Current Students

  • Music and Dramatic Arts collaborate with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra

    Thursday, September 18, 2014 | By

    The Niagara Symphony Orchestra on the stage of the Sean O’Sullivan Theatre of the Centre for the Arts at Brock University. Pictured below are Elizabeth Pereira, Virginia Reh and Evan Mulrooney.

    Many Canadian orchestras have brought Classical Kids’ Beethoven Lives Upstairs program to their stages over the years, but the Niagara Symphony has brought a fresh new approach to this classic event. Brock Dramatic Arts student Elizabeth Pereira and alumnus Evan Mulrooney will play the roles of Christoph and the Uncle respectively, in performance with the Niagara Symphony (led by music director Bradley Thachuk) in April 2015.  They earned the roles through competitive auditions at the school, and will be directed by Brock Professor of Drama Virginia Reh.

    It’s part of a many-faceted partnership between the NSA and the university.  The Niagara Symphony is Orchestra in Residence at Brock University, NSO concert notes are prepared by Brock Music Department faculty member Dr. Brian E. Power, the NSO participates in the Community Arts Partnership with the Brock Department of Music, Brock Music Ed Plus ensembles are featured in as part of Spotlight On!, Music Ed Plus students mentor and volunteer at Summer Music Camp, Brock faculty members coach, and adjudicate practice auditions, for students in The Academy @ SMC, NSO musicians Laura Thomas, Brent Adams, Gordon Cleland, Steve Fralick, Zoltan Kalman, Vera Alexeeva and Patricia Dydnansky are on faculty with the Brock Department of Music, and the NSO offers special PSSTnso (post secondary student ticket) pricing for university students.

    from the article posted September 17 in the Orchestra News, Weekly Newsletter
    at http://orchestrascanada.org/2014/09/17/new-partnership-for-the-niagara-symphony/

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    Categories: Alumni, Current Students, Events, In the Media, News

  • DART Co-op experiences in 2014

    Tuesday, September 09, 2014 | By

    DART Co-op students take their studies in theatre to related work opportunities at some of the best employers in the the GTA and Niagara cultural sector.  Fifteen students began their Co-op studies at DART in the fall of 2014.

    Elena Milenkovski, DART, worked as an intern with SummerWorks Performance Festival, Toronto.  The SummerWorks Festival is an 11-day festival spanning theatre, dance, live art and music that enables approximately 40 – 50 independent productions per year to be staged. SummerWorks supports work that has a clear artistic vision and explores a specific theatrical aesthetic. It encourages risks, questions, and creative explorations while insisting on accessibility, integrity and professionalism. Elena was very excited to add this experience to her resume. She proved to be an invaluable part of the team.  Her organizational skills, initiative and strong interpersonal skills aided the festival in marketing and gaining sponsors for the 2014 event.
    @alesiadane @BrockCoop Ditto! We can’t overstate our love for Elena and her significant contributions to #SW14.
    Emi Forster, SummerWorks Performance Festival, August 19, Twitter

    Three DART students worked at the Shaw Festival Theatre for the 2014 season.  Amanda McDonnell, Sarah Bradford and Alexandra Towne worked in various roles in the green room, box office and retail sections of the theatre. Dianne Gibbs, Human Resources Manager, felt that these students had the perfect combination of communication and interpersonal skills mixed with a love of theatre for these roles.

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    Categories: Current Students, News

  • Dramatic Arts is Digging In The Soil

    Sunday, April 27, 2014 | By

    Brock students, staff, alumni and volunteers brought downtown St. Catharines to life April 25-27, 2014 as the In The Soil festival once again took over the core for a weekend of creative arts, entertainment and more.

    The three-day multidisciplinary arts fest, now in its sixth year, kicked off Friday at 5 p.m. with a performance by the Woodshed Orchestra at the Festival Hub on St. Paul St. between James and Carlisle Streets, closed off to vehicle traffic.

    The annual showcase for Niagara’s budding creative arts scene expected to draw more than 400 artists and 5,000 attendees to the city for the three-day weekend festival.

