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Prodigal, Jonathan R. White

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Following a similar pattern of the classic Biblical story of “The Prodigal Son”, the play allows for a modernization of the characters and setting. Set in 1968, the playwright takes a look at what happened after the “Prodigal Son” returned home as well as the effect the return had upon the Son that stayed as well as the Father. How can family relationships survive in the midst of lies and turmoil of a time of great change in America’s history.

El Gracioso En El Teatro De Calderón: Un Análisis Desde Las Humanidades Digitales, Miriam A. Peña-Pimentel

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study has two equally important objectives: firstly, the design of a new methodology for analyzing literary texts that make use of new technologies to facilitate the task of the researcher. Secondly, the application of the methodology to a selection of Calderón de la Barca´s comedies to analyze the central role that the character of the gracioso plays in defining the essential characteristics of such plays.

The methodology presented here helps to manage large amounts of information while maintaining the semantic structure inherent in the dramatic text. It is divided into five distinct phases: manual annotation of the works following …

Projection Design For A Contemporary Dance Work By Iván Angelus In Hungary, Tennessee Dixon

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to document and analyze my projection design for a new dance piece, "VŰ", directed by Angelus Iván and staged at Trafó in Budapest, Hungary. Included is an account of the design process, the concept and projection development described scene by scene, execution, performance and evaluation. The paper ends with reflections on the relatively new field of image projections, and my professional goals in scenic design.

Lighting The World Of Urinetown: The Musical By Greg Kotis And Mark Hollman, Justin Brett Ashley

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis will describe the lighting design process for the production of Urinetown: the musical produced at the University of Arkansas, University Theatre, October 2010. The thesis will detail the process that was followed to create and produce the lighting design from original idea to completed production. The process covers visual and textual research, artistic process, technical process, development of light plot and associated paperwork.

“To Kill A Mockingbird”: A Production Analysis, Richard D. Edmonson

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this academic thesis is to study and analyze a production of To Kill a Mockingbird (novel by Harper Lee, stage adaptation by Christopher Sergel). This study includes pre-production research that explores the similarities and differences in plot, timeline, characters, and themes between the novel and play, as well as the historical significance and contemporary relevance of the story. Notes and evaluation from the production at the University of Texas-Pan American are included.

Lady Libertines, Female Fops, And Lady Julia Fulbank: Aphra Behn's Extraordinary Female Characters., Sarah Audine Amundsen

Theses and Dissertations

Aphra Behn has, throughout her life and subsequent years, been both demonized as a writer of bawdy and licentious plays and poetry as well as being hailed as the forerunner of female writers. She was a woman writing in a man's world, and not only survived the experience, but was exceptionally successful in her efforts. While so little is known about her background, the numerous plays she has left behind demonstrate a skilled author in many forms, as well as a creative and innovative storyteller. This thesis will examine how Behn used the traditional theatrical forms of the time and …

Between Scenic Designer And Director: The Collaborative Process Of Four Productions, Elizabeth R. Muller

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents the unique designs for four productions: Ain’t Misbehavin’, Is He Dead?, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, and Legacy of Light. Presented here are the research images, conversations, situations and their resulting designs represented in my renderings and photographs of the fully realized production. Throughout, I will state my objectives in bettering the quality of interaction with each director and my reflections on the ongoing process of creating a trusting and balanced collaborative process, one that expertly serves the production.

Audition Technique: A Survival Guide (For College Undergraduate Students), Meghan Kelleher

Theses and Dissertations

Many great actors don’t work and many mediocre actors do. Why? The perfect monologue and great song isn’t enough to get you hired. Sadly, students are not prepared and equipped with the necessary skill set to take control of their careers. In this economic climate, the ability to audition could not be more imperative. In this thesis, readers will be introduced to the basics of audition technique as developed for Theatre majors at Virginia Commonwealth University as a precursor to their senior year. It will guide them through the first stage of their career. Furthermore, there are unspoken rules, etiquette, …

Movement For The Actor: A Practical Approach To The Application Of Movement Training, Elizabeth Ressegger-Slone

Theses and Dissertations

An essential tool in actor education, movement training is often viewed as esoteric and difficult to apply directly to an actor’s craft. It varies widely from institution to institution, and covers anything from stage combat to Alexander Technique. One never knows what they will encounter upon entering a movement class, and students frequently have difficulty connecting work done in the movement studio to work done in the acting studio. In order for movement training to become better integrated and more easily identifiable as a necessary part of actor training, it is important to get to the essential qualities that all …

