Theatre and Performance Studies Commons^™

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Dancers, Mackenzie Weakland

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

COVID-19 impacted every person who experienced it. Dancers in particular, were a group of people that were not able to participate in their art form in the way that they were always able to. This project explores how COVID-19 impacted dancers and their ability to learn and grow.

Simply Butter (One Pat At A Time), Maddie Mcsweeney

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Simply Butter (one pat at a time) is an investigation of food and intimacy through sculpture, installation, performance, printmaking, and recordkeeping. In this series of Happenings, I explore themes of love, loss, and empathy while dealing with emotions related to grief and mental health issues. I look to cultural phenomena and art history figures who are concerned with similar sentiments to make conceptual connections and inform my choices when creating this project. Drawn to silliness and the absurd, I use the rudimentary yet familiar form of a stick of butter to act as a monolithic stand-in for the emotionally, mentally, …

Interview With Luis Castellví Laukamp, Jonathan O. Chua

Perspectives in the Arts and Humanities Asia

No abstract provided.

“Breathe Easy And Get A Good Night Sleep” : Exploring Parental Relationships In Hardship, Megan Delaney

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project explores parental relationships with a focus on mother-daughter relationships. I want to focus on the attachment between a parent and a child, and how mental illness and abuse from the other parent affect that relationship. This project derives from a deep love for my mother and the changes between us that I noticed as I grew older. I hope to create a choreographed work that explores our relationship with a hope of creating a stronger bond that suits our new relationship and who we are as people now. I want this dance to aid in our reconnection.

I …

Fragments Of A Self: Embodiments, (Re)Enactments, And Re-Encounters With Memory, Ellen Kaplan

Theatre: Faculty Books

Chapter abstract:

Our stories tell us who we are. The sense of self acquires temporary coherence through the stories we tell ourselves and others. This chapter considers the self-shaping work of story, looking at acting and writing processes as they contribute to the construction of self. Self-narrative, in its many iterations - memoir, autobiography, life writing - allows us to script an identity which shifts, transforms, dissolves, and reconstitutes itself over time and across circumstances. Actors and writers cannibalize memory to nourish their creative work. Traumatic memory, though unreliable and often inaccessible, may return unbidden to offer a pathway to …

Interview With Emilia Soriano And Kristian Cordero, Patrick Michael L. Capili

Perspectives in the Arts and Humanities Asia

No abstract provided.

From Pedestal To Power, From Floating Fairies To Feminine Fury: How The Portrayal Of Women In Contemporary Performance Work Reflects Changes And The Lack Thereof In Societal Perceptions Of Women In The 21st Century, Lillany Weber

Theses : Honours

Dance can stand as a social commentary that can improve and progress social and societal development, positively impacting society, widely held views and the world. The research examines shifting gender perceptions in feminist dance practices, delving into how the portrayal of women in contemporary dance performance reflects changes and the lack thereof in societal perceptions of women in the 21st century. Given the extreme complexity of the modern world, this project seeks to build on past research to bring relevant exploration into today’s context. Utilising a qualitative case study analysis of 2023 work Body Body Commodity by Australian choreographer Jenni …

Pleasures And Politics: Moving Towards A Feminist Performance Practice, Delaney Burke

Theses : Honours

The focus of this research is the use of the female body as a tool for developing a feminist performance practice. This research interrogated the use of neo-burlesque and erotic dance in contemporary postdramatic performance. Contemporary feminist performance artists, such as Emma Maye Gibson (aka Betty Grumble), often use the female body as a tool for entertainment and political statement, and this trend parallels an increase of women moving into the burlesque and erotic dance spheres as professional performers and hobbyists. Despite this suggestion that the female body is a fertile site for feminist action and statement, its use is …

Volume 15, Connor Thompson, Emily Steffenhagen, Emily Robertson, Luis Fernando Dos Reis, Emily Farmer, Samuel Villa, Robert Allison, Zachary Chessor, Megan Borden, Austin Burnett, Larry W. Grant Jr., Tristan Marowski, Emma Moore, Pearl Siff

Incite: The Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Introduction Dr. Amorette Barber, Director, Office of Student Research

