If these Winship walls could talk.
UT Theatre and Dance Community Among Top Picks
Minus 16, Catalyst, 2012 Photo: Jeff Heimsath
For the 20th year, an informal affiliation of local arts critics has recognized the year’s most exceptional achievements in dance, classical music, the visual arts, and theatre. Department of Theatre and Dance productions, students, faculty, alumni and friends are well represented on this year’s list of nominations. Winners will be announced of the Critics’ Table Awards will be announced on June 4.
Performances listed below are produced by The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance unless otherwise noted.
DANCE
Dance Concert
Short Work
Tango Vesre by Alvin Rangel, MFA ‘12
Watch the Gap by Ellen Bartel, MFA ‘12
Choreographer
David Justin, Oblivion’s Ink, Department of Theatre and Dance Associate Professor and Co-Artistic Director of Dance Repertory Theatre
Dancer
Alvin Rangel, Tango Vesre, MFA ‘12
Ensemble
Ellen Bartel (MFA ’12), Mari Akita, and Adam Sultan in Program C: Butoh (Big Range Dance Festival)
Dance Repertory Theatre dancers in Minus 16, Catalyst
DESIGN
Scenic Design
Rowan Doyle, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, MFA ‘12
Michael Raiford, Hairspray/Spring Awakening/God of Carnage (ZACH Theatre), MFA ‘09
Chris H. Yoo, 360 (round dance), MFA candidate
Costume Design
Yao Chen, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, MFA candidate
Proletina Veltchev, Love’s Labour’s Lost, MFA ‘12
Lighting Design
Kate Leahy, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, MFA ‘12
Cheng-Wei Teng, Love’s Labour’s Lost, MFA ‘12
Video Design
Joao Beira, Too & For (Catalyst), Choreographer Yacov Sharir
Jeff Kurihara, Broken Pieces/Just for the Night (New York Stories), MFA candidate
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 2012 Photo: Trent Lesikar
THEATRE
Production, Drama
Direction
Daria Davis, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, MFA candidate
Acting in a Leading Role
Jon Cook, The Aliens (Hyde Park Theatre), BA ‘12
Acting in a Supporting Role
Kim Adams, Ghosts/The Pavilion (Penfold Theatre Co. in partnership with Breaking String), BA ‘09
Kelli Schultz, Next to Normal (ZACH Theatre), BA ‘12
Rommel Sulit, Bacha Bazi (Boy Play)
Ensemble Performance
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
David Mark Cohen New Play Award
360 (round dance), Steven Dietz, Department of Theatre and Dance Professor
Bacha Bazi (Boy Play), Gabriel Jason Dean, MFA ‘12
River City, Diana Grisanti, MFA ‘12
Static, Tom Horan, MFA ‘12
Music Direction
Allen Robertson, Hairspray/Next to Normal (ZACH Theatre), MFA ‘92
Movement
Quetta Carpenter, Love’s Labour’s Lost , Department of Theatre and Dance Lecturer
Tom Truss, Hair (Texas State University-San Marcos), MFA ‘09
Audiences have the opportunity to be enchanted once again by Oblivion’s Ink, the contemporary ballet by Department of Theatre and Dance Associate Professor David Justin. Dance Repertory Theatre, the university’s student dance ensemble, will perform Justin’s choreography at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. on May 25.
Oblivion’s Ink, 2012. Photo: Jeff Heimsath
The performance is in conjunction with the National College Dance Festival, an annual event that highlights exemplary choreography and performance created at colleges and universities across the country. The University of Texas at Austin’s dance program is one of 30 schools recognized at this year’s prestigious event. Oblivion’s Ink was premiered in March 2012 as part the department’s critically acclaimed dance concert Catalyst.
In addition to its debut at the Kennedy Center, Oblivion’s Ink will be performed in American Repertory Ensemble’s (ARE) spring concert at the Long Center for the Performing Arts on May 23. Entitled Fast Approaching Swiftly Gone, ARE’s program includes the Tosca String Quartet as well as work by internationally renowned choreographers Alex Ketley and Julia Adam.