Video Game Theatre, A Willoughby

Theses and Dissertations

Video games are becoming the fastest growing and most lucrative form of entertainment across the globe. The goal of this project was to take gaming to the next level; to the theatre. I have devised an original piece of theatre using the CIC’s of video gaming: Creativity, Interaction, and Community and put on a production from members of the VCU community. Aside from the project, I have detailed why video games are growing in popularity at an alarming rate and why they belong in the category of ‘Art.’ With new technology and new stories being told, the gaming industry is …

Completing The Circle: The Actor's Cool Down, Anna Kurtz

Theses and Dissertations

Physically, vocally, and physiologically something happens to the actor in rehearsal and performance that can impact the actor’s everyday life. Practitioners have described this as boundary blurring, emotional hangover, and post-dramatic stress. Even acting as a profession can breed stressful situations for the actor. Actors can combat the blurring, the hangover, and the stress through awareness and process. As a part of process, actors warm-up to prepare their bodies and voices and to transition from real life to stage life. An often ignored aspect of process, but no less significant than the warm-up, is the cool down. After researching the …

Connecting One And Many - Reinventing The Procession Of The Cinema Experience, Kelly H. Sekely

Theses and Dissertations

In the past, going to the movies was an event. The grand lit marquee made a statement, ushering you inside. The elaborately decorated lobby transported you to a place in your dreams where riches and opulence abound. The curtained screen marked the start of a true storied spectacle as you sat close to your friends and neighbors dressed in their Sunday best. There was no denying that the cinema was the place to see, be seen and to socialize. In contrast, today’s movie-going can be classified as more of a singular experience. You wait in long, solemn cattle lines to …

Ensemble Rehearsal Practices: The Evolution And Application Of Rehearsal Technique As Explored In Harold Pinter’S Betrayal, Wilson Kerry Mcgee

Theses and Dissertations

Three years ago, Bonnie Gabel and I started an ensemble theatre company called Night Light Collective (NLC). Our company was inspired by the work of Anne Bogart and the Dah Theatre in Belgrade, Serbia. We used many of their techniques and exercises to develop a rehearsal process that would help our ensemble connect to each other as well as contribute to the artistic direction of our productions. In the fall of 2010, I directed Harold Pinter’s Betrayal. I used the rehearsal practices that we developed with NLC and created a few of my own. This thesis documents the evolution of …

The Konami Code: An Experiment In Dialect Pedagogy, Thomas Cunningham

Theses and Dissertations

The Konami Code is a tool for teaching stage dialects that I have been developing for the past three years. I wanted a method that didn’t rely on students’ having a keen ear for phonetics; rather one that offered context for each dialect, and presented individual sound-changes as small parts of an easy way to digest the whole. Most importantly, I wanted a process that was portable: a set series of applications that my students could incorporate easily into their actor’s tool-kit and carry with them into the professional world. The Konami Code incorporates kinesthetic and imaginative elements into the …

Welcome To The Circus: Finding Ways To Artistically Express The Martial Way, Donzell Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores various artistic and ritual practices of martial arts in relation to its presentation on stage. As a martial artist and actor I believe there are complementary practices in both crafts interdisciplinary of each other. For a martial artist, the individual’s performance and execution of martial arts techniques can be enhanced through emotional availability and characterization. For the actor, the martial arts can help condition the body physically, mentally and emotionally to create a grounded presence of connectivity to the earth. However, sometimes the martial arts are viewed as a militaristic discipline and not as artistic expression. I …

"Spending The Day In Front Of The Mirror", Lauren Friedlander

Honors Papers

In this paper, I analyze the processes my group of collaborators and I underwent in direction, production, collaboration, acting, and writing in order to perform my original solo performance piece, JOHN.

They Reckon I Need A Dramaturg : Examining The Value Of A Dramaturg To Both The Playwright And The Professional Theatre Company In Australia, Polly Low

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis examines aspects of dramaturgy delivered by a dramaturg, and the practical contributions of dramaturgs to both the writer and the theatre industry in Australia. It investigates elements of the working relationship between dramaturgs and playwrights, looks at the chameleon-like nature of the theatre dramaturg and examines how Australian writers, directors and dramaturgs perceive the role/s of the dramaturg. The thesis is partly a reflective investigation of personal practice, partly an historical investigation of the emergence of Australian ideas about dramaturgy, and partly an active investigation into what can help to make a constructive playwright/dramaturg relationship. A major aim …

The Creation Of "Echolalia: A Conversation" A Production Thesis In Acting, Olga Michele Guidry

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis, submitted to the Graduate School of Louisiana State University as partial requirement for graduation with the Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre, follows the creation of a solo performance piece by Michele Guidry, called “Echolalia: A Conversation.” This solo project is an exploration of communication through the experience of autism from the perspective of parents, siblings, and therapists of children with autism, and the children themselves. The thesis includes topics of inspiration for creating this solo performance piece, interviews with experts and theatre artists who have personal experience with autism, a copy of the script with explanation …