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Articles 181 - 210 of 229
Full-Text Articles in Theatre and Performance Studies
Looking For Ways To Ruin A Perfectly Good Day: Masculinity In Bash: The Latter-Day Plays By Neil Labute, Daniel F. Devlin
Looking For Ways To Ruin A Perfectly Good Day: Masculinity In Bash: The Latter-Day Plays By Neil Labute, Daniel F. Devlin
Theses and Dissertations
Neil LaBute is one of the most prolific and challenging playwrights in America today. My thesis will explore his work bash: the latter-day plays through the frame of the performance and use of masculinity by his characters, and will create a vocabulary through which the remainder of LaBute's works can be studied, both in terms of academic scholarship and the practical application of that scholarship to the process of theatrical creation.
Directing For The Small Professional Theatre: Directing "Nothing Sacred", Robert Hunter Williams
Directing For The Small Professional Theatre: Directing "Nothing Sacred", Robert Hunter Williams
Theses and Dissertations
The challenges of producing and directing small professional theatre in any metropolitan area are many. This thesis is concerned with the process of finding a producing theatre, casting, rehearsal and staging the play, "Nothing Sacred" by George F. Walker, in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Unlike many thesis projects this one was conducted completely outside of the university setting and is thus a true reflection of the small professional theatre community.
Bollywood Broads: Reconstructing The Femme Fatale In Popular Indian Film, Erin Zimmerman Moss
Bollywood Broads: Reconstructing The Femme Fatale In Popular Indian Film, Erin Zimmerman Moss
Theses and Dissertations
Mumbai is currently one of the most prolific and lucrative film centers in the world. Its production of the "Bollywood" popular film has attracted billions in audience members outside the nation of India, many of whom do not belong to Indian culture in the Diaspora. The significance of this influence draws from the cross-cultural borrowings increasingly present in Bollywood cinema. The advent of Western investment in the production center has coincided with the diversification of the standard Bollywood film from "masala" musical to more genre specific action, horror and even romantic comedy musical. Within this genre expansion, a nod to …
Sing Together! Choral Singing As A Supplementary Training Method For Actors, Daniel C. Dennis
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 …
The Pedagogy Of Shakespeare & Company, Catherine Bryne
The Pedagogy Of Shakespeare & Company, Catherine Bryne
Theses and Dissertations
The Pedagogy of Shakespeare & Company examines in several ways the principles and practices of actor training at Shakespeare & Company of Lenox, Massachusetts. Chapter 1 is a narrative of my personal experience at the Month-long Intensive in Lenox, elaborating its multiple components. Chapter 2 recounts the genesis of the company and looks at the influences that shaped its identity. Chapter 3 is a more specific attempt to define the pedagogy developed by Tina Packer, Kristin Linklater and the other founders of Shakespeare & Company and to provide some contextual analysis. The remainder of this document explores my own pedagogical …
Bananas In The Mist: Directing Amazing Adventures Of The Marvelous Monkey King, Diego Villada
Bananas In The Mist: Directing Amazing Adventures Of The Marvelous Monkey King, Diego Villada
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis details -in personal narrative form- the process by which the author directed a production of Elizabeth Wong's Amazing Adventures of the Marvelous Monkey King at Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School in Miami, Florida. The following text explains elements of pre-production, presents relevant research associated with the play, describes the production process in detail, and states conclusions drawn by the author about the experience. The work challenged both the ensemble and the director to seek new avenues of expression and theatricality different from those traditionally explored in their respective educational settings.
The Cross Empowerment Of Singing And Acting, Stephanie C. Dean
The Cross Empowerment Of Singing And Acting, Stephanie C. Dean
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis details my process in teaching a class I devised, entitled, "Singing for Actors and Acting for Singers," in an attempt to develop a pedagogical bridge between singing and acting. In this thesis, I discuss the need for creating this course and evaluate how effectual it was. Additionally, I detail my research, curricular development and students' responses to the material.
