Theatre UCF Announces 2012-13 Season

Theatre UCF is pleased to announce its performance schedule for the 2012-13 year, a season that will offer musicals, dance, and plays featuring many contemporary works, including both modern and period settings. The university theatre has selected productions that will provide an education not only for the university students, but for the audiences, as well. 

The schedule is filled with plays addressing topics of substance, including homosexuality, rape, disabilities, religion, deceit, and murder--social issues that have lost no relevance since the historic periods in which these plays are set.

"We select productions first for our students, then the University community, and for our public audiences," says Theatre Department Chair/Artistic Director Christopher Niess. "We provide student actors and designers, as well as our audiences, with compelling, diverse and relevant material that is being performed at regional theatres across the country. To avoid material that addresses darker social issues would be a disservice to our students."

The formidable topics are balanced with intelligent scripts, massively popular scores, and a department of talented faculty members and students who are not afraid to bring these themes to the stage.

"Many of the works that challenge audiences to examine their beliefs also carry with them a wealth of beauty. We witness beauty in the struggle to forge and maintain relationships between friends, family, and communities. This season contains not only the artistry found in the sets and costume design that audiences have come to expect from UCF, but beauty in the themes of love, lessons in compassion, and glimpses of significant historical periods within these plays," says Niess.

The fall semester starts with a week-long reprise of the summer's classic murder mystery Deathtrap, then switches gears toward two contemporary productions in repertory. Stop Kiss by Diana Son and Good Boys and True by Roberto-Aguirre-Sacasa both feature a hate crime born out of a fear of homosexuality.

The fall musical, Side Show, is based on the real-life experiences of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton. The sisters rise from a circus act to famous stage performers, but wonder if they will ever find love. The musical was nominated for four Tony Awards in 1998 and features a bright and fanciful score.

Zombie Town was presented at the 2011 PlayFest at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre. The documentary play recounts a small town's large problem with zombies. While the play comes with a lot of fun surprises and laughs, astute viewers will see parallels with another play of social significance: Moises Kaufman's The Laramie Project.

The theatre takes a step back in time to open the spring semester with Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Set in 18th century France, the play's designs will include opulent pannier dresses and period set design on the Main Stage.

"Christopher Hampton's play Les Liaisons Dangereuses was nominated in 1987 for a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award and it won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award. The next year, the movie version won three Academy awards out of its seven nominations," says director and UCF Theatre Professor Donald Seay. "This play, set in eighteenth century France, offers many challenging roles for Theatre UCF students and provides them with excellent training and experience in the performance of a particular period style."

Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl is a modern interpretation of the myth of Orpheus, retold from the perspective of his wife. The play includes scenes from earth and Hades and is a designer's playground.

"Eurydice is concise lyrical text that invites a magical and transformative environment," says director Julia Listengarten. "We imagine a shifting landscape of characters...a string of non-linear associations...a composition of scenic poetry...a river of rust, rocks, and reflections...the sounds of new rubber boots on wet stone," adds scenic designer Vandy Wood 

The spring musical will be Spring Awakening. The winner of eight Tony Awards, the controversial show is a frank look at sexuality, teen rebellion, and the journey from adolescence to adulthood.

For the final event of the academic year, the students in the dance program will present "With a Twist" the Seventh Annual Dance Concert. In 2013, half of the program will be choreographed by students, and the second half will feature dances to the music of Frank Sinatra, choreographed by Theatre UCF faculty members.

The shows for summer 2013 include a light comedy (Hooters), a musical (A Taffeta Wedding), and an edgy, humorous series of one-acts written by Ethan Coen (Almost an Evening).

The season creates many opportunities for partnership and collaboration, says Theatre UCF Marketing Director Heather Gibson. "Last year we held events with the UCF Women's Studies, Psychology, and Music Departments. In the upcoming year we are hoping to continue these relationships, plus add new events with the School of Visual Arts and Design and Modern Languages."

"We are also working on an event for Zombie Town with one of the student groups on campus. So you might want to keep your eyes open for a campus zombie invasion in late fall. Many of our events are educationally focused; this one will lean more toward the side of 'fun.' And who doesn't want a little levity near the end of the semester?"

Patrons will see some changes to the offerings for 2012-13. The season schedule has been shifted so that subscriptions start with the academic year and end with the summer. This pattern will align more closely with other performing arts venues. The summer shows for 2012 will be available as a three-show subscription, but will not be attached to other subscriptions. 2012-13 annual subscriptions will include the shows for summer 2013.

