Nina Arsenault recently visited us for an artist’s talk, part of Dramatic Arts 3P96 Studies in Praxis II: Queer Theories and Performance Practices.
Arsenault is a “transsexual cyborg” theatre and performance artist whose one-woman show, The Silicone Diaries, has had sold-out runs in Toronto and Montreal, and will be touring the country this coming Spring. Ms. Arsenault gave a short talk about her process followed by an interview with Praxis course director, Paul Halferty.
(Source: The Brock News, Monday, February 14, 2011)
Suppressed desire and ancient power struggles collide in this week’s production of Phèdre at Brock.
Phèdre, written by Jean Racine, will be presented by the Department of Dramatic Arts at the Sean O’Sullivan Theatre. Phèdre – translated into English by British poet Ted Hughes – mixes poetry, political intrigue and sexual jealousy.
The play contains a principal love triangle of Phèdre, her husband Theseus and his son Hippolytus. Phèdre has a forbidden passion for her stepson that unleashes a wave of tragic consequences.
The roles are played by Dramatic Arts undergraduate students, including Kasey Dunn, Michael Pearson, Eric Frank, Emma Bulpin, Lauren Beaton, Josh Davidson, Kedie McIntyre, and Madison Roca. The play is directed by Virginia Reh and designed by David Vivian, both Dramatic Arts faculty members.
The myths around Theseus, Phaedra and Hippolytus have fascinated playwrights for ages, Reh said.
“Racine’s masterpiece distils the best of his major sources, particularly Euripides’ Hippolytus,” she said. “From Euripides he borrows the fundamentally principled Phaedra, an essentially moral woman who is tormented by a forbidden passion and chooses to die rather than surrender to it. The tragedy is at once epic and domestic.“
Performances:
Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. To order, call 905-688-5550 x3257 or email [email protected]
Are you interested in Acting, but not a Dramatic Arts Major?
OR
Are you a Primary/Junior Concurrent Education Student looking for an introductory course in Acting?
OR
Are you looking for an active, engaging Spring Intensive Course?
DART 1F01: Acting for Non Majors
Monday, May 2 – Friday, May 13, 2011
M T W TH F 9:00h – 16:30h TH 141
This course is a rigorous introduction to acting for non majors. There are no pre requisites and no restrictions.
Contact [email protected] for more information, ext. 5255
Brock University
DEPARTMENT OF DRAMATIC ARTS
acting, acting for non majors, DART 1F01, Dramatic Arts, new course, spring session
Categories: Announcements, News
Phèdre
Written by Jean Racine
Translated by Ted Hughes
Directed by Virginia Reh
Designed by David Vivian
Feb. 17, 18, 19, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
Student Matinee: Friday, Feb. 18, 2011 at 01:00 p.m.
adults $15.00
students and seniors $12.00
$5.00 matinee for Brock students and staff
The myth of Phèdre is one of the most powerful in all of classical mythology. Believing her absent husband Theseus to be dead, the Queen confesses her obsession for stepson Hippolytus, thus entering a nightmare world and spinning a tale of passion that unwinds with disastrous consequences.
Held at the Sean O’Sullivan Theatre, call the Centre for the Arts Box Office, 905-688-5550, ext. 3257 for tickets.
High School teachers and Educators: A description of the play and the performance is available for download (3 mb, PDF). Subjects include: The Play, Artistic Direction, Curriculum Ties, Student Matinee Booking, Study Guide/School Outreach.
Phèdre: A Primer, is an introduction to our production, prepared by our Dramaturge and Fourth Year DART student, Spencer Smith. Included are:
1) Collaboration, 2) Play Synopsis, 3) Director’s Notes, 4) Scenographer’s Notes, 5) The Playwright: Jean-Baptiste Racine, 6) The Translator: Ted Hughes, 7) Family Tree, 8) The Myths: Theseus, Phaedra, and Hippolytus, 9) The Labyrinth of Lexicon: People and Places, 10) The Many Faces of Phaedra, 11) Dramaturge’s Notes, 12) List of Figures, 13) Bibliography.
Download your PDF copy of Phèdre: A Primer (PDF, 16.1 MB, remotely hosted)
See the article in The Brock News
Professor Virginia Reh speaks about life in theatre and the production of Phedre that was performed by students of DART in the Sean O’Sullivan Theatre in 2011. Screenshot from a video interview in the series “University People”, by BROCK TV.
