News

  • Looking for a unique Spring/Summer course? Register for DART 2F04: Introduction to Physical Theatre

    Wednesday, April 22, 2015 | By

    Theatre Beyond Words - object-based theatre and full-body mask

    Theatre Beyond Words – object-based theatre and full-body mask

    Looking for a unique Spring/Summer course? sign-up for a three week-long intensive Introduction to Physical Theatre taught by the resident theatre company of Brock University, Theatre Beyond Words, along with special guest artist Trevor Copp of the company Tottering Biped Theatre based in Burlington. www.totteringbiped.ca

    DART 2F04: Physical Theatre – Education through Collective Creation
    Students will explore a wide range of physical theatre styles (mask, mime, pantomime, graphics, theatrical clown, and commedia dell’arte) by recreating a series of scenes from professional repertoire using masks, puppets, costumes and sets from international touring theatre ensemble and Brock Resident Theatre Company, Theatre Beyond Words. This is a 3-week intensive, full-credit course, running 6 hours per day, 5 days per week. There will be a final performance for invited friends, family and staff at the end of the 3 three weeks. As this is a practicum course, attendance at all classes is mandatory.

    More information about this full-credit course may be found at https://brocku.ca/springsummer/courses/intro-to-physical-theatre

    Enrollment is limited to 20 students. Don’t delay!
    Applicants without previous theatre training at Brock University may enrol with permission of the instructor.

    for more information contact dramatic.arts@brocku.ca

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    Categories: Current Students, Future students, News

  • COMMOTION wins Gold and Silver!

    Monday, April 06, 2015 | By

    commotion_prestige_220Professor Gyllian Raby of Dramatic Arts (DART) and DART Alumna Caitlin English were recently honoured by the news that their film COMMOTION was awarded a Gold medal in the education category and a Silver medal in the research category by Prestige Film Awards, an international juried competition that connects filmmakers with distributors.

    Commotion is a tri-generational program that trains emerging Brock Graduates to create theatre and work with high school students in the surrounding community. The program is run by Gyllian Raby, a Brock professor and Pablo Felices Luna, the past artistic director for Carousel Players youth theatre in St Catharines.

    In reaching out to the local youth, this program is a vital resource to identifying and teaching the relationship between the creative process and group dynamics for Brock’s emerging artists.

    For more information about the project see this news item from November 2011.  See also Prestige Film Awards.

    The COMMOTION project was made possible by SSHRC: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Department of Dramatic Arts of the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts at Brock University, Carousel Players, TALK Niagara and with support from the District School Board of Niagara.

    Congratulations Gyllian and Caitlin!

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    Categories: Alumni, Faculty & Instructors, News

  • DART 4F56 presents: Awkward and Uncomfortable

    Wednesday, April 01, 2015 | By

    Saturday, April 18 2015, 7:30 pm to 10 pm

    Three interlocking stories explore how to survive the turbulence that washes over us when we question fundamental aspects of our identities. Is it better to find the answers to our secrets or to leave them locked away? And where is that elusive happy ending?

    Presented by the Department of Dramatic Arts (DART 4F56).

    Location: Room ST107 (Studio Theatre), Schmon Tower, Brock University, 500 Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines.
    Admission: Donations accepted

    Book your tickets by emailing: awkwardanduncomfortable@gmail.com or calling 906.688.5550 x5255

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    Categories: Events, Plays

  • DART Spring and Summer courses open for registration March 9

    Friday, March 20, 2015 | By

    Snowbanks are deep and winter term still has weeks to go, but registration will soon open for Brock’s expanded Spring Summer 2015 course offerings.

    Two years of double-digit enrolment growth speak to the program’s booming popularity, and on March 9 registration will open for Spring Summer 2015.

    The 2015 course lineup can be viewed now at brocku.ca/springsummer/

    See the complete article here.

    DART courses available for registration include:

    Contact the Department for more information: dramatic.arts@brocku.ca or 905.688.5550

    A special opportunity to study in Ottawa at Canada’s Magnetic North Theatre Festival!

    Canada’s Magnetic North Theatre Festival (MNTF) takes place in Ottawa this year, and students in this three-credit undergraduate course (for University of Ottawa) will explore its past, present and future during one intense week focusing on theatre history, performance analysis and criticism. Students are expected to see all nine MNTF shows outside of class time (evenings and weekend).

    from the University of Ottawa:

    Special Summer Course Announced

    Canada’s Magnetic North Theatre Festival (MNTF) takes place in Ottawa this June 2015, and students in this three-credit undergraduate course will explore its past, present, and future during one intense week. [read more].

