Acting Commons^™

Bedeviled Beauty: My Journey Through White American Theater Institutions, J'Aila C. Price

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Game console: Oculus Quest

World: American Theater Institutions

Player: Minority

Place: United States

Level: “Ain’t no way.”

This thesis explores the contrast between the Westernized philosophies ingrained in my education and my identity as a Black female artist. It sheds light on the difficulties of pursuing higher education in the arts and the gaps that arise from limited exposure to culturally diverse Black resources, revealing the systemic issues in Western performance education. The paper also discusses the insights gained from my journey as a Black female artist, focusing on my thesis performance of Blood at the Root, which is …

A Performance-Based Exploration Of Vocal Anatomy And Pedagogy: Maximizing Technical, Stylistic, And Physiological Frameworks For Superlative Vocal Technique In Artistic Function, Michael J. Civitano

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the influence of specific frameworks in performance and vocal pedagogy on artists' capacity to enact evidence-based learning outcomes, with emphasis on vocal physiology and educator-performer relationships. Employing an experimental design, five philosophies that support capacity-building were tested across two trial settings, varying in intensity. The participant utilized narrative reasoning, diversified methods, and mentorship from specialized educators to apply frameworks. Findings indicate that, in practicing evidence-based learning and maximizing anatomic foundations of the voice, substantial developments in artistic capacity ensued. Educator-performer relationships mediate this process through reciprocal collaborations that foster capacity-building. Performers display optimal artistic capacity by effectively …

Adding Texture Through Historical Research: Using Dramaturgy To Aid In The Creation Of Elizabeth (Bess) Borney., Nyazia Brittany Martin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis follows my work with the production The Old Settler by John Henry Redwood. This document explores my process as an actor, and how I decided to capitalize on an opportunity to study Dramaturgy and apply what I learned to my actors' process. In the pages of this thesis I present the pieces of my process, including my vocal and movement work based in Laban and Alexander Technique. I give personal examples of how my dive into dramaturgical work positively affected how I crafted the role of Elizabeth (Bess) Borney. I also detail the transition out of my work …

An Actor's Approach To Contemporary Theatre, Ethan Harbin

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper is a composite of research and reflection in regards to Comemedia dell'arte as well as contemporary theatre. It is a personal exploration of the life and legacy of Aurand Harris. My personal application of the research is documented in this thesis.

Killers, Queers, And Cowards: Suffering And Freedom In Jean-Paul Sartre’S No Exit, Aaron Brewer

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Throughout No Exit, Sartre’s mirror is key to understanding his characters and philosophy. It is his tool for exploring ideas that are limited by the time in which he lived. Here, the play does what all great works should do: it challenges the status quo and looks beyond what can already be seen. This thesis will use his established mirror metaphor and an expanded mirror metaphor to unearth the true nature of No Exit’s characters.

In setting down the characters’ path, Sartre asks questions that humans have considered for Millenia: Why are we here? Why am I suffering? How …

The Storm In The Barn

Theatre Programs

No abstract provided.

Disney's Newsies:The Musical

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of Disney's Newsies:The Musical. Book by Harvey Fierstein. Music by Alen Menken. Lyrics by Jack Feldman.

Performed April 26-28 & May 3-5, 2024 at the Mitchell Theatre.

Disney's Newsies is a vibrant and inspiring musical based on the 1992 film and inspired by the real-life Newsboys Strike of 1899 in New York City. The story follows Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy who dreams of a better life. When newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer raises the prices that newsies must pay for papers, Jack and his fellow newsboys form a union and organize a strike to …

Hello, World., Elliot Cetinski, Evan Chartock, Olivia Cross, Kiran Drew, Kaya Eller, Ben Little, Joey Nolan, Spencer Toth, Sophie Wahl-Taylor, Sadie Walker, Destiny Young, Annie Zulick

Theater and Dance Presentations

This project works to theatrically represent the current state of Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well as its benefits and drawbacks, in the style of the Living Newspaper. Originating from a Great Depression-era job program, the Living Newspaper sought to take headlines and present them onstage for a poignant and contemporary social critique. This work does the same, melding different angles of the AI debate into a single production that emphasizes the rapidly progressing state of modern AI technology and the need for humans to consider the impacts such technologies will have. Furthermore, it asks the audience to question their position …

The Representation Of Young Black Male Characters In 80s And 90s Sitcoms, Tavin M. Cochran

Honors College Theses

Sitcoms are a great formulaic art form. Characters being in ridiculous situations in front of a live studio audience to emphasize the complexities of life is an exciting way of storytelling. When I was younger, I noticed that I would relate to the main characters as if their flaws were my own. I enjoyed doing it. When I began relating to side characters as well, I understood the different roles in sitcoms. You will have a main character and a side character to compliment them. Seeing another young black male on television made me feel represented. Many shows have given …

