Digital Commons Network^™

The Director's Presence, Paul Stephen Wurth

Theses and Dissertations

This text is partial record and narrative of the process and productions of Orphans by Lyle Kessler that opened on March 29th 2007 for a four day run ending on April 1st, The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh that opened October 28th 2007 for a three day run ending on October 30th, and Terra Nova by Ted Tally that opened on February 21st 2008 for a four day run ending on February 24th. The majority of the text follows the three shows from Spring 2007, Fall 2007, to Spring 2008, focusing on the process of direction of each production. Incorporated in …

Sing Together! Choral Singing As A Supplementary Training Method For Actors, Daniel C. Dennis

Theses and Dissertations

Voice and speech training for the actor has traditionally defined itself as distinct from the vocal training of the musical theatre or opera singer. The separation in philosophy and practice by trainers of actors and singers reflects the resultant capabilities and proclivities of our performers. Those performers generally sing or act, and if asked, will sometimes do both, but may damage their voices in the process. This study aims to explore and reveal how actors may develop a greater sense of courage and trust, have easy access to breath, find freedom in their bodies and voices, become better listeners and …

Harriet Beecher Stowe's Subversive Use Of Minstrelsy In Uncle Tom's Cabin, Ruth A. Christensen

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

In Pursuit Of A Publishable Edition : Theories Of Authorship Applied To Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "Aeschylus' Soliloquy", Laura E. Hinschberger

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Authority And Cultural Interaction On Frankish Cyprus, 1191-1374, David D. Terry

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Gender Performance In The Works Of Mary Davys, Barbara Glore

Theses and Dissertations

From 1700 to 1731, Mary Davys wrote six novels, two plays, and a poem. These works reveal her abiding concern with gender relations, moral behavior, and social order. Davys's work is an articulate critique of social and sexual politics of late Stuart and early Hanoverian England. Few scholars have traced the development of her gender ideology and this aspect of her work remains underexamined. Also, the author's early years in Ireland have not been closely considered even as doing so illuminates the shaping of her world view. As products of an Anglo Irish immigrant critiquing Teaching & Learning society, her …

A Study Examining The Experiences Of Community College Students Who Are Members Of Phi Theta Kappa, Teresa Lashone Houston

Theses and Dissertations

Community colleges are in a unique position in the hierarchy of higher education. They provide quality education at an affordable price. They are strategically located in communities to provide educational opportunities for everyone. The latest prediction is that enrollment at two-year institutions is expected to increase from 5.7 million students to 6.3 million students by 2012 (Gerald & Hussar, 2002). However, research indicates that the retention and transfer rates of community college students are low. This is problematic due to the increased calls for accountability on the national education agenda which are linked to student outcomes. This is astounding for …

An Anatomy Of An Unsuccessful School Bond Election In A Rural School District, Leigh Barrett Mobley

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to examine the failed bond attempt of the Community School District and investigate reasons for the failure. Specifically, the role of the superintendent, the opposition, the media, and the school board during the bond election process were examined to determine how their roles influenced the outcome of the election. This qualitative case study employed purposeful sampling. Data collection techniques included document analysis, audiovisual material analysis, and personal interviews. Participants included media representatives, community members who were opposed to the bond election, members of the bond election committee, members of the board of trustees at …

Existing Practice And Proposed Changes In Cognitive Assessment Of Utah Students Identified As Deaf And Hard Hearing, Leah Voorhies

Theses and Dissertations

This study presented the past, current, and proposed practice of intelligence testing with a unique population, students identified as deaf and hard of hearing (D/HH). As a basis for describing the cognitive ability of Utah's D/HH students and to improve practice guidelines, 61 D/HH students served by Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB) were administered the Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test (UNIT) standard battery and the Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI) subtests from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV). Based on these data, composite score distributions were described and compared with national standardization samples. Participants' WISC-IV PRI …

Pioneers In Twentieth Century Mormon Media: Oral Histories Of Latter-Day Saint Electronic And Public Relations Professionals, Jonice L. Hubbard