    Students approach the Festival from a number of perspectives, as arts administrators, theatre historians, theatre critics, artistic directors, and arts consultants. They explore MNTF’s mandate and wider role in Canadian theatre; track the history of theatre festivals in Canada and MNTF’s place in this; engage with this year’s festival by viewing and reviewing many of its productions; and consider the festival’s role in disseminating and promoting Canadian theatre. Assessed outcomes include reviews of MNTF productions; optional engagement as a volunteer with the festival; and a final consultant’s report analyzing the 2015 MNTF. This course will be taught in English.

    http://www.magneticnorthfestival.ca/uottawacourse2015festival/

    See this document for all the details!

    Students from Canadian universities (such as Brock) may register as of Wednesday, April 15th but must first complete this form for the University of Ottawa, as well as this form at Brock University ASAP in order to receive a Letter of Permission to earn credit for the Ottawa course.  LOP’s are recorded as Pass or Fail on the Brock transcript. Once the course is finished, you must order a transcript to be sent directly to the Brock Registrar’s office to have a Pass awarded to you. This course will earn you 0.5 credit towards your Brock degree as a third-year level course.

    See here for more information about completing Letter of Permission courses at Brock University.

    Brock students would be reponsible for the Brock LOP application fee, tuition at the University of Ottawa, travel and accommodation costs as well as the Magnetic North Theatre Festival pass available at a discounted rate from the University of Ottawa and the fee for the Univerity of Ottawa transcript.

    At DART please contact Professor Karen Fricker for more information: kfricker@brocku.ca

    for most inquiries regarding the course at the University of Ottawa contact Ms Valérie Laframboise in the Faculty of Arts office at (613) 562-5800, extension 1132, or by e-mail at arts@uottawa.ca

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    Categories: Announcements, Current Students, Future students, News

  • Dramatic Arts student in the news: Students build skills, community during Alternative Reading Week

    Wednesday, March 18, 2015 | By

    (Source: The Brock News, Wednesday, March 18, 2015 | by . Photo: A crew of Brock staff and students travelled to South Carolina during reading week to build a house with Habitat for Humanity.)

    Like many other students come Reading Week, Aaron Drake hopped a plane to an exotic locale. But the first year dramatic arts and education student didn’t kick back and relax when he arrived.

    Drake was one of several Brock students who travelled to El Salvador with Habitat for Humanity to build sidewalks and tamp dirt floors in houses. The experience gave him new perspective, he said.

    “By encouraging myself to continue broadening my understanding of community, I have learned that a world where everyone has a decent home is possible,” Drake said. “It’s about a hand-up, not a hand-out, and when we move beyond the barriers that hold us back, we will find those waiting with open arms.”

    The excursion was part of Student Life and Community Experience’s fifth annual Alternative Reading Week program. This year, 110 Brock staff and students gave up the opportunity to catch up on sleep or studying to volunteer locally or abroad.

    el-salvador-2015-dirt-arrival-300x199

    Brock students helped build sidewalks and tamp floors in houses in El Salvador during Alternative Reading Week.

    Students also joined Habitat for Humanity in South Carolina, where they built a single-story home. Others travelled to Dominican Republic to teach English and lead children’s activities in partnership with Outreach360.

    At home, participants volunteered with Start Me Up Niagara, Lincoln County Humane Society, Heartland Forest, Job Gym/John Howard Society, and the Learning Disabilities Association of Niagara.

    Students were challenged to learn new skills while bettering their community and the lives of others. By the end of the week, staff and students logged 4,100 volunteer hours.

    Jamieson Carr, who joined Drake in El Salvador, would do it all again, if given the opportunity.

    “It’s an incredible experience where you get to witness the impact you can have while serving others,” the first-year accounting student said.

    “Travelling with Brock was an incredible experience,” added kinesiology student Haley Gourley, who went to South Carolina. “I met some amazing people that I never would have gotten the chance to meet otherwise, challenging myself in learning new skills. It was a journey of a lifetime. If you like fried chicken, you’ll love this opportunity even more.”

    Amber Scholtens, a Student Life staff member, led the South Carolina trip. She marvelled at the work Brock students put into the build.

    “Everyone worked hard, with such a positive, genuine attitude and willingness to learn. It was truly an incredible display of what the University is all about and what it means to be a Badger,” Scholtens said. “Witnessing the impact we had on the community and the impact the overall experience had on everyone was amazing.”

    To learn more about students’ experiences during Alternative Reading Week, bring your lunch and join the Service-Learning lunch conversation on Thursday, March 19 from noon to 1 p.m. in TH253.

