Theatre and Performance Studies Commons^™

Eccentric: Writing Through The Lens Of Empathy, Steven M. Blacksmith

Theatre & Dance ETDs

In this essay, I detail my growth as a writer through different periods of empathic learning. I examine my childhood struggle to understand many common emotions and the ways in which I began to logically dissect and replicate them in life and in art. I further delve into this examination through my discovery of comedy and the lifelong process of understand the deep connections humans make with humor. I then discuss how my understanding of empathy allowed me to write my dissertation play, The Eccentrics, and create a world in which empathy among the characters can be a catalyst …

Approaching The 'Small Planet': Remain In Light's Starship Road Trip As Metaphor For Theatrical World-Building, Amy Yourd

Theatre & Dance ETDs

Using Elinor Fuchs’ “Visit to a Small Planet” as inspiration, I consider my play Remain in Light as its own small planet, examining theories of world-building, science fiction, and utopian performativity to investigate possible functions of imaginary worlds onstage. In chapter one, I appropriate Fuchs’ script analysis exercise for my own purposes of play development, discovering a world of sensory detail that parallels the characters’ experience in the play. In chapter two, I conceive of the play’s starship as an imaginary world crashing towards this one, its escape a hopeful reflection on the utopian possibilities of alternate worlds. In chapter …

Beware The Ides Of March: A Digital Journal On The Acting Process In Julius Caesar, Sterling Barbett

Research and Creativity Symposium

In January 2022, Theatre major Sterling Barbett was cast in the University of Mary Washington’s workshop production of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. He played the Soothsayer, Claudius, Octavius’ Servant, and Servant to Caesar in the final performances, which took place close to the ides of March (March 10-13). Throughout rehearsals, he conducted research of Ancient Rome and acting processes by renowned Shakespearean actors to better analyze his characters. Personal accounts were documented to foster a sense of belonging: not only in this dystopian version of Rome, but also in a strong ensemble. He writes about self-reflection and the feelings …

Spring Play Festival (April 14-16, 2022), Lindenwood University

Student Theatre Programs

Program for the Spring Play Festival (April 14-16, 2022).

Plays included:

• The Parisian Woman
• Every Brilliant Thing
• Beauty

Serving As A Dramaturg To On Campus Productions: The Development And Execution Of Thea 6910: A Dramaturgy Of Three Plays, Megan Kimball

LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations

In the Fall of 2021, I served as the dramaturge for the Loyola Marymount campus productions of Anna Deavere's Smiths, "Twilight Los Angeles," Brandon Jacob Jenkins, "Everybody "and Melanie Marnich's "These Shining Lives." One can't ignore the distinct and separate story designs of these plays. "Twilight Los Angeles" is a verbatim theatre style, with an arrangement of monologues. "Everybody" is a modern-day morality play with a lottery. "These shining lives" is a period piece set as a docudrama. My process for this thesis will be a reflective and experiential study on performing the role of the dramaturg for these three …

The Big Meal, Department Of Theatre And Dance

Spring 2022

Somewhere in America, in a typical restaurant on a typical night, Sam and Nicole first meet. Sparks fly. And so, begins the extraordinary tale of five generations of an ordinary family, from first kiss to final good-bye. Packed with humanity and humor, The Big Meal chronicles the loves, trials, and resilience of modern families. Playwright Dan LeFranc won the 2010 NYT Outstanding Playwright Award for this big-hearted, theatrically inventive comedy.

Properties Design And Construction For William Shakespeare’S: A Midsummer Night’S Dream, Nathan Alexander

Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film: Theses, Student Research, and Creative Work

In the fall of 2021, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln put on a production of A Midsummer night’s dream. I am Nathan Alexander and I designed and built the properties used in the show. This thesis will discuss my design process as well as my construction process throughout this production. My writing serves as a reference to the collaborative process of theatre, and you will find as you read on that a large amount of my designs did not make it into the final production. This did not discourage me, instead it motivated me to discover what this show wanted to …

Ruined By Lynn Nottage: An Exploration Of Women And Violence, Olivia Harrington

Research and Creativity Symposium

This project is a dramaturgical exploration of the play Ruined by Lynn Nottage. Ruined is based on the true stories of women from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who experienced trauma such as rape, torture, and family disownment. Nottage’s play gives a voice to women and their experiences in a war zone. Dramaturgy is defined as the study of dramatic composition and theatrical representation. The purpose is to create a guide for the artistic team for the production to be as accurate as possible. This guide includes information on the author including her process and research while writing this …

Whitton Drama Production Materials: Finding Aid, Bethany Latham

Finding Aids

This collection contains hand-annotated scripts, playbills, schedules for rehearsal/performance, congratulatory notes, and other materials related to plays performed by JSU’s Department of Theatre and Film (formerly the Drama Department). The materials were compiled by Dr. Steven J. Whitton, Professor Emeritus of English at JSU (English Department faculty 1973-2017) and represent productions in which he acted and/or directed. The scripts contain his notes regarding the productions.

Some of these materials have been digitized and are available through the JSU Department of Theatre & Film Production Archive.

