Interesting course for Fall 2012

Folks, this interdisciplinary course looks fabulous, and I encourage anyone interested to take it. Vessela is fantastic, and both Anne Bogart and Peter Sellars are important in the world of opera.

THR462-2B Theatre Criticism, offered in the Fall of 2012, will focus on contemporary experimental performance. With the help of rich video material, critical reviews, and performance theories, students will be submerged into the fascinating vision of more than ten innovative artists and their companies that have forever reshaped the international theatre landscape. Some of the names are: Jerzy Grotowski (Polish Theatre Laboratory), Eugenio Barba (Odin Theatre’s anthropological research), Julian Beck and Judith Malina (The Living Theatre), Ariane Mnouchkine (Theatre du Soleil), Anne Bogart (SITI), Robert Wilson (postdramatic theatre), Peter Sellars (video installations and postmodern opera), Jacques Lecoq (physical theatre and mime), Christo and Jean-Claude (performance art), Kazuo Ohno (Butoh), Cirque du Soleil (total theatre), etc.

Schedule:

M, W 2:30-3:45 in ASC 273

The class will be co-taught by Frank Bradley, Visiting Professor, American University in Cairo, and Vessela Warner, UAB Department of Theatre.

MoLM video

Darlings,

The quality of the video of MoLM is fabulous! You're going to really love seeing it. I can't wait to share it with you. We'll meet the week AFTER next to do this. Enjoy another week off: you've earned it.

Thank you, MoLM folks

Dear MOLM cast,

Thank you for a beautiful journey this past week, and these past few months. You all grew tremendously, and I couldn't be prouder of you. It has been a great joy to watch you grow and change, some of you at a speed that has been nearly blinding. Perhaps you didn't even realize it at the time, just as when you are in an airplane you don't feel the speed. But the courage with which you undertook this journey humbled me, and I thank you for the opportunity to lead you down what at times might have felt to be a very perilous path. You are brave people, and I honor each of you.

You also helped me grow...as I said Saturday night, Don Quixote has helped me come to a different understanding of my father's illness. While Quixote is fictional and my dad is a real person, the gift of art is often that it forces us to confront real issues and look at things in different ways.

Thank you all very much for the flowers. I was touched more than I can say. It may be hard to imagine, but we teachers and directors often feel taken for granted. This gesture of appreciation was so thoughtful of you, and means very much to me especially in light of how challenging our work was at times. The flowers brighten our kitchen, and I'll always cherish the cards you wrote.

Many thanks also to Dr. Kittredge for leading the pit, Kseniia for being our orchestra in rehearsals, and our fabulous faculty and student musicians who brought the pit so beautifully to life. TONS of thanks to Cindy and Olivia for making stage management seem easy, to Ed for lighting you so gorgeously, to James for the amplification, and to Kenny for being our ASC contact. Thanks also to Alora for designing a stunning set, and to Lee and his crew for building it. We also would be nothing without all the props Marc so kindly loaned us, and the lances that my sweet husband built (which I'll be keeping, BTW: it's time to replace the snake on my wall).

We'll watch the videos sometime during the first week of April, T/Th at 3:30. Stay tuned: attending the showing is required if you are enrolled in the course. Learning from our work is part of the process. We'll talk about the different experiences you had during the two performances, and how you can grow from those very different experiences. I'll also give out toilet paper awards during that time. Each of you brought something special to the show, and acknowledging each of you is part of *my* process.

As always, you know I love y'all MADLY. Enjoy some well-earned rest.

More kudos

Darling students,

Many kind comments are coming in for your work! Read on...

From President Carol Garrison (!):

Wanted to again let you know how much I enjoyed the performance last night. It was absolutely awesome!

From Kristin Kenning, the opera director at Samford:

Congratulations on an excellent production of Man of La Mancha! Your two leading men were phenomenal, and I just can't believe how many men are in your program. Completely jealous!

So much about the show was excellent - the way you moved the large ensemble on the stage, the lighting and set design, the orchestra. Really, SO excellent! And what a lovely theatre to perform in, and such a natural sound system.

I'm so glad I was able to come out to see your show - you have quite a strong program, I'm glad opera in Alabama is thriving.

From Tony McDonald, who drives up from Pensacola to see your shows:

Thanks for another wonderful evening of musical entertainment! The seat was perfect and the show was a delight! You have a lot of really talented young singers and actors who are obviously flourishing under your care. As a tenor I couldn't help noticing how many fine tenor voices you have in your program. That's not to take anything away from the other players, all of whom were excellent as well. I'm only sorry we didn't have a chance to meet after the show and talk, bit there will be other times for that. Congratulations on another successful production, an thanks again for re-introducing me to the "Knight of the Woeful Countenance!" Your happy fan, Tony

From Karla Koskinen, director extraordinaire from the Theatre Department:

Dear Kristine, I looked for you during intermission but didn't see you. We had to leave before the second act because we were with a candidate who was interviewing for the costume position, and she has an early flight. Thank you so much for the tickets. Please send my congratulations along to your cast. The show was very enjoyable. Nice work Kristine.

