Newsletter Week 8. In This Issue. Department News. News Around Campus. Alumni News. Join Our List Join Our Mailing List! Meetings of the Week

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1 Newsletter Week 8 February 22, 2016 In This Issue Department News News Around Campus Alumni News Join Our List Join Our Mailing List! Meetings of the Week Graduate Committee Meeting Monday, Feb. 22, :00pm Galbraith Hall (GH) 254 WNPF Undergraduate Auditions Tuesday, Feb. 23, :00-7:00pm Room TBD Undergraduate Committee Meeting Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, 10:00am Galbraith Hall (GH) 102 Department News Opening This Week: La Bete Page 1 of 18

2 Written by David Hirson Directed by Marco Barricelli (Acting Faculty) February 20-27, 2016 Theodore and Adele Shank Theatre La Bete asks the question of where we draw the line between what is "high art" and "low-brow" audiencepleasing crass art. And which is more important. Is the prime-directive of any arts organization to present work of the most profound integrity or is it to do whatever it takes to sell tickets? La Bete tackles this question allowing our audience to make up its own mind. The story is told through the lens of an 18th century theatre troupe and the prince, their sponsor. It is delightfully funny, moves very quickly, and each character speaks in hysterically clever rhyming couplets... but we are left to make up our own minds as to what, ultimately, is of more importance: art or commerce. The Creative Team Director - Marco Barricelli Scenic Designer - Justin Humphres Costume Designer - Dominique Hill Lighting Designer - Chao-Yu Tsai Sound Designer - Crystal Chan Dramaturg - Kara Raphaeli Production Stage Manager - Mandisa Reed Asst. Stage Manager - Ashley Martin The Cast Page 2 of 18

3 Valere - Mike Turner Elomire - Martin Meccouri Bejart - Kyle Hester Princess Conti - Zakiya Markland Dorine - N'Jameh Camara Madeline Bejart - Kimberly Monks De Brie - Andrew Gallop Rene Du Parc - Deleon Dallas Marquise-Therese Du Parc - Claire Roberson Catherine De Brie - Jenny Grober For tickets and more information, click here. Movers + Shakers in Triton News An extract from the article: The United States is a primed political powder keg - which UC San Diego Assistant Professor of Playwriting Deborah Stein and her creative partner, Performer and Director Suli Holum, fully understand. Stein and Holum have created a new theatre piece that explores the extent of modern behavioral tendencies, using the platform of a political campaign. The objective: to discover how people could work in politics and still make the questionable decisions we see on our social media newsfeed. "We were reading and obsessing over some politicians' 'bad behavior,' and wondering how someone who is so successful could do something that seemed so dumb...something that could so obviously be caught. So we started thinking about how humans are animals, and how a lot of our behavior could be thought of as animal behavior," said Stein of the origins of the play. To read the full article, click here. Page 3 of 18

4 (Photo by Jim Carmody; left to right: Sean McIntyre, Zora Howard, and Luis Vega) Joe Huppert Wins Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Projection Design The San Diego Theatre Critics Circle announced the winners of its 14th annual Craig Noel Awards, which were presented Feb. 8, 2016, at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, in La Jolla. Before an audience of nearly 500 theater industry members and patrons, more than 30 awards were given out by the members of the Critics Circle. Joe Huppert (Theatre & Dance Sound Supervisor) wins the award for Outstanding Projection Design for The Oldest Boy at San Diego Repertory Theatre. Page 4 of 18

5 Winter Newsletter: Week 8 Kyle Donnelly to Direct at Arena Stage Arena Stage artistic director Molly Smith and executive producer Edgar Dobie have announced a season showcasing the theatre's mission of American voices and artists. Inspired by its role as one of the seven originating theatres of D.C.'s Women's Voices Theater Festival, Arena Stage has embraced a commitment to inclusion with a season featuring seven titles by women, six playwrights of color, and five female directors. The Little Foxes (Sept. 23-Oct. 30) kicks off a festival of works by Lillian Hellman. This play about a cutthroat cotton-mill family and its battle for wealth will be directed by Kyle Donnelly (Acting Faculty) and will star Marg Helgenberger. For more information, click here. Additionally, Kyle Donnelly will direct "All the Way" running April 1-May 8th, Page 5 of 18