The Pedagogy And Ethics Of Improvisation Using The Harold, David Dellus Patton
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 …
A Life In Words, Thoughts, Ideas, Images And Movement, Randy Houston Mercer
A Life In Words, Thoughts, Ideas, Images And Movement, Randy Houston Mercer
Theses and Dissertations
I know it is my core, my purest nature to incessantly question myself and everything around me; as we pertain to the universe. As Robert Wilson suggests "I will always ask 'What is it?' before telling you what it is." My goal is to present you with some tools with which to approach your craft, your life, your uncertainties. And though I may not always be the best example, I still wish to encourage all that read this or spend time with me to see this craft/business and indeed your life as a great, happy adventure; guided by love. Because …
Transitions: Starting The Second, Full Circle, Mary Colleen Vreeland
Transitions: Starting The Second, Full Circle, Mary Colleen Vreeland
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis will focus on the transitional influences that have led me to start the second circle of my professional life. It is an open and honest exploration of the back-story of my life and the academic and professional influences that led me to seek a Master of Fine Arts Degree at Virginia Commonwealth University. With no parallels and therefore no excuses insinuated, I will be open and dissect more of myself as the whole focus of the thesis in hopes of offering clarity to myself and other mature and disabled students seeking to become a better teacher and artist.
Camping In The Classroom: Ridiculous Theatre As Serious Drama, John Kenneth Deboer
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 Art Of Collaboration In The Classroom: Team Teaching Performance, Jenna M. Neilsen
The Art Of Collaboration In The Classroom: Team Teaching Performance, Jenna M. Neilsen
Theses and Dissertations
The Art of Collaboration in the Classroom: Team Teaching Performance is a co-written master's 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 …
Pedagogical Fusion, David Maurice White
Pedagogical Fusion, David Maurice White
Theses and Dissertations
During the five semesters that I have been at VCU I have learned a great deal from the courses that I have been enrolled in but I have learned the most through my experiences as a Teaching Assistant. These experiences have been so valuable because of the wide range of subject areas in which I have been involved and the diverse instructors that I have assisted. Although I hesitate to use the word "problem" I feel that there is a tendency in teacher training for a student to latch onto one professor and model their teaching practices after that one …
The Constant Wife Revisited: The Progression Of A Play From Conception To The Final Stage Production, Kimberly H. Parkin
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 …
Gentleman Johnny Plays War: John Burgoyne And The Blockade Of Boston, Catherine Ann Peckinpaugh Vrtis
Gentleman Johnny Plays War: John Burgoyne And The Blockade Of Boston, Catherine Ann Peckinpaugh Vrtis
Theses and Dissertations
John Burgoyne, a British general during the American Revolution, is best known for his defeat by the Continental Army at Saratoga. In addition to serving as a general,Burgoyne was a playwright. While in Boston during the blockade following the Battle ofBunker Hill Burgoyne combined his interests, writing a satire of the war. The Blockade of Boston, Burgoyne's play, was first presented as an afterpiece to a production of The Busybody on January 8, 1776 (Silverman 292).Accounts of the performance differ in detail, but the central event is consistent: during the performance a soldier walked out on stage and announced that …
Professional Theatre In The Academic Theatre Setting, Hartwell Keith Hight
Professional Theatre In The Academic Theatre Setting, Hartwell Keith Hight
Theses and Dissertations
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to discuss the dynamic of continued employment for the theatre instructor. Surprisingly, very little is written about continued employment for the theatre instructor. In the present study, the terms instructor and teacher carry the same meaning. Because theatre builds successful human beings, a theatre program must allows students, graduates, and other interested candidates the opportunity to work closely with experienced professionals in their field.
