Theater, dance take spotlight
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The Troy University Department of Theater and Dance has released its schedule for the 2010 spring and summer seasons and it’s a jam-packed one.
The schedule gets off to a fast start with “Movin’ On,” a Young Choreographer’s Showcase, in February and “Guys & Dolls” will be performed in April, both at the Claudia Crosby Theater on the campus of Troy University.
Jenny Meadows, marketing and public relations director for the Department of Theater and Dance, said both productions will be extremely entertaining and appeal to a wide audience range.
“‘Movin’ On’ will feature the works of student choreographers who submitted their choreographic concepts last fall,” Meadows said. “Submissions were selected based on originality, style and story. Those chosen have proven to be thoughtfully creative and bring dance together with live vocals, video projection, props and scripts to tell their stories.”
Auditions for “Movin’ On” are open to the public. Contact 670-3224 for information.
Meadows said “Guys & Dolls” is always a popular show. The original production opened on Broadway in 1950 and ran for 1,200 performances.
“‘Guys & Dolls’ won eight Tony Awards, including music and lyrics, and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award.
“The production by the Troy University Department of Theater and Dance will be outstanding and a great way to close out the 2009-10 spring theater season,” Meadows said.
When the summer begins, the Spotlight will be on Troy University’s Department of Theater and Dance as it offers two Spotlight opportunities for young people.
“The Creative Drama Day Camp for ages four through 14 was so successful last summer that Meadows said it, hopefully, will be expanded this July.
“We are trying to find a way to increase the number of participants,” she said. “Last summer, we had to turn applicants down because we didn’t have enough room. We don’t want to have to do that this year.”
The Creative Drama Day Camp encourages campers to use their imaginations and ideas for the culminating camp showcase production.
“The campers choose the sessions they want to attend, including musical theater, costume construction, creative movement, set design, acting and more,” Meadows said. “The Creative Drama Day Camp is a great confidence builder. Several of last year’s campers have said the camp has helped them in school and in overcoming stage fright.”
This year’s Summer Spotlight will also include Performance Intensive, which is an extension of the department’s efforts and offerings to high school and recent graduates.
“Performance Intensive is not a camp or a workshop,” Meadows said. “It is an ensemble of high school theater students at various stages of development who are committed to increasing their potential in theater. It is also an opportunity for recent graduates who will be entering university theater programs.”
Performance Intensive sessions will include beginning, intermediate and advanced acting, scene study, Shakespeare study, musical theater vocals and dance, stage combat, play writing monologue selection and preparation and auditioning and interviewing.
Tori Lee Averett will direct the Summer Spotlight programs at Troy University in July. She will be assisted by Quinton Cockrell, resident acting professor, and students in the Department of Theater and Dance.