Emma Bulpin, Eric Frank, Kasey Dunn, Mainstage, Phèdre, plays
Categories: Events, Plays
8 Day ALBA Emoting workshop
Dates: April 22 – 30 (with the 26th off)
Location: TH141
The workshop will be taught in four hour sessions daily, with one day off. The work is described as intimate, intense, and emotional. The workshop is limited to 12 participants.
ALBA Emoting: Alba Emoting was developed by neuroscientist Dr. Susana Bloch as a safe, purely physical alternative to emotion memory for releasing, maintaining, and controlling emotional states on stage.
Alba Emoting identifies six “basic” emotions from which all others derive. Each of the basic emotions, as well as emotional neutrality, has its own unique, identifiable set of bodily responses (“effector patterns”) which are universal to all humans. By reproducing aspects of these patterns — breathing, posture, and facial expression — an actor can experience and express genuine, organic emotion at will, without the use of memory or images.
Instructor: Professor Nancy Loitz teaches directing at Wesleyan University in Illinois. Nancy received her MFA from the University of Minnesota. Nancy studied with Susana Bloch, and is one of the only certified instructors of ALBA emoting in North America. She has taught professional actors in Zurich, Switzerland; Milan, Italy; and in Chicago.
Due to limited space, interested students are asked to apply for a space in the workshop by contacting Kasey Dunn, and explaining why you would like to take the workshop.
Contact info: [email protected]
Alba emoting, ALBA Emoting workshop, Nancy Loitz, Susana Bloch
Categories: Announcements, News
The Department of Dramatic Arts lost a cherished colleague and friend, Dr. Marlene Moser, on December 21, 2010. In her honour we have established the Marlene Moser Memorial Scholarship. To contribute to this Scholarship please send donations to the attention of Norm Bradshaw, Faculty of Humanities, Brock University. The cheque or gift should be made out to Brock University and indicate Marlene Moser Memorial Scholarship. All donations are eligible to be matched dollar for dollar by the provincial government.
For more information please contact Norm Bradshaw.
Marlene at the Humanities Research Institute Symposium in December, 2006
It is with deep sadness and grief that we share with you the news of our dear colleague Marlene Moser’s passing on the evening of December 21, 2010.
Marlene’s courageous five year battle with breast cancer developed into metastasis this past summer. Her condition started to deteriorate rapidly Monday morning and she was admitted to the Juravinski Hospital Tuesday morning and passed away peacefully Tuesday evening surrounded by all of her family.
Marlene has been a member of the Brock Community since 2000. During her tenure as professor, researcher, creator, Director and Chair she provided leadership and love to her colleagues and students in the Department of Dramatic Arts. She was instrumental to the development of the Department as a site of luminous and rigorous investigation of theatre praxis. Her mentorship of five colleagues through tenure and promotion is but one facet of her legacy to the future of our research, pedagogy, and community. Her presence in the burgeoning theatre scene of St. Catharines was only recently curtailed as she focused her creative energies to meet the challenge of cancer – the vision of her initiatives remains undiminished and in our hearts.
Marlene fought this cancer with such strength, courage and determination. The Department greatly mourns her passing.
for more information please see her web page
see the Brock News article here
Information about the visitation and an upcoming celebration on January 4th, 2011 is found in the obituary in the Hamilton Spectator. Here are the details:
Family and friends may gather at the BAY GARDENS FUNERAL HOME, 1010 Botanical Drive, BURLINGTON, on Tuesday, December 28th between 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. A celebration of Marlene’s life (reunion) will take place on her birthday, January 4th at the Royal Botanical Gardens at 2 p.m.
There is also an online Book of Condolence at the above webpage.
The department will host a memorial event in the new year, with details to come. Download the PDF for the Department of Dramatic Arts’ celebration of her life here.
In her honour we have established the Marlene Moser Memorial Scholarship. To contribute to this Scholarship please send donations to the attention of Norm Bradshaw [email protected], Faculty of Humanities, Brock University. The cheque or gift should be made out to Brock University and indicate Marlene Moser Memorial Scholarship. All donations are eligible to be matched dollar for dollar by the provincial government.
