Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Scenic Design For "The Metal Children", Joseph Bryan Farley

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A scenic design for the play “The Metal Children” by Adam Rapp was created and performed by the steps of the design process used in the design program at the University of Arkansas Department of Theatre. The Metal Children presents itself as a multi-unit set. With a script that introduces five different locations, one begins to question how we move forward with every different scene fluidly and in a quick scene shift time. When beginning the design process, I had to look at the show as if it were a musical with multiple scenic pieces that would fly in and …

Discovering The Secrets Of The Annex: The Scenic Design Of "The Diary Of Anne Frank", Kiah Kayser

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis describes the analysis, design, and implementation of University of Arkansas’ production of The Diary of Anne Frank. The entire process is explored and analyzed with a specific focus on the challenges the production staff faced along with creative victories that we shared when creating this production. This document comments on and explores how the facts of the story and principal location of The Diary of Anne Frank influenced our more abstracted world of the play.

This thesis includes the essential design documents and support materials used in the creation of the scenic design of The Diary of Anne …

Love Letters To Illyria: An Actor's Voyage, Stephanie Faatz Murry

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis outlines the development of the characters of Olivia in William Shakespeare’s

Twelfth Night and Melissa in A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters. It also contains a headshot, resume and link to a website designed to help further my career as a professional theatre artist.

Shards And Cycles: Lighting Design For "The Chairs" By Eugene Ionesco, Jacob Hofer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis will describe the historical context, analysis, design, and implementation of the lighting design for the University of Arkansas’s production of Eugene Ionesco’s "The Chairs". Special time will be taken to explain the unique challenges faced by this production both in early design meetings as well as during the implementation of the design. This document will tackle the question: How does the idea of triboluminescence help inform the design of shattered, crystal shafts of light that illuminate and highlight cyclical world of "The Chairs"?

Included in this thesis are all essential lighting design documents including: the light plot, paper …

Somewhere Between Hell's Kitchen And Illyria: An Actor's Utopia, Guadalupe Campos

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis consists of my statement of artistry, and documentation of artistic materials and thesis related performances.

Lovable Rogue: The Shenanigans Of Sir Toby Belch In William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night", William Clark Rogers

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis documents and explores the actor’s approach to and discovery of the values, methods and motivations of Sir Toby Belch in the Fall 2015 University Theatre production of William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” In addition, the author’s second thesis role was as Andrew Makepeace Ladd III in A. R. Gurney’s, “Love Letters” produced and performed in Kimpel Hall Studio during Spring 2016. The thesis also includes a personal statement of artistry, programs for the thesis related performances, a headshot, resume, production photos and a link to the actor’s website.

From Duke To D: The Range Of An Actor In Classical And Contemporary Characters, Damian Oscar Dena

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis contains my statement of artistry along with photos and materials from both productions Twelfth Night and Mother F**Ker with the Hat. Also included are links to my website and current copies of my headshot and resume.

The Passionate Actor, Britney Nichole Walker-Merritte

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis consists of materials documenting my thesis performances as well as a statement of artistry, a copy of my current headshot, and resume and a link to my website.

The Day I Walked Off The Motherf**King Stage: Shakespeare To Stephen Adly Guirgis, Christopher Markus Hecke

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis represents the culmination of my craft as an actor, through the collection of production material from Twelfth Night, and The Motherfucker With The Hat, headshot, resume, website link and my personal statement of artistry.

A Storm In The Port: The Process Designing Twelfth Night, Jacquelyn Ryan Cox

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to document the process and provide all the necessary materials for the realization of the lighting design for the University of Arkansas Department of Theatre’s 2015 production of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. This thesis consists of the following materials: designer’s script analysis, design concept statement, historical and evocative research, Vectorworks overstage plot, Vectorworks section plot, LightWright paperwork, cue sheet, final magic sheets, and process evaluation. The materials provided are necessary to the design team, the electricians who hang the light plot, and the designer in order program the cues. Archival photography is included …

"To The World, Or Rather To Those Who Are Left” A Director’S Journey Into Ionesco’S The Chairs, Kholoud Sawaf

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The following is a journal documenting my process directing Eugene Ionesco’s The Chairs at the University of Arkansas in Spring 2015. The chapters include the script selection process, casting, analysis, design process, rehearsal process, and production evaluation.