6 About the Play It's not personal, it's politics in this 2014 Tony Award-winning drama. President Lyndon Baines Johnson had a way about him. He could massage a victory with one hand and sell you down the river with the other, but brokering a deal is like playing with dynamite. With the country still reeling from President Kennedy's assassination, and a rising tide of bitterness over Civil Rights, it'll take more than politicking to hold America together - it'll take red, white and blue-blooded leadership. Go all the way with LBJ, Martin Luther King, J. Edgar Hoover and more in this "beautifully built dramatic piece" (Variety) where the line between compromise and compromising your principles is as sharp as a knife. Bowman Wright ('11 MFA Acting Alum) plays Martin Luther King. News Around Campus DNA New Work Series at La Jolla Playhouse The Playhouse's acclaimed new play development initiative, the DNA New Work Series, is back for its fourth year, running February 18-29, Page 6 of 18

7 The DNA New Work Series is a period of readings that allows playwrights and directors the opportunity to develop a script by providing rehearsal time, space and resources - all culminating in workshops or readings open to the public. All projects in the DNA Series take place with little or no scenic, costume or staging elements, and actors may have scripts in hand. It's a rare chance for theatre-lovers to be a part of a new work in its earliest stages of development. To reserve free tickets and for more information, click here. Alumni News Anne Kauffman to Direct at Playwrights Horizons Playwrights Horizons, under the leadership of artistic director Tim Sanford and managing director Leslie Marcus, has announced the six productions of its Season, all but one a world premiere. The world premiere of Adam Bock's "A Life" will open in September. This tale of a lonely young man who turns to astrology for answers will be directed by Anne Kauffman ('99 MFA Directing Alum). For the rest of the season announcement, click here. Page 7 of 18

8 Mat Smart Opens New Play at the Denver City Theatre Company Page 8 of 18

9 The above interview with Colorado New Play Summit features playwright Mat Smart ('04 MFA Playwriting Alum), author of "Midwinter". The play was inspired by Smart's time working as a janitor at a research center on Antarctica. "One thing that's interesting about the station is that the people there fall in and out of love and have these epic relationships for, like, two weeks - and it's very genuine," said Smart, whose calls his story a riff on A Midsummer Night's Dream. For more information, click here. MFA Directing Alumni to Direct at Actors Theatre of Louisville Page 9 of 18

10 Today, in the midst of preparations and rehearsals for one of the nation's most influential festivals of new work, the 40th Humana Festival of New American Plays, Artistic Director Les Waters (Emeritus Faculty) proudly announces Actors Theatre of Louisville's Season. The lineup features an exhilarating range of stories, including a madcap comic romp, a musical journey based on the life and songs of Billie Holiday, one of Shakespeare's best-known tragedies, a charming look at the revelations in a small-town acting class, and a powerful drama set during the Detroit riots of as well as the return of the two most popular and beloved holiday shows in the region. "The Season affirms Actors Theatre's commitment to bringing compelling stories to Louisville," says Waters. "I'm delighted to showcase vivid imaginations and vital voices that explore and define the world we live in now. The season promises to surprise and thrill our wonderfully loyal audiences. You won't want to miss a single production this year." Actors Theatre's season includes Lanie Robertson's critically acclaimed musical journey, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, January 3-January 29, Directed by Bill Fennelly ('04 MFA Directing Alum), this stunningly beautiful play features the music of Billie Holiday as some of her most beloved songs and stories are brought to life in a powerhouse musical performance. For more information, click here. A poignant and charmingly funny production of Circle Mirror Transformationby Annie Baker will take the stage under the direction of Associate Artistic Director Meredith McDonough ('04 MFA Directing Alum), January Page 10 of 18

11 24-February 12, This heartfelt comedy takes place in a community drama class where an unlikely assortment of adult students learn lessons through theatre games that lead to even bigger lessons about life. Stephen Sakowski Lights the NBA All Stars Game Stephen Sakowski ('08 MFA Lighting Design Alum), UT assistant professor of lighting and sound design in the Department of Theatre and Film, will work closely with Otis Howard, an Emmy Award-winning lighting designer who runs Otis Howard Design Inc., a company that has lit the stage for TV shows on BET, VH1, MTV, HSN and more. Howard has been in charge of lighting the NBA All- Star events for the last five years. After graduating from college at Otterbein University, Sakowski freelanced in New York City for several years before getting his master's degree from the University of California at San Diego. He joined UT's faculty last year. "Teaching lighting design, there's theories and approaches, but so much of this job is real-world experience and application," Sakowski said. For more information, click here. Page 11 of 18