Name: Derrick de Kerckhove
Location: Naples, Italy
How did you know Marlene?: I directed Marlene’s Phd. thesis
Your comments: Since I have been away in Europe most of the time since 2008, having lost touch with Marlene a couple of years after she passed her oral – brillantly – I had not heard this heartbreaking news. I remember her elegance, intelligence, determination and freedom of spirit. This is the kind of loss that sinks deep in a community. My best wishes for the recovery of this community.
if you wish to submit a comment or share a memory about Marlene, please contact [email protected]
DART faculty, in memoriam, Marlene Moser
Categories: Announcements, Faculty & Instructors, News
Artists who will be visiting DART this season include:
Nina Arsenault
February 15th, 2011 13h-14h30 DART 3P96 Studies in Praxis II
Open to the public 15-16h30
ST 107
www.ninaarsenault.com
Jen Capraru
Thursday February 17, 9h00
DART 1F95 Drama in Education and Applied Theatre I
TH 243
Artistic Director > Theatre Asylum
ISÔKO | The Theatre Source
Modern theatre for social harmony and cultural growth in Rwanda
www.isoko-rwanda.org/
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6YoNN6RyKU
http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/worldstage1011/themonument.cfm
www.theatreasylum.com
Greg Grainger
Thursday February 17 10h00
DART 2F41 Stage Craft
ST 108
Join students in DART 2F41 for a special presentation by a former student of DART. Grainger will speak of his academic and professional career in theatre. Now a professional technician, Grainger will answer your questions about how to succeed in the Canadian entertainment industry. Followed by a Q & A
PDF poster
8 Day ALBA Emoting workshop Guest lecturer Nancy Loitz
April 22-30 (with the 26th off)
TH141
The workshop will be taught in four hour sessions daily, with one day off. The work is described as intimate, intense, and emotional. The workshop is limited to 12 participants.
ALBA Emoting: Alba Emoting was developed by neuroscientist Dr. Susana Bloch as a safe, purely physical alternative to emotion memory for releasing, maintaining, and controlling emotional states on stage.
visiting artists
Categories: Announcements, News, Visiting Artists
For those of you unable to attend Nuit Blanche Brock this year, check out the short video above to see dancers Shannon Perugino and Jessica Goncalves of the Department of Dramatic Arts perform on the beautifully lit top floor of Earp Student Residence at Brock University. The original piece was performed every half hour from 6pm to midnight on the chilly night of December 3, 2010, to audiences outside on the street below as part of Nuit Blanche Brock 2010.
Performed by Dramatic Arts students Jessica Goncalves and Shannon Perugino; Sound Op: Matthew Viviano; Tech and Design Support: Doug Ledingham and David Vivian; Conceived by Natalie Alvarez. Choreography by Jessica Goncalves, Shannon Perugino and Natalie Alvarez.
(Source: Carousel Players)
COMMOTION will give 23 Niagara students an opportunity to perform two new plays that they’ve created over a 12 week drama enrichment program at their high schools and present it at the Sullivan Mahoney Courthouse Theatre from December 9-11, 2010. Thanks to support from TALK Niagara (Teams of Adults Listening to Kids) and Bonnie Prentice, students from 8 high schools all over Niagara will see these plays created by students from Eastdale Secondary School and Laura Secord Secondary School. Free performances at the Old Courthouse are Thursday, December 9th at 10 am and 12:30pm, Friday, December 10th at 10am and 12:30 pm, and Saturday, December 11th at 7pm. For ticket information call Carousel Players at 905-682-8326 X26.
The play On the Line by Laura Secord Secondary School students tackles the influence of technology and media on young people, bullying and family relations. Students from Eastdale Secondary School have created the play Squawk: Flippin’ the Bird which explores the use and abuse of authority, decision-making and issues of identity. Both plays open up new doors for discussion with teens on what happens on the internet, the social pressures they face, and they encourage students to share stories with their peers about their own experiences. Roxolana Chwaluk, Caitlin English, Brandon Pachan and Trevor Rotenberg, facilitators trained through Brock University’s Drama Department have been working with the students an estimated 240 hours at their schools since September 2010.
“The characters, scenes and stories from the plays evolved from improvised scenes created by the students and developed through a play building process called RSVP. In Commotion, we start exploring resource materials, like umbrellas or ironing boards, and allow the stories, issues and insights to emerge from this work” said COMMOTION leader Pablo Felices Luna, Artistic Director at Carousel Players. “The COMMOTION program is led by Professor Gyllian Raby with designers Michael Greves, Joe Lapinski and Doug Ledingham. We thank drama teachers Tracey Garratt from Eastdale Secondary School and Tracy Thorpe from Laura Secord Secondary School for welcoming us into their schools, for actively fostering creativity in their students and for their passionate commitment to drama at their school.”
This is the second year of the three year COMMOTION project and involves Carousel Players, Brock University’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts and TALK Niagara (Teams of Adults Listening to Kids). Last year 35 students from E.L. Crossley Secondary School and St. Catharines Collegiate participated in the program. COMMOTION is made possible by SSHRC: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and approval from the District School Board of Niagara to work with participating high school students on the project.
