Arts and Humanities Commons^™

"The Adding Machine": A Director's Notebook, Esteban Arévalo Ibáñez

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The following thesis is a compilation and analysis of my experiences during the process of directing The Adding Machine by Elmer Rice, from its conception in the director's imagination, to the collaboration with the design team and the actors. It begins with research and the director's approach to the play. Then a description of the process follows, starting with the design meetings and auditions, and going through rehearsals, performances, and evaluations of the show by faculty and peers. This description is accompanied by a journal that contains the director's thoughts and reactions to discoveries and challenges that came up during …

A Classical Journey In A Contemporary World: Directing Naomi Iizuka's Anon(Ymous), Maria Chiara Pipino

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis paper is on the directorial journey that led to the production of Anon(ymous), by Naomi Iizuka, at the University Theatre in spring 2012. The following chapters will discuss the birth and evolution of the production, the approach to the script from the director's point of view and the creative process.

Jealousy, Manipulation And Murder: Designing The Costumes For William Shakespeare's Othello, Latricia Ann Reichman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The following thesis explains the process utilized to create and implement the costume design for the production of Othello produced at the University of Arkansas University Theatre in the Spring of 2011. Throughout this thesis I will illustrate how the costumes went from initial research ideas to sketches and colored renderings and finally to finished three-dimensional costumes. The design process detailed here includes an analysis of the play, production history, research, renderings, and an evaluation of the overall process.

A Marriage Of Realism And Expressionism: Preparing And Performing The Role Of Mrs. Zero In Elmer Rice's The Adding Machine, Rebecca Rivas

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In Elmer Rice's expressionistic play,The Adding Machine, the character of Mrs. Zero is written to forego authenticity and highlight a husband's absurd perception of his wife. The elements of expressionism in the play paint Mrs. Zero as a caricature rather than a person. In order to effectively portray this caricature, role-preparation must be rooted in realism. It is by connecting organically with Mrs. Zero's underlying truth that the portrayal of this absurd character can be made effective. Here, I attempt to find a balance between realistic role-preparation and expressionistic style of performance. My efforts are documented through journal …

Playing Devil's Advocate: The Attractive Shakespearean Villain, Jonathan Montgomery Green

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The characters of William Shakespeare have spawned countless words of critical interpretation inspired by the playwright's aptitude for fashioning intricate and conflicted figures. As a master character craftsman, Shakespeare is consistent in creating fascinatingly deep characters, and many of them have even gone so far as to generate entire literary archetypes. From the contemplative Prince Hamlet to the despicable yet charming John Falstaff, Shakespeare's characters remain eternal representatives of what any good character should be: interesting, provocative, and complicated.

However, among the playwright's most hypnotic figures are his villains, those characters whom audiences should by all counts detest but cannot …

A Broken Butterfly: Playing The Role Of Daisy In Elmer Rice's The Adding Machine, Brandi Lynn Hoofnagle

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis will examine the process of acting the role of Daisy in Elmer Rice's The Adding Machine. Rehearsals for this production began September 21 continued through November 20, 2011. The production was directed by third year M F A candidate Esteban Arevalo Ibanez and produced at the Kernodle Theatre by the University of Arkansas. The body of this thesis is constructed with a text and character analysis integrated into daily rehearsal journals, documenting the process of this production from auditions to the final performance. Through reflection and description of process, I hope to show the creation the actor goes …

Playing Ann In Arthur Miller's All My Sons: One Actress' Approach In Creating A Role, Abbey Jo Molyneux

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The intent of this thesis, Playing Ann in Arthur Miller's All My Sons: One Actress' Approach in Creating a Role, is to document the research, analysis, and personal journey that informed the rehearsal and production processes in my portrayal as the character in the aforementioned title. This thesis includes the following five chapters: Script Analysis, Character Analysis, Created Materials, Reflections on the Audition, Rehearsal, and Production Processes, and A Summation of the Creative Process. All My Sonsby Arthur Miller was produced by the University of Arkansas in the University Theatre February 1-10, 2008, and directed by Michael Landman.

The Development And Debut Of Adam Esquenazi Douglas' Play "Murder And The English Gentleman", Adam Esquenazi Douglas

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the development process of the creation of a new playscript, "Murder and the English Gentleman", an adaptation of the short story "Lord Arthur Savile's Crime" by Oscar Wilde. The play is a wild, comedy-of-manners presented in classic Wildean 19th century drawing room style. The document details the process of getting this script from short story to script to stage. Also included are some of the play's most significant drafts, the original short story by Wilde, production and rehearsal journals, and production photos. The play was presented by the University of Arkansas' Boar's …

"If I Didn't Ever Have To Come Down, I Wouldn't": My Process In Preparing And Playing Walter Griffin In Bridget Carpenter's Up, Jared Taylor Hanlin

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an examination of my actor's process for creating and performing the lead role of Walter Griffin in Bridget Carpenter's contemporary drama Up. It is composed entirely of journal entries detailing my preparation and observations from the beginning of the audition process (August 22, 2011) through the closing of the show (October 9, 2011) and ending with reflective evaluations after closing. Up was produced by the University of Arkansas Department of Drama at the University Theatre and directed by Amy Herzberg.

"I Can't Stop Thinking": The Process Of Creating The Role Of Mr. Zero, Maurice Reed

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis contains an account of the characterization process of Mr. Zero from The Adding Machine, by Elmer Rice. The character and script analysis is revealed through journal entries and will be discussed as the analysis was put into use in the rehearsal process. The production of The Adding Machine opened Nov 11, 2011 and ran until Nov 20, 2011. The rehearsal process began on Sep 21, 2011. This thesis will document the struggles and success of creating the role of Mr. Zero.