Theatre and Performance Studies Commons^™

The Big House Poster, Mary Moynihan

Concert Programmes

Poster for The Big House by Peter Sheridan, adapted from Hanna Greally's book Bird's Nest Soup, Rehearsed Reading by the BA in Drama (Performance) First Year Students, directed by Mary Moynihan

Interview With Margaret Toomey, Mary Moynihan

Books/Book Chapters

No abstract provided.

“More Books” Reviews., Tanya Dean

Articles

Short reviews of:

Performing Hybridity in Colonial-Modern China. By Siyuan Liu. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013;

Grotowski, Women, and Contemporary Performance: Meetings with Remarkable Women. By Virginie Magnat. New York: Routledge, 2014;

Theatre in the Expanded Field: Seven Approaches to Performance. By Alan Read. New York: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2013

Lives in Play: Autobiography and Biography on the Feminist Stage. By Ryan Claycomb. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2012;

Models Of Faith And Learning In Theatre At Colleges And Universities Affiliated With Churches Of Christ: Selected Case Studies, Catherine Louise Parker

Wayne State University Dissertations

The Churches of Christ, a body of Christian believers descending from the nineteenth century American Restoration Movement, have a well-documented history of establishing and supporting liberal arts colleges and universities. This study of theatre programs at three of these institutions--Lipscomb University, Pepperdine University, and York College--examines the model of faith and learning operating at each school and in its respective theatre department. This study utilizes a mixed-methods approach combining a multiple case study with a self-administered Likert-scale questionnaire, illuminating the ways that the schools describe their model of faith and learning, the ways that the theatre departments at the schools …

Political And Protest Theatre After 9/11: Patriotic Dissent, Lindsey Mantoan

Faculty Publications

Lindsey Mantoan reviews Political and Protest Theatre after 9/11: Patriotic Dissent (edited by Jenny Spencer) for Theatre Topics.

Loving The Art In Yourself, Mary Moynihan

Books/Book Chapters

No abstract provided.

The Tallest Tree In The Forest, Jocelyn Buckner

Theatre Faculty Articles and Research

"Playwright and actor Daniel Beaty’s solo performance as Paul Robeson in The Tallest Tree in the Forest, commissioned by Tectonic Theater Project and coproduced by La Jolla Playhouse and Kansas City Repertory Theatre, was a tour-de-force biographical tribute."

Costume Design: A Vision From Paper To Reality, Caitlin Joye Moraska

Theses and Dissertations

What is art? Thomas Merton said, "Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." This thesis is a detailed reflection of my process as a designer and how I have grown not only as a person but also, as an artist during my three years at the University of South Carolina. It describes my process and effort to refine my skills as a costume designer and to create the indelible world; that captures a plays mood, its characters, genre and time period.

Magdelena Abakanowicz stated that, "Art will remain the most astonishing activity of mankind …

Transformational Directing: An Analysis On How Leadership Affects The Creative Process, James Clayton Winters

Theses and Dissertations

Leadership is often ascribed as a quality one either possess or doesn’t. We often hear phrases like “She is born leader” or “All eyes are on you”, these are thrown around without discretion in the classroom, conference rooms, social gatherings, and business meetings. This work contends that leadership and in particular leadership that grows and transforms its participants is less an inherent character trait, than an outlook and set of core principles that lead to transformation. Through the application of current and developing business leadership theory and its effect on creativity and a cross analysis of “Best in Class” theatre …

Vicarious Villainy: A Critical Literary Analysis Of Sympathetic Villainy In American Musical Theatre, Mary Christopher Grogan

Theses and Dissertations--Theatre and Dance

A disproportionate amount of research into musical theatre focuses on the positive and accessible nature of the books and librettos. Very little, if any, research into musical theatre explores its darker side, specifically the considerable amount of villainy (i.e., traditionally immoral and/or criminal behavior) practiced by some of its protagonists. Moreover, it is important to note that several of the most popular musicals contain villainous characters, and that many of these characters are highly popular and even sympathetic (i.e., understandable, pitiable, and deserving of compassion) to audiences. Therefore, this thesis explores sympathetic villainous personalities in popular American musicals, focusing on …