From the Editor Dr. Hannah Dudley-Shotwell

Artist’s Statement Connor Thompson

On Mentorship Dr. John Miller

The Meat of the Matter: Alien, Human, and Animal in Terry Bisson’s “They’re Made Out of Meat” by Emily Steffenhagen

“Please REBLOG!”: An Ethical Analysis of Doxxing, Internet Vigilantism and Racists Getting Fired by Emily Robertson

Journaling: Paper Has More Patience Than People by Luis Fernando Dos Reis

The Effects of Climate Change on the Archaeological World by Emily Farmer

Lowered Seat Height Does Not Impair Wingate Performance in Untrained Cyclists by Samuel Villa, Robert Allison, …

Isabella: An Eternal Badass An Actor’S Exploration On Healing, Forgiveness, And Learning To Embrace The Messiness Through Isabella In William Shakespeare’S Measure For Measure, Shelby E. Garrett

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis not only delves into the acting methods used to portray Shakespeare's Isabella in West Virginia University's spring 2023 production of Measure for Measure, but also examines the innovative approach of interpreting the character through the perspective of an older actor. It will examine acting techniques such as Meisner, Fitzmaurice Voicework®, yoga, and chakra work, detailing their influence on character development. From audition to performance, this document will track my journey, capturing personal insights through journal entries, sound bites, and images that helped in shaping a more mature Isabella. Additionally, it explores how actors navigate personal challenges during …

Does It Sound Like I'M Talking?, Justin E. Borak

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, better known by his stage name, Molière, was widely known as one of the greatest writers in France. His biting satirical thoughts on French hypocrisy, as well as the brilliance in his verse, will be investigated through one of his most popular plays, The Misanthrope. Throughout these pages, I will explore this by diving into the character of Philinte, the trusted best friend of Alceste, the misanthrope, and take a deeper look into the empathetic character who is desperately trying to walk the line of truth and bootlicking. I will accomplish this by researching Molière himself, his specific …

From Class To Craft: An Investigation Into The Practice Of Acting Techniques Applied To Angelo In Shakespeare’S Measure For Measure, Charles Wesley Meeks

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This document examines the character development and performance process of Angelo in Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare. This production was directed by Professor Jerry McGonigle and performed in the mainstage season of 2022-2023 School of Theatre & Dance at West Virginia University. The ensuing text will outline the production process from the actor’s point of view including preparations, auditions, casting, rehearsals, performances, and final reflection. This text will include historical research, personal and directorial notes, textual analysis, table work and discussion, acting techniques, training, and education applied throughout the production period, and reflections of these experiences and discoveries.

Tragedy Personified: Crafting The Role Of Carol In Alice Birch's Anatomy Of A Suicide, Josey Miller

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of the document is to chronicle the character creation of Carol in West Virginia University’s fall 2023 production of Alice Birch’s Anatomy of a Suicide. The following text will provide a detailed look at research on the playwright and my personal textual analysis in tandem with consultations with mental health professionals. It will also describe how those resources in collaboration with imaginative work via the techniques of Sanford Meisner, Fitzmaurice Voicework®, and intentional intimacy choreography were utilized in the rehearsal and performance process. In summation, it will also include post-production evaluations from loved ones and mentors as well …

A Kind Of Burr: The Fantastic Lucio In Measure For Measure, Matt Frye

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this document is to detail the process of developing the role of Lucio in West Virginia University’s spring 2023 production of William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure. This document looks at the process and methods with which I crafted my role, as well as the research I used to build a well-defined world of the play. It will explain the rehearsal process, including text analysis and design aspects which affected the creation of the role, focusing on clarity through the use of scansion and interpretations of the references in the text. To conclude, I discuss my personal experience …

Lighting The Cylcone, Maren Taylor

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis will give an account of the lighting design process for Ride the Cyclone presented at West Virginia University. Not only will it focus on the role of a lighting designer in a theatrical production but also the production process from the first design meeting to striking the show. I will describe my process, what worked, what new approaches I tried, and evaluate the evolution of the lighting design. In addition, I will include the details of working alongside the other designers in this collaborative process. Research images, paperwork, and production photos will be used to detail the process.

