Theatre and Performance Studies Commons^™

Student Production Manager And Coordinator For Onsite Series, Caitlin Shill, Kori Wakumatsu

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Fine art is entering a new age, the traditional structures that have protected art for centuries are now becoming relics in the face of social, political and cultural upheavals. Over the last twenty years dance has transitioned into the realm of Fine Arts in the world of academia, however it is struggling to find substantial outlets in society while maintaining its integrity as a fine art. This project was centered on two Brigham Young University faculty in their established Onsite Mobile Dance Series, a dance company that has been serving the local arts community for over five years. This production …

Pyramid Dream: An Unbelievable Opportunity, Emma Meurs, Brad Barber

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Pyramid Dream is a documentary film that investigates the reality of the promises of Multi-Level Marketing companies of financial success to their distributors, through the eyes of three female distributors. These three woman experience varying degrees of success as they endeavor to make millions by direct selling lipstick and other cosmetic items. However, it soon becomes clear that it getting to the top of the pyramid is more difficult than it seemed. But, although they may be unable to make millions, they are able to find a sisterhood which might make it all worth it.

The Littlest Ballerina (Kamilla) An Original Ballet In One Act, Daniel Fifield, Shayla Bott

Journal of Undergraduate Research

At the beginning of Fall semester 2016, I discussed the possibility of composing music for an original ballet with Elise Meiners, an adjunct professor for the BYU Dance Department. She agreed to choreograph the ballet and together we assembled a production team. Daniel Schwicht, a BYU student, joined the team as the artistic designer. Spencer Duncan, then BYU theatre student joined as the dramaturg. The production team met weekly during that semester to develop an original story to be told in the form of a 30 minute ballet. Shayla Bott, the Ballet Area Administer agreed to mentor the project and …

Ethnography Of Dance Pedagogy Traditions: Chinese Dance Culture Compared To Eurocentric Dance Culture, Caitlin Shill, Marilyn Berrett

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This project’s purpose was to analyze the traditions, customs and philosophies of professors at the College of Dance at Beijing Mingzu University during Brigham Young University’s China dance study abroad. Recording and analyzing their pedagogical practices informed our own theories on the optimal balance between nurturing artistic development while preserving technical traditions. The globalization of the world’s dance community has revolutionized teaching philosophies. The international standard for dance pedagogy and technique for professional dancers continues to defy preceding theories as pedagogical practices are shared and incorporated into various training systems. China has consistently produced some of the world’s best technicians …

“Sometimes You Have To Be A Little Bit Naughty”: Matilda The Musical Through A Feminist Lens, Kristin Perkins, Megan Sanborn Jones

Journal of Undergraduate Research

My research analyzed the popular musical Matilda to dissect and explicate underlying feminist ideologies. The grant went primarily to helping fund a trip to New York City where I was able to watch Matilda the Musical as well as helping to fund my trip to present my research at a conference in Chicago. This project has yielded two conference presentations thus far and I am continuing to work towards fulfilling my Honors Thesis requirement using this as my research topic.

A Makeup Artist’S Guide To Mastery The Standard Procedure, Michaela Fordham, Mary Farahnakian

Journal of Undergraduate Research

It is a rare opportunity to be able to study makeup design in a collegiate setting, especially one of Brigham Young University’s standard. Because I have the unique perspective of approaching makeup with an academic perspective, I wanted outside research to aid my personal career pursuit as well as explore the different jobs in the makeup industry. I wanted to find the common standards of procedures within different fields to compile a presentation for other makeup artists as well as inform others of Brigham Young University’s excellent program.

Ethnographic Observation Of Dance Pedagogy At The Minzu University For The China Dance Study Abroad, Emily Bayles, Marilyn Berrett

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In Asian cultures, a lack of creativity shows a hindering element to the success and progress of the Chinese dancers’ education. Keeping with tradition, the “purpose of the arts was not the making of ‘art’”¹. A few methods of dance pedagogy put into action have enhanced the students’ ability to expand their knowledge and individual voice in the world of dance “rather than the creation of “perfect” art”².