David Justin serves as the co-artistic director of Dance Repertory Theatre and the artistic director of American Repertory Ensemble.
Lucien Douglas, Department of Theatre and dance professor and senior associate chair, has been named the recipient of the 2012 College of Fine Arts Distinguished Teaching Award. The faculty and student-nominated award is the college’s highest honor for teaching excellence.
As an actor and director, Douglas has taught undergraduate and graduate students at the university since 1997. His highly popular classes include acting and directing, as well as topics courses in contemporary stage performance and acting for the camera.
A consummate ambassador for the Department of Theatre and Dance, Douglas has built vital relationships with high school educators and their students. He presents master classes and workshops for schools throughout the stage, and works closely with University Interscholastic League (UIL) and Texas Educational Theatre Association (TETA). Under his leadership, the Department of Theatre and Dance is developing new curriculum that will enhance the undergraduate actor-training program.
This year, Douglas performed alongside department students, and taught by example in The Cherry Orchard and Love’s Labour’s Lost. At the same time, Douglas continues to work professionally. In February, he performed his solo show A Dream Within a Dream: Performing the Life and Works of Edgar Allan Poe at The Arts Cottage in Smithville, Texas. He is the lead voice-over talent for “Pirates 101” and “Wizards 101”, video games produced by Kingsisle Entertainment. He is also currently working with acclaimed director Richard Linklater on a new project.
Douglas was formally presented the Distinguished Teaching Award at the College of Fine Arts spring commencement ceremony on May 18, 2012. Professor Susan Mickey received the award in 2011.
Open the latest scholarly theatre or dance publication, and you are apt to see articles by Department of Theatre and Dance faculty, alumni and students. The recent March issues of Theatre Topics and Theatre Journal are no exception.
Dr. Rebecca Rossen’s article Jews on View: Spectacle, Degradation, and Jewish Corporeality in Contemporary Dance and Performance is featured in the March publication of Theatre Journal. An assistant professor at the Department of Theatre and Dance, Dr. Rossen’s research focuses on 20th and 21st century American dance, theatrical stagings of identity, and the relationship between scholarship and performance. In addition, she is a faculty affiliate in the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies, the Schusterman Center for Jewish Studies, and the American Studies Department.
Dr. Rossen recently received a National Endowment for the Humanities research grant for her study “Jewish Identity in American Modern and Postmodern Dance.”
Alumna Claire Canavan’s (PhD 2010) article Created by Ensemble is in the March publication of Theatre Topics. Dr. Canavan is a lecturer at Texas State University-San Marcos.
Theatre Topics also features a book review by alumna Susanne Shawyer (PhD 2008). The current book review editor for this respected journal is alumnus Chase Bringardner (PhD 2007), who teaches at Auburn University. In addition, alumnus Ramon Rivera-Servera (PhD 2003) serves on the editorial board of Theatre Topics. Dr. Rivera-Servera is on faculty at Northwestern University.
Legacy is vital in dance. Passing from one generation of dancer to the next through the sweat and dedication of practice, dance thrives, evolves and sustains in the light of legacy. Shirlee Dodge founded the dance program at The University of Texas at Austin in 1943 and built a legacy formed from two continents, the womb of modern expressionist dance and a lifetime devoted to true creativity.
From an early age Dodge danced her way through life (tap and acrobatics) with her sister in Vaudevillian acts until she discovered a new way to move and express in the performances of Mary Wigman. An acolyte of Rudolf Laban, Wigman is considered by many to be the founder of modern dance in Europe. At the age of 21, Dodge traveled to Europe with her University of Wisconsin Dance classmates. She convinced her parents that she needed to remain in Europe to study with Wigman in Dresden, Germany. She graduated from the Mary Wigman Central Institute in 1939 with three degrees: Professional Theatre Dancer, Pedagogy for Laymen Dancers, and Pedagogy for Professional Dancers. Later, armed with international experience, an artistic pedigree from the leading edge of modern dance and a professional teaching and performing career spanning parts of Europe, New York and the midwest; Dodge was invited by Anna Hiss (Head of The University of Texas at Austin Department for Physical Training for Women) to found a creative dance program for the university in 1943.