Scenic Design For Molière’S The Misanthrope, Alina Michelle Cannon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This document is an account of the design process from the initial reading of the script, design, and production meetings with the director and the production team, through to the execution of the design for The Misanthrope by Molière. This production was produced by West Virginia University’s School of Theatre & Dance during the Fall 2023 semester, presented in the Gladys G. Davis Theater at the Canady Creative Arts Center in Morgantown, WV.

V.1 Winter 2024, Center For Arts & Language, Students Of Risd, Risd Archives

All Student Newspapers

v.1 is a publishing platform for the ongoing work, ideas, discussions, debates, and aspirations of students at the Rhode Island School of Design. The Winter 2024 issue is formatted as a calendar featuring images of current RISD students recreating scenes from historical photos taken at RISD.

Finding “A Good Thing”: Embodying The Traumatic Sustainably, Erika Kuhn

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Contemporary dramatic work such as the play Anatomy of a Suicide by Alice Birch demands a significant toll on the actors embodying the characters. Western pedagogies that emphasize a need for the utmost authenticity must be merged with the modern practice of self-care and trauma informed boundaries. This document outlines the merging of traditional acting techniques of characterization with solutions for self preservation such as preparation, mental and physical upkeep, a personalized set of character de-rolement practices, and social rituals. Through an analysis of the text itself, its context, author, and the lens of one actor’s experience portraying the character …

The Line Between Man And Monster: A Theatrical Costume Design Of Caryl Churchill's The Skriker, Katrina Anne Lundquist

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Produced at West Virginia University, this is a record of the costume design process for The Skriker by Caryl Churchill. As a play about vicious folkloric faerie creatures in modern day England, there was a heavy emphasis on showcasing the difference between the human and fae characters. With such a fantastical script, there is a potential to take the design down any number of creative paths. Finding a way to cohesively costume the cast while not losing the intricacies of their individual stories became a personal priority. After coming to an agreement with the director and the rest of the …

Disability Representation In Contemporary Playwriting, Caroline Hull

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Is it possible for a playwright to authentically capture the disabled experience without it becoming privy to stereotypes or utilized as a catalyst for the plot? The thesis aims to challenge the prevalent notion that making the disability intrinsic to a theatrical plot is essential for authentic representation, and instead asserts that authentic portrayal of the disabled experience can exist independently of making the disability a central plot device. To support this claim, In Chapter One, I engage with relevant work in the field of playwriting and narrative media studies, such as the workshop "Inaccessible: Writing Plays with Characters who …

Theatrical Tools To Support The Community Agreement, Bethany E. Post

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

When working with a new group of people, it is common practice to create a Community Agreement in pursuit of quality outcomes. This tool uses dialogue to methodically outline the desired educational or creative environment, democratically articulating the commitments and expectations to remain in place throughout the duration of the group's existence and setting all participants in accord with the work to come. However, the Community Agreement can fail to support individual participants during moments of inevitable tension. In such moments, participants may experience unplanned emotional or physical reactions in response to triggering material or ideas. To navigate these reactions …

Steps Of Theatrical Design: A Resource For Activating Educators To Teach Design In High Schools, Chandler Caroccio

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

As a designer and educator, I am continuously gathering more resources for personal knowledge and to share with my students. Yet there is currently a lack of literature when it comes to design pedagogy for all design areas, specifically for high school aged students. How can we teach theatrical design in a tactful and meaningful way to high school students throughout the United States? Steps of Theatrical Design: A Resource for Activating Educators to Teach Design in High Schools, is for educators to learn about the process of design and spread that knowledge to their students. This thesis will …

Creating Connection: Utilizing Dramaturgical Collaboration To Engage Young People In Theatre Making In A Post-Pandemic World, Gabrielle Lawlor

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the theatrical landscape, prompting theatre artists to reinvent how they connect with audiences and each other in physical spaces. While research has delved into post-pandemic theatre making, much of this area remains unexplored, particularly concerning young people, how the loss of community has impacted them, and what society can do to help. This thesis investigates how professional directors and dramaturgs can effectively engage young people in theatre making post-pandemic by drawing on three specific productions — Camelot and Camelittle, WROL (Without Rule of Law), and Alice and the Wonderland Parties. Utilizing theories drawn …