    Check out the 2014 festival’s promo video here.

    “With more than 140 acts, artisans and installations to check out, this is truly a festival that celebrates and highlights the arts in Niagara and beyond,” says Sara Palmieri, Committee Chair for In The Soil.

    This year’s festival also included a 50-foot-high ferris wheel right on St. Paul St. – a first for the City of St. Catharines. Thrill–seekers caught glimpses of the adjacent Academic and Cultural Arts Centre and future home of Brock’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts , both under construction for their 2015 opening.

    Other festival highlights included musical performances by Canadian hip-hop artist Buck 65; Billy Martin, drummer with the New York City-based jazz-funk trio Medeski Martin & Wood; and St. Catharines-based group Creature Speak.

    There was also live theatre and comedy such as Paper Song by Concrete Theatre group; The Dirty Cabaret III by St. Catharines theatre company Suitcase in Point; and The Al Borland Band or Tool Time Take Two by local artist Danny Fast.

    Not to mention art and photography installations around downtown like Adam CK Vollick’s Frame of Reference and a Vendor Bender marketplace, both at the Festival Hub. Just to name a few of the many things to see and do.

    Check out the full schedule at inthesoil.on.ca

    DART alumni and students involved with In the Soil in 2014 include Colin Bruce Anthes, Genevieve Bain, Stephanie Baxter, Brent Cairns, Edwin Conroy Jr., Miles Coverdale, Dawn Crysler, Brian Foster, Collin Glavac, Geoffrey Heaney, Nathan Heuchan, Saide Isaak, Deanna Jones, Katelyn Lander, Nicholas Leno, Bri Lidstone, Anna MacAlpine, Nathan Tanner MacDonald, Karen McDonald, Hayley Malouin, Dylan Mawson, Tanisha Minson, Erica Nauta, Kendra Neaves, Natasha Pedros,  Jonathan Phillips, Caitlin Popek, Rachel Romanoski, Marcus Schwan, Nicole Titus, Annie Wilson, among others.  Three new plays written by DART alumni and students were premiered: a-PIE-calypso NOW!!! by Geoffrey Heaney and Nathan Tanner Mac Donald, Once, adapted for the stage by Colin Bruce Anthes, and The After Year by Anna MacAlpine and Tanisha Minson.

    Dramatic Arts Students Hayley Malouin and Nick Leno blogged about the In the Soil Festival in a variety of formats (features, interviews, reviews, etc). You can find their posts at the DARTcritics blog http://dartcritics.com/ Be certain to check out their sign-off at dartcritics.com/2014/05/01/thats-a-wrap/

    In The Soil is produced by Suitcase in Point Theatre Company – whose artistic director Deanna Jones and general manager Annie Wilson are both alumnae of Brock’s dramatic arts program – with many community partners, sponsors and funders from all levels of government.

    Including content by Jeff Sinibaldi published in the article “Brock well represented at In The Soil downtown arts festival” by The Brock News.

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    Categories: Alumni, Current Students, News

  • Brock Students & Carousel Players Share Their Love of Theatre With Special Gift

    Wednesday, April 16, 2014 | By

    brockconnectionsdonationapril2014Brock University students showed their support for Carousel Players with a $600 donation this month. All of the box office proceeds from their Brock Connections production of Star-Crossed: A Musical Shakespeare from March 28-29, 2014 were donated to Carousel Players, Niagara’s theatre for young audience company. Directors of the one-act parody of Romeo & Juliet, Megan Dene & Nick Leno added “Please continue to inspire young people and their families to pursue and be involved in the arts.”

    “We were deeply touched by this unexpected gift that showed the true passion for the arts of these 23 students, “said Jane Gardner, General Manager of Carousel Players. “We used the funds to give the gift of theatre to St. Christopher Catholic School who received a free performance of Carousel’s Dib and Dob and the Journey Home at their school. Paul Lukacs, a teacher at St. Christopher told us of the wonderful theatre experiences the children aged 4 and up had at his school that day. For many children it was their first theatre experience.”