Reviving The Seventies, Aimee M. Huber
Reviving The Seventies, Aimee M. Huber
Theses and Dissertations
Design Analysis of the VCU Mainstage production process for The Nerd The comedic farce, The Nerd, written by Larry Shue and directed by Drew Fracher here at VCU, is the production I intend to analyze in terms of the scenic design process. From the initial conception of ideas, to their development through collaboration, to completion of construction, and ultimately, opening night, I plan to breakout my process step by step. I'd like to communicate the transformation of a literary play into the three-dimensional world in my mind.I. Introduction A. Overall description of process as it applies to this particular interaction …
The Art Of Collaboration In The Classroom: Team Teaching Performance, Julie K. Phillips
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 …
Teaching Theatre History: Re-Directing An Existing Course, Brian Robert Vrtis
Teaching Theatre History: Re-Directing An Existing Course, Brian Robert Vrtis
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis is written to detail the process and results of the theatre history class that I assisted in teaching during the fall semester of 2005. It details the process of formulating the class structure, how the class proceeded, my lecture process, and finally the responses that the students had to the class. The first chapter of this paper goes into the process of getting the class formulated. When Shaun McCracken and I were asked to take over instruction of THEA 307 for the fall during Dr. Barnes' sabbatical, rather than exactly following the process that the class had previously …
The Assistant Director, Stephanie R. Hanna
The Assistant Director, Stephanie R. Hanna
Theses and Dissertations
My thesis addresses the role of the assistant director within the realm of today's American theatre. I determine who the assistant director is in today's theatre, what qualities they need to possess, and how a director can use an assistant director most effectively. To come to these conclusions, I analyze my experiences as an assistant director and a director over the last four years, as well as conduct interviews with directors and assistant directors currently working in professional and academic.
Psychology And The Theatre: A Qualitative Experiment In Actor Training, Megan Rebecca Brown
Psychology And The Theatre: A Qualitative Experiment In Actor Training, Megan Rebecca Brown
Theses and Dissertations
Psychology and theatre have a remarkable amount in common. In using the basic concepts and theories of psychology, actors can develop more concrete, logical approaches to characters. This thesis is a summation of the course I developed, "Psychology and the Theatre," which was an attempt to teach students introductory psychology and then experiment with translating those concepts to character analysis and stage performance. Students were taught eight units of psychology: Sensation, Perception, and Memory; Learning; Motivation and Emotion; Development; Freud and Psychodynamic Approaches to Personality; Adlerian Individual Psychology; Love and Social Cognition; and Psychological Disorders. Students were given reading quizzes …
Evolving A Theatre Of Truth, Susan Hayes
Evolving A Theatre Of Truth, Susan Hayes
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis explores the challenges of evolving a Theatre of Truth in the context of the immediate zeitgeist. The questions I address are the role of feminist theatre in a world dominated by global media and corporate omnipotence; the conflation of theatre and Realpolitick; the limitations of postmodern thought and critical theory, and the struggle not only of the marginalized, but of all of us to create an activist theatre in perilous times. After examining my response to directing a production of Mud by Maria Irene Fornes, this project will also suggest that a theatre of specialized singular interests, such …
Consuming Brazil: Afro Brazilian Religion As A Base For Actor Training, Corey Justin Roberts
Consuming Brazil: Afro Brazilian Religion As A Base For Actor Training, Corey Justin Roberts
Theses and Dissertations
Actor training, like the theatre in Brazil, has historically been a middle and upper class pursuit that followed European models, namely Stanislavski's system. Yet within Brazil there is a wealth of diverse cultures that are inherently theatrical and well suited for application in actor training. In this study I explore one such culture, the Afro Brazilian religion Umbanda. First, I examine its formation to illuminate how the religion itself performed (or served as a site for cultural interaction) throughout history. Then, I explore the practice of the religion both apart from and in relation to the theatre and Stanislavski's system. …
Intimate Encounters; Staging Intimacy And Sensuality, Tonia Sina Campanella
Intimate Encounters; Staging Intimacy And Sensuality, Tonia Sina Campanella
Theses and Dissertations