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    Categories: Current Students, In the Media, News

  • Awkward and Uncomfortable

    Monday, March 16, 2015 | By

    Three interlocking stories explore how to survive the turbulence that washes over us when we question fundamental aspects of our identities. Is it better to find the answers to our secrets or to leave them locked away? And where is that elusive happy ending?

    More details:

    The Department of Dramatic Arts’ fourth-year production brings “Awkward and Uncomfortable” to a whole new level!

    An original performance by the fourth-year Devised Theatre class (DART 4F56) will be held on April 16, 17, and 18, 2015 at 7:30 pm, in the Studio Theatre (ST107) at Brock University.

    It is awkward and uncomfortable, but you’ll always have to deal with the two per cent of negative extremists.  If you’re an artist or you buck the trend of mainstream culture you’ll always be shouting out from the margins! How does one keep going when the struggle always comes looking for us? Answers are explored through spoken word, choreography and scenes that explore trust, relationships, and self-acceptance. Do we continue relationships when trust is unclear? Do we follow our future when those around us do not believe in it?

    Tracy is a construction worker who’s just been accepted by the guys, but it all falls apart. Diane and her partner have struggled to be accepted as a lesbian couple, and won, but suddenly her relationship seems empty. Carl has successfully completed his gender transition but his past comes back to bite him in a lawsuit that has unexpected consequences. This production by graduating students of Dramatic Arts’ devising class offers superhero guidance for the survival of the quirkiest at the Droopy Vine bar where all are welcome.

    Set designer Alanna Stewart has created a playful space inspired by Brazilian Favelas that displays the distressed urban world though graffiti and bright colours, a giant community piecing together against all odds. Costume designer Gina Greco, positions the characters as parts of the urban hierarchy through a clash of modern Toronto Queen West and Church Wellesley style, in order to present a beautiful slum, haute, and fantasy world.

    Professor and director Gyllian Raby guided the creative process drawing on her experience of creating new plays with One Yellow Rabbit and the RSVP process. Ensemble members include: Amanda McDonnell; Nick Leno; Kendra Neaves; Hayley Malouin;  Misha Harding; Michael Caccamo; Chloe Coyle;  Bri Lidstone; Nicola Franco; Rachel Romanoski; Katie Coseni;  Sean Rintoul; Marie Barros;  Emily Ferrier;  Maggi Robertson and Kate Croome.

    The DART 4F56 class is one where students work together collectively. Students use the knowledge they have accumulated throughout their four years of the Dramatic Arts program to create, build, and produce a collaborative piece that embraces the physical expressivity of Grotowski and LeCoq, action study from Stanislavsky, the performance clarity of Brechtian theories, and the work in voice, speech and spontaneity that grounds research and critical theory in human relations. A good theatre process takes awkward and uncomfortable to a whole new level!

    FOR TICKET RESERVATIONS: awkwardanduncomfortable@gmail.com
    Location: Room ST107 (Studio Theatre), Schmon Tower, Brock Campus.
    Admission: Donations accepted

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    Categories: Events, Plays

  • DART students improving gender representation one webpage at a time

    Monday, March 16, 2015 | By

    Second year DART students Sarah Bradford and Sidney Francolini share their new Wikipedia page for theatre director, actor, and professor of the Department of Dramatic Arts, Virginia Reh.

    Second year DART students Sarah Bradford and Sidney Francolini share their new Wikipedia page for theatre director, actor, and professor of the Department of Dramatic Arts, Virginia Reh.

    On March 8, 2015, International Women’s Day, Dramatic Arts students, faculty, and community members joined Equity in Theatre in addressing the online gender disparity of the representation of women in theatre. For three hours, Brock’s Hackathon joined groups of theatre practitioners and supporters from across the country as part of Equity in Theatre’s Hackathon to create or update Wikipedia pages for diverse women in Canadian Theatre.

    Brock’s Hackathon was led by a group of student leaders from DART 1F93, Introduction to Drama, but also saw students from other cohorts in attendance. Musicians Bri Lidstone and Hayley Malouin, fourth year Dramatic Arts students, performed strategically female-driven set-lists during the event, creating an empowering and inclusive atmosphere for all those in attendance. At the end of Brock’s Hackathon, the group had updated and completed 16 Wikipedia entries, focusing on female faculty and staff members, as well as members of the greater Niagara arts community. While the official number of pages updated and/or created is yet to be released from Equity in Theatre, if the online communication and support from groups across the country is any indication, the event succeed in increasing gender representation online, and fostering a network of engaged young theatre practitioners. (Kat Gottli)

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    Categories: Current Students, News

  • Story, Drama, & Video in Personal and Social Contexts – A Research Celebration!

