Department of Theater Connections
The Department of Theater includes several projects to work with students in research and creative projects:
- In THEA 101 Transforming Artists, Donna Hester had first-year and new students in the Transforming Artists class produce an original play, Hungerville, written by ACU Theatre Alumnus Heather Amend. The show is based on interviews with guests at a DFW ministry to the homeless. A senior theatre major, Grant Scott, directed the 25-minute piece which included singing and dancing. It was performed for the theatre departmental chapel in November.
- Adam Hester, directed Othello by William Shakespeare for the Abilene Shakespeare Festival June 24-26, July 1-3, 2010, in Fulks Theatre. Students were vital in creating images and research as they connected with ACU’s Mobile Initiative for an innovative approach to theatre (see [youtube jxFCsRRO6MA])
- In collaboration with ACU’s new core curriculum, the Department of Theatre chose a compelling play to coordinate with readings and experiences of the Cornerstone class required for every freshmen. Mother Teresa is Dead, by Helen Edmundson, played November 16-20, 2010, in Fulks Theatre offering talk-backs each night. Theatre students created the dramaturgical research used in the play and made it accessible to Cornerstone students.
See: http://blogs.acu.edu/cornerstone/
- Amy Simpson was involved in a number of Austin-based theatre projects, which allowed her to work inter-departmentally and with students. Honor’s College and English Professor Joe Stephenson and Simpson served as Dramaturgs for the acclaimed Hidden Room production of The Taming of the Shrew, which has produced with “original practices”, in much the same way it would have been presented in Shakespeare’s day. Dr. Stephenson and Simpson served as consultants for these “original practice” elements of the show. The play starred ACU Theatre alumnus Ryan Crowder and featured ACU Theatre alumnus Nathan Jerkins.
- Simpson also worked with Theatre senior Emily Rankin to write a small article for a production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged, which was presented by Penfold Theatre of Austin (a theatre started by three ACU Theatre alumnus, Crowder, Jerkins and Sean Martin). Emily served as the Stage Manager for the show, which was presented in an outdoor venue.
- Gary Varner’s Children’s Theatre class wrote a musical morality play based on Aesops fables and is getting ready to tour it to area schools this semester.
- Sandy Freeman worked with a senior design student to research, co-design, and execut costume, hair and makeup designs for the Abilene Shakespeare Festival’s production of Othello, Fulks Theatre at ACU, June 24-26, 2010. This production that was transposed into a contemporary style was conceived in conjunction with the ACU Mobile Learning Initiative, employing live audience feedback during the show and scenic elements projected onto eight wide-screen monitors.
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Freeman served as a costume consultant and stylist for a professional photographic shoot with photographer Gordon Trice for artwork for the new wing of Cook Children’s Hospital in Ft. Worth, Texas, October 25-26, 2010.
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Freeman attended the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Regional Festival with seven Theatre majors in Amarillo, February 22-25, 2011. Most of these students were entered in juried competitions with both undergraduate and graduate students in the areas of Directing and Acting. Several placed in the final rounds, acknowledged as leading competitors in this six-state region.