Creating Consent Based Spaces In The Performing Arts, Laura Rikard

SC Upstate Research Symposium

In 1849 when Duke Saxe Meiningen created the role of the modern director in theatre he created an authoritarian model for creative power over production that would be replicated for the next one hundred and fifty years in the performing arts. This leadership model led to a performing arts industry reliant on performances being obedient and not fostering environments where creative collaboration can thrive. It created confusion between what it means to say, “yes” from a point of view of survival and not from a place of consent. For true collaboration to thrive in the product and process oriented spaces …

The Play That Goes Wrong Poster, Department Of Theatre, Dance & Film

Playbill and Promotion

Providence College Department of Theatre, Dance & Film

Angell Blackfriars Theatre

The Play That Goes Wrong, by Lewis, Shields, and Sayer

April 12-14 & 19-21, 2024

Fridays & Saturdays, 7:30pm

Sundays, 2pm

Director, Patricia Tulli-Hawkridge

The Play That Goes Wrong Playbill, Department Of Theatre, Dance & Film

Playbill and Promotion

Providence College Department of Theatre, Dance & Film

Angell Blackfriars Theatre

The Play That Goes Wrong, by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields, and Jonathan Sayer

April 12-14 & 19-21, 2024

Fridays & Saturdays, 7:30pm

Sundays, 2pm

Director, Patricia Tulli-Hawkridge

Set & Props Designer, Scott Osborne

Lighting Designer, Michael Clark Wonson

Sound Designer, Stuart Holland

Costume Designer, David Cabral

Vocal Coach, Megan Chang

Hair & Makeup Designer, Joe Rossi

Fight Choreographer, Jim Beauregard

Cast: Kevin Bongiorno - Trevor; Jack Josefowski - Chris; Brendan Phaneuf - Jonathan; Anthony Joseph - Robert; Jack Cormier - …

The Voice Actor And Their Double: Working As A Voice Actor And Teaching Voice Acting In The Age Of Ai Voice Cloning, Adam Paul

Tradition Innovations in Arts, Design, and Media Higher Education

The rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and voice cloning technology presents significant challenges and opportunities in the field of voice acting and performing arts. This article explores the profound transformations taking place in the voiceover industry due to the convergence of AI, voice synthesis, and personal voice cloning technologies. The author, a seasoned voice actor, reflects on the impact of these advancements on his profession, from the democratization of voiceover tools to the emergence of AI-generated voices that closely mimic human speech.

The article delves into the intricate interplay between technology and human creativity, investigating the implications for voice …

Student-Directed One-Acts

Theatre Programs

No abstract provided.

”To Be Or Not To Be – It’S Good”: Actor And Student Experiences In A Drama Club For People With Aphasia, Jade K. Hannan

Senior Theses

Individuals with aphasia, a disorder caused by damage to the brain’s language network, confront a variety of social and emotional struggles. While leaving their cognition largely intact, aphasia tremendously impacts a person’s ability to communicate confidently, fracturing their social network and contributing to feelings of loneliness and frustration. To address this persistent need in the chronic aphasia population, the Play on Words drama club at the University of South Carolina provides a forum for people with aphasia (PWA) to engage in dramatic exercises focused on non-verbal communication of emotions, ideas, and stories, culminating the production of an original devised play. …

The Actor In Flux: Transforming Acting Techniques Through Individuality, Christian Gabriel Tolentino

Akda: The Asian Journal of Literature, Culture, Performance

Most young aspiring actors are searching to ground themselves to begin their acting journey, to define, understand, and apply “acting” in their careers. Through this paper, I will attempt to formulate a personal approach to acting with the data gathered anchored in autotheory. The study does not want to dictate an appropriate approach for all actors but rather gives a chance for actors to reflect on their individuality as actors/artists.

The meat of the text will include a brief history of acting techniques from Europe, to America and eventually the Philippines and see how these techniques/processes/methods converse. I will delve …

Shedding Light On Shadow Casts, Kiara Durbin

Honors Theses

On Sunday, November 12, 2023, Kalamazoo’s pioneer American Sign Language-interpreted shadow cast performance took place in Shaw Theatre at Western Michigan University. Clue is a mystery-comedy based on the beloved board game, loaded with witty dialogue and physical comedy. It was the perfect vehicle for the Kalamazoo county’s premiere American Sign Language (ASL) shadow cast—a special performance where the interpreters are directly onstage following the movements, dialogue, and intonation of the actors. It was produced through a unique collaborative effort of Western Michigan University’s Department of Theatre, Stage Hands, a Michigan-based ASL performance interpreting company, and Theatre Kalamazoo, a local …

You’Re Invited! Collaborating With Faculty And Students To Create A Successful Library Event, Laura Semrau

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

To celebrate the 400^th anniversary of the printing of Shakespeare’s First Folio, the Baylor University Libraries hosted a three-day celebration; “Shakespeare 400” drew faculty members from six academic departments and leveraged the talents of both graduate and undergraduate students. The four main events drew a cumulative crowd of over 200 people. Graduate students contributed to the events through music performance, a dramatic reading, enthusiastic promotion, and engaged participation. This presentation will explore key take-aways for including graduate students in library events.