Inclusifying The Rehearsal Room: Creating Accessible And Accommodating Theatrical Spaces For Young People, Christian Anderson

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

In youth theatre spaces, it is up to the facilitators to discover and create new ways to include more students, especially those who previously didn't have a seat at the table. Making rehearsal spaces inclusive and accessible to all starts by establishing inclusion as an innate practice integrated into every step of the process. This thesis focuses on creating inclusive and accessible rehearsal spaces outside of the traditional classroom for young people ages 8-22, specifically in community theatre and collegiate spaces. The director's role is explored in two projects: Home of the Brave, a Theatre for Young Audiences production …

Theatre As Resistance: Application Of Queer And Feminist Theories To Theatrical Practice And Pedagogy, Chanel H. Gomaa

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Throughout my time at UCF, I have committed my studies to better understanding my positionality as someone who both benefits and suffers from systems of oppression. I have dedicated my pedagogy and artistry to questioning how I can apply theatre as a tool to resist these systems through my work, as well as wondering how I may communicate my thoughts and concerns to the colleagues I collaborate with as I am to hold myself accountable for my involvement in works that I recognize as being in need of revision in order to resist systems of oppression. I conceptualize that to …

Imaginative Immersion: Developing A Theatre Of The Mind Pedagogy For An Ever-Changing Educational Landscape, Cory Kennedy Barrow

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

The suspension of disbelief is integral to the performing arts. We ask our actors to see couches made of three chairs, designers to create cities in empty spaces, and most of all; we ask audiences to believe the stories and relationships that are figurative and often abstract. This level of critical and creative engagement is assumed to develop in spaces of higher education. However, with an ever-changing world and increasing conversions and integrations of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in spaces of higher education, it has become even more apparent that students need to develop their creative and critical thinking skills earlier …

Ask The Duke, Why: How Fabrications Can Undermine Impact In Shakespeare’S Measure For Measure, Spencer D. Hansen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The following document recounts the observations and consequences that result from my attempts at justifying the actions of Duke Vincentio in Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure. By following my experience through the duration of West Virginia University’s 2023 production of Measure for Measure, I examine the ramifications of justifying the Duke’s actions and the potentially harmful consequences such justifications could create with regard to the play’s reception. Additionally, this text outlines performance techniques, audience responses, rehearsal strategies, and progressive interpretations for one of Shakespeare’s most challenging characters in one of his most divisive plays.

Audience Perceptions Of Social Issues In Contemporary Theatre, Gabrielle Reilly

Honors College Theses

The following study identified ways in which social issues were present in contemporary theatre and the subsequent productions designed for an audience ranging in identifying demographics through a collegiate production of Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood. Participants involved in the show through technical roles or onstage roles (N - 6) were interviewed about their experiences with the social issues presented in the play prior to and as a result of their involvement. Participants that were in attendance of the show over the course of four production dates (N - 67) were anonymously surveyed and answered questions on …

The Heroic Character, The Neo-Liberal Productive Citizen, And The Feminist Filmmaker, Catherine Gough-Brady

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

I recut an observational documentary about a woman called Bekti into a more conventional hero’s journey for a broadcaster. The hero’s journey narrative requires large obstacles to be overcome by the hero in their search for their ego. In this documentary the obstacle is connecting experimental science with communities with the aim to reduce dengue fever, and the hero’s ‘ego’ is to be an effective communicator. Using the hero’s journey style of narrative reduced the importance of the domestic aspects of Bekti’s life because these scenes did not contribute to overcoming obstacles or finding ego. To explore these changes use …

Sibelius’S Scaramouche: A Comparative Production History Of A Tragic Pantomime, 1913–1977, Karl E. Toepfer, Eija Kurki

Open Educational Resources

The book describes the historical context for the Scaramouche tragic pantomime created by Poul Knudsen and Jean Sibelius in 1913. The pantomime had numerous productions in various European countries between 1922 and 1977, and the book examines all of them according to all available evidence. The text explains the historical and cultural significance of the pantomime and how it uniquely explores a dark and complex intersection of female sexuality, marriage, and class control of erotic desire. The authors examine all productions of Scaramouche from the premiere production in Copenhagen in 1922 to the last major production in Karl-Marx-Stadt, East Germany …