Master Of The Universe: The Theatrical Director As Artist And Communicator, Audrey Thomas

Masters Theses

This qualitative study was undertaken to examine the processes by which theatrical directors determine the theme for a production and communicate their unifying artistic visions to the agents who, in turn, relay it to the audience. The research revealed that the director's message is formed through comprehensive study of the text, the artifact around which the system is formed, as well as information which provides context for the work of the playwright; consideration of the theatrical organization's missional objectives (the environment in which the system exists); and concerns of artistic leadership. Communication of the concept to stakeholders, and ultimately to …

Video Games: Their Effect On Society And How We Must Modernize Our Pedagogy For Students Of The Digital Age, Christopher J. Baker

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis aims to explore how video games have become an extremely beneficial tool in regards to education, art, medicine, psychology, economics, and beyond. Chapter 1 focuses on how ubiquitous video games have become in America, and what makes video games such a uniquely enjoyable experience to warrant such popularity. Chapter 2 explores how video games have become instrumental in various fields. Chapter 3 discusses the role that video games now play in the world of education; specifically how we, as educators, must adapt a modern pedagogy best suited to students who have grown up with video games, which have …

Thea 234: Scripts In Performance—A Peer Review Of Teaching Project Benchmark Portfolio, Ian Borden

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This had traditionally been a theatre based course for the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film when I took over teaching it in the Fall semester of 2008. At that time, the course (a requirement for Theatre majors, Film and New Media majors, as well as Theatre and Musical Theatre minors) was populated almost entirely by upper level Theatre majors, particularly those in the performance stream. Over the next few years as the Film and new Media program grew, the needs of those students increased in relative importance as they comprised a larger and larger percentage of the class. …

Halloween Horror Nights And/Or Visceral Theatre, Patrick Braillard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Visceral [vis-er-uh l] -adj 1. of, relating to, or affecting the viscera 2. characterized by intuition or instinct rather than intellect ("visceral," def. 1-2) The above words speak to define far more than merely the word "visceral." They speak to also embody and classify a previously untitled form of theatre. Visceral Theatre: A form of theatre that uses the instinctual awareness of the audience- the audiences' perception of popular culture, societal contexts both historical and geographical, as well as their instinctual-physical aversion to danger- to cause physiological and emotional responses through the overstimulation of the senses in a non-tactile attack. …

Recreating Paris In Les Miserables, Joel Schiebout

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This document is a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre. It is a detailed account of author Joel Schiebout's technical process in the construction of the set for Minnesota State University, Mankato's production of Les Misérables in the fall of 2013. The thesis chronicles the author's technical process from pre-production through post-production in five chapters: an early production analysis, a historical and critical perspective, a construction process journal, a post-production analysis and a process development analysis. Appendices and works cited are included.

The Scene Design For Kiss Of The Spider Woman, Noah Jon Michael Files

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This thesis contains a detailed account of Noah J. Files's scene design research and process for Kiss of the Spider Woman by Terrence McNally, John Kander and Fred Ebb. The musical was produced in the Andreas Theatre, opening January 30 and closing February 8, 2014. The first chapter is a preliminary analysis of the plot, the designer's first intentions and reactions to the scenic requirements, and the designer's goals for the production. The second chapter is an historical and critical analysis providing perspective into the history of the musical and research to illuminate the designer's choices. The third chapter is …

Costume Design: More Than Imagination, Sean Anthony Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Through an analysis of my Costume Design process for Present Laughter by Noel Coward (2012), King Lear by William Shakespeare (2013) and Arcadia by Tom Stoppard (2014), presented at the University of South Carolina, I hope to relay the experience I gained as an artist and student. By examining my journey from an undergraduate design student, to graduate design student, and finally as an intern with William Ivey Long, I will analyze my work as a Costume Designer.

