UW Whitewater Theatre/Dance Department

Platforms are going up for “Into the Woods!”

This is the initial cut out for Milky White. I was originally going to carve a more 3D realistic cow (more character than prop), but in further discussions with the the director (Jim Butchart) we decided to go more prop than character. She will be two flat cut outs sandwiching an interior box which will serve as the stomach when she gets fed the items at the end of Act 1. In the meantime, they have something to serve as a standin.

Student propmaster Keri has been working on baked goods. . .

. . . and creating the remote controlled chicken.

Finished working up the houses for “Into the Woods:”

And here they are in the space:

Final day at the conference! We actually had FOUR students cast in the play readings — one in the full length and three in the ten-minute pieces. Alyssa had her semi-final stage management interview, which she said rocked, and then finally, we also had Claire in the Designstorm competition. Tonight, we watch “Carrie The Musical,” and afterwards, the awards ceremony. We feel pretty good about having a some Whitewater students get up on that stage!

Here’s a pic of Marge’s stage management books, just to cover more of the work the students brought. She brought her work from “Dracula.”

And here’s Alyssa, after her interview, with her books from “Anything to Declare.” A major topic of the conversation was computer prompt books versus paper prompt books.

Here’s Brandon (in the vest and tie), as The Comet, in the reading of the student full-length play “The Death of the Comet.”

And finally, Claire and her whole Designstorm team in front of their boards for “Story Theatre.”

It’s the final day of the our stay at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (region 3) in Saginaw. It’s been a good conference for the students. Two of our actors (Grace and Rasell) moved onto to semi-finals in the Irene Ryan competition; Rasell then progressed to the finals. Nice work. Of our design students, Tiffany moved on to semi-finals for her costume design for “The Rover,” Claire for her costume design for “Psuedolus,” and Ann and Brittany moved on for their make up designs of a segment of “Story Theatre.” Alyssa is in the semi-finals for her stage management of “Anything to Declare.” She has her final session today. Some students (Corey and Brandon) have been cast in some of the ten minute plays, have been stage managing events (Marge and Alyssa), and they’ve all been attending seminars like crazy. Best of all, they’ve been there for each other at all the events, cheering each other on and sharing the joy even when they themselves haven’t moved forward in the competitions. A good bunch of kids.

Kim and Brittney and Ann at the registration table. It only took 11 hours of driving on the slippery Michigan roads to get there. . .

Brittney, Corey, and Tiffany, as we wait for events to begin on the first day.

And here’s Liz, Grace, and Carolyn as ready and raring to go.

My colleague Tracey Lyons grabs a snack in the faculty lounge. She’s the one who did the shepherding on the design projects this year, since all we took were costume and make-up work.

Claire’s work.

Tiffany’s work.

Brittney’s work.

Kim’s work.

Ann’s work.

Carolyn’s work.

Due to all the weather going on, I ended up manning the knot station at the Tech Olympics, and had an unexpectedly fun time. Here are the participants listening the announcement of the winners.

When I took this job five and a half years ago, one of my goals was to have a department display case in the atrium that contained far more student work than faculty work. As the design classes have firmed up, the students have generated more and more work that deserves to be seen by their peers (and visitors). Maybe in the next year or so, I will be able to finally pull the last of my own pieces out of the case. I’m very happy we’ve reached this point.