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    Categories: Current Students, News

  • Dramatic Arts Design students’ Open House exhibit on now

    Thursday, March 27, 2014 | By

    Theatrical Design Exhibition (DART 3F61)
    When: March 26 – April 2, 2014, 9 am – 5 pm
    Location: Design Studio Room ST102, Schmon Tower, Brock University.
    Admission: Free

    A public showing of Theatre Design projects by senior design students.  Scale maquettes of set designs, costume designs and storyboards for a variety of plays, musicals, songs and proposed films.

    Sponsored by the Department of Dramatic Arts, part of the Industrial Fabric 2014 Festival.

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    Categories: Current Students, Events, News

  • Dramatic Arts student adventuring at the Banff Centre

    Thursday, June 27, 2013 | By

    gina_tmblr_th_300 The Banff Center, located in the scenic Rocky Mountains of Alberta, is the largest arts and creativity incubator on the planet. Every year over 8000 artists, leaders, and researchers come from all over Canada and worldwide to participate in a large variety of arts programs. This year, a Dramatic Arts student, Gina Greco, is participating in a work study program as a wardrobe technician.

    Gina, a Dramatic Arts Student concentrating in Production and Design, has worked on a number of projects within the department. Focusing on aspects of costuming, she has worked on the One Acts Festival, the Fall 2012 Mainstage The Suicide – A Russian Comedy by Nikolai Erdman, directed by Gyllian Raby, Empty Box Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus, and the independent production Runner, written and directed by colleague and student in the Dramatic Arts program, Nicole Titus.

    Gina Greco

    Gina Greco at the Banff Centre

    Banff’s Theatre Arts Production, Design, and technology training programs have been running for more than 60 years. Participants are guided by many creative and design teams working simultaneously in opera, dance, theatre and interdisciplinary performance. With a combination of hands-on experiences and skill based training, the program seeks to inform and inspire the next generation of theatre makers and artists.

    Some projects Gina will be working on are preparing a costume set for the opera Marriage of Figaro, making alterations on the costumes of an opera arriving from England, as well as a professional dance show. She will be working along side three other work-study technicians as a cutter and a First Hand under the guidance of the Head of Wardrobe Patsy Thomas.

    “The most exciting thing is getting an opportunity to practise my craft in one of the most beautiful places in the world. It’s my first time out west and I couldn’t ask for a better reason to be here,” Gina exclaimed.

    “I think the biggest challenge will be adapting to working in a professional theatre environment, since I’ve never done something on this scale. But I’m totally up to that challenge!” she added.

    To follow Gina’s experiences as cutter and first hand at the Banff festival, check out her blog on Tumblr.

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  • Dramatic Arts students engaging in new challenges at the Shaw Festival

    Wednesday, May 29, 2013 | By

    Kevin Chew and a bust of George Bernard Shaw

    Kevin Chew and a bust of George Bernard Shaw

    Every year Brock’s emerging theatre artists have an opportunity to intern for a six-week intensive learning experience at one of Canada’s most renowned theatre organizations, the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

    Kevin Chew, a Concurrent Education student studying Dramatic Arts at Brock University, is the successful Intern candidate for 2013. Kevin was recently seen performing on the stage of the Sean O’Sullivan Theatre of the Centre for the Arts at Brock University in the Department’s February Mainstage The Blue Room by David Hare, directed by Virginia Reh. For his upper year thesis project Kevin conceived and directed the innovative investigation of restaurant service industry in the immersive dinner theatre event entitled Table 99, self-produced at Isaac’s Bar and Grill at Brock University.

    Students of the Department of Dramatic Arts are eligible to apply for this intensive residency following the successful completion of DART 4P92 Voice and Text of Bernard Shaw. Their academic studies in the Department come alive in the festival milieu of Shaw company professionals producing at the top of their game.

    During his six weeks in Niagara-on-the-Lake Kevin will be working with Shaw’s Director of Audience and Community Engagement, Norm Bradshaw (former Senior Major Gifts Officer for Brock’s Faculty of Humanities), Shaw Intern directors Paul Van Dyke and Rose Plotek, Festival Co-Artistic Director Eda Holmes (directing Arcadia by Tom Stoppard), and Festival Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell (directing Enchanted April by Matthew Barber).