The Many Faces Of Cleopatra: How Performance And Characterization Change Cleopatra In Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Legend Of Good Women," William Shakespeare's The Tragedy Of Antony And Cleopatra, And John Dryden's All For Love; Or, The World Well Lost, Rebecca Piazzoni Chatham

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare, and John Dryden presented the character of Cleopatra differently, through both the written language of their pieces and their own and others’ performances of her, in order to meet the demands of their respective audiences and performance conditions. Chaucer, in “The Legend of Cleopatra,” portrays and performs Cleopatra comically. Shakespeare, in his Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra, characterizes Cleopatra as a complex woman. In All for Love; or, The World Well Lost, Dryden characterizes Cleopatra as sentimental, but the performance of her on stage by female actresses added depth to the role. For Chaucer and Dryden, …

Dramatizing Power And Resistance: Images Of Women In Pakistani And Indian Alternative Theater, Sobia Mubarak

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation analyzes Pakistani and Indian plays that illustrate the nexus of power relations that operate in Pakistan and India to disempower women and the way women resist by creating dialogic spaces or fissures in the exploitative system. I have selected plays by Ajoka Theater in Pakistan and plays dealing with the similar thematic concerns by notable Indian playwrights to explore common grounds and points of departure. I have chosen four images of women depicting diverse modes of oppression associated with women’s bodies that are dealt with in these plays.

Chapter 1 examines Barri/The Acquittal by Ajoka theater, and Mother …

An Actor's Trust, Nathaniel Arthur Stahlke

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a reflection of an actor's learned ability to trust ones self and to trust the process, following three years of intense training. It consists of my statement of artistry, documentation of my thesis project and performance, as well as my future professional development materials.

Learn Your Lessons Well: A Director's Journey To Godspell, Brandon Dejuan Smith

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The following is documentation of my directorial approach and process leading up to the production of Godspell by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak, at the University Theatre in the fall of 2014. The chapters will include the script selection process, casting, analysis, and creative team discussions.

The Mission Of A Theatre Artist, Laura Shatkus

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis consists of materials documenting my thesis performance as well as a statement of artistry, a copy of my current headshot, and resume and a link to my website.

Fragmenting Kill/Shot, Rachel Washington

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In "Fragmenting Kill/Shot", I will explore how my play Kill/Shot changed over the course of the rehearsal and production process. I will explain and defend stylistic choices I made for this play, including how the others on the production team interpreted those stylistic choices. Finally, I will explore how changes to the script can help protect the play from being misinterpreted in the future.

An Actor's Freedom, James Taylor Odom

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an exploration and reflection on the discovery of an actor's freedom following an intense, three year study of the craft. It contains my statement of artistry, documentation of my thesis project and performance, as well as my future professional development materials.

Living As Bathsheba Doran's Helena In "Kin", Stephanie Nicole Bignault

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an exploration and reflection of my growth and development as an actor after three years of studies at the University of Arkansas. It includes a statement of artistry, a copy of the program from my thesis performance, a link to my actor website, a current headshot and resume, and my group thesis project script, Tender Comrades.

The Artist: An Unexpected Journey, Jason Matthew Shipman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an effort to better understand the process of an actor. It contains documentation of my thesis performance along with materials such as a statement of artistry, my current headshot, an up to date resume, and a link to my professional website.

"V Is For Violin" - An Original Playscript, Brittany Taylor

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As and MFA playwrighting candidate, I was given the opportunity to witness a fully realized production of my work. For this academic opportunity I chose the "V is for Violin." I will discuss the genesis of the idea, the evolution of the play, research conducted, and what I learned in the production process of the show.

The Birth Of A Playwright Through The Evolution Of The One-Act Play Stripped, Bear; The Film Stripped, Bear; And The Full-Length Play American Bear, Larry Michael Mitchell

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Birth of a Playwright through the Evolution of the One-act Play Stripped, Bear; the film Stripped, Bear; and the Full-Length Play American Bear follows the inception, birth, and evolution of a ten-minute, one-act, film, and full-length play: three major iterations of the same source material. Through this exploration, the reader will not only see how the work was changed through outside forces such as form and function but internal struggles within a young playwright as he struggles to find a final form for his first major work while attempting to establish himself as a playwright both within the field …

The Process Of Bringing An Original Playscript To Production--Flamingo & Decatur, Todd Taylor

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this dissertation is to present my play, Flamingo & Decatur, to the thesis committee, to illuminate the process of writing it, and to place it within the context of the entire body of dramatic writing I've done here at the University of Arkansas.