The Culture Of British Servitude And Music, Erin Meeks, Jeff Parkin

Journal of Undergraduate Research

I am writing a feature-length screenplay set in Victorian England about a servant of a manor trying to bring her mother’s fairy tales to life to escape her homesickness. However, I soon realized that writing this screenplay based solely on internet articles and my love of the BBC series Downton Abbey was not going to provide the research necessary to create an authentic setting and a believable, nuanced character. For this reason, I applied for an ORCA grant to attend a six-week study abroad program with the Theater and Media Arts department so that I could gather on-site research.

Putting It Together: Creating, Rehearsing, And Performing, Scott Whipple, George Nelson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

As a dancer the music dance theatre program, who is pursuing his goal to be on Broadway, the chance to be the dance captain for a musical is a priceless opportunity. When I was asked to be the dance captain for BYU’s stage production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, I jumped at the opportunity. Getting the chance to work closely with a director like George Nelson as well as choreographer Becky Write Phillips was something I could not pass up, even though I was taking 21 credits; it was a challenge I was willing to take on. I knew …

The Heyday Of Hats A Look At Headwear In The 1950s, Kirsten Watkins, Mary Farahnakian

Journal of Undergraduate Research

With the end of World War II came a drastic change in fashion. Gone were the stiff shoulders and narrow silhouettes and in came the New Look of 1947, designed by Christian Dior. This look emphasized soft curves, narrow waists, and large wide skirts—a far cry from wartime fashions where fabric was rationed and such skirts were seen as a luxury that few could afford. With this change of fashion came a change in hats. While wartime hats were still widely worn, many new hats came onto the scene. This decade became the culmination of different hat styles from the …

A Study Of The Variances Between China’S And The United State’S Dance Education Strategies, Tessa Homer, Kate Monson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

As a dance education major at Brigham Young University (BYU), my constant goal is to improve my teaching strategies by studying methods of effective teaching and observing my professors. Through my dance and education courses at BYU, I have developed a personal teaching style and toolbox of different strategies and methods. The opportunity to travel to China and participate in prestigious dance courses expanded my knowledge of diverse teaching methods and styles. This project enabled me to recognize, study, and compare the various strategies of effective dance education in the United States and China and implement those techniques into my …

My Original Musical Project In The Arts, Kira Stone, George Nelson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Hello! My name is Kira Stone. For my ORCA project, I wrote an original musical, and because of the grant, I have been able to begin the production of this musical. I have dealt with having Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in my life, and it tends to come and go in waves. I have family members and friends who have experienced different kinds of anxiety disorders, depression, and bipolar disorders. Because I feel as though I know about the topic of mental disorders, I wrote a musical focused on two people who fall in love, despite their combative minds. I am …

Communication A Collaboration Between Theatre And Visual Artists, Kristin Perkins, Lindsay Livinston

Journal of Undergraduate Research

With my collaborators, Pearl Corry and Aloe Corry, I constructed installation, video, and visual art pieces and presented this art as part of an exhibit entitled Striking the Set. Our initial objective was to use collaboration between theatre and visual artists in order to encourage healthy communication within our community. As our project evolved we encountered many problems. While our final product was something we could all be proud of, the setbacks in our process proved to be the greatest learning experience. The final exhibit was attended by more than sixty people and explored the theatrical elements present in visual …

Six Week Cinema, Matthew Siemers, Thomas Lefler

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The Six Week Cinema project had two main goals: A mentored film production learning experience and researching distribution for short films. Students face various obstacles when trying to create a film including funding, equipment, and crew. Six Week Cinema provided all these resources in one place in order for students to have an opportunity to work on projects with a mentored support system. Another obstacle for students is getting their projects shown. Our second goal was focused on getting these films to various audiences and finding out what methods worked the best in accomplishing this objective.