    Following the development of world-class theatre productions from rehearsal studio through to opening night Kevin is also involved with projects such as cataloguing, appraising and photographing pieces in the art collection of the Shaw Festival, developing templates for potential community outreach/ engagement programs, education and engagement research, and assisting in the Festival’s Stage Properties shop in Virgil, Ontario.

    Through participation in singing and Alexander technique workshops, scheduled lunches and casual conversations with his new peers and mentors, Kevin is discovering what it means to contribute to the wealth of creative talent in the Festival company of theatre artists, production staff and administrators.

    For original insight into theatre production at Canada’s second largest repertory theatre company, follow Kevin’s Facebook group Brock-Shaw Internship.

    The DART Shaw Festival Internship program is generously supported for three years by proceeds from the annual General Brock’s October Soiree. DART graduates who have completed the internship include Robyn Cunningham (2012) and Jacqueline Costa (2011).

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  • The Art of the Clown Doctor at the Department of Dramatic Arts: Register today!

    Wednesday, May 08, 2013 | By

    bernie-new-photo-2_10

    Dr. Bernie Warren

    There’s a great new course taught by a world specialist in Clown Doctoring, Dr. Bernie Warren, being offered by the Department of Dramatic Arts in Spring 2013.

    Current students in Dramatic Arts, New students with some relevant experience and specialists in the field (who are not students registered at Brock) are invited to apply!

    DART 3V91: The Art of the Clown Doctor
    D27: 2013/05/08 to 2013/05/14 MTWRF 900 -1600 TH 141 (running May 08-10 and 12-14, 6 days only)

    This course is a unique opportunity to learn about the practice of clown-doctoring in lifespan maintenance and therapeutic environments. Involving lectures, lab, and running 7 hours per day, this course will be of particular interest to students interested in Drama in Education and Applied Theatre.

    Dr Bernie Warren of the University of Windsor will be returning from his travels abroad to lead this very special opportunity for students and professionals in the field. See the article in the Brock News about Dr. Warren and the profession of Clown Doctoring. Did you see the banner picture on the homepage of University website brocku.ca? this is a big deal. Don’t miss out!

    The course is open to DART (single or combined) and DART (Honours)/BEd (Intermediate/Senior) majors AND OTHERS with permission of the Department. The only prerequisite is DART 1F95 or permission of the Department.

    for more information contact dramatic.arts@brocku.ca
    and see the story: “Clown doctor in the house this summer at Brock” in the Brock News.

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    Categories: Announcements, Current Students, News

  • Brock Musical Theatre presents the Broadway Hit Spring Awakening

    Monday, March 11, 2013 | By

    Brock Musical Theatre, the company that brought you GLEE CLUB and RENT! Is returning again this year with Broadway’s hit SPRING AWAKENING; by  Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater, winner of 8 Tony Awards including Best Musical. This rock musical explores the lives of adolescent students living in 19th century Germany as they journey through the confusing and frustrating world of teenager self-discovery.

    The show opens at the Seneca Queen Theatre in Niagara Falls on Thursday, March 21st at 7:30pm and runs until Saturday, March 23rd. Tickets are $15.00 in advance as well as at the door. Tickets may be purchased through the Centre for the Arts at Brock University in person during business hours, or on the website, or over the phone, call 905-688-5550 x3257 or toll-free 1-866-617-3257.

    FREE transportation has been arranged from Brock to the Seneca Queen Theatre as well as from the Theatre to St. Catharines (downtown), Brock University and the Thorold route.

    More information about show times and the company is available here.

    Brock Musical Theatre is a student run organization devoted to creating quality musical theatre for the Brock and St. Catharines/Niagara communities. Brock Musical Theatre is a ratified club under the Brock University Student’s Union. It is not affiliated with the Brock University Department of Dramatic Arts or with any University department, staff or faculty member.