Scenic Design: A Compilation, Kelly Meredith Paysinger Hart

Theses and Dissertations

Scenic Design: A Compilation ventures into the process of creating three productions including, Boeing Boeing, Fusions and Three Sisters. Exploring the foundations of each design, the content covers all aspects from the beginning to the implementation of each production. Supported through historical research, inspiration, function of space and the endless possibilities of creation, this thesis will reveal the growth of each design in great detail. Theatre is about collaboration, creating a world from a script and transforming it into an art of performance and design.

A Christmas Carol (December 3-7, 2013), Charles Dickens

Student Theatre Programs

Program for A Christmas Carol (December 3-7, 2013).

The Birth Of A Playwright Through The Evolution Of The One-Act Play Stripped, Bear; The Film Stripped, Bear; And The Full-Length Play American Bear, Larry Michael Mitchell

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Birth of a Playwright through the Evolution of the One-act Play Stripped, Bear; the film Stripped, Bear; and the Full-Length Play American Bear follows the inception, birth, and evolution of a ten-minute, one-act, film, and full-length play: three major iterations of the same source material. Through this exploration, the reader will not only see how the work was changed through outside forces such as form and function but internal struggles within a young playwright as he struggles to find a final form for his first major work while attempting to establish himself as a playwright both within the field …

The Cripple Of Inishmaan Program [2013], University Of Southern Maine Department Of Theatre

Programs 2013-2014 Season

A dark comedy by Matrin McDonagh

Directed by Thomas Power

This production was a Participating entry in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KC/ACTF).

The Last Five Years (October 25-26, 31, November 2, 2013), Jason Robert Brown

Student Theatre Programs

Program for The Last Five Years (October 25-26, 31, November 2, 2013).

Manifestation Of Morality In Theatre, Ashley Ogzewalla, Barta L. Heiner

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In the fourth century, the Western World, once forbidden to practice Christianity, suddenly found itself under the rule of an Emperor who abolished paganism and demanded Christian doctrine be observed. This abrupt alteration of religion changed the Romans’ ideas of life, worship, and views on the abilities of mankind. Having lived with the belief that in order for a person to become immortal, he or she must appeased a myriad of gods to hopefully attain favor, the people of the Roman Empire, now accepting the principles of Christian redemption, were empowered to govern their own destiny. Consequently, their change in …

Night Sky Program [2013], University Of Southern Maine Department Of Theatre

Programs 2013-2014 Season

A comedic drama by Susan Yankowitz

Directed by Assunta Kent

This production was a Participating entry in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KC/ACTF).

The Stage Through Slanted Eyes: An Examination Of The Current State Of Asian Americans In Theatre, Sara M. Laflamme

Honors Theses and Capstones

Deep-set racial prejudices and stereotypes in American society greatly impact how Asian Americans are perceived onstage and in everyday life. The Stage Through Slanted Eyes: An Examination of the Current State of Asian Americans in Theatre delves into the history of these prejudices and looks at how a performer's race can impact his or her theatrical career.

Learning To Play - Playing To Learn, Lauren Barton

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Snyder-Young's Book Examines Social Change Through Theatre, Kim Hill

News and Events (Discontinued Series)

No abstract provided.

‘Whe’Re Ya Gunna Go?’ Script Development And Distribution, Kyle Fackrell, Zach Kempf, Dr. Rodger Rosensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

‘Whe’re Ya Gunna Go?’ is a student written script that we have been developing since 2006 which, at the outset of this ORCA funding process, was in the script development and workshopping stage and was being prepped for submission for various festivals and consideration by regional theatre literary staff. It was for the purpose of financing these efforts and the attendant expenses involved in developing and distributing the script (and, naturally, for the personal and professional growth that could result from these professional connections) that the ORCA grant was sought and received, and for it’s reception we are surely grateful.

A Theatrical Exploration Of Immigration In The United States, Matthew Greene, Dr. Wade Hollingshaus

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of my ORCA project was to create a piece of theatre centering on the issue of immigration in the United States. I wrote in my proposal: “Illegal immigration is a significant issue in the current political, economic, and social arenas. In exploring this issue through theatre we can help bring the immediacy of the border situation closer to our audience.” The project ultimately did accomplish this goal but did so in a manner somewhat unexpected.

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