12 Matt Hoverman Wins Humanitas Award for Children's Animation Thirty eight writers were named finalists in ten categories for the 41st Annual HUMANITAS Prize. The writers competed for $225,000 in prize money to be handed out at an evening cocktail reception, held on Thursday, February 11th, 2016 at Directors Guild of America. Children's Animation Category Arthur "The Tardy Tumbler" Writter: Matt Hoverman ('96 MFA Acting Alum) For more information, click here. Michael Moran & Emilie Whelan Nominated for Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award Michael Moran ('15 MFA Directing Alum) and Emilie Whelan (MFA Director) were nominated for the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for Direction of a Play for their production of Clifford Odet's Waiting for Lefty. Page 12 of 18

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14 For more information about Ubuntu Theatre Project, click here. Jason Thompson Wins Kinetic Lighting Award from Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle The 47th annual LADCC awards ceremony will take place on Monday, March 14, 2016 at The Ann & Jerry Moss Theater at New Roads School, in the Capshaw-Spielberg Center for Arts and Educational Justice at the Herb Alpert Educational Village, 3131 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica, CA. The Kinetic Lighting Award for outstanding achievement in theatrical design goes to projections designer Jason H. Thompson ('04 MFA Lighting Alum). The award is accompanied by an honorarium funded by Kinetic Lighting, and will be presented by Circle President Margaret Gray. For more information, click here. Ty Granderson Jones Premiere of Diamonds Page 14 of 18

15 An ode to the female action hero via a story that stimulates a fictitious, organized and violent response to the current state of political and social affairs regarding women's rights. "The Replacement Killers" in the vein and mix of films such as "Columbiana", "Le Femme Nikita", "Blue Velvet", "Sin City" and "The Usual Suspects" -- DIAMOND is a dark, poignant and off-beat tale about a young girl who witnessed a horrific incident, who was betrayed, deceived and programmed to become one of the most elite assassins of her kind to target and eliminate the dominant male conservative culture of hypocritical lawmakers in America, starting with destination Washington, D.C. Written, Produced, Directed, and Performed by Ty Granderson Jones ('82 MFA Acting Alum) Click here to view the trailer. Christopher Burris' Production of The Brothers Size in the NY Times The Brothers Size By Tarrell Alvin McCraney Directed by Christopher Burris ('01 MFA Acting Alum) An exerpt from the review: Early in "The Brothers Size," I stopped trying to analyze why this play felt so alive. Instead I just trusted my emotions, and that made this production, at Luna Stage in West Orange, still more satisfying. Indeed, it's easy to list the show's qualities: an outstanding cast, a powerful script, smart staging. What's harder is describing its magic. Page 15 of 18

16 To read the full review, click here. Second Skin at La Jolla Shores Written by the award-winning playwright Kristin Idaszak ('15 MFA Playwriting Alum) Directed by Kate Jopson ('14 MFA Directing Alum) Page 16 of 18

17 Performed by Sarah Halford, Charlotte Gulezian, Claire Kaplan Designed by JR Bruce Producers:Sam Hunter & JR Bruce Presented by The West and The Flagship Ensemble When Quinn discovers her estranged mother is dying, she returns to a home. As she cares for her mother, Quinn wrestles with disturbing childhood memories. What is her mothers secret? What do the Irish bedtime stories of Selkies her mother once told her really mean? Told in three interconnected monologues, SECOND SKIN investigates the fraught relationship between mothers and daughters, and how one mistake can reverberate across generations. Performed on a beach at La Jolla Shores, SECOND SKIN returns to the origin of theatre as stories told around a fire. PLEASE DRESS WARMLY The event is located at a fire pit in front of the La Jolla Shores life guard station. There is a parking lot, but it can fill up on weekends so please leave time to find parking. Have news to share? Send it to us at TandDNews@ucsd.edu and we'll pass it along for you. Photos are encouraged. Please be sure to let us know what year you graduated, if you're an alum. If you've changed your name, be sure to tell us what it was when you attended UC. Miss a back edition? Visit the Newsletter Archives. Sincerely, UCSD Department of Theatre and Dance Page 17 of 18

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