Also, the theatre is adding a new pass to its regular subscription offerings. A Flex Pass will allow five admissions to productions over the course of the season, and will permit a patron to bring a friend by using up to two admissions per show. Seat reservations on this pass will be processed after traditional subscriptions and holders are not guaranteed a seat until validated. The pass does allows a patron all of the other benefits of a season subscription, including discounted admission, exchanges, and an invitation to the Season Subscriber Kick Off Reception. 

Subscriptions are available immediately. Single tickets will be available May 1 for summer 2012 productions and July 23 for the 2012-13 academic season.

Upcoming productions at-a-glance:

2012-13 Academic Season
Deathtrap by Ira Levin 

Directed by Be Boyd

August 23-25 at 8 p.m.; August 26 at 2 p.m.

Stop Kiss by Diana Son
Directed by Be Boyd
Sept. 27-29, Oct. 10, 12 at 8 p.m.; Oct. 14 at 2 p.m.

Good Boys and True by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Directed by Mark Brotherton
Oct 4-6, 11, 13 at 8 p.m.; October 7 at 2 p.m.

Side Show by Henry Krieger and Bill Russell
Directed by Earl Weaver
Oct. 25-27, Nov. 1-3 at 8 p.m.; Oct. 28, Nov. 4 at 2 p.m.

Zombie Town by Tim Bauer
Directed by Jim Helsinger
Nov. 15-17, 29, 30, Dec. 1 at 8 p.m.; Nov. 17, 18, Dec. 2 at 2 p.m.

Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Christopher Hampton
Directed by Donald Seay
Jan. 17-19, 24-26 at 8 pm; Jan 20, 27 at 2 pm

Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl
Directed by Julia Listengarten
Feb. 21-23, Feb 28-March 2 at 8 p.m.; Feb. 24, March 3 at 2 p.m.

Spring Awakening book and lyrics by Steven Sater; music by Duncan Sheik
Directed by Josh Gold
March 21-23, 28-30 at 8 p.m.; March 24, 30 at 2 p.m.
Note: There will be no performance on Sunday, March 31 due to the Easter holiday.

7th Annual Dance Concert "With a Twist"
Directed by Earl Weaver
April 18-20 at 8 p.m.; April 21 at 2 p.m.

Summer 2013
Almost an Evening by Ethan Coen
June 6-8, 13-15 at 8 p.m.; June 9, 16 at 2 p.m.

A Taffeta Wedding arranged by Rick Lewis
June 20-22, 27-29 at 8 p.m.; June 23, 30 at 2 p.m.

Hooters by Ted Tally
July 11-13, 18-20 at 8 p.m.; July 14, 21 at 2 p.m.

Theatre UCF is on the UCF campus near the intersection of University Boulevard and Alafaya Trail in east Orlando. Performances begin at 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. on Sundays.

To purchase tickets or for ticket information call the box office at 407-823-1500. Ticket prices are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, and $10 for students, with subscription and group rates available. It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance, available through the Theatre UCF box office. UCF offers accommodations to make the theatre more accessible to patrons with disabilities--for assistance, please call the box office in advance.

Box Office Phone: (407) 823-1500
Box Office Hours: Monday-Friday: noon to 5 pm and 2 hours before performances
For more information about Theatre UCF, visit http://theatre.ucf.edu.

Theatre for Young Audiences Brings Writers’ Stories to Life

Story by Gene Kruckemyer, UCF Today

"When I put on my earbuds, I look out the window of my car and think. I can ponder life, school, friends, anything I want…"

"When I put on my three silver bracelets, I am transported back in time…into the world of my grandmother…"

"When I put on my swimsuit and goggles and start swimming, my Mom and Dad say I look like a fish…"

Young authors' imaginations can be endless when they're given the opportunity to create.

And a contest involving UCF’s Theatre for Young Audiences gives those budding writers the chance to see their stories come to life.

The project, called Writes of Spring, is a collaboration of graduate students in the Theatre UCF master's program, the Orlando Repertory Theatre and students from the community in kindergarten through 12^th grade.

This year's assignment to the writers was to compose a short story, essay or poem finishing this intro: "When I put on _______."

Out of about 1,300 entries submitted last fall, 114 winners were chosen in four different age groups to be woven into a story by student and already-veteran-scriptwriter Amanda Hill.

Performances will be May 1-2 at the Orlando Repertory Theatre, 1001 E. Princeton St., Orlando, with student Courtney Grile as director. This year's production titled "if not now, when?" will include graduate and undergraduate theatre students as the actors. Others that have been key to the production are faculty adviser Vandy Wood; Gary Cadwallader, education director at Orlando Repertory Theatre; and sponsor Fifth Third Bank.

"The project strives to support literacy, critical thinking, and creative expression by transforming students' words into a fully produced show," Hill said. "Each poem, essay, and story is a piece of a huge jigsaw puzzle, which the creative team works to piece together."

