The Theatre Arts and Dance Department concluded the fall with the production of Breaking Bounds, A Student Dance Concert. Next spring promises to be equally exciting. Here’s what’s ahead:
Southern Utah University Department of Theatre Arts and Dance was one of seventeen colleges and universities to be awarded the prestigious American Masterpieces: Dance NEA grant. Interim Dean Shauna Mendini is the Project Director and Professor Kay Andersen, Department Co-Chair will act as Rehearsal Director. Alberto Del Saz, Nikolais-Louis Foundation for Dance Artistic and Repertory Director, will be on campus January 17–22, 2010 to restage Alwin Nikolais’ masterpiece Imago with SUU students. The $15,000 grant will help support numerous activities including performances of Imago on the SUU Campus, lecture demonstrations in elementary schools, a cooperative performance with the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company at the Heritage Center Theatre and a performance at the College of Southern Nevada as part of their Dance in the Desert Festival. The culmination will be a performance of Imago in spring 2011 as part of the Alwin Nikolais Centennial Celebration at Hunter College in New York City.
Michael Bahr and Shauna Mendini presented and Bill Byrnes moderated “A Shakespeare Competition: Engaging High School Students with Shakespeare in a Fun and Innovative Program” at the 46th Annual Conference of the International Council of Fine Arts Deans in Salt Lake City, Utah, October 22, 2009.
Shauna Mendini was elected as a member of the Committee on Nominations for the National Association of Schools of Dance, to serve through the end of the 2012 Annual Meeting.
In spring of 2009, T. Anthony Marotta worked as Fight Director for the Utah Shakespearean Festival’s tour of Twelfth Night. Anthony also developed puppets for the Department’s production of The Wizard of Oz. In summer of 2009 he studied corporeal mime at L’École de Mime in Montréal, Canada while developing and performing a new original mask and movement piece for the Montréal International Theater Festival. During fall of 2009, Anthony choreographed broadsword and unarmed combat sequences for the Department’s Mainstage production of Macbeth in the Adam’s Memorial Theater.
Professor Peter Sham’s Lend Me A Tenor: The Musical (for which he wrote the book and lyrics) is in preparation to celebrate its West End London premiere in fall 2010. It will undergo a workshop in London this March, begin rehearsals in July 2010 and open for a three-week out-of-town tryout at the Theatre Royal Plymouth before moving to the West End by mid-October. The production will be directed by ten-time Olivier Award nominee, Ian Talbot, with set & costume design by Paul Farnsworth, lighting design by Tony Award winning, Mark Henderson (History Boys) and choreography by Tony and Olivier Award winning, Stephen Mear (Mary Poppins & The Little Mermaid).
Professor Richard Bugg produced the seventh Season of the Neil Simon Festival in Cedar City July 16– August 16, 2009. The plays included Last of the Red Hot Lovers (in which Richard played the leading role), Harvey (in which Richard played a supporting role), and Biloxi Blues.
Professor Kay Andersen was commissioned along with three other Utah choreographers representing University of Utah, Utah Valley University, Weber and Southern Utah University to choreograph on the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. The dances were presented as part of the company’s Fall concert “Equilibrium” at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in Salt Lake City. In the spirit of shows such as “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Dancing with the Stars,” the audience was asked to vote on which choreographer best dealt with the theme of social change. Kay Andersen’s piece, “Flavor of the Day”, was chosen and will become part of the Company’s repertory for the 2009–2010 touring season.
Professors Chien-Ying Wang and Paul C. Ocampo had a successful performance of their creative work Equanimity and received accolades from Roslyn Sulcas of the New York Times for their choreography and performance at the American Dance Guild Performance Festival in New York City, September 12, 2009.
In spring of 2009, twenty-six theatre students raised funds to attend and participate in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in Los Angeles, California. These students performed an invitational scene from our season’s production of Lysistrata, attended professional workshops, auditioned for graduate schools and internships and competed in the Irene Ryan Scholarship performances. Ellesse Hargreaves placed into the second round for her Irene Ryan performance work and several of our students received offers for graduate school admittance (Vince Major & Jillian Pagan), internships (Carrie Colton & Kristen Henley, Joe Spear & Latoya Rhodes) and tour work (Liz Pascoe) from their auditions.
Class of 2010 student Breelyn Morris received first place recognition in spring of 2009 at the UGRASP Scholarship event for her research and development of a character mask for Samuel Beckett’s Play.
Ben Campana was cast as Tito in Lend Me A Tenor opening in March 2010 with Chicago Parks District .
(Photos: Top: 2009 Production of The wizard of Oz Bottom: 2009 Production of Journeys Faculty Dance Concert)