2009 Spring Semester
Department of Theatre and Dance
Shanti Smith - Senior Capstone - Ramayana adapted by Edward Mast – The Black Box Theater
“Valmiki's Ramayana, the oldest version of Ramayana, is the basis of all the various versions of the Ramayana that are relevant in the various cultures. The text survives in numerous complete and partial manuscripts, the oldest surviving of which is dated from the eleventh century AD.[10] The current text of Valmiki Ramayana has come down to us in two regional versions from the north and the south of India. Valmiki Ramayana has been traditionally divided into seven books, dealing with the life of Rama from his birth to his death. The story is about Rama, a prince in the city of Ayodhya - the capital of Kosala kingdom, belonging to Suyvavansh (the Sun dynasty) - sometimes referred to as Raghuvansh (Raghu dynasty, named after Raghu, one of his illustrious forefathers). The story starts from just before his birth and ends after his death when his two sons ascend to power.”
Friday, January 30th at 8:00
Saturday, January 31st at 8:00
Sunday, February 1st at 2:30
Dani Day - Senior Capstone - Miss Julie by August Strindberg – The Black Box Theater
August Strindberg’s “naturalistic tragedy” addresses issues of class and gender while exploring the relationship between love and lust. Set on midsummer night of 1894 in a small town in Sweden, the young woman of the title, attempting to escape an existence cramped by rigid social constraints and have a little fun, dances at the servants' annual midsummer party, where she is drawn to a senior servant, a footman named Jean, who is particularly well-traveled, well-mannered and well-read. Passionate conflict and a fatal power struggle lead Strindberg’s heroine to desperate ends.
Friday, February 6th at 8:00
Saturday, February 7th at 8:00
Sunday, February 8th at 8:00
Uncle Vanya – Anton Chekhov - The Belmont Theatre Company – The Troutt Theater
“Anton Chekhov and "Uncle Vanya" run counter to modern American feelings about what makes a good play, a fun movie, or an interesting plot, and yet American theatre audiences can't seem to get enough of "Uncle Vanya." Gone are the Aristotelian plot lines - the buildups to an exciting climax. Gone are Shakespeare's kings and noblemen accomplishing great feats of love and battle. Instead we have fairly average people lamenting what they have NOT accomplished. Instead of passionate love scenes - we have characters grossly in love with the totally wrong person. So why do Americans keep coming back to "Uncle Vanya?" Maybe it's because a lot of us feel we, too, lead ordinary lives, fall in love with the wrong person, and wonder if we really are accomplishing anything with our lives. That was relevant in Russia in 1898 and pertinent to many of us in America in 2008. But Chekhov was the first and best at recognizing those feelings.”
Thursday, February 19th at 7:30 Wednesday, February 25th at 7:30
Friday, February 20th at 7:30 Friday, February 27th at 7:30
Saturday, February 21st at 7:30 Saturday, February 28th at 7:30
Sunday, February 22nd at 2:30 Sunday, March 1st at 2:30
Measure for Measure – Belmont Theatre Company – The Black Box Theater
“It is fortunate for the theater that hypocrisy, corruption and sexual entanglements in high places have never gone out of fashion. It was as true at the beginning of the 17th century as it is in the 21st, and for that reason alone a play like "Measure for Measure" can still engage an audience.” – Wilborn Hampton
The plot centers on Angelo, the righteous deputy empowered by the Duke of Vienna to rule the citizenry while he wanders about disguised as a friar to investigate the moral decay of his dukedom. Resorting to an archaic law against fornication to enforce his strict standards of morality, Angelo proceeds to condemn bawds (whores) and fornicators to death. One of these fornicators is Claudio a young man who has had pre-marital sex with his fiancé. When Claudio's virginal sister Isabella comes to plead for her brother's life, Angelo's lust is aroused. Worse still his moral spine is so wobbly that he uses his power to blackmail Isabella into his bed. It's her virtue or Claudio's life.
Performance Dates:
Thursday, April 16th at 8:00 Thursday, April 23rd at 8:00
Friday, March 17th at 8:00 Friday, April 24th at 8:00
Saturday, March 18th at 8:00 Saturday, April 25th at 8:00
Sunday, March 19th at 2:30 Sunday, April 26th at 2:30
Renee Heffel - Senior Capstone – The Chairs by Eugène Ionesco - The Black Box Theater
“Two old people, isolated in a circular building surrounded by water, pass their empty days remembering a past that in uncertainty and enacting a present that is populated by imaginary people. They keep themselves busy at night sharing the same stories and talking about what "could have been". The man has prepared a message that they feel will change the world, and are anticipating a group of people to arrive at any moment to hear that message Out of these spare building blocks, Eugene Ionesco constructed The Chairs, the absurdist 80-minute play he called a `"tragic farce." – Alan Wallach
Friday, May 1st at 8:00
Saturday, May 2nd at 8:00
Sunday, May 3rd at 2:30
Dance Production – Americana Theme – The Troutt Theater
The annual Dance Production will offer a dance style for everyone including, ballet, modern, tap, jazz as well as cameos from the professional dance community. Centered around an Americana theme, the dance Performance will fill the Troutt Stage with students performing original work and showcasing new technique.
Performance Dates:
Thursday, April 16th at 7:30
Friday, April 17th at 7:30
Saturday, April 18th at 7:30
Nicole Pearce - Senior Capstone - Queen of Camelot adapted from the novel by Nancy McKenzie
Directed by Kyla Franklin – The Black Box Theater
“Guinevere comes alive–a strong, resourceful, and compassionate woman, accessible to modern folk . . . McKenzie makes a quantum leap in defining the character of Guinevere as a real, flesh-and-blood woman. The Arthur-Guinevere-Lancelot triangle comes alive as well–believable, poignant, and bearing the seeds of tragedy.”–KATHERINE KURTZ
On the night of Guinevere’s birth, a wise woman declares a prophecy of doom for the child: She will be gwenhwyfar, the white shadow, destined to betray her king, and be, herself, betrayed. Years pass, and Guinevere becomes a great beauty, she is entranced by the tales of the valorous Arthur. .At his side, Guinevere reigns strong and true. Yet she soon learns how the dark prophecy will reveal itself.
Friday, May 1st at 7:30
Saturday, May 2nd at 7:30
Sunday, May 3rd at 7:30
Elizabeth Young – Senior Capstone – Film Presentation – The Troutt Theater
This will be an original Film production starring Liz Young, graduating BFA Performance student.
Tuesday, May 5th, 7:30 pm
Theatre and Dance Extravaganza – The Troutt Theater
Featuring the best of the best of all theatre and dance performance classes, this showcase is comprised of scenes, monologues, and dance performance pieces specifically chosen by the theatre and dance faculty. With a variety of students performing, the Theatre and Dance Extravaganza provides opportunity to view the semester’s work of many students.
Performance Date: Monday, May 4th at 7:00
