Theatre and Performance Studies Commons^™

Art Or Propaganda: A Historical And Critical Analysis Of African-American Approaches To Dramatic Theory, 1900–1965, Henry D. Miller

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation surveys African American approaches to dramatic theory from 1900 to 1965, demonstrating that in the period the issue dominating the field was a great debate that defined black drama as art on the one hand and as propaganda on the other. In an African American cultural history replete with covert and overt struggles for social and political equality, the art or propaganda question necessarily reached a magnitude and importance found in no other area of twentieth-century dramatic theory. The comprehensiveness of the debate that interrogated this question and its historical and cultural depth has largely gone untreated. Moreover, …

Illuminating Theatre / Ariel Davis : Utah Innovator, J. Michael Hunter

Faculty Publications

The general history of stage lighting and of lighting in the Salt Lake Theatre are described. Ariel Davis (1912-1997) was a famous inventor of theatrical lighting equipment. He grew up in Provo and graduated from Brigham Young University (BYU).

Theatre In Pioneer Utah, J. Michael Hunter

Faculty Publications

The performance of theater and drama in Utah and the buildings that housed them are described. Theater was an important community project from the earliest days of Mormon settlement in Utah, beginning with the Social Hall. The Salt Lake Theatre opened in 1862 and until its demolition in 1928 was an important theater in the American West. Theater was a community project by the Mormon settlers of the Salt Lake Valley under the leadership of Brigham Young.

Costume Design For Roosters By Milcha Sanchez-Scot, Theatre Uni, Spring Semester, 2003, Carmelita Tyson Guse

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study is to document the process of designing costumes for Theatre UNI's production of Roosters by Milcha Sanchez-Scott. It serves to document the collaboration between director and designers that is necessary to produce a quality theatrical work. This work is a compilation of the research and creative process. Charts, lists, renderings, photographs, and a journal are included to show the progression of the process, in addition to pre-production research.

Roosters was performed in the Bertha Martin Theatre February 27-March 2 and March 6-9, 2003. The play chronicles a special day in the life of the Morales …

Combat Dance:A Creatively Holistic Approach To Movement Performance Art, Raymont Lee Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

"Combat Dance" is an eclectic blend of combat and dance art forms combined and taught from the Fall 2001 to Spring 2003. As defined here, combat dance is a blend of techniques and principles gleaned from both unarmed and armed aspects of stage combat, martial arts (such as aikido and kung fu), modern dance and other expressive movements used to tell a story of conflict. Its primary purpose is to provide both actors and non-actors greater awareness and control of their bodies and to provide a range of creative avenues of expression. Combat dance gives the performers a unique and …

Searching For The Impossible Dream, Staging The Impossible Script, Timothy A. Brien

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an exploration of the novella The Malady of Death by Marguerite Duras and my subsequent production of this book. It covers Duras' history and influences in writing this book while at the same time gives an account of all my directorial attempts with this piece. With regards to Duras, the influence of the nouveau roman writers in the mid twentieth century and her relationship at the time of her writing Malady is discussed. For my part, I divulge my initial exposure to the piece, the previous attempts to stage the work, my latest attempt with extensive research, …

Kuo Pao Kun: The Spirit Of The Eagle, Margaret Chan

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Kuo Pao Kun (1939–2002) was the doyen of Singapore theatre and is considered by many as the most important figure in the nation’s cultural history. The author discusses the art of Kuo Pao Kun; his humanist theatre and his rigorous demands of artistic commitment.

The Novelty Of Improvisation: Towards A Genre Of Embodied Spontaneity, David Alfred Charles

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Improvisation has often been viewed and valued in terms of its service and resemblance to scripted traditions of theatre. Such a stance seriously undermines the significance and impact of this global performance modality, and has resulted in improvisatory modes being largely ignored or downplayed in modern historical accounts of theatre. This dissertation examines improvisation on its own terms, seeking to understand its unique features, functions and potentials, while freeing it from the heavy shadow of its scripted counterpart. To this end, the theories of literary critic, Mikhail Bakhtin, provide important methodological guideposts and allow the silhouette of the improvisational impetus …

Dalí'S Musical Roundabouts, Antoni Pizà

Publications and Research

Those familiar with Salvador Dalí's contradictory nature as well as his propensity to mask his own thoughts will not be surprised to learn that, publicly, he despised music, though obviously that was not the case at all. In fact, many witnesses say – Amanda Lear, for one – he was actually quite musical and, time and again, he could be caught off guard singing or humming Catalan folk songs, sardanas, zarzuelas, and cuplés – all folksy, kitschy, and, by most accounts, tacky popular songs. Dalí, however, went to a great length to conceal this spontaneous love for the simple, uncomplicated …

The Role Of Proteus In William Shakespeare's The Two Gentlemen Of Verona: A Production Thesis In Acting, Adam B. Hose

LSU Master's Theses

The role of Proteus in The Two Gentlemen of Verona written by William Shakespeare was selected as a thesis project in the fall semester of 2002. This thesis is a written record of the actor’s work on the character throughout the rehearsal process and performance of the production in the form of an Actor’s Score. It also includes an Introduction, Character Analysis, Research, Photos and a Conclusion.

Tornar A Casa, Sharon G. Feldman

Latin American, Latino and Iberian Studies Faculty Publications

A l'última escena de Suite, l'obra amb què Carles Batlle i Jordà (Barcelona, 1963) va guanyar el Premi SGAE 1999, hi ha un moment memorable i crucial en el qual l'espectador observa el collapse -«com un castell de cartes»- d'una casa de nines sobre el terra d'una típica sala d'estar. Es tracta d'una metàfora d'inestabilitat domèstica i també d'inestabilitat global, una imatge amb ressonàncies intertextuals que entrelliguen la dramatúrgia de Batlle amb la d'Ibsen -i fins i tot la de Benet i Jornet (penso en aquell teatret en flames a l'escena final d'E.R). Després d'aquest moment crucial, una de …

Producing Play From Page To Stage, Melissa Anne Hurt

Theses and Dissertations

Producing Play from Page to Stage describes my experience producing and directing Samuel Beckett's Play. Chapter One, "Conception," includes my process of preproduction work, arranging rehearsal times and establishing goals. Chapter Two, "The Creative Process," includes all components of the creative process—rehearsal progress, working with a vocal coach, understanding and working with the light, and the incorporation of music. Chapter Three, "Challenges and Obstacles," speaks specifically of the difficulties with the technical elements and the many diverse roles as producer. Chapter Four, "Performances," includes excerpts from my journal for each performance and Chapter Five, "Reflections," includes my actors' reflections of …