    Brock Musical Theatre was created in 2005 to provide all Brock University students with the opportunity to participate in quality musical theatre. Today, the company is open to all Brock students no matter their major field of study. Brock Musical Theatre has become a showcase for the wide range of talents that the entire Brock University community possess in the musical field. Students from the Department of Dramatic Arts have developed new learning opportunities and honed their craft by participating in this club.  Brock Musical Theatre is devoted to a healthy, respectful and positive learning environment where students can learn and achieve hands on experience in all aspects of a musical theatre production.

    SHOW DATES & TIMES

    THURSDAY March 21st – 7:30pm
    FRIDAY March 22nd  – 7:30pm
    SATURDAY March 23rd 1:00pm & 7:30pm

    THEATRE
    Seneca Queen Theatre
    4624 Queen Street, Niagara Falls  L2R 2L7

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  • Brock actress scores top honour at Spanish international film festival

    Friday, October 05, 2012 | By

    katie-coseni-1024x682_dv

    Katie Coseni with her Silver Shell Award for best actress from the San Sebastián Film Festival in Spain

    (Source: The Brock News, Friday, October 5, 2012)

    It was a callback Katie Coseni won’t soon forget.

    The second-year dramatic arts student had just returned from six days at the San Sebastián International Film Festival in Spain, where the film in which she plays one of the lead roles, Foxfire: Confessions of a Girl Gang, was given the red carpet treatment.

    It was her second stop on the international film festival circuit, after the film’s premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in early September.

    She was alone in her room when she got the call.

    “I looked at the number and it was from France,” says Coseni. “I was like that’s really weird, why is someone from France calling me?”

    It was one of the producers from the film on the other end of the line notifying her that the festival wanted her to come back so that she could accept her award.

    foxfire6-267x299_dvI was like, what award?” Coseni remembers.

    The award in question was the Silver Shell for Best Actress.

    “I made her repeat it six times because I thought she was joking,” says Coseni. “It was really incredible.”

    Coseni was given the honour along with Spanish actor Marcarena García for her turn in Blancanieves, a silent black-and-white reinterpretation of Snow White set in 1920s Spain.

    “It’s kind of like ‘did that actually happen?’” says Coseni about receiving the award. “I still can’t believe it.”

    “I see the box that the award came in on my desk and I forget what it is for a second, and then I remember ‘Oh yeah, I got this really awesome prestigious award,’” she says. “It’s just incredible.”

    Created in 1953, this year is the 60th anniversary of the San Sebastián International Film Festival, one of the most important cinema festivals in the world.

    “San Sebastien was just a whole otherworldly experience,” says Coseni. “It was all just a huge whirlwind.”

    “I would wake up in the morning and then I would go to hair and make-up and then I’d go to a photo shoot and then a press conference and then interviews and then I’d have an hour for lunch, and then I’d have to go get ready for the red carpet, and then I’d have to do this and this and this,” she says. “But it was really fun.”

    foxfire71_dv

    above, Katie Coseni in the film Foxfire

    When asked about her future in acting in light of her recent accolades, the first-time film actor is looking to take advantage of her recent success.

    “I’m taking steps now towards getting agents,” she says. “Hopefully that will lead to more auditions because I really do want to do this for as long as I can because I love it.”

    After a busy few months of publicizing Foxfire, Coseni is ready to switch gears and get back to her studies.

    “For right now, it’s just school and trying to get back to normal,” she says.

    foxfire06_dv

    A film still from the movie Foxfire featuring Brock-student Katie Coseni (right)

    But that all depends on what you consider normal. Coseni received her callback on a Friday morning, hopped on a plane later that night, arrived in Spain Saturday night one hour before she was to receive the Silver Shell at the awards gala, woke up Sunday morning to fly back home, arrived home Sunday night and was back in class Monday morning.

    “It feels like it happened so long ago, it’s really weird,” she says laughing. “It took like a day or so getting back to my regular sleeping pattern. It feels like I just got back from summer vacation.”

    Foxfire is slated for theatrical release in France in January 2013 and plans are in the works for a Canadian release in Spring 2013.

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