This text is a partial record of the conception and development of Reflections of Red in a Mirror of Desire that opened on February 20th 2006 for a three day run ending on February 22nd. The majority of the text is focused on the events and research that provided the concept for the show. Some of the research includes influential choreographers and companies such as Pina Bausch, Graziela Daniele, Moses Pendleton, Pilobolus, Momix, Julie Tayrnor, and Merce Cunningham. Included in the analysis of this event are the experiences and lessons that came about during the process of directing Reflections of …
Lessons Of Vocal Coaching Shakespeare In Hollywood: A Production Analysis, Deborah Thomas
Lessons Of Vocal Coaching Shakespeare In Hollywood: A Production Analysis, Deborah Thomas
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis is a personal narrative of my experience as vocal coach on a production of Ken Ludwig's Shakespeare in Hollywood directed by BT McNicholl and performed in the Raymond Hodges Theatre of Virginia Commonwealth University in November 2005. Chapter one covers my identification of the play's vocal and aural challenges; what I did to prepare for those challenges; the research I gathered on 1930s Hollywood prototypes for the play; an examination of Shakespearean verse, especially that in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and how Ludwig synthesized Shakespeare's verse with that of his own.Chapter two is divided into an account of …
Den Of Thieves: Appropriating And Applying The Collaborative Ideals Of The Labyrinth Theater Company, Timothy Michael Bambara
Den Of Thieves: Appropriating And Applying The Collaborative Ideals Of The Labyrinth Theater Company, Timothy Michael Bambara
Theses and Dissertations
My goal was to successfully appropriate the collaborative ideals of the LAByrinth Theater Company and incorporate them into my directorial process while working on a collegiate production. I gathered a large amount of information from my visit and contact with the LAB and through personal interviews with the Co-Artistic Director and the Developmental Director. I had seen two of their shows and I was familiar with the quality of production that I had to uphold. I played a lead role in Guirgis' Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train and I was familiar with the rhythm, the dialect and the seriocomic matters …
Bitterroot Landing: An Adaptation From Novel To Stage, Christy Leake
Bitterroot Landing: An Adaptation From Novel To Stage, Christy Leake
Theses and Dissertations
My thesis explores the process involved in adapting Sheri Reynolds' novel, Bitterroot Landing, into a stage play. During the adaptation process I faced numerous challenges, including structural issues, expanding or changing dialogue, omitting or melding scenes and characters, and dealing with the serious themes of incest and sexual abuse. This thesis describes these challenges and the steps I took to overcome them.
From Darkness To Light: Examining The Role Of Playwright/Director On Obscura, Dennis Christian Schebetta
From Darkness To Light: Examining The Role Of Playwright/Director On Obscura, Dennis Christian Schebetta
Theses and Dissertations
The aim and scope of my thesis is to examine the process of playwrights directing their own work, using the production of my play Obscura as an example of personal research, as well as examples of other dramatists. I will examine the advantages and disadvantages that playwrights face when directing their own work. I will compare several methods to my own production of Obscura. I wrote the play in the Spring of 2005 which culminated in a reading in April, followed by a workshop production in the Fall of 2005 in the Newdick Theater at Shafer Street Playhouse.
The Theatre That Will Be: 'Devised Theatre' Methodologies And Aesthetics In Training And Practice, Lisa Kathleen Jackson
The Theatre That Will Be: 'Devised Theatre' Methodologies And Aesthetics In Training And Practice, Lisa Kathleen Jackson
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis details my process of teaching Devising Theatre, a course of my own design, in Spring of 2005 and Fall of 2005. I address my curricular development from semester to semester (readings, assignments, assessments) as well as the students' responses to the material. Additionally, I discuss my reasons for teaching the course and the place that alternative theatre can and should have in theatre training programs and in the realization of feminist pedagogy.
An Undergraduate Theatre History Course Design Utilizing Problem-Based Learning, Mary Alice Blackwell
An Undergraduate Theatre History Course Design Utilizing Problem-Based Learning, Mary Alice Blackwell
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis was written to provide an alternative teaching model for an undergraduate theatre history class. The course design, utilizing the Problem-Based Learning educational model, aims to create a student-centered, experiential theatre history class. The first section explores the history and evolution of the theatre discipline in academia. These chapters examine the expansion and transformation of the theatre curriculum within the discipline and higher education. The second part examines the history and the methodologies of Problem-Based Learning. Based on the philosophy of educator John Dewey, PBL is considered to be a non-traditional method of teaching and learning that encourages the …