Newsletter Finals Week June 6, 2016 In This Issue Department News Alumni News Meetings of the Week Department News Congratulations Undergraduate Theatre Majors (Photo by Andrea Bensussen) Graduating Class of 2016 Carlos Angel-Barajas, Theatre Mary Rose Byrne, Theatre Vanessa Diaz, Dance & Psychology Mark Anthony Flynn, Theatre Jessica Gonzales, Dance & Human Biology
Kourtni Gouche, Theatre Jennifer Elise Grober, Theatre Victoria Harris, Theatre Olivia Koziel, Dance & Environmental Systems Jeremy LaBoy, Theatre Tin Le, Theatre & History Kiko Muzi Lu, Theatre Jenna Michelle Nilson, Theatre & International Studies-Sociology Samantha Occhino, Theatre Thomas Teller, Theatre Mondis Ashley Vakili, Theatre & Communication Claudia Elena Varela, Dance & Bioengineering Anne Mignon Whitaker, Theatre & Linguistics Kylie Young, Theatre Studio Project: Boston Marriage Current MFA students Yonatan Gebeyehu, Kyle Hester, Andrew Gallop, Brandon Rosen, Anna Robinson, Annie Le, Kasson Marroquin, and PhD student Jon Reimer have been working on a studio project these past few weeks at UC San Diego. Perhaps you've seen the rather risqué fliers floating around Galbraith? They've taken David Mamet's Boston Marriage, an already queer play, and queered it even further. Instead of being Victorian-era lesbians, the characters are contemporary gay men. Female pronouns remain, and Mamet's not-quite-feminine/not-quite-masculine dialogue suits this concept beautifully. This will be queer theatre at its best! A showcase of this fun and fabulous project in Galbraith Hall Room 15 (in the basement) on June 6 at 7:30pm, June 7 at 6pm, and June 8 at 7:30pm. Admission is FREE! To reserve a seat, email ucsdstudioproject@gmail.com. Email ucsdstudioproject@gmail.comg to reserve your seats. MFA Dance Presentation: Measuring The Dream
Director and Dance Faculty Member, Yolande Snaith and MFA Choreographers Anne Gehman, Erin Tracy & Veronica Santiago Moniello collaborate with composer Ryan Welsh... TO CREATE an engaging confusion of past and present a loop of time phantom body? phantom voice? an artistic language that embodies the essence of Sor Juana's philosophical, emotional and visionary spirit in a non-linear way. Wednesday June 8th @ 7:00 pm in Dance Studio 3 UCSD for: a performance of an ongoing collaboration and research based on the 'The Dream' a poem by 17th century Mexican nun and writer Sor Juana De La Cruz. Yolande Snaith at the San Diego International Fringe Festival A new solo dance theatre work for the San Diego International Fringe Festival, in collaboration with composer Ryan Welsh."Once I Dreamed I Was a Dinosaur Swimming Backwards constructs an imaginal space where the living body and inanimate objects invite multiple projections and possibilities, whilst simultaneously bringing intrinsic histories and truths into the present. "I am interested in creating a world where the personal and the universal hold hands, where meaningfulness and meaninglessness collide, where fantasy and reality converse, where the unseen stories etched into the skin of things are revealed, where the body brings its life story
to every action, with and without intention". (Yolande Snaith, Dance Faculty) For tickets and more information, click here. A Look Back at the 2016 Spring Season PRECIPITATE
(Photo by Jim Carmody)
(Photo by Jim Carmody) GO. PLEASE. GO.