Theatre & Film Production Archive: Finding Aid, Bethany Latham

Finding Aids

This collection contains a chronological listing of all plays performed at Jacksonville State University, as far as known, from 1947 to the present. Materials created for these productions and donated to the Library by the Department of Theatre & Film (formerly the Drama Department) include photographs, slides, playbills, posters, flyers, and other materials. The bulk of the original collection materials date from the 1980s to the early 2000s.

Supplementary digital items were also shared with the Library (eg, digital image files), and the Library acquired other digital images from the Photographic Services Department in order to build a more complete …

Head Over Heels, April 13–14, 2022, Theatre Sheridan

Theatre Sheridan Productions

A joyous mashup adaptation of Sir Philip Sidney’s 16th Century prose pastoral romance ARCADIA and the iconic music of the 80’s all-ARCADIA and the iconic music of the 80’s all female rock band THE GO-GO’s.

Director: Bobby Garcia
Choreographer: Stephanie Graham

1860'S Clothing In America, Lynna Levin

Undergraduate Research Conference

My research focused on the Crinoline period which was a transitional period between the Romantic and Bustle Period. In addition, I explored clothing of slaves, and clothing during the American Civil War. There were clothing variations depending on wealth, class, and location. The most notable changes of this period were the use of the crinoline and Civil War uniforms. The transition of art from Romanticism to Realism and Impressionism illustrates the transition in clothing from flowy and delicate to that of a stiff and structured style.

I’Ve Lost Respect For Bertolt Brecht: A Look Into The Disappearance Of The Original Production Of Pioneers In Ingolstadt By Marieluise Fleißer, Jenna Alley

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Mexican Folklorico And The Costumes Thereof, Gabrielle Trevino

Undergraduate Research Conference

Folk dance appears around the world and much of the time what these performers wear becomes the most famous image of a nation or country. Mexico folklorico spans throughout the nation. Its regions are home to a variety of iconic looks that vary even more so within each subculture. The image of the many folk dresses of Mexico is unmistakable and rooted in both the indigenous cultures and the colonial Spanish ties of the nation, both of which can still be visually traced back today in modern folklorico. In no way are the following examples a comprehensive list of the …

Experiencing History: A Roundtable Discussion Of Architecture, Theatre, And Culture Of England, Elyse Lamszus, Andrew Hoag, Riley Basick, Katherine Bosma, Autumn Bruens, Alaina Durr, Cynthia Morales, Madelynn Norton, Laura Rankin, Benjamin Ridler, Remington Ross, Lia Shomaly, Anna Shoup, Kaitlyn Tibbetts, Becca Witvoet, Emily Yerge

Scholar Week 2016 - present

This presentation features a roundtable discussion among students who traveled to England during Spring Break, March 5-11, 2022. This presentation seeks to share primary and secondary research about England’s architecture and theatre, as well as additional insights about England’s culture and history gained through first-hand experiences of traveling within the city of London and to Stonehenge and Bath.

9 To 5 Playbill, Providence College, Emma Lowrey

Playbill and Promotion

Providence College Department of Theater, Dance & Film

Angell Blackfriars Theatre

9 to 5: The Musical

Book by Patricia Resnick

Music and Lyrics by Dolly Parton

April 8-10 and 22-24, 2022

Directed by Jimmy Calitri

Musical Direction by Lila Kane

Choreographed by Jennifer Hopkins

Kelly Slader - Stage Manager

Carrie Selwood, Laurel Franczek, Joseph Pekar - Asst. Stage Managers

Sydney Cahill, Alex Cannon, Halle Pratt - Asst. Directors

Halle Pratt, Katelyn Salvato - Asst. Choreographers/Co-Dance Captains

Molly McGoldrick - Asst. Scenic Designer

Jillian Forrester - Sound Board Operator

Carolyn Bradley - Light Board Operator

Kelsi Canada, Mary Bryz-Gornia - Costume …

9 To 5 Poster, Providence College, Kailey Collins

Playbill and Promotion

Providence College Department of Theater, Dance & Film

Angell Blackfriars Theatre

9 to 5: The Musical

Book by Patricia Resnick

Music and Lyrics by Dolly Parton

April 8-10 and 22-24, 2022

Directed by Jimmy Calitri

Musical Direction by Lila Kane

Choreographed by Jennifer Hopkins

Horse Girls

Theatre Programs

No abstract provided.

Rent (April 7-9, 2022), Jonathan Larson

Student Theatre Programs

Program for Rent.

Staging A Metaphor: Transplant As A Relationship In Lauren Gunderson's I And You, Georgia Su Ga

Honors College Theses

First time directing offers many lessons to be learned. No two directors will learn the exact same things. For the sake of diversity of perspective, this is a positive thing. Directors are meant to be different from one another. It is necessary and eye opening to see one play presented in several different ways. While every directing process, vision, and final product varies from person to person, we can learn a thing or two from our fellow directors and gain inspiration.

Directing, especially for those just starting out, is an experiment for their methods, organization skills, rehearsal routines, collaborations with …