Theses and Dissertations

The project consists of three parts: a summary of the research, a collection of sixteen oral histories of Latter-day Saint Electronic Media and Public Relations professionals who contributed to the development and growth of media in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and a one-hour documentary film, Pioneers in Mormon Media, which gives a brief history of the development of modern mass communications and its use by the Church. This qualitative study investigates who has been involved in Church media, what projects have been accomplished and provides some explanation as to why the Church uses media. The oral …

The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints In National Periodicals: 1991-2000, Casey William Olson

Theses and Dissertations

From 1991 through 2000, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints experienced a greater volume of national periodical attention than ever before in its history. This thesis surveys what was written about the Church in national magazines during that time and provides analysis of the effect of those writings on the Church's public image. National periodicals may serve as an important gauge of the Church's public image because they address topics of national interest and also help to formulate public opinion on those topics. This study thus provides a basis for determining how the Church fared in terms of …

The Play's The Thing: Investigating The Potential Of Performance Pedagogy, Tamara Lynn Scoville

Theses and Dissertations

In the last ten years there has been a resurgence of interest in teaching Shakespeare through performance. However, most literature on the topic continues to focus on the pragmatic selling points of how performance makes Shakespeare fun and understandable while remaining surprisingly silent on issues of theory and ethics. By investigating the ethical implications of performance pedagogy as it affects our students' construction of identity, empathy, and pluralistic tolerance we can better understand and discuss the potential of performance pedagogy in relation to the ethical goals of the Humanities. Performance Pedagogy has particular ethical potential due to the structure of …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Brigham Young University's Golden Age Theater Production And Outreach Course, Sheila Jan Barton

Theses and Dissertations

The present research consists of a comparative study of Brigham Young University's Golden Age Comedia (GAC) and Golden Age Theater Production (GATP) courses. The two courses cover much of the same academic material, but one of the differences between the two approaches to the teaching of Golden Age literature is that the GATP course incorporates a theater production and outreach component. Although this outreach program has been seen as intuitively and anecdotally effective, there has been no prior attempt to document student motivation for choosing this course over the traditionally taught course (GAC), nor to discover any of the outcomes …

Are Community Values Toward Education Reflective Of A District's Reputation For Quality Education: A Case Study Approach, Sheldon Marc Deveaux

Theses and Dissertations

An increasing number of parents across the nation are seeking alternatives to educate their children. School progress is being documented because of the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Because America's education system is enthralled with academic reforms, research about this thesis topic is significant and timely.

This case study approach addresses the question whether public school districts successfully meet the education standards of parents in the community? Also, the author compares and contrasts the benefits between private and home schooling. Finally, the author addresses specific educational issues that motivate parents to remove their children from …

Arlecchino's Journey: Crossing Boundaries Through La Commedia Dell'arte, Janine Michelle Sobeck

Theses and Dissertations

La commedia dell'arte is a recognized, vibrant theatrical form that emerged in Italy during the Renaissance. However, while great attention has been given to the particulars of the genre (performance techniques, important troupes, leading players), there lacks a study behind the reasoning for its vast international popularity. In this thesis, I explore why this particular genre was able to cross cultural and linguistic boundaries, finding a dedicated and enthusiastic following in most European countries for over 200 years. After analyzing commedia dell'arte's original development in the Italian peninsula, examining the predominating Carnival ideology and the ability of the troupes to …

Optimizing The Use Of Public Transit System In No-Notice Evacuations In Urban Areas, Fatemeh Sayyady

Theses and Dissertations

Natural or man-made disasters result in unfortunate events around the nation every year. Such extreme events necessitate the short-notice or no-notice evacuation of a large population from the stricken area. This research presents an optimization modeling technique to develop an evacuation plan for transit-dependent residents during no-notice disaster situation. The proposed plan relies on the application of existing public transit system of an urban area. The public transit routing plan (PTRP) problem is formulated as a mixed integer linear program. The PTRP identifies the optimal routes for transit vehicles to move evacuees from the danger zone to designated safe destinations. …

Risk And Protective Factors Related To Female/Male Use Of Alcohol In Grades 7-12, Christie L. B. Rood