    Monday, March 16, 2015 | By

    Mary Code (left), graduate of the Department of Dramatic Arts, is pursuing her MEd at the Faculty of Education at Brock University. Gillian Fournier OCT (right) also a graduate of the Department of Dramatic Arts, MEd from the Faculty of Education at Brock University, is currently teaching at Ridley College in St. Catharines, ON.

    Mary Code (left), graduate of the Department of Dramatic Arts, is pursuing her MEd at the Faculty of Education at Brock University. Gillian Fournier OCT (right) also a graduate of the Department of Dramatic Arts, MEd from the Faculty of Education at Brock University, is currently teaching at Ridley College in St. Catharines, ON.

    On February 28th, 2015 approximately 30 people participated in the Drama in Education and Applied Theatre symposium “Story, Drama, & Video in Personal and Social Contexts” at Rodman Hall of Brock University. The symposium included presentations by former and present graduate students, faculty members, instructors, and a performance by current Drama in Education /Applied Theatre (DIE/AT) students of the Department of Dramatic Arts.

    Professors Yasmine Kandil and Joe Norris, assisted by Kat Gottli (BA Dramatic Arts, MEd Teaching, Learning and Development) organized the event to “create a space for dialogue between students, faculty, instructors, and community members about how we conduct our research and the challenges and rewards of using story, drama, or video to mobilize our work with different target groups.”  The symposium was an opportunity for instructors and students of the Department of Dramatic Arts to share their research and participate in dialogue about the theories and practices of students, colleagues, and mentors in this ever-growing field.

    The day began with a performance by third year DIE/AT students about youth at risk in the alternative education programs and was followed by a rich talkback about the themes explored in the piece.
    (A Better Tomorrow. Jenna Klomp, Victoria Van Sickle, Spencer Walker, Michelle Lemme, Melissa Butera, Maddy DeLuca.)

    In the field of Drama in Education there were presentations that explored the use of drama to engage and better understand cyberbullying (Exploring Cyberbullying Through Drama for Social Intervention. Gillian Fournier, OCT, MEd), identity formation in relation to social media (Do they “like” me? An exploration of the 21st century student’s new socialization experience and its implication for pedagogical practice. Mary Code, MEd student, Faculty of Education), body image and self-loathing amongst school children (I’m perfect/Imperfect: Dramatic Explorations of body image with elementary and post-secondary students. Dr. Kari-Lynn Winters, Faculty of Education), Romeo and Juliet as Educational Theatre through Facebook (Facebook Romeo and Juliet as Educational Theatre: An Improbable Fiction? Helen Zdriluk, MEd, Department of Dramatic Arts), and the important roles that artists can play within the classroom environment and curriculum delivery (Playlinks: Investigating an Artist-in-the-Classroom Approach to Enhanced Student Learning. Dr. Debra McLauchlan, Faculty of Education).

    Applied Theatre presentations included topics such as the pitfalls of charity work in the field of international development and the importance of creating change that is sustainable (Keep your coins: We want change. Rox Chwalulk, OCT, MEd), as well as an examination of the ethical considerations in the use of personal stories for raising awareness and celebrating experiences of immigration and settling (Personal Stories in Applied Theatre: Redefining the Blurred Lines. Dr. Yasmine Kandil, Department of Dramatic Arts).

    On the topic of Research Dissemination one presentation explored the use of web-based videos to share and mobilize research initiatives (Disseminating Performative Research Through Web-based Videos. Dr. Joe Norris, Department of Dramatic Arts).  From the area of Social Justice and Equity Studies a presentation examined anti-oppressive literature in elementary school classrooms (“They’re trying to trick us!” Making sense of anti-oppressive children’s literature in the elementary school classroom. Kate Paterson, MA student, Social Justice and Equity Studies).

    Professor Kandil came from Victoria, British Columbia to join the Department of Dramatic Arts in 2014. Her research investigates the effective methods of Theatre for Development practice by understanding the conditions that provide autonomy and empowerment for marginalized communities.  Her dissertation (University of Victoria) showcases two long-term projects: one carried out with a community of garbage pickers living in the slums of Cairo, and the other with immigrant and refugee youth in Victoria, B.C. Professor Kandil’s current research investigates the relationship between not-for-profit organizations’ arts-based projects and participant autonomy and privacy in projects that depict participants’ real-life experiences.  The outcome will be to produce a guidebook, for use of organizations and artists, which would outline the parameters and ethical considerations when working with people’s real-life stories in community-based theatre projects.

    Please see the following links for more information and to contact Professor Kandil.

