Woman’s Gown, Virginia Commonwealth University


Properties Design and Construction Awards Sponsored by Friends of Props 
Second Place
Kristin Viola, Scenic Art for Dancing at Lughnasa, University of Southern Mississippi 

First Place
Christopher Foote, Confetti Canon for Hairspray!, Virginia Commonwealth University


Sound Design Sponsored by Shure, INC. 
Honorable Mention
Joseph Palermo, The 30 Steps, Stetson University 

Third Place
Andrew Crews, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Florida School of the Arts 

Second Place
Kurt Davis, Marisol, University of Mississippi

First Place
William Wacker, Sweeney Todd: The Melodrama, Virginia Commonwealth University


Graduate Lighting Design Awards Sponsored by Electronic Controls, Inc. 
Third Place
Cyndi Hoffman, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Kent State University

Second Place
Jacquelyn Cox, Tribes, University of Arkansas

First Place
Kenneth Forster, The Whipping Man, University of Tennessee
(no VCU entries)


Graduate Scenic Design Awards Sponsored by Sculptural Arts Coating
Honorable Mention
Christian Hershey, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Diety, Virginia Commonwealth University 

Third Place
Jason Ammons, The Whipping Man, Universityof Tennesse

Second Place
Christopher Rhoton, Chicago, Indiana University

First Place
Josafath Reynoso, The Hairy Ape, University of Tennesee


Graduate Costume Design Awards In Honor of Irene Smart Rains 
Three Way Tie For First Place


Alyssa Couturier-Herndon, Rocky Horror Show, University of Florida 

Isabela Tavares de Melo, Harspray!, Virginia Commonwealth University 

Poua Yang, Mary Stuart, University of Tennessee

Theatre VCU went up against schools from Florida to Massachusetts, Ohio, Indiana to South Carolina.

TEN Theatre VCU students won awards. (the next closest school was Univ of Tenn with 4 awards total)

PLUS THESE GUYS WERE THERE:

LIGHTING & SOUND!!

SCENE DESIGN TECH!!

STAGE MANAGERS!!!

What's not to love!

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!

People News from Theatre VCU - Check Out THESE Alums & Faculty!!

Kenann's beautiful costume drawing for Theatre VCU's production of The Grapes of Wrath

Our 
People:


Kenann Quander (MFA 10)
is the new associate professor in Costume Design
at Hampton University. Great news!








Joshua Boone (Performance BFA 2010) just completed a workshop of  Holler if Ya' Hear Me - keep an eye out for where that production may go.

Josh also appeared in the New York Musical Theatre Festival production of Central Avenue Breakdown - WINNER OF  THE DAEGU INTERNATIONAL MUSICAL FESTIVAL PRODUCTION AWARD  and WINNER OF FOUR NYMF 2011 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

Here is his bio from the show's website 

Joshua Boone is a native of Portsmouth, Virginia and a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in Theatre Performance. Some of his credits include Felony Friday (NY Fringe Encores), Cutman: A Boxing Musical (Goodspeed), Well (Barksdale), Thunder and Lightning (staged reading), A Raisin in the Sun, Smokey Joe’s Café, Ain’t Misbehavin’. He is excited to be a part of the cast for Central Avenue Breakdown and the amazing journey the show is on. Many thanks to God, family, friends, Professional Artists, and Stevie Wonder. Always grateful for an opportunity.
See more at: http://www.centralavenuebreakdown.com/2012_dimfnymf_cast/#sthash.jm0zgJtW.dpuf

Vanessa Leuck (MFA Costume Design) is the Costume Designer for the Orlando Fringe Festival hit musical DISENCHANTED!, playing at The Abbey in downtown Orlando September 19 through October 27. 

DISENCHANTED! is the story of six bold women who refuse to be damsels in distress any longer. Snow White and her angry band of storybook friends are “storming the castle” in order to take their lives back, with Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Hua Mulan, The Little Mermaid, Pocahontas and more all brought to life, singing the truth about the “once-upon-a-time girls.” 

VANESSA LEUCK (Costume Designer) is a New York City based costume designer with over twelve years experience designing for musicals, plays, dance, and large-scale productions. She is incredibly happy to be part of the ‘DISENCHANTED!’ team. Other favorite designs include: ‘Disney on Ice: Let’s Celebrate’ (International Tour), ‘Annie’ (Sierra Repertory Theatre), ‘American Icons’ (American Music Theatre) and several productions with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. In addition to designing she has assisted on: ‘The Little Mermaid’ (Broadway), ‘Ringling Brother’s Circus’ (5 productions), ‘Disney on Ice’ (National Tour), and ‘Disney Live!’ (International Tour). Vanessa holds an MFA in Costume Design from Virginia Commonwealth University and is a member of United Scenic Artists 829. www.vanessaleuckcostumes.com




Isn’t that 
Dallas Tolentino (Performance BFA 2010) in Synetic Theater’s production of The Picture of Dorian Gray?

September 26 >> November 3, 2013
Directed by Paata Tsikurishvili

Fearing the ravages of time and realizing the impermanence of youth, Dorian Gray makes a fateful wish–that his almost supernaturally lifelike portrait grow old while he remains forever young and beautiful. Synetic’s inventiveness and unforgettable visuals will elevate Oscar Wilde’s fantastical story to yet another level.

Check out 
Joe Carlson & Dallas Tolentino  

at Synetic Theater’s appearance at The Kennedy Center’s Page to Stage Festival, you will get to see a Synetic Company warm up/technique led by Choreographer Irina Tsikurishvili Followed by a showing of Scenes in progress from the up coming show The Picture of Dorian Gray

Dr. Tawnya Pettiford-Wates is doing beautiful work in South Africa during her sabbatical. She is  teaching:

Production Module Drama 203/303: We are devising a new work 
Acting 304: Honors Scene Study Unit 
PostModernism: Tutorials Unit on Identity 
The ARTS and Practice: Upper Level Unit on Multiculturalism 

More From Dr. T later.

One last alumni:
Check out the photographic work of Timothy Nathaniel Douglas (Performance BFA 2011) on this website: http://binggraphic.com/portfolio/crossroads-micky/

This is a MFA thesis work of a graphic designer called BING,  Tim was his model for a series of photos set during WWII. The photographs are stunning. 
Worth a look!

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your news 
(gmbrannan@vcu.eduand you will see it on the blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest... you know... everywhere.