Stage Management New York Shadowing Opportunity, Crysta May Powell, Nathan Balser

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Everyone has those moments in life when everything seems a bit surreal.

For me, one such moment was that moment I was standing in front of the stage door of the Lyric Theatre about to go shadow the stage manager for On the Town. Broadway had always been this impossible dream in my mind and here I was about to enter that world first hand. It was something that I never dreamed that I’d be able to do while I was at college and I was so excited to learn and go from this experience.

Globalization Of Western And Middle Eastern Cultures Through Fashion, Rebekah Silver Jackson, Mary Farahnakian

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The intent of this ORCA project has been to explore the relationship between the West (specifically the U.S.A) and Middle East through a new perspective: fashion. With the help of my mentor, Mary Farahnakian, who immigrated from Iran, I studied Middle Eastern fashion identifying elements that have transferred in to Western fashion or vice verse. I then designed a fashion collection inspired by this research, which will be presented at two (or more) events in 2016.

From Staged Reading To Fully Staged Models For Academic Production Of New Works, Preston Yates, Timothy Threllfall

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Last January at BYU, we had the incredible opportunity to work with one of Broadway’s best composures, Frank Wildhorn. This came about due to a master class that Frank was holding at BYU in October of 2013. He was very impressed with the level of talent the students that he worked with possessed. After the master class he talked to some of the staff including Tim Threlfall and thought that doing a new work at BYU would be a good idea. It allowed him not only to work on his new show, but it gave us students the opportunity to …

Culminating Project, Logan Mcgill, Nathan Balser

Journal of Undergraduate Research

During my time as a dance major at BYU I devoted countless hours to refining my technique, artistry, and performance quality in order to be the best dancer I could be. “Culminating Project” took those skills that I have spent so long refining and put them to the test in a five minute solo performance choreographed by the world renowned choreographer Stacey Tookey. This piece was meant to push me to my limits as a dancer, which is exactly what it did.

“Shepherd” A Documentary Film, Jared Jakins, Thomas Lefler

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The production of this documentary has been extensive, and in the process the project was renamed “Ghosts on the Mountain.” The film examines the isolated lifestyle of H-­‐2A guest workers in the American West by subtly exploring the emotions that come with their occupation. The film’s subjects leave family and native lands to work in the US on H-­‐2A work visas, or no visas at all. Surrounded by breathtaking vistas, these workers find themselves in solitude and loneliness. This isolation is heightened by language barriers and the remoteness of the sheep’s pasture lands. They become, in a sense, “ghosts” to …

Summer Dance Intensive Field Study, Amy Gunter, Nathan Balser

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Gaga, created by Isreal’s Ohad Naharin, is an innovative movement practice focused on enhancing sensations within the body through movement. It is used both as a training method for dancers, and a movement practice for the general public. Because the emphasis of Gaga is to explore sensation and availability for movement in a completely unique way, it is becoming increasingly popular in the dance world today. Gaga is also unique in that there are no expectations of what your body should look like while doing it. Each person must take the instructor’s cues and interpret them inside their own bodies; …

Details: Western American Fashion In The 20th Century, Chelsey Roberts, Mary Farahnakian

Journal of Undergraduate Research

As the lid of the first box was lifted off I became giddy. I couldn’t help but reach out and touch the golden yellow silk flapper dress. My fate to the BYU Historic Clothing Collection was sealed. It was the last week of classes of my first semester at BYU. Dr. Mary Farahnakian was showing us the study collection of historical clothing that was kept on campus for student use. Each piece held a story and I wanted to be a part of uncovering the story.

Voice Work And Dialects, Mackenzie Larson, Stephanie Breinholt

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of my Orca project was to learn more about Fitzmaurice Voice technique directly from Katherine Fitzmaurice at one of her workshops in New York and use the techniques I learned to team-teach a Voice and Diction class for the Theatre and Media Arts Department. I also helped collect dialect samplings for a book Stephanie Breinholt will be writing about dialects for the stage.