(Photo by Jim Carmody)
(Photo by Jim Carmody) HOW TO USE A KNIFE
(Photo by Manuel Rotenberg)
(Photo by Manuel Rotenberg) DAMASCUS
(Photo by Jim Carmody)
(Photo by Jim Carmody) OTHER PEOPLE
(Photo by Manuel Rotenberg)
(Photo by Manuel Rotenberg) SIN EATERS
(Photo by Jim Carmody)
(Photo by Jim Carmody) NEW DIRECTIONS
(Photo by Jim Carmody) (Photo by Jim Carmody)
(Photo by Jim Carmody) UNDERGRADUATE NEW PLAY FESTIVAL
(Photo by Manuel Rotenberg)
(Photo by Manuel Rotenberg)
(Photo by Manuel Rotenberg)
Alumni News 3 New Plays by Faculty & Alum Presented at Center Group Theatre in Los Angeles Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie has set the 2016-2017 season at the CTG/Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. "This is an exciting season of firsts," said Ritchie. "We have filled our 13th season at the Douglas with premieres - five world premieres and one American premiere. The upcoming CTG season featuring plays by '12 MFA Playwriting alum Lauren Yee, directed by '13 MFA Directing alum Joshua Brody, a play by '13 MFA Acting alum Ngozichukwuka Anyanwu, and a play by Playwriting Faculty member Deborah Stein with playwriting/producing partner Suli Holum (who was our QM Director this past season). For more information, click here. (Pictured above, left to right: Ngozi Anyanwu, Lauren Yee and Deborah Stein)
(Pictured above, left to right: Joshua Brody and Suli Holum) Sarah Byrd Working on Cinemax's "Outcast" Currently, '08 UG alum Sarah Byrd is producing and writing for Season 2 of Cinemax's new horror series OUTCAST. The show stars Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous, Gone Girl) and is based on a series of comic books by Robert Kirkman, creator of The Walking Dead. Season 1 premieres June 3rd, 2016. OUTCAST follows Kyle Barnes, a young man who has been plagued by demonic possession all his life. Now, with the help of the Reverend Anderson, a preacher with personal demons of his own, Kyle embarks on a journey to find answers and regain the normal life he lost. What Kyle discovers, however, could change his fate-and the fate of the world-forever. Angela Reed at The Goodman in Chicago MFA Acting alum Angela Reed is in Soups, Stews, and Casseroles: 1976 at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, IL. A wave of uncertainty spreads across Reynolds, Wisconsin, after a Chicago-based corporation acquires the town's main employer, leaving workers and their families to fear for their livelihoods. The merger, however, presents longtime employee Kim a newfound opportunity-and a moral dilemma. Rebecca Gilman presents a timely, thought-provoking look at workers' rights and the effects of big business on small town lives. Ngozichukwuka Anyanwu & Tesiana Elie in the New York Times "Harry and The Theif" by Sigrid Gilmer features two MFA Acting alums: Ngozi Anyanwu ('12) and Tesiana Elie ('14). About the Show: Mimi's cousin Jeremy has a PhD in physics, a brand new time machine and a plan. He's sending Mimi, a professional thief, back to 1863 to change history by providing Harriet Tubman with modern day guns. Lots and lots of guns. An excerpt from the New York Times Review: Sigrid Gilmer's shrewd and mischievous action-adventure comedy, "Harry and The Thief", presented by the Habitat at the Robert Moss Theater in New York is more concerned with the spectacular grit of the black women in its orbit. Chief among them are Harriet (Ngozi Anyanwu) - familiarly known as Harry - and a slave named Vivian, played by Tesiana Elie in a smoldering, cartwheeling, show-stealing
performance. To read the full review, click here. Whitney Anne Adams Working on NBC's Maya and Marty '08 MFA Costume Designer Whitney Anne Adams is one of the assistant costume designers on the new NBC variety show "Maya and Marty". About the Show: From Executive Producer Lorne Michaels, the incomparable Maya Rudolph and Martin Short join forces for an all-new comedy show jampacked with music, stars and the unique characters and charisma of two of the biggest icons in SNL history. Stars of stage and screen, Maya and Marty are beloved by audiences of all ages. With Kenan Thompson and a dream team of surprise celebrity guests joining them each week, this dynamic duo is ready to unleash the full range of their talents and bring down the house like never before.
Jerry Ruiz Named Associate Artistic Director at Playmakers Repertory PlayMakers Repertory Company has appointed Justin Haslett as managing director and MFA Directing alum Jerry Ruiz as associate artistic director. Both positions are new additions to the company's management. "We are thrilled to have Justin and Jerry join us at this time of transformation at PlayMakers," said producing artistic director Vivienne Benesch in a statement. "They are both savvy, brave theatre makers and have so much to bring to the table. With their addition to the team, PlayMakers stands poised to become a leader in the cultural conversations of the 21st century, committed to excellence, relevance, outreach, and inclusion." To read the full article, click here.
Meetings of the Week FINALS WEEK No Meetings This Week Happy End of the Year! Join Our List Join Our Mailing List! 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, UC San Diego Theatre & Dance