Within two years, Dodge was able to bring the dance program to the College of Fine Arts under Dean E. William Doty. Dodge not only taught dance, but choreographed and performed as well. This began the dance education of university students, as well as the Austin community. In a 1946 program letter, she wrote:
“Creative Dance, like any art, is a matter of personal experience. This experience can be the act of the dancer or the act of the spectator. In a dance concert, a true aesthetic fulfillment is that performance throughout which a free and flowing communication is established between the dancer and his audience.
[….] It is impossible to describe dance with words. Dance is a language which must be met in terms of its nature. As sound is to music, as words are to literature…so is movement to dance.” (Shirlee Dodge, Dance Sketches, 1946)
Dodge achieved full professorship at the university in 1965. She and her colleagues B. Iden Payne, Loren Winship, E.P. Conkle, Jim Moll and Fran Hodge, were forces that shaped the department and the standards of excellence that the faculty and students relentlessly pursue to this day.
Taking a snapshot of the dance program today, it is inspiring to see the thread of legacy continue to be spun. The department’s dance faculty share with Dodge the philosophical perspectives of individual creativity, the professional experiences of working internationally, and making the teaching aspect of this art form a central part of the experience. The bachelor of fine arts in dance, which started in 1998, focuses on three fundamental elements of study to support students living life on a dancer’s journey: performance, creativity and pedagogy. All of these were fundamental to the creative life of Shirlee Dodge.
There are many ways to measure success. One is to look at the success of the pupils. While an educator cannot take credit for students’ innate talents, mentors like Dodge do play an undeniable role in nurturing talents to realize their fullest potentials. Possibly one of the greatest successes has been that of alumnus Tommy Tune, winner of nine Tony Awards and the National Medal of Arts, to whom Dodge was an important “haven of sanity.” (Tune, 1998) Tune is a hard act to follow, yet theatre and dance alumni continue to impact the field with great success from New York to Los Angeles; from Maine to Mexico; onstage, behind the scenes and in the studio.
Today’s university dance program is a true partner in the Department of Theatre and Dance, and is considered a model for other programs. The department has evolved greatly since the days of creative dance in P.E. programs. The dance program is developing scholarships, taking students to Europe to perform and study, presenting choreography at the Kennedy Center, and seeking ways to constantly improve the student experience through repertoire, facility improvements, and guest artist interactions. The momentum is compelling. Dance at the university stands to continue as a driving force in the department, the college and the nation.
Contributed by David Justin, Associate Professor of Dance
Photography courtesy of Pam and Edmund McIlhenny
The Shirlee Dodge Theatre and Dance Endowment was recently established by Shirlee’s daughter, Pam McIlhenny and her husband Edmund. This endowment will honor Professor Dodge’s legacy by supporting The University of Texas at Austin dance program and awarding scholarships to the most talented dance students.
To be a part of this meaningful tribute to Shirlee Dodge, you may make a gift online or by check made payable to ‘The University of Texas at Austin’ and mail to:
Michele Baylor, Director of Development
The University of Texas at Austin
Department of Theatre and Dance
1 University Station, D3900
Austin, TX 78712
For additional information, please contact Michele Baylor at 512-475-6291.
The fourth edition of Gregg Hillmar’s (MFA ‘86) book “Light Plot Deconstructed” hits the shelves in March. Written for Vectorworks Spotlight 2012, the theatrical lighting industry standard CAD software, this tutorial manual is based on Gregg’s successful Vectorworks Spotlight demonstrations and training courses. Gregg provides a short, accessible, and easy to follow look at Vectorworks Spotlight as an addition to the Vectorworks Manuals.
Gregg (MFA, 1986) is a scenic and lighting designer based in Richmond, Virginia. Gregg’s work has been seen at theatre, dance and opera productions across the country. Non-theatre work includes designing galleries, lighting museum exhibits, and designing convention booths and stages. Gregg has written about Vectorworks in many industry publications and has provided training for professional theatres, dance companies, businesses, educational institutions and individuals. He has done training seminars at USITT, LDI, SETC, and other industry organizations and conventions. Gregg is an associate professor of theatre design and technology at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia. He is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829, the union for professional theatrical designers and artists, and can be visited on the web at www.hillmardesign.com.
