<p>Hi Drama,</p>
<p>The theatre program at Richmond is fantastic. Anyone can audition for any play--even if you aren't a major or aren't involved with the department at all. New people, especially freshman, are encouraged to join in in any way that they like. The audition process is very casual, I think, though I hadn't auditioned for anything before I came to Richmond. For most auditions, there are a few different dates and everyone basically goes into the audition space (sometimes it's Jepson Theatre, which is the mainstage, sometimes it is Cousins Studio Theatre, which is the black box theatre, and other times, it's various rehearsal spaces), sits down, fills out forms and contracts. There are usually monologues available from the show you are auditioning for and you are asked to read one or a few of them for the director. Sometimes they'll ask you to sing or dance. Sometimes there will be warm up games. It really depends on who is directing and what type of show it is.
There are usually three mainstage productions each year, with a musical produced every other year. There is also the dance show that is basically produced by theatre department kids every winter as well. Aside from that, there are a TON of other opportunities. The theatre department and the University Players, which is the drama club on campus, I guess you would say, are trying to promote student theatre as well. This year, for example, the directing class produced nine one act plays over three nights and they held auditions, etc. for them. There is also the annual "New Faces" production, which is open to anyone who hasn't said a line in a mainstage production before. The Production Studies Three class (which is required for the Theatre major) also produces its own show. This year, it was a one woman show. We also do The Vagina Monologues and a lot of other things in and out of the department each year, so there are a ton of opportunities, acting wise.
If you are interested in working behind the scenes--and even if you don't think you are, it is a great way to get involved and get to know the University Players and learn the ropes--there are a LOT of opportunities for just about anything you can imagine. Unless an equity artist-in-residence is brought in for a specific show (And this year, we have had actors, a stage manager, a director, a choreographer...) most technical responsibilities fall to the students. Mainstage productions are, I believe, directed by either faculty or guest artists. Lighting and the set are designed by our faculty expert in lighting and set design. Costumes are designed mainly by the artist in residence. But the students still do a lot, especially for productions that are not on the mainstage.</p>
<p>Ummm...I'll give you some examples of what I'm talking about:
-SMALL TRAGEDY was the first mainstage play this year. The cast was comprised of one freshman, one artist in residence, one sophomore, a junior, and senior, and an international student who was here for the semester. The stage manager was a junior and the director was a faculty member. Assistant stage managers were two freshmen, one of whom is now stage managing the US Premiere production of TEGONNI, AN AFRICAN ANTIGONE (which is FANTASTIC!)
-THE CHAIRS and THE BALD SOPRANO were the next mainstage plays. The cast of THE CHAIRS was two faculty members and the cast of THE BALD SOPRANO was one junior, multiple seniors, a professional actor in the area, and one student who is a music major, I believe. The two plays were directed by a guest artist who also documented the production on film and taught a class on documentary film making. The stage manager for the show was an artist-in-residence for the year (a friend of mine is also now doing an independent study this semester with him for playwriting). Assistant stage managers were two freshmen.
-SEEKING FLIGHT, which was this year's dance show, was in February. Several of the seniors choreographed pieces, in addition to pieces choreographed by guest artists (including choreographers that visited and performed at UR on tour, like Robert Battle) and pieces that were choreographed by dance professors. Costumes were designed by the costume shop supervisor, the costuming artist-in-residence, as well as by students and local designers. It was stage managed by a junior.
-TEGONNI, AN AFRICAN ANTIGONE is the production that is opening this Thursday. It had its world premiere last year in London, I believe, and Thursday marks its US premiere. It is possibly the biggest show the university has ever put on. Lets see... It is directed by a faculty member, stage managed by a freshman, and assistant stage managed by five other freshman. The sound design was done by a freshman. Lighting was done by a faculty member. The set and costume design were done by a wonderful woman from London who is here in Richmond now, helping to get the show on its feet. I am working as head dresser as a freshman for this show, and let me tell you, it is intense! If you want to know more about the costumes, let me know (although you probably don't, which is totally cool :) It has genuine African dance and music. Choreography was done by Peter Badejo who is <em>the</em> African dance authority in the world, and potentially the funniest man you'll ever meet. He is also teaching an African dance class here at Richmond. The cast is made up of a bunch of different people, some from Richmond, some from VCU, some from I don't even know where. There are two actors in residence in the cast, and the students from Richmond are one freshman, three juniors, two seniors, and other people that I just don't know that well. </p>
<p>::whooo:: </p>
<p>Aside from all that, there are, like I said, a ton of different opportunities as Richmond. I am totally exhausted from a dress rehearsal today, so I'm drawing a blank on what else I can say, but I know there is more. Let me know if you have any more questions or want me to go into more detail. </p>
<p>Oh! I've acted in the New Faces production and the directing class production, so I can tell you more about that. And I've been involved in most of the others, so...yeah.</p>