Theatre and Performance Studies Commons^™

The Lighting Design Of This Bitch! Esta Sangre Quiero, Zackary Mcjunkins

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis serves to document the script analysis, lighting design process, and execution of the lighting design for the University of Arkansas’s Fall 2022 production of This Bitch! Esta Sangre Quiero, an original work by M.F.A. playwriting candidate Adrienne Dawes. Special care will be taken to address the unique challenges faced throughout the design process and implementation of the lighting design. This document contains all necessary paperwork to implement a lighting design, including a light plot, section, magic sheet, and other paperwork, as well as research imagery and photographs of the production.

A Script And Acting Analysis Of David Mamet’S Glengarry Glen Ross, Abdelrahman Metwally

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Glengarry Glen Ross is a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by David Mamet. This paper is a practical guide for the actor to understanding the events of the play and, specifically, to approaching the role of Richard Roma, with a particular emphasis on Michael Chekhov’s psycho-physical work. First, I will discuss the circumstances, values and themes of the world of the play in relation to the character Shelley Levene as the main agent of the events. Then my focus in character analysis will shift to Richard Roma as the lead character of the ensemble. Together, the two characters create a contrasting duo …

100 Million, Cade Scott

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Alec, an 18-year-old filmmaker, decides to bunk with a group of TikTok stars in a mansion in the suburbs of LA in hopes of becoming as famous as them one day. But, he soon finds out that they plan to keep him behind the scenes. Forced to continue helping them film and post their videos, he starts witnessing shady events involving his step-brother, Kevin. The events reach a crescendo when some of the TikTok stars accidentally disappear. Alec investigates and discovers a sinister plot, and then he finds himself in a fight for his life. Which ends with him narrowly …

A Tough Nut Never Boils: Thoughts And Ruminations On Language And Playmaking, Lauren Ferebee

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

After an unorthodox journey through higher education ending during the coronavirus pandemic, which has made the typical theatrical thesis production and subsequent typical final year impossible, the author reflects on the body of work she has created at the University of Arkansas as an M.F.A. candidate in playwriting at the Department of Theatre, how she has reached both deeper into her own discipline and outside of it to widen her understanding of liveness, performance, and textual creation. She interrogates her own unexpected experiences, from figuring out how to make theatre without theatres, to teaching students who have never seen a …

The Story Of A Journey: Awakenings Before, During And After The Zoom Production Of The Play Thrift Store Junkie, Brendan Beseth

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis tells the story of several awakenings I had while pursuing my M.F.A. in playwriting at the University of Arkansas. It details some of the traps a writer can fall into. It tells of how to get out of the quicksand. Also contained within is an account of the thesis production of my play Thrift Store Junkie and the play’s script.

The Scenic Design Of "A Little Night Music", Kathleen Holmes

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A Little Night Music by Hugh Wheeler and Stephen Sondheim was produced by the University of Arkansas Department of Theatre in 2018-2019 academic school year. The scenic design process entailed a series of private meetings, design meetings, independent research, and analysis that all culminated into a full scenic design package. The show itself has many locations that quickly transition into one another. It was my challenge as the designer to cohesively design the scenery so that it could be transitioned easily and in time with the music. The major themes of the show that I based the design around were …

Scenic Design For “Topdog Underdog”, Austin Aschbrenner

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The 2019 production of Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks at the University of Arkansas was produced with a guest director who, throughout the process of the production, experimented with the typical perception of the Pulitzer Prize winning play and added conceptual spins to help open the eyes of the mostly small town and rural based audience. This thesis will explore the various elements of this particular production and which of these elements contributed to exploring the depths of Topdog/Underdog.

This document will analyze the design process of the University of Arkansas’s production of Topdog/Underdog, and will analyze specific design choices which …

The Magic Circle: An Essential Experience Through Virtual Theatre, Brandon Roye

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the similarities of video game design elements within the world of theatrical scenic design. Using my 2019 scenic design of Marc Camoletti’s bedroom farce Boeing Boeing as the backdrop, I discuss the core concepts of game design. I then describe the scenic process of the production and the journey from concept all the way through to a virtual reality recreation of the design. The study of game design in theatre has the potential to open a wide new world of opportunities in the scenic design industry. This paper examines how the theatre can benefit from game design …

Blackting: The Inseparable Act Of Being Black And Acting: For The Magical Negro, Austin Dean Ashford