The dissertation opens with a narrative essay that details the process of bringing Flamingo & Decatur to production. It describes the germination of the idea for the play and follows the process through the initial drafts--detailing the ways in which the script was reshaped through its various iterations. Special attention is given to the …

Caught In The Net--The Development And Production Of An Original Playscript, Prince Duren

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Drama at the University of Arkansas provides students with the opportunity to take part in classes, workshops, stage readings, and productions as part of its new play development process. The purpose of this thesis document is to clearly and concisely track the process of developing, rehearsing, and producing the world premiere of Caught in the Net, a play involving an African American woman whose life is forever changed when she enters into an online relationship. The document also includes research information, the play's most recent draft, and production photos. The play was presented by the University Theatre …

Lighting Two Worlds As One: A Variation Of Moises Kaufman's "33 Variations", Diana Renee Kaiser

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In partial fulfillment of a Master of Fine Arts degree, this thesis will document the lighting design process for Moises Kaufman's 33 Variations, performed at the University of Arkansas in October, 2012. The paper will illustrate the collaborative approach taken by the design team in developing this production. Also this paper will discuss the close work and collaboration between the light and sound designs, and specifically, the choices made in the technical rehearsals.

This paper will attempt to answer the question: How do you bridge the gap between time and space making one cohesive world, provide various locations, and support …

Staging An Epic Journey: Developing The Set Design For Naomi Iizuka's Anon(Ymous), Ashleigh Louise Burns

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In partial fulfillment of a Master of Fine Arts degree, this thesis paper will document the scenic design process of Naomi Iizuka's Anon(ymous), performed at the University of Arkansas in February, 2012. This paper will illustrate the approach taken by the designers and discuss the collaborative efforts of the design team and company of actors. The construction process and discoveries and decisions made during technical rehearsals will also be included.

This paper will attempt to answer the question: How do you stage the iconic and beloved story of The Odyssey with limited time, budget and skill? I will begin with …

An Exploration Of Moises Kaufman's 33 Variations Through Scenic Design, Ashley De Lys Harman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In partial fulfillment of a Master of Fine Arts degree, this thesis paper will document the scenic design process of Moises Kaufman's 33 Variations, performed at the University of Arkansas in September of 2012. This paper will map the collaborative journey taken by the design team, highlighting the dialogue between the scenic designer and director. It will also touch upon the construction and rehearsal process and how both contributed to the final design.

This thesis will attempt to answer the question: How do you create a fluid and evocative space for two separate, yet coexisting time periods joined through …

Performance Of The Role Of Blanche Dubois In Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire", Shannon Leigh Webber

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This is a compilation of my work in both "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "Down the Road." In this thesis you will find a portfolio of my work in both shows containing my artistry statement, programs, photos, and a link to my actor's website.

Performance Of The Role Of Beethoven In Moises Kaufman's "33 Variations", Robert Flaherty Hart

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

My MFA thesis requirements dictated that I would play a thesis role in a main stage University of Arkansas production, and produce with my fellow third year MFA Acting students a production of our own, showcasing the skills we have learned in our three years in the program. My thesis role was as Ludwig van Beethoven in the Fall 2012 production of Moises Kaufman's "33 Variations" in the University Theatre. In Spring 2013, I played Dan Henniman in a Kimpel Hall Studio 404 production of Lee Blessing's "Down the Road," in fulfillment of the second part of my thesis performance …

Fight Or Flight, Asher Griffith

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Fight or Flight is a one-act, science-fiction opera. Outwardly the story of an astronaut who is marooned on the Moon, this dark comedy is an allegorical tale of forced isolation and loss; and of the anxiety and sadness that inevitably result. Musically, this piece began as an experiment in the reverse-engineering of mostly improvisatory methods of musical spoken-word delivery such as rap or slam poetry; this compositional device being a means to the more important end of creating a live musical theatre lacking the flippant sparkle commonly associated with Broadway and the like, but also free of the "intellectual" or …