From Cliff Simon, also a great Theatre colleague:

I'm so glad I got to see at least one act of your show. I needed to leave at intermission... There were lots of beautiful voices up on that stage, and watching the show both brought back a lot of memories of the first time I saw it when I was YOUNG. It's a beautiful show, and funny, and I also managed to see some of the second act on Tuesday night, when I snuck in through the back door of the Sirote, as is my wont to do. Congratulations Kris. So glad I was there, and equally sorry I had to leave at intermission.

My wife and I had the opportunity last night to enjoy your production of “Man of La Mancha”. Having had a son who performed professionally as a child, it always thrills me to see developing artists perform and bring their growing talents and enthusiasm for their craft to the stage. Thank you for the wonderful way that you are helping them develop and giving the community the opportunity to see their talents while being enriched by the experience.

Harold P. Jones, Ph.D.

Dean and Professor

School of Health Professions

Kudos for opening night

Folks, the following is from Dr. Mosteller: "Brava to you and the entire cast for an outstanding production and performance of Man of La Mancha last evening. As soon as Jake P played that first chord and started singing, I knew the show would be something really special. But, I didn't expect to be so moved so many times. Shane was so "on," Charles was riveting (and what singing, especially at the end of "Impossible Dream"!), and I was so proud of Micah. Emkay's transformation through the show was so captivating!! Just thinking about her dramatic and vocal work makes me quell all over again."

New video up

Darlings, the video of last night is up. Check your email. Nice job last night! See you no later than 6pm tonight: downbeat 7:30. Come earlier if you wish, and be nice to Joe. Remember he has a role, too!

Opening night only two days away

Darlings, take care of yourselves and of each other. Remember that notes are to come from me and Olivia only, and to focus your energies in positive ways. Support and encourage one another: everyone has really pushed his/her boundaries. Call is 90 minutes before downbeat each day: be earlier if you must (but never later) to be comfortable and ready to begin.

MOLM cast: two things

Folks, I've upgraded my Dropbox so there should be no problem accessing the video files. Check it and let me know that everything is now in working order.

Also, call times for tonight are slightly altered: those with mics, come at 4. Everyone else, come at 5 so we can do a group warm up before the orchestra arrives. Thanks!

Sunday piano dress: 2pm call

Good work today. Remember to spring forward tonight!

MOLM folks, check your email AGAIN!

Links are posted again. Give it another shot.

MOLM folks, check your email

Folks, I sent you links to the vids from our last rehearsal. be sure you have Quicktime on your computer (you can download it for free), or they won't play! Enjoy.

The countdown to MoLM

Thursday we start at 3:15. We'll run Act 2 much as we did Act 1 on Tuesday.

Friday we add mikes. Be there at 2:30, unless you have a class. If you can miss the class, please do. We'll go until 6:30 if we must, but I'd rather finish at 5:30 if we can. It's up to you!

Saturday's cue-to-cue is 10-5; plan on the whole time, though if we CAN, we'll end earlier. We'll take a lunch break. No white clothing, and nothing with a big logo on it. There will be no music: this is a lighting cue rehearsal. It can be tiring, but it is crucial to making you look good. Bring your patience and good attitudes.

Sunday's piano dress is 2-7 pm. This may seem long, but we'll need to do makeup, get into costume, have a costume parade, then start the show. Plan on being there the whole time; if you're efficient and we get done quickly, I'll release you early.

Monday's orchestra rehearsal is a Wandelprobe, not a Sitzprobe. This means we won't sit and sing through the show; rather, we will walk it without costumes and probably without most of the dialogue. We'll give the orchestra cues. This begins at 5:30. Be there by 5 for a group warmup.

Tuesday's orchestra dress is at 5:30, DOWNBEAT. 4pm call, but be there as early as you need to be dressed, in makeup, warmed up, and ready to go at 5:30. Dressing rooms will be open at 3:30: group warmup is at 4:45.

Wednesday's dress is 7:30pm. 6pm call, but be there as early as you need to be dressed, in makeup, warmed up, and ready to go at 7:30. Dressing rooms will be open at 5:30: group warmup is at 6:45.

Thursday's and Saturday's performances are at 7:30, 6pm call (dressing rooms open at 5:30).

rehearsal canceled

Due to the weather, rehearsal is canceled for today. Tomorrow will start earlier to make up for the lost time. Thanks, and be safe.

Performance Class

The sheet is up: sign up to sing on Dr. M's door!