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

I am honored to present my Thesis for my M.F.A. in Theatre, in the form of a multidimensional project, drawing inspiration from the structure of Moby Dick by Herman Melville. As an undergraduate, the structure of Moby Dick intrigued me as it defies the form we call “a novel.” The book includes traditional prose, an entire play, verses of poetry, and even an essay. The structure of Moby Dick further influenced my love for Speech and Debate, especially around the event of Program Oral Interpretation (POI). POI places multiple genres of literature in conversation with each other and centers them …

Memories: The Lighting Design For “The Glass Menagerie”, Catherine Blencowe

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents new ways of looking at an old classic by illuminating the emotions and hardship of the Wingfield family through the use of color and texture. The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams was presented at the University of Arkansas in September of 2017. The challenges of this production will be addressed as well as the achievements and areas of improvement of this production. Finally, this document will answer the question: How does color, texture, and the angle of stage lighting help heighten the emotions of the characters and engage an audience in the play?

Included are all the …

Acting Styles Of Caryl Churchill Performance, Mischa Hutchings

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis contains materials pertaining to my thesis performance and one-person show. This thesis also includes my headshot, resume and link to my website.

Costume Design For Qui Nguyen’S She Kills Monsters, Tanner Neal Mcalpin

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The following thesis details the process of creating costume designs and implementing them in the production of She Kills Monsters which was produced at the University of Arkansas Black Box Theatre in the Fall of 2018. Throughout this thesis I will explain how the costumes went from initial research and conversations with the director to the final products on the stage. The account of this includes an analysis of the script, collages of photos used for inspiration, portrait gallery, research, rough sketches, renderings with fabric swatches, production photos, and my evaluation of the process as a whole.

Baptizing Shakespeare, Na'tosha De'von Barron

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis I will be discussing my process in preparing and performing the role of Lady Macbeth, and how I used the parallels of the King James Bible to approach the text. I will show how this method will allow theatre people to teach Shakespeare to African Americans in a way that will become second nature to grasp. I will include the events of the play, my character analysis, intake on the rehearsal process, production photos, resume, headshot, program, and a link to my website.

On The Variations Of 'Occupatio' In "Richard Ii", William Kelly Reeder

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recent scholarship of Shakespeare’s Richard II has been interested in or preoccupied with its historical relations. Particularly the plays association with the Essex Rising of 1601, and the censorship of the deposition scene, both of which seem to resonate for history with Elizabeth’s enigmatic comment expressing her identification with Shakespeare’s portrayal of Richard II.

This paper proposes to resolve the question of the play’s censorship by interpreting the deposition scene as a dramatization of transubstantiation, perhaps triggering Elizabethan censors.

Transubstantiation is the doctrine by which the Catholic Church interprets the Eucharist using the distinction between substance and accidens (eternal and …

To Be Thus Is Nothing, But To Be Safely Thus: Applying The Michael Chekhov Technique To The Character And Fight Direction Of "Macbeth", Scott Nicholas Russell

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an exploration of the Michael Chekhov technique as it was applied to the role of Macbeth, as well as the Fight Direction of the play. This production of Macbeth ran from February 1, 2019 to February 10, 2019 at the Global Campus Theatre at the University of Arkansas in downtown Fayetteville; this thesis includes documentation of the show. Additionally, this thesis includes documentation on my self-created one-person show, Forte and Foible, my headshot and resume, and link to my website.

An Intimate Portrayal Of Madame Armfeldt In A Little Night Music, Mollie Armour

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis contains documents supporting my thesis role, my personal statement of artistry, a script for my one person show, and materials used in my professional career.

Childhood Dreams And Adult Laughs Lighting Design Of Avenue Q, Eric Armstrong

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis will present and discuss the analysis, design process and execution of the lighting design for the University of Arkansas’s production of the musical Avenue Q. Special time will be taken to discuss the unique challenges faced by this production during early design meetings as well as during the execution of the design. This paper will document my process in illuminating the satirical themes in Avenue Q. Avenue Q looks at modern life through the lenses of a children’s learning program. Through my use of color and texture I worked to amplify the realism and create musical theatre moments.

Privileged Eyes: How A Look In The Mirror Informed The Creation Of Marilyn And Desiree, Halley Electra Mayo

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is for the performance of Desiree in A Little Night Music, by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler; the development, writing, and performance of the one-person-show Privileged Eyes; and development of a website and statement of artistry.

