STUDENT & ALUMNI NEWS
Erin O'Connor, junior, otherwise known as Miss Illinois 2009, was the subject of an excellent article in the Neighborhood Star paper. O'Connor is not your typical beauty queen. She's a woman on a mission and the mission is skin cancer prevention.
Read more about Erin and her mission.
It should also be noted that Denise Brakefield, dance faculty, choreographed Erin O'Conner's talent for Miss Illinois. Erin danced an excerpt from "Swan Lake."
Bill Kincaid reports that he saw Joshua Murphy (MFA 2009) in Unnecessary Farce at Cortland Repertory Theatre and was very proud of his work - he was hilarious. Because of his intimidating look, Joshua was never cast in comic roles at WIU, but this show is a perfect opportunity for him to show off his comic chops. The show got great reviews.
The most colorful character is a vicious killer known as the Highland Hitman or, to his friends, Todd. He works in full Highland rig and tortures his victims with bagpipe tunes. As Joshua Murphy plays him, he's hilarious and scary -- a saturnine workman, reasonable, loony and short-fused. Unnecessary Farce at Cortland Rep proves to be spirited, ribald and hilarious. Posted by Neil Novelli, Contributing Writer July 23, 2009 11:02AM - Syracuse Post StandardFor more info and some great pics, see the review online.
WIU's Regional Touring Theatre Company will present two shows this coming year. The casts of the RTTC are current graduate students with undergrads serving as understudies.
Judy Jekyll and Hermione Hyde: A Cautionary Tale Be careful what you wish for - it may come true! Shy little Judy Jekyll is in the 8th grade; she's unpopular and many students make fun of her. Bats Beastly - a not so nice kid who dropped out of school - convinces Judy that he has a solution: if she tries just a tiny bit of this liquid concoction that he has made from his chemistry set, then Judy will become a popular and well-liked student. The concoction is called: "More." Judy tries it, and indeed she is transformed! She becomes Hermione Hyde, and kids adore her, she's confident, and everyone finds her attractive and appealing. Trouble is: More wears off after awhile and she starts turning back into Judy. And each time she needs it, she needs to take more of the More. Life at home and at school start becoming intolerable for little Judy, but eventually, she learns that the people around her just have to accept her for who she is. She throws away her supply of More, and becomes just shy little Judy Jekyll. But - a Judy Jekyll who has learned an important lesson in her life.
Written and directed by Marcus Olson, the production features Ashlee Edgemon, Nathan Grant, Jared McDaris and
Hansel and Gretel: the New Story This contemporary version of the old fairy tale finds our well known characters living in a city just like yours. They are enjoying all the modern electronic devices and willing to wonder off physically and electronically with this new breed of stranger. But, just as our two characters are about to step into danger, the magical Mathilda, armed with her wizardly whistle and bag full of safety information, saves them and arms them with tools for their next encounter with the bad guys. Our version of the story will engage viewers with dancing, humor and music, all while educating young students about the dangers around them. "Hansel & Gretel: the New Story" will give young viewers practical tips to avoid getting themselves into dangerous situations. Written by egla Birmingham, this play finds a fun way to raise attention to cyber-stalking and the dangers involved with social networking.
Written by egla Birmingham and directed by Craig Fisher, the production features Susan Brummet, Brian LeTraunik, Danny Pancratz and Craig Fisher. The preview will be on February 14, 2010. Bookings are available February 15 - May 5, 2010 except for March 15-19 for Spring Break
Bill Kincaid directed Gross Indecency for the Cortland Repertory Theatre this August.
As emphasized with Bill's direction, the theme of the show focuses on the question of an artist's responsibility for the affect of his or her art on the public." Thompson says. "It seems that every generation has an artist - most recently, the Beatles to Elvis to Brittany Spears - where the public is concerned about their art corrupting our society. Elvis's hip swivels on national television created an uproar, just as metal rock singer Marilyn Manson is depicted in the media as a bad influence on children. The difference is, Wilde was imprisoned and left destitute because of his writings. From broadwayworld.com Read more about the production.
Denise Brakefield choreographed Erin O'Conner's talent for Miss Illinois. Erin danced an excerpt from "Swan Lake."
Department of Theatre and Dance Website.