News

  • DART on BROCK TV

    vreh-brocktv-vidProfessor Virginia Reh speaks about life in theatre and the production of Phèdre that was performed by students of DART in the Sean O’Sullivan Theatre in February of 2011. Video interview from the series University People by BROCK TV. (click image to play)

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    Categories: Current Students, Events, Faculty & Instructors, News, Plays

  • Visiting Artist: Nina Arsenault

    img_1127_webNina 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.

    www.ninaarsenault.com

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    Categories: Current Students, News, Visiting Artists

  • Dramatic Arts performance of Phèdre examines passion, politics and jealousy

    (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:

    • Thursday, Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m.
    • Friday, Feb. 18, 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
    • Saturday, Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m.

    Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. To order, call 905-688-5550 x3257 or email [email protected]

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    Categories: In the Media, News

  • A New Spring Session course – DART 1F01: Acting for Non Majors

    img_6810cr-220dart_minor_infosheetv2-flatheader-sm

    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

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    Categories: Announcements, News

  • Phèdre

    phedre-poster-draft-v2-copy-web_0Phèdre

    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)


    Media:

    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.


    Photos:

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    Categories: Events, Plays

  • 8 Day ALBA Emoting workshop

    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]

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    Categories: Announcements, News

  • Marlene Moser Memorial Scholarship

    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.

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    Categories: Announcements, Faculty & Instructors, News

  • DART mourns the passing of a friend and colleague.

    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.


    Photos:


    Memories:

    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]

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    Categories: Announcements, Faculty & Instructors, News

  • Visitors To Brock (2010-2011)

    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.

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    Categories: Announcements, News, Visiting Artists

  • Earp Dance at Brock Nuit Blanche 2010

    earpresidenceFor 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.

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    Categories: Events