What It Means To Be A Man: A Character Study Of Macduff, Justin Alexander Mackey

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis I will be discussing my process as an actor when approaching a role, specifically the role of Macduff in William Shakespeare’s, Macbeth. I will include a character/script/event analysis as well as a journal of my experiences during the rehearsal process. I will also include production photos, programs, a link to my website, and my headshot and resume at the end.

Costume Design For Shakespeare's "Macbeth", Melissa Rooney

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The following thesis explains the process used to create the costume design for the production of Macbeth produced at the University of Arkansas Global Campus Theatre in the Spring of 2019. Throughout this thesis, I will explain the process by which the costumes went from initial research ideas to sketches and colored renderings and finally to fully realized three dimensional costumes. The design process included in this thesis includes an analysis of the play, inspirational collage, portrait gallery, research, renderings, production images, and an evaluation of the overall process.

Costume Design For "Life Is A Dream" By Pedro Calderon De La Barca, Kelsey Looney

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The following thesis explains the process used to create and implement the costume design for the production of Life is a Dream produced at the University of Arkansas in the spring of 2018. In this thesis I will detail the process of moving from research, to renderings, to finished costumes. This design process includes a script analysis, inspiration collages, portrait gallery, sketches, renderings, production photographs, and an assessment of the success of the process overall.

Are Unicorns Extinct In The Modern World?: Directing Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie In 2017, Jon Cole Wimpee

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

What follows is a description of my process directing The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams.

I’ve made an effort to track the journey I undertook starting from my earliest encounter with the play and the selection of the story as a thesis project. This document contains my initial script analysis, notes from design meeting collaborations, casting decisions, general research approaches, the rehearsal process, performance insights, and evaluations after completion. This document will also provide, intermittently, additional reflections on my critical attitudes towards this play and production, as well as self-assessments related to notable lessons, successes, failures, and discoveries pertinent to …

The Fault In Our Stars: A Director's Process On Life Is A Dream, Jeremiah Dean Albers

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The following is a journal and reflection on my process as adaptor and director of the play Life is a Dream by Pedro Calderón de la Barca. It is equal parts self-evaluation and creative travelogue. The chapters include an Introduction, and The Production Process, and related appendices.

Costume Design For Adam Rapp’S The Metal Children At The University Of Arkansas, Melissa Janet Hall

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The following thesis explains the process utilized to create and implement the costume design for the production of The Metal Children produced at the University of Arkansas University Theatre in the Fall of 2016. 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, inspiration collage, portrait gallery, research, renderings, production images and an evaluation of the overall process.

The Creation And Development Of Rise, Paul Randall Mcinnis

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In “The Creation and Development of Rise”, I will explain how my play evolved from the initial writing process until the actual production of the show. The Department of Theatre allows students to experience the development of new work through the functions of the classroom. The goal is to simulate how a process would occur in the professional world. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the journey of creation within Rise. Rise tells the story of the community of St. Marie, Louisiana during Mardi Gras, 1972. The play highlights the city’s triumphs and downfalls, and it is set …

Wait, She's Alive?! Playing Characters Based On Real, Living People, Courtney Jensen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is for the performance of Sara Jane Moore in Assassins and for development, contributions, and performance of a new play written for our graduating class, A Hamlet: West of Why. This thesis also consists of my statement of artistry, documentation of artistic materials, and thesis related performance materials.

St. Louis To Arizona: What Tom Wingfield Taught Me About Playing Myself, Christopher Scott Tennison

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

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

Takin' Care Of Business, Cody Levi Shelton

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

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

Beside Myself, Grant Hockenbrough

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

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

Persistence Of Memory: Revision, Nostalgia, And Resistance In Contemporary American Drama, Sinan Gul

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the usages of memory in contemporary American drama. Analyzing selected mainstream and alternative dramatic texts, The Persistence of Memory is a study of personal and communal reflections of the past within contemporary plays. The introduction provides examples from modern plays, major terms, and vital concepts for memory studies and locates their merits in dramatic texts. The first chapter makes a critique of family plays, which uses historical elements to indicate a revisionist yearning for the past as well as the American Dream. Similarly, the second chapter contains business plays, which implement a heavy feeling of nostalgia …