The success of Shakespeare 400 was largely due to collaborations between the library, faculty members, and graduate …

All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of Robert Fulghum’s All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten adapted by Ernest Zulia and composed by David Caldwell.

Performed February 23-25, 2024 at the Mitchell Theatre.

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten is a musical adaptation of Robert Fulghum's book, brought to life by Ernest Zulia and David Caldwell. The play captures the essence of Fulghum's essays, which reflect on the simple yet profound lessons learned in kindergarten, such as sharing, playing fair, and living a balanced life. Through a series of vignettes and musical numbers, …

Twelfth Night, Or What You Will

Theatre Programs

No abstract provided.

Dna Poster, Providence College

Playbill and Promotion

Providence College Department of Theatre, Dance & Film

Angell Blackfriars Theatre

DNA, written by Dennis Kelly

February 1-3, 2024, 7:30pm

February 3 & 4, 2024, 2pm

Director, Aaron Andrade

Dna Playbill, Providence College

Playbill and Promotion

Providence College Department of Theatre, Dance & Film

Angell Blackfriars Theatre

DNA, written by Dennis Kelly

February 1-3, 2024, 7:30pm

February 3 & 4, 2024, 2pm

Director, Aaron Andrade

Scenic Design, Renee Surprenant Fitzgerald

Lighting Design, Elissa Cerros

Vocal Coach, Megan Chang

Costume Design, Jaimy Escobedo

Sound Design, Stuart Holland

Properties Design, Claire Dancause

Makeup Design, Maxine Wheelock

Cast: Luke MacDonald - Mark; Maddie Rich - Jan; Sarah D'Andrea - Leah; Jack Jozefowski - Phil; Molly McGoldrick - Lou; Anthony Maldonado - John Tate; Anthony Joseph - Danny; Holli Hay - …

“I’M George Lucas”: A Connor Ratliff Story, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of “I’m George Lucas”: A Connor Ratliff Story (2024), directed by Ryan Jacobi.

Introduction To Theatre Oer Course, Carmen R. Meyers

Open Educational Resources

Study of theatre and performance throughout history and across cultures including an examination of European, Carribean, and North and South American theatrical styles and genres.

This course is organized for a hybrid/asynchronous format. Our class meets on-campus every week for 75 minutes and the other 75 minutes will be completed asynchronously with weekly learning modules on Blackboard.

The first half of the course focuses on the history of theatre from Ancient Greece through Modern Realism. The second half of the course, students engage in the procedures of professional theatre artists through writing and refining a dramatic text; enacting a performance; …

Iequity: An Augmented Reality Theatre Production, Amy Pan, Kristina Arnold Dr, Alan White, Truth Tran

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Augmented reality is commonly seen being used in game development and design, typically seen through a mobile device such as a phone. However, it has rarely been tested and pushed to its limits in other settings. The main focus of this project was trying to deploy augmented reality in settings that are seen as more traditional. This will be done by taking a play, pre-written and performed by a professor at Western Kentucky University, and building an augmented reality set for the play in the background. The main software that will be used is Unity and Blender. Unity will be …

The Dyslexic Actor: How Dyslexia Affects The Acting Process, Kate Milazzo

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Dyslexia can benefit an actor, especially if the individual is aware of how the challenges and advantages of dyslexia impact their personal acting process. Dyslexia is widely understood to be a learning disability that affects an individual's reading and writing abilities. Many forms of theater rely on the written word, and an actor's success lies in their ability to interpret the text, leading one to question whether a dyslexic individual can find success as an actor. Yet several famous actors, including Octavia Spencer and Henry Winkler, are known to be dyslexic. As a dyslexic individual, I have also successfully participated …

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 …

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.

A+: A Film By Asexuals For Asexuals, Gabi Benintendi

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

No abstract provided.

Stage Clutter: An Interactive Journey Following A Theater’S Existential Ponderings, Taylor Tsiamas

Scripps Senior Theses

“Stage Clutter” is a devised, interactive theater piece that focuses on accessibility in theater, as well as questioning what theater is by deconstructing the divide between the “audience” and “performer”. The event consisted of audience participation and exploration, as well as solo performance and puppetry, along with other accessibility features. It aims to center community and joy and subvert Western theatrical “norms” in order to help decolonize theater spaces.