Date: April 23, 2012
Event: The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance presents PORTFOLIO 2012, an exhibition celebrating the work of emerging artists in costume design, lighting design, scenery, media and technology. The annual showcase offers behind-the-scenes access as attendees see imagination manifest itself in works for the stage and film.
In conjunction with PORTFOLIO 2012, the department will host a public lecture by scenic designer Thomas A. Walsh on April 29. Walsh has been recognized with an array of awards including an Emmy for his designs for CBS’s critically acclaimed series, Buddy Faro, and his origination of the hit ABC series, Desperate Housewives, a show for which he designed the pilot and its first 84 episodes.
When:
Opening Reception and Exhibition: April 29, 4-6 p.m.
Exhibition: April 30-May 3, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; and May 5, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Lecture: “Narrative Design Training for the Digital Sandbox” by Thomas A. Walsh, April 29, 6 p.m.
Where:
PORTFOLIO 2012 and Thomas A. Walsh’s lecture will be held in the Oscar G. Brockett Theatre, located in the F. Loren Winship Drama Building (WIN) at the intersection of 23rd Street and San Jacinto Boulevard.
Tickets: Admission is free and open to the public.
Background:
PORTFOLIO 2012 highlights the work of 35 artists from The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance. Showcasing initial ideas born in drawings to fully realized works, the annual exhibit includes costumes, millinery, armor and lighting and scenic designs for the stage and film.
A nationally recognized program, the Department of Theatre and Dance has numerous successful alumni, including Tony Award-winning designer Kevin Adams (Spring Awakening, American Idiot). PORTFOLIO 2012 offers attendees the exclusive opportunity to view innovative works and meet the artists, who are preparing to launch their careers.
Guest artist Thomas A. Walsh is a narrative designer whose body of work encompasses feature films, IMAX, television, documentaries, theatrical dramas and musicals. On Broadway he designed the world premieres of Zoot Suit and Children of a Lesser God, the latter of which received the Tony Award for Best Play (1980). Walsh is the president of the Art Directors Guild and co-chairman of its Film Society.
Walsh’s lecture “Narrative Design Training for the Digital Sandbox” explores the expansion of digital media and the collaborative nature of creation for film, television and the stage.
Contact: Cassie Gholston, gholston [at] austin.utexas.edu, (512) 232.5301
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Date: April 13, 2012
The University of Texas at Austin presents “What a Stranger May Know”
A site-specific outdoors reading of a play to commemorate 32 lives lost in the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting
Event: Students, faculty and staff of The University of Texas at Austin community will participate in a daybreak tribute to those who lost their lives in the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings on April 16. “What a Stranger May Know” is a series of 32 plays, one for each victim, written by Erik Ehn, an internationally known artist-activist and the director of playwriting at Brown University.
When: April 16, 2012 at 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Where: The outdoor performance takes place on The University of Texas at Austin’s South Mall at Inner Campus Drive, Austin, Texas 78712.
Background: The University of Texas at Austin’s outdoor reading will follow Erik Ehn’s ambitious, plays-within-a-play format as a series of monologues. “What a Stranger May Know” is produced by Isaac Gomez, Michael Massey, Megan McQuaid and Sam Gorena, undergraduate students from the university’s Department of Theatre and Dance. The event will take place at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, April 16, on the fifth anniversary of the tragedy, during the time of its occurrence in 2007.
Twenty-seven student actors will be scattered in different stations across the university’s South Mall leading up to the Tower, reading their 90-minute monologues simultaneously. Members of the audience are free to move about, wandering through the scenes as the stories unfold, or to stay with one selection throughout its entirety.
This community performance reaches beyond The University of Texas at Austin’s campus. “What a Stranger May Know” will be presented on April 16 at Santa Clara University, Brown University, City College of New York, Brandeis University, University of Ulster, The New School, The University of Texas at Arlington, Whittier College.
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Contact: Cassie Gholston, gholston [at] austin.utexas.edu
Isaac Gomez, isaacgomez8 [at] yahoo.com