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate risk and protective factors related to the use of alcohol during a 30-day time frame for 7th-12 th grade females/males. The comparisons were male non-users to male users, female non-users to female users, and male users to female users. Data were collected from the spring 2003 Grand Forks (North Dakota) Public Schools Youth Risk and Protective Factor Survey (YRPFS). The study was conducted with 666 students: 375 were in grades 7-9 and 291 were in grades 10-12. There were 340 females and 326 males. MANOVA was used to investigate the differences between …

Julius Caesar And The Rhine River: The Evolution Of A Border During The Gallic Wars, Todd Roman

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis descusses the use of the Rhine River by Julius Caesar in his commentaries, De Bello Gallico, covering the Gallic Wars of approximately 58 to 52 B.C., to identify the peoples and territories separated by its current. This thesis addresses the issue of how Caesar understood this division of space, what criteria he employed to support his use of the river, and his protrayal of these matters within his account. It seeks to clarify the foundation of a major national border of western history in the context of its initial involvement in the context of the Roman Late …

Regional Theatre Patronage: The Efficacy Of Integrated Marketing Communication On The 18-24 Age Cohort, Katherine A. Chronister

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if an integrated marketing communication plan coupled with additional theatre education programs would increase patron growth and increase ticket sales in regional professional theatres and if the younger age cohort (18-24) will support regional professional theatre if supplemental programming meets their needs. This information was ascertained by conducting in-depth interviews over the phone with marketing/communication professionals at four separate regional theatres in each region of the United States. Fifty intercept surveys were also administered at two universities in the tri-state area to the 18-24 age group to see what motivated them to …

The Media Production Experience: A Phenomenological Study Of Student Media Production In A Secondary Education Environment, Brian N. Saxton

Theses and Dissertations

Many media education researchers have pointed out the benefits of incorporating a production element into a media literacy program. In fact, the simple use of the word “literacy" alludes to both critical analysis of (“reading") media and creative expression through (“writing") media. However, many of those same researchers have found that there are serious difficulties with student media production from a practical standpoint. The lack of equipment, the lack of class time, poor educator training, and the possibility that students may produce school-inappropriate or offensive texts create doubts about whether or not the effort is worth the reward. This qualitative, …

An Investigation Of An After-School Science Enrichment Program, Jennifer Lyn Jamison

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to investigate an after-school science enrichment program and its components. The study was conducted in a middle school in the Evesham Township School District located in the Burlington County region of South Jersey. The participants included sixty-one students taken from the four sessions of the science program, three teachers of the program, twenty parents of the students, and the program director. Data sources included interviews held with each of the participants, anecdotal notes recorded in a teacher research journal, and student artifacts. I found positive results in the operation of the program, because of …

A Systems Engineering Approach To Analyzing Weather Input Sensitivities Of The Joint Precision Air Drop System, David L. Gemas

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Air Force is partnering with the United States Army as well as allied nations to develop a revolutionary advance in logistical support known as the Joint Precision Air Drop System (JPADS). The focus of this study is to develop a process to quantitatively analyze system sensitivities to various types of weather inputs and the corresponding effect on system accuracy. Weather balloons were used to provide representative "truth" to which forecast weather could be compared. Each data type was fed into the JPADS Mission Planner to produce navigation points which could then be compared statistically. The process was …

The Effects Of Being A Mentor On High School Students' Self-Efficacy And Communication Skills Development, Annemarie Wagner-Fehn

Theses and Dissertations

The outcome of mentoring programs on the child being mentored has been widely researched in recent years. However, little empirical research has been conducted to determine the effects that these relationships have on the person doing the mentoring. The purpose of this research was to investigate if becoming an adolescent mentor would (a) positively affect high school students' feelings of self-efficacy and (b) affect their communication skills development. Thirteen high school students from Big Brothers Big Sisters School Based Mentoring Program participated in this study. A t-test for paired samples revealed no significant differences between the pre and post …

Filming Theater: The Audiovisual Documentation As A Substitute Of The Performance, Nestor Fernando Bravo

Theses and Dissertations

Theatre is not a thermometer of society; it is the fever. The archive is the aftermath that recalls that fever. In this thesis I theorize about the status of audiovisual documentation, its functionality, and its ontological relation with the performance. I argue that the film of a performance does not constitute evidence per se, but it acquires such status through the concurrence of other documents and archival artifacts existentially related to the theatrical production. I also propose that the audiovisual document becomes a substitute for the performance when it has disappeared from the historical world, becoming the new referent for …

The Effects Of Microstructure On Fretting Fatigue Behavior Of Nickel Alloy In-100, Erik C. Saladin

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis studied the effect of microstructure on the fretting fatigue behavior of IN-100. First, fretting and plain fatigue S-N curves were determined over a large range of applied stress at an identical R-ratio and for fretting tests, done with a constant contact load. It was found that fretting fatigue reduces the cycles to failure compared to plain fatigue. The half contact width was found for the specimens, the crack initiation angle was found to be 40 deg and the crack initiation location was at the trailing edge of contact for the fretting specimens. Computational work included finding the stress …

The Pedagogy And Ethics Of Improvisation Using The Harold, David Dellus Patton

Theses and Dissertations

Scenic improvisation is dramatic performance without a script. Performers develop scenes in real time in front of an audience. They do this by submitting to a set of rules of relating on-stage which allow them, by mutual assent, to develop scenes and stories based on their relationships with one another. This methodology by which improvisers develop their scenes can give us a tangible vocabulary and model by which we can fulfill the requirements of love. The Harold, an improvisational form created by Del Close and Charna Halpern and taught and performed at IO (formerly ImprovOlympic), emphasizes this relational ethic as …

The Art Of Collaboration In The Classroom: Team Teaching Performance, Julie K. Phillips

Theses and Dissertations

The Art of Collaboration in the Classroom: Team Teaching Performance is a co-written masters thesis which records our research in the field of team teaching as it relates to theatre education at the university level. It is our intent that this text be used as a tool for helping universities and teachers decide if a collaborative teaching model is right for their courses. A portion of the text is research-based, examining the scholarly writings which have preceded our work. In Chapter 1, we compiled a set of definitions, in the hopes of codifying the language used within this document as …

Camping In The Classroom: Ridiculous Theatre As Serious Drama, John Kenneth Deboer

Theses and Dissertations

My first semester pursuing my MFA in Voice and Speech Pedagogy I vocal-coached an openly gay student playing a straight character who would mask his sexual identity in such a manner that his performance became stiff and uninteresting. Rather than using his personal identity as an asset in the pursuit of a successful performance, his chosen vocal tactics removed any sense of theatricality from his performance. I confronted the student and suggested such extreme vocal suppression diminished the quality of his overall performance. He replied, "So you want me to get the gay out."His use of the phrase, "get the …

The Constant Wife Revisited: The Progression Of A Play From Conception To The Final Stage Production, Kimberly H. Parkin

Theses and Dissertations

For my thesis, I recorded the progression of my show, The Constant Wife. I discuss the conception of my original scene design as well as the changes that occurred while working with the director and other designers. Throughout the thesis, I address the problems that arose during the pre-production, what I did to rectify those situations, and what I might have done differently if given the opportunity. I have divided the thesis into the following sections – Process of the Pre-Production, Execution of the Design and Evaluation of the Design. The final section of my thesis details what I learned …

Cradle To Cage: Confronting The Premature Institutionalization Of The Children Of The Incarcerated, Jen Fell

Theses and Dissertations

American prisons are swollen and distended. Over 2 million Americans sit in jail or prison today. About 2/3 of the incarcerated are parents. They parent approximately 2 million children in America today who are separated from mom or dad because of incarceration. Their children suffer from poverty, inconsistency in caregivers, separation from siblings, reduced opportunity to health and education and increased risk for substance abuse, alcoholism and incarceration themselves. Children of the incarcerated are seven times more likely than their peers to become incarcerated as adults.Many of these children are unable to visit their parents. Over half the mothers in …