Project: Dancing In The Light, Charis Dexter, Shayla Bott

Journal of Undergraduate Research

There are many ways that light is perceived, it can be seen, felt, measured, ignored, blocked, and directed. The project I successfully completed was a tangible experiment with light. I choreographed a dance for the BYU Ballet Showcase company called “Dancing in the Light”, the light of Christ. The experiment was within the experience of creating a dance that could carry a message of light, that through the dancers the audience could literally feel something being communicated to them. What I aimed to learn from this project was to polish my execution in the delicate craft of choreography, in order …

The Nightingale Project, Julia Ashworth

Journal of Undergraduate Research

1. Evaluation of how well the academic objectives of the proposal were met

The purpose of this project was fourfold: 1. Perform both outreach and on-campus productions of The Nightingale that relay the messages of friendship, true voice, and a gentle heart.

Review And Analysis Of The Marketing Practices Of Independent Local Musicans, Michael Hammari, Dr. Paul Deurden

Journal of Undergraduate Research

It was the intent of this research to identify and analyze the current and possible marketing practices of independent, local musicians based in the Provo Area. In order to accomplish this objective three methods were employed. First, local musicians were interviewed to examine their current marketing practices. Second, a sample of the public was surveyed to gage their awareness of local music. Thirdly, music events were promoted with the intent of experimenting with different marketing strategies. Over the course of the research more effort was focused on the final aspect of this project.

The Greatdivorce: An Experience Together — How Relationships In A Company Affect The Relationship Between Actors And Audience In Performance, Isaac Walter, Rodger Sorensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Both Peter Brook1 and Jerzy Grotowski,2 two of the most important theatre directors and theoreticians of this century, have stated that the basis for all theatre is the actor/audience relationship. It is what makes theatre a unique art form. Without this relationship you may have another art form, such as film, but the real power of theatre comes from actors and audience communing with one another.

The Dinner Guest A Film Exploration Of Motherhood, Kenneth Merrill, Jeff Parkin

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This project began as a poorly-written draft of a script about a woman struggling against the strict social pressures of the 1950’s. I took on the task of turning it into a film because I liked the setting, the action, the tight dialogue, and I really thought that it could go some very interesting places. Of course, as the script got better, with the help of Martha Rallison (the writer), it breached the wall of generalities and evolved into a personal story about Hazel and her love for a wayward son, Allen, and the mad moments that every single one …

Children’S Expressions: Using The Creative Process Of Theatre To Instruct And Inspire Children In The Community, Danielle Peterson, Dr. Megan Sanborn Jones

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Most children’s theatre involves adults putting on plays for kids. Rarely are the children given the opportunity to sit in the creative seat. With this particular project, I attempted to shift the paradigm of “children’s theatre.” Working with the local Boys and Girls Club, I had the opportunity to allow children to design, plan and produce a brand new play. Children have vivid imaginations and are a vibrant sources of creativity. It is rare that they get this kind of opportunity but it is experiences like these that will always be cherished.

Reproduction Of An Original Edith Head Design, Rebekah Jackson, Dr. Mary Farahnakian

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This project has been an involved approach to studying the history of costume design both through conventional research and the more tactile, construction process. While Edith Head is a renowned costume designer with many books and articles on her life work, less has been done to understand how her designs functioned and evolved from idea to costume. This process is essential to understanding her career’s success and is exactly what my project is meant to explore. Studying how her design for The Great Race (1965) was changed from concept to construction gives valuable insight to how Head thought as a …

Martial Arts In Modern Dance, Kaitlin Fayles, Dr. Jiamin Huang

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of my ORCA project was to learn the history and basic techniques of Chinese martial arts and incorporate these movements into a modern dance piece that I, as a dance major (and martial arts student), would choreograph for my senior project.