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    Categories: Alumni, Current Students, News

  • Professor Joe Norris receives the 2015 Tom Barone Award for Distinguished Contributions to Arts Based Educational Research

    Tuesday, January 27, 2015 | By

    Professor Joe Norris

    Professor Joe Norris

    Professor Joe Norris of the Department of Dramatic Arts is recipient of the 2015 Tom Barone Award for Distinguished Contributions to Arts Based Educational Research. Offered by the Arts Based Educational Research (ABER) Special Interest Group for the American Educational Research Association (AERA), this triennial award recognizes artist/scholars for distinguished research, professional practice, and service that advances the public understanding of arts based educational research. The award is presented to an individual whose professional career has significantly advanced the field of arts-based educational research through extraordinary and significant leadership, research, teaching, professional practice, and/or service. The award established in 2012, is named in honor of Tom Barone, the first Chair of the ABER SIG whose dedication to the development of the field and community of arts based educational researchers is exemplary. Tom Barone was also the first recipient of this award in 2012.

    The criteria upon which the award was based are:

    • Outstanding accomplishments in the area of arts-based educational research.
    • Existence of a body of work over 10 years or more or evidence that the research has significantly influenced the field.
    • Service to the ABER research community (reviewer, editorial boards, conference organizing)
    • Evidence of contributions to the growth of new ABER researchers (teaching, mentoring, co-authorship) and contributions to the growth of new ABER researchers (teaching, mentoring, co-authorship).

    Professor Norris teaches DART 1F95 Drama in Education and Applied Theatre I, DART 3F93 Social Issues Theatre for Community Engagement and other foundational courses for students interested in pursuing studies in Drama in Educationn and Applied Theatre.  His company ‘Mirror Theatre’ regularly presents in the Brock and regional communities.  Professor Norris publishes his material at his website joenorrisplaybuilding.ca

    When announcing the award, Rita Irwin, Chair of 2015 Tom Barone Award Committee, wrote “It goes without saying that you have provided many distinguished contributions over 25 years and are abundantly meritorious for this award. We all look forward to celebrating this achievement with you at AERA.” Professor Norris will receive the award at the April 2015 AGM of the American Educational Research Association in Chicago.  The Department congratulates Professor Norris!

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    Categories: Faculty & Instructors, News

  • RUR: Rise of the Robot God

    Tuesday, January 20, 2015 | By

    We are dedicating this final production in the Sean O’Sullivan Theatre to the memory of our late poet, Terrance Cox, who passed in the evening of January 16, 2015. Please see this post for more information.

    Directed by David Fancy
    Set Design & Costume Design by David Vivian
    Lighting Design by Jennifer Jimenez
    Music by Steve Chan

    An updated version of Karel Capek’s 1930s classic robot play.

    The past and future of artificial life, complete with phasers and show tunes!

    Show dates/times: February 12, 13, and 14, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
    Matinee performance: February 13 at 11:30 a.m.

    purchase tickets here

    social media: rurrobotrising.tumblr.com
    on twitter: #rurrobotrising

    Performed in the Sean O’Sullivan Theatre, Brock University

    Karel Capek invented the word ‘robot’ in 1920s Czechoslovakia and the world has never been the same since. Our updated version of this Marxist robot melodrama features lots of bots and borgs, an apocalyptic vision of the future, and, of course, a theremin. Come witness the robot apocalypse!

    In Rossum’s Universal Robots (1920), Karel Capek invites us into an uncertain future in which the world is overrun by mass-produced robots. Although their makers hoped these machines would free human beings from the bondage of labour, instead, the robots mimic their makers and resort to war against all humans. This play is a precursor to so much subsequent science fiction dealing with artificial intelligence—from Star Trek to Terminator, from 2001: A Space Odyssey to Her. Like these later stories, the play deals with the anxieties of creating artificial life-forms, the awe in the face of robot power and possibility, and the fear of the end of human life on the planet.

    In the play, Rossum’s robot factory is visited by President Glory’s daughter Helena, a robot emancipationist. She attempts to convince the other humans working at the plant that the robots deserve their own freedom. Instead, she never leaves the factory, marries into the Rossum clan, and is present when the robot genocide of humans takes place. The final humans on the planet struggle to understand what has gone wrong. At a time of increasing technologization of labour and the becoming-digital of many people’s daily lives in the Economic North, this production offers an opportunity to imagine different futures beyond the ‘mechanization of everything.’

    Teachers and faculty should read this letter about group bookings and discounts.

    A Primer for Robot Audiences is available for review, prepared by Lead robot author, Andrew Godin: download to print a copy. (PDF, 4.8 MB)

    purchase tickets here

    Media

    See the video below to learn more about the show!

    see the article in Niagara This Week!
    see the article in Niagara This Week!

     

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    Categories: Events, Plays

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