THEATRE AND DANCE - MAY 2009

 

Alumnus News

 

Alum Christian Krauspe wins first-ever Ken Ludwig Playwriting Scholarship!

On Saturday, April 18th Ken was thrilled to present the first-ever Ken Ludwig Playwriting Scholarship to Christian Krauspe for his play, Dearborn Americana as part of the 2009 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. The Ken Ludwig Playwriting Scholarship is the latest addition to THE MICHAEL KANIN PLAYWRITING AWARDS PROGRAM, which encourages and supports the development of student-written plays.

Christian earned his BA in Theatre from Western Illinois University, where his play Dearborn Americana was staged last November. This production was also the University's entry to the 2009 American College Theatre Festival.

Among Christian's professional and college experience, his first full-length play Inside Out was presented at the Village Theatre in Dubuque, Iowa, and his play The Zero Hour was showcased at Chicago's Live Bait Theatre. His work has also been produced at the Whole Art Theatre in Kalamazoo, Michigan and Space 55 in Phoenix. He is now a Playwriting Graduate Student at Arizona State University. See more at Ludwig's website.

 

Alum Jenny Showalter sets Dance on UDT

Jenny Showalter, a 2004 graduate in kinesiology with an option in exercise science and a minor in dance, returned to her alma mater as an artist-in-residence this spring, teaching dance and technique classes as well as setting the dance "Tres Conversas" on the University Dance Theatre dancers. "Candace (Winters-March) and Heidi (Clemmens) made me fall in love and dance through their enjoyment and spirit," Showalter said. "They pulled me right in; and they gave me a lot of opportunities." Read more.

 

 

Theatre and Dance Receives NAST Accreditation

The Department of Theatre and Dance has received accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST). Following a very arduous report begun under former chair Jeannie Woods, the department hosted an accreditation visit and was then notified of its membership in NAST.

NAST is an association of approximately 160 schools of theatre, primarily at the collegiate level, but also including postsecondary non-degree-granting schools of theatre. It is the national accrediting agency for theatre and theatre-related disciplines. The Association also provides information to the public. It produces statistical research, provides professional development for leaders of theatre schools, and engages in policy analysis.

For more information about NAST.

 

 

Summer Music Theatre SEUSSICAL ALL SHOOK UP LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Tickets go on sale June 1 through Hainline Box Office 309.298.2900.

SEUSSICAL "Oh, the Thinks you can Think!" "I can see that you've got quite a mind for your age! Why, one Think and you dragged me right onto the stage! Now, I'm here, there is no telling what may ensue With a Cat such as me, and a Thinker like you!" So says the mischievous Cat in the Hat at the onset of this fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza! Lovingly brought to life are all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, The Grinch, Gertrude McFuzz, Little Cindy Lou Who, and all of the Whos of Whoville!

ALL SHOOK UP "The story is ALL NEW! The hits are all ELVIS!" "In the middle of a square state.....in the middle of a square decade….in a square little town..." This musical features nearly two dozen popular Elvis Presley songs, including "Heartbreak Hotel", "Blue Suede Shoes", a honky-tonk version of 'That's All Right', and a stunningly beautiful arrangement of 'Can't Help Falling in Love' performed by the entire company. A must see, for Elvis fans and for all the rest of us, too!

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS "The guy sure looks like plant food to me!" One of the longest-running Off-Broadway shows of all time, this affectionate spoof of 1950s sci-fi movies has become a house-hold name, thanks to a highly successful film version and a score by the songwriting team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, who redefined the animated musical film with Disney's "The Little Mermaid", "Beauty And The Beast" and "Aladdin." Charming, tuneful and hilarious, with tongue firmly planted in cheek, "Little Shop Of Horrors" never fails to entertain.

 

 

Faculty News

 

Winters-March takes Piece to International Dance Conference

Candace Winters-March piece, "Open Veins" has been accepted into WDAA (World Dance Alliance-Americas). Although UDT has, on several occasions, had pieces accepted into national conferences, this is the first time that UDT has been accepted into an international conference.

Especially noteworthy is that Art faculty, Susan Czechowski, painted the 3 large art panels that are part of the piece, so two different departments within COFAC are being represented at this conference.

 
This piece has 11 dancers, Kelsey Reed, Keri Dahm, Allison Greene, Liz Francomb, Chelsea Manis, Anrdra Meiners, Molly Stover, Alex Palkovic, Matt Wyss, Maggie Bouslog and Nick Howard. The conference is from May 28th-31, 2009 at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

The 2009 World Dance Alliance-Americas General Assembly is a conference and festival which will bring together an international cohort of dance artists, educators, and students. Individuals and groups from over 15 countries and throughout the United States submitted over 160 proposals for performances, paper presentations, master classes, workshops, and choreographic projects during the Assembly. Through these contributions- active dance practice, performance, scholarship, and discussion- the Assembly will investigate What Moves Us today as participants in dance. This theme emerges from one recent trend in the discipline of Dance: a shift from an exclusive focus on high art and theater dance to the investigation of contemporary movement practices and the cultivation of global accessibility. In response to this broadening of approach, the Assembly will foreground the most basic, vital, and critical component of dance: movement. This theme is intended to encourage diverse approaches to viewing and performing dance and will develop a particular focus on community dance, non-conventional dancers, and international collaboration & exchange.

World Dance Alliance-Americas is a member-driven organization whose mission is to discuss and debate aspects of common interest in order to help all the dance professionals of the Western hemisphere. Its aim is to support and preserve dance by promoting movement-based art and practice, encouraging collaboration, and facilitating international exchange and study of common problems. WDAA is itself a regional component of the global World Dance Alliance, which also include WDA-Asia Pacific and WDA-Europe. Through its regional networks, WDA serves as a primary voice for dance and dancers throughout the world and encourages the exchange of ideas and the awareness of dance in all its many forms. The network of regional alliances provides information, advocacy, networking opportunities, and communication for dance organizations and individuals, as well as a forum for the international exchange of ideas, information, expertise, and resources in all areas of dance.

 

Ray Gabica will be displaying kimonos he designed for the recent UT production of Samurai at Dr. Ma's Art for Chairs exhibit at the West Central Illinois Arts Center on the Square in Macomb from May 9 to 23. . The Art Center is open Monday and Wednesday from 8:00 to 6:00 and Saturdays from 10:00 to 6:00.

 

Department of Theatre and Dance Website.