Joan Roxbury, a third-grade teacher at Lake Eola Charter School in downtown Orlando, said topics that deal with animals, friends, fantasy and adventure appeal to her young writers.

"The students often write about their own personal experiences that are important to them," said Roxbury, who had compositions by nine of her students chosen this year for Writes of Spring. She said she also uses the project as an assignment to encourage her struggling writers to participate because they don't see the one-page length as an overwhelming task.

"Writes of Spring gave them a chance to write about their dreams and wishes, and they loved that," she said.

Hill said there were so many well-composed entries that it was hard to pick winners for the script.

"There was so much good material to choose from," she said. "We can't choose it all or the play would never end."

Roxbury said she is grateful for the opportunity for her students' works to be acted out on stage by the UCF theatre team.

"The Writes of Spring contest connected the theme of writing and acting together for my students, which was really great," she said.

"I think celebrating their writing is a key motivational factor. When Writes of Spring indicated that they were going to use the stories in our class, the students were thrilled at the prospect of seeing their pieces come to life."

Tickets for "if not now, when" are complimentary, but reservations for the May 1-2 productions are recommended by calling 407-896-7365, ext. 1 at the Orlando Repertory Theatre, 1001 E. Princeton St., Orlando. Both nights will have a kickoff celebration at 6:30 p.m., followed by the 7 p.m. performance and a reception.

UCF Students Produce One Act Festival

UCF's student organization Project Spotlight will be showcasing five one act plays April 12-15, 2012 in the University of Central Florida's Black Box Theatre. This semi-annual event gives students the opportunity to produce, act, and direct plays.

The One Act Festival (nicknamed OAF) addresses an educational need for students to take larger roles in the production process, in addition to the work they do with the theatre department.

The short plays and directors are selected by the officers of Project Spotlight. This spring the plays are The Unwanted by Walter Wykes, Road Trip by Melissa Landy, House of the Holy Moment by Cary Pepper, Brutal Imagination by Cornelius Eady, and Stingray by Sam Liguori.

Roger Thatcher, President of Project Spotlight has helped choose many of the shows that OAF has produced. "I have spent about three years now, on stage and off and the experience is different every time. We're really excited about having original pieces by students this semester. That captures the spirit of what OAF is all about."

Two of the plays, Road Trip and Stingray are written by students in the UCF theatre department. Melissa Landy, who wrote Road Trip, also had an original piece in the fall semester One Act Festival.

Sam Liguori is the writer of Stingray and is ready for the experience and feedback about her show. "The thing Stingray has gotten the most praise for is the easefulness of the dialogue used by the characters. The play structure of broken timelines is something I plan on pursuing in future works as well allowing both the abstract and concrete nature of the script to combine together. Stingray can be considered a Theatre for Social Change piece in its elements of dealing with the mentally unstable. I ask the question to the audience 'Does a diagnosis actually make a difference?'"

Musical Theatre senior Angela Damato is directing Stingray. "Directing a student written show was a slightly intimidating experience," says Damato, "since I want to be true to the playwright, but she has allowed me freedom to guide the process and room to grow and make mistakes. It's also a blessing to have her with us, so we can directly ask her questions as opposed to leaving everything up to interpretation. I'm excited to see what she thinks about the final product!"

Project Spotlight's One Act Festival will be held in the Black Box at the University of Central Florida's Theatre at 7pm April 12, 13 and 15. There will also be a matinee on Sunday, April 15 at 2pm. Admission is free and open to the public. More information about Project Spotlight and the One Act Festival can be found on Facebook.

UCF Students Choreograph Dance Concert

Theatre UCF presents Shove! Push!, the sixth annual dance concert, on April 19-22 at the Orlando Repertory Theatre.

The dance concert features nineteen dances showcasing the work of the dance students in the UCF Theatre Department.

Most years, faculty members choreograph some of the pieces, but this year, all of the choreographers are students or recent graduates of the dance program. The choreographers are selected through an application process, where they submit their ideas and needs to theatre faculty members. Considerations include dance style, number of dancers, how well the dance fits into the year's theme, and the choreographer's experience. This year nineteen choreographers applied, all of whom were worthy candidates and will be presenting in the concert.

The dancers are all students, as well. Dancers must audition and may be cast in up to three pieces. Junior Musical Theatre major Damian Barra has performed in all three years he has been at UCF. His freshman year, he danced to his own choreography; last year and this, he is participating as a dancer for other choreographers.

"It's challenging molding your movement to fit someone else's vision. With someone else's choreography you have to try to see inside their mind. It's good to see your own ideas come to life, but it's also rewarding to help someone else and have their vision come to fruition," says Barra.

"I wanted to choreograