Theatre and Performance Studies Commons^™

Mrs. Mannerly: An Illuminating Look At Lighting Melodrama, Clayton Van Winkle

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

This thesis describes the research and production processes of the lighting design for the play, Mrs. Mannerly by Jeffrey Hatcher, performed in the Studio Theatre, repertory style, from July 19^th through August 10^th at the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film at the University of Nebraska. Mrs. Mannerly was directed by Rob Urbinati. Clayton Van Winkle acted as the production's lighting designer, Laurel C. Shoemaker designed the set, Sharon Sobel designed the costumes, Mike Smith designed the sound, Erica King acted as the props mistress, and Chris Stepanek was the acting technical director.

This thesis contains the …

Thea 474: Digital Animation—A Peer Review Of Teaching Project Benchmark Portfolio, Steve Kolbe

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This portfolio provides an overview of student learning in my Digital Animation course - THEA 474. This report serves as documentation of my attempts to define and refine the course goals, activities, assignments, and assessment. Through this portfolio, I hope to more effectively see ways to make this course more impactful for the students, but also to lay the groundwork for additional courses within the major in order to open up a more realized and robust animation focus at the Johnny Carson School of Theatre & Film. A facet of student learning that I plan to document and improve upon …

Thea 234: Scripts In Performance—A Peer Review Of Teaching Project Benchmark Portfolio, Ian Borden

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This had traditionally been a theatre based course for the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film when I took over teaching it in the Fall semester of 2008. At that time, the course (a requirement for Theatre majors, Film and New Media majors, as well as Theatre and Musical Theatre minors) was populated almost entirely by upper level Theatre majors, particularly those in the performance stream. Over the next few years as the Film and new Media program grew, the needs of those students increased in relative importance as they comprised a larger and larger percentage of the class. …

Mary Zimmerman’S Candide: A Journey Of Realization, Costume Design And Production For The 2013 Regional Non-Professional Premiere At The University Of Nebraska–Lincoln, Mallory Maria Prucha

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

This thesis describes the research, Costume Design and implementation for the non-professional Regional Premiere of the musical Candide, newly adapted from Voltaire by Mary Zimmerman with music by Leonard Bernstein and additional lyrics by Richard Wilbur, Stephen Sondheim, John Latouche, Lillian Hellman, and Dorothy Parker., presented at Kimball Hall on February 21-24, 2013. Directed by Alisa Belflower, the production was a collaborative effort between the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film and School of Music with Mallory Maria Prucha serving as Costume/Make-Up Designer, Michaela Lynne Stein as Scenic Designer, Clay VanWinkle as Lighting Designer and David …

Costume Design For Agravio, Julie Douglass

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

This thesis presents the costume design, research, and execution process for Valor, Agravio y mujer by Ana Caro, adaptation to Agravio by Ian Borden, based on an original translation by Amy Williamsen. The play was performed in the Howell Theatre of the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in October 2012. Agravio was directed by Ian Borden, with Costume Design by Julie Douglass, Scenic Design by Joshua Rajaee, Lighting Design by Aja Michelle Jackson, Properties by David Tousley, and Technical Direction by Erica King.

Advisor: Janice Stauffer

Technical Direction Of Paragon Springs, Christine Ann Donaghy

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

My thesis show, Paragon Springs, is a play based on An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen. My first reading of the show leads me to hope that this undertaking will be profitable for all concerned. Paragon Springs, like the Ibsen play on which it is based, takes place in more than one location. This will contribute to my chances of having a set that might be a little more complicated and challenging than a basic unit set. My first concern was staging the show in the Studio and knowing we would have a smaller budget than …

Agravio: A Technical Direction Project, Erica Gwen King

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

Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) opened the Fall 2012 season in the Howell Theatre on October 04, 2012 with Agravio. My thesis project was the technical direction of Agravio. As the technical director, I took the designer’s ideas and made them a reality on stage. My responsibilities included organization, construction drawings, ordering supplies, problem solving, supervising build and the budgeting of time, people and money. In the course of this thesis I will discuss the process I took to assure the set would be built on time and under budget, …

Costume Design For Paragon Springs, Bethany D. Skinner

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

This thesis describes the research and costume design and production processes for the play, Paragon Springs by Steven Dietz (1958- ), performed in the Studio Theatre on November 8-9, 11, 14-16, 18, 2012, at the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film at the University of Nebraska. Paragon Springs was directed by Carrie Lee Patterson. Bethany Skinner was costume designer; David Tousley was scenic designer; Michael Fortcamp was lighting designer; Alma Cerretta served as props master, and Christine Donaghy provided technical direction. Dietz’s play, which premiered in April of 2000, is based on the play An Enemy of the People …

Lady Windermere's Fan: The Black And White Of It, Jacob Lawrence Heger

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

The purpose of this thesis is to describe the process used to create the scenic design for the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's 2011 production of Oscar Wilde's Lady Windermere's Fan, A Play About a Good Woman. Within this paper I will look at the process used to create the set design, the execution of the set design and the final product when seen in a fully realized production.

Advisor: Sandy Veneziano

Three Musketeers And A Rock Band, Brandi K. Kawamoto

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

This thesis is the culmination of my scenic design work for Ken Ludwig’s The Three Musketeers in the Howell Theater at the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the spring semester of 2012. Within this paper I will look at the conceptualization process, historical research, execution of the set design, the realized final product, and the critique process. The rough sketches, research images, computer draftings, finalized renderings, and production photos are featured within the thesis.

Advisor: Sandy Veneziano

The Misanthrope: Accepting The Notions Of Moliere Into A Modern Society, Cristina A. Skinner

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

“The Misanthrope: Accepting the Notions of Molière for a Modern Society” demonstrates the conceptualization, rehearsal process, and critique of the direction for The Misanthrope, produced during the fall semester of 2010 for the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film.  The conceptualization process included historical research of France during the 1660s and 2000s, meetings with the designers, and analysis of the play through structure and characters.  The process included design meetings and rehearsals.  The effectiveness of the production was demonstrated through the responses of four reviewers and a Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival respondent.  Additional material …

Healthy Performance Practice For Male Barbershop Singers, Jacob K. Bartlett

Glenn Korff School of Music: Dissertations, Theses, Student Creative Work, and Performances

Barbershop singing is a hobby enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of men and women across the world. We attend conventions, shows, competitions, and educational outreach programs each year at our own expense to preserve a style we truly love.

Most singers of the style are amateur musicians. This constitutes somewhat of a challenge when we consider the need for healthy singing in light of certain assumptions about the vocal technique required of the barbershop style. Most do their best to make a healthy sound but end up doing more harm than good to their own voices after a lengthy rehearsal. …

Artmaking On The Edge Of A Cliff: Directing Iphigenia 2.0, Shannon E. Cameron

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

This thesis contains written documentation regarding the process of directing a theatrical production in fulfillment of the partial requirements for Master of Fine Arts in Directing for Stage and Screen at the University of Nebraska Lincoln.

Topics addressed include play selection, script analysis, director/designer collaboration, coaching and actors and evaluation of final product.

Advisor:  Virginia Smith

Ontological Movement In Theater: An Account Of The Preparation And Direction Of The Play Dylan By Sidney Michaels, Aaron Sawyer

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

This document contains a graduate thesis and follows the creative process behind Aaron Sawyer’s direction of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s 2011 theatrical production of the play Dylan by Sidney Michaels. It contains seven sections depicting thesis production from the selection of the material to its completion and final reviews. The introduction establishes the perspectives and experiences that led me to this thesis. The pre-production section is comprised of an analysis of the script as well as research on the time-periods material to the play and its production. The director’s concept portion analyzes the dramatic structures contained within the play, and …

Piracy, Slavery, And Assimilation: Women In Early Modern Captivity Literature, David C. Moberly

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis examines a hitherto neglected body of works featuring female characters enslaved in Islamicate lands. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, many Englishmen and women were taken captive by pirates and enslaved in what is now the Middle East and North Africa. Several writers of the time created narratives and dramas about the experiences of such captives. Recent scholarship has brought to light many of these works and pointed out their importance in establishing what was still a young, unsure, and developing English identity in this early period. Most of this scholarship, however, has dealt with narratives of the …

A Midsummer Night’S Dream (With Flying Robots), Robin Murphy, Dylan Shell, Amy Guerin, Brittany Duncan, Benjamin Fine, Kevin Pratt, Takis Zourntos

School of Computing: Faculty Publications

Seven flying robot “fairies” joined human actors in the Texas A&M production of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The production was a collaboration between the departments of Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Theater Arts. The collaboration was motivated by two assertions. First, that the performing arts have principles for creating believable agents that will transfer to robots. Second, the theater is a natural testbed for evaluating the response of untrained human groups (both actors and the audience) to robots interacting with humans in shared spaces, i.e., were believable agents created? The production used two types …

The Scene Design For Macbeth, Michael Leonard

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

This thesis presents the scenic design for Macbeth written by William Shakespeare. The play was produced by the Department of Theatre Arts at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln and performed in the Howell Theatre on April 17, 2003 through April 26, 2003. The written portion of the thesis is divided into sections: The Play and Synopsis, Scene Deisgn Analysis including Time, Place, and Physical Needs, Design Concept, The Design Process, The Process of Realization, Reviews and Comments on the Scenic Design, and Self Evaluation.

The final portion of the thesis is a collection of sketches, drafting, paint elevations, and …

The Heroic Struggle Of Pleasing A Mad King: An Actor’S Exploration Of The Earl Of Kent In William Shakespeare’S King Lear, Robie A. Hayek

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

This thesis is the research and analysis of the creative process I used in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film’s 2009 production of King Lear. It is comprised of three main parts. Part One: Research explores the life and work of William Shakespeare. Part Two: A Study of King Lear examines the history of King Lear including major themes and performance history. Part Three: Process provides insight to the thought process of an actor while building a character. Additional materials include documentation of the rehearsal and performance, script analysis, and critical responses to the …

Quiet Virtue Or Roaring Indignation: One Actor's Quest, And Ultimate Failure, To Reveal Complexity In Shakespeare's Cordelia, Mary Lucy Lockamy

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

This thesis documents the performance process I underwent while tackling the role of Cordelia in William Shakespeare’s King Lear in the November 2009 production at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. This document is the culmination of a three-year endeavor to attain a Master of Fine Arts in Acting. There are three main sections. In Part One, I focus on Cordelia’s presence in the story of King Lear, before Shakespeare ever wrote his version, in order to compare and contrast earlier Cordelias to Shakespeare’s Cordelia. In this discussion and the ones that follow, I focus on the traditional conception of the character …

Goneril: Jealousy And Thirst For Power Caused By The Loss Of A Father's Love, Beth L. King

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

The challenge for every actor is to bring something of yourself to a role. The more real it can become for you the more real it will be for the audience. Goneril is a caricature. She is rich, powerful and she does horrible things like throwing her father out into the cold, having an affair, poisoning her sister and ultimately killing herself. She is one of Shakespeare’s “evil” women. I have to say I do not consider myself evil. So what could I have in common with this monster of a woman? One of our fellow classmates died while we …

Becoming The Bastard: An Exploration Of The Creative Process For Preparing The Role Of Edmund In King Lear, Daniel Gilbert

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

This thesis is a documentation of the creative process I utilized in the preparation of the role of Edmund in the 2009 UNL production of William Shakespeare’s King Lear. It is comprised of three main parts. Part One: Research consists of all complied materials pertaining to the life and work of William Shakespeare and his play King Lear; including play structure, language and themes. Part Two: Process is an examination of the rehearsal process and methodology used in character development. Part Three: Evaluation is a conclusion of the process and provides faculty responses as well as self examinations …

Costume Design For You Never Can Tell, Emily S. Parker

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

This thesis will expound upon the costume design process for The Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film’s 2009 production of You Never Can Tell, performed in the Howell Theatre at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Directed by Tice Miller, and Mijou Sahiouni, Assistant Director, the production team included Emily Parker as the Costume Designer, Ahna Packard as the Set Designer, and Harrison Hohnholt as the Lighting Designer. This thesis will describe the research, inspiration, rendering and construction process of the costume designer.

Two Kings: An Account Of The Preparation And Performance Of The Role Of Edgar In William Shakespeare's King Lear, Ryan Kathman

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

This work is my graduate thesis documenting the creative process behind my performance of the role of Edgar in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s 2009 production of King Lear by William Shakespeare. It is comprised of five sections including an introduction, pre-rehearsal research, rehearsal and performance journal, post-production responses and conclusion. The introduction outlines my impressions of Edgar and King Lear prior to researching or rehearsing the role. In my research section, I attempt to better understand Shakespeare, his play and the role of Edgar by studying the playwright’s life and the history of the character and play, while also making …

Costume Design And Execution Of King Lear By William Shakespeare, Cecelia Rae Sickler

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

This thesis documents the costume design and execution for the fall production of William Shakespeare’s King Lear performed on the Howell Stage at the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The following discusses and documents the research, inspiration, development and construction of the costume design.

Processing King Lear, Patric Michael Vendetti

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

This thesis is the culmination of my scenic design work for William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of King Lear in the Howell Theatre at the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Within this paper I will look at the processes used to create the set design, the execution of the set design and the final product when seen in a fully realized production.

Insight Into Madness: The Rise And Fall Of The Duke Of Cornwall, Kyle Broussard

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

The Duke of Cornwall, created by the world’s most popular and influential playwright in history, William Shakespeare, is a complex, compelling, and controversial character brought forth to life in the pages of King Lear. In accordance to guidelines established by the University of Nebraska, the following graduate thesis will provide a basic outline of my journey through the challenges of understanding, developing, and ultimately performing the role of Cornwall in Shakespeare’s King Lear. The Duke of Cornwall was a challenging and often difficult role to embody and understand due to several factors, such as interpreting his motivations, understanding …

Costume Design For Tartuffe By Molière, Shannon Paulick

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

“Tartuffe: The Costume Design Process” is a paper that describes the conceptualization, creation, and critique of the costume design chosen for the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film’s production of Tartuffe during the spring semester of 2010. The conceptualization process included meetings with the director, historical research of France during the 1660s, and consideration of the play’s specific needs. The rough sketches and finalized renderings, along with the historical research, are featured within the thesis. The creation process involved numerous people, hours, and creative solutions to bring the design to fruition. Newspapers and an American College Theatre Festival respondent …

I Am Regan: The Preparation, Performance And Afterthoughts On The Character Of Regan In King Lear, Tiffiney C. Baker

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

The Preparation, Performance and Afterthoughts Concerning the Role of Regan in Shakespeare’s King Lear Tiffiney Carol Baker, M.F.A. University of Nebraska, 2010 Adviser: Harris Smith In April of 2009 I was cast as Regan Cornwall in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s main stage production of King Lear. Throughout the summer I researched various aspects of the playwright, the play’s origins, family dynamics and various other aspects concerning the world of the play in order to gain a clearer understanding of the character. The following is the documentation of my process divided into three sections. Section one contains historical research and a …

A Pattern Of Patience: On Providing Technical Direction For King Lear, Theron L. Seckington

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

The following writing will document my process as technical director for the 2009 mainstage production of King Lear at the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film (JCSTF) at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL). King Lear was directed by Virginia Smith with scenery designed by fellow Master of Fine Arts (MFA) candidate Patric Vendetti, lights by senior Angela Sharman, and sound by sophomore Max Holm. Costumes were designed by MFA candidate Cecilia Sickler. The shop foreman was Bryan Ruhs, and the production was stage managed by junior Amber Naylor. I was advised by JCSTF technical director Edward Stauffer. …

Rev. Of "The Wallenstein Trilogy," Directed By Peter Stein And Starring Klaus Maria Brandauer., William Grange

Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film: Faculty Publications and Creative Activity

The refurbished main fermentation hall and cold storage warehouse of the defunct Kindl brewery Berlin’s working-class borough of Neukölln is an improbable venue for a production of a German classic that attracted film and television celebrities, major government officials, sports stars, and serious theatre-goers from all over the country.