UW Whitewater Theatre/Dance Department

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.

A hold moment during first tech last night. We’re just about to move the buzzer from the stage left side of the arch to the wall upstage of the stage left chair so the actor ringing it won’t have to upstage himself.

And a moment in the second act act. The paintings were created (painted adaptations of the source images) by student propmaster Nick Skaja.

The costume portion of Introduction to Theatrical Design just concluded (taught by Tracey Lyons), and the students have hung their projects up in the hallway outside the design class room. Three plays are being used this semester; Plautus’ “Pseudolus”, Ken Ludwig’s “Leading Ladies,” and Peter Shaffer’s “The Royal Hunt of the Sun.”

The bottom photo also features the costume portion’s “27 Black Dresses” project, and some work from last year’s Period Styles and Decor class.

Student lighting designer Sean Jensen and student stage manager Krissy Fisher getting ready to commence our first tech rehearsal of “Our Town” last night.

In the background, you can just about see student Joe Berman running the Foley table.

Snapping beans in the first act.

Looking at the moon.

The third act. In the graveyard.

A couple of photos from behind the tech table during today’s dress rehearsal. Lighting design by student Lexie Strullmyer, which is coming along. Set design by student Keenan Minogue, and yes, the plane will be done tomorrow; other than the plane, we’re in detail land at this point. Oh, and the cornice goes up tomorrow, too. Costumes by faculty member Tracey Lyons.

The second city flat, done. I then headed into cornice madness.

Students working on the umbrella cart. Or at least gathered around it.

Student propmaster Krissy Fisher cutting out clouds.

And those very same clouds getting primed.

Finally, student Mitch Van Dyke working on the wings of the biplane.

Continuing with the city flats. Here they are at the beginning of shop today. . .

. . . and here is the first one, done. Of course, the second one will be harder, what with all the fire escapes. The student designer, Keenan Minogue, tells me that these are manupulated versions of pictures he took on a trip to New York a few years ago.

Also continuing focus. That’s student designer Lexie Strullmyer at the foot of the ladder as student electrician Mitchell Van Dyke climbs down.

Student Propmaster Krissy Fisher working on the spinning plates.

Students working in the costume shop.

Student lighting designer Lexie Strullmyer focussing. The floor now has an exciting checkerboard pattern!

I finished the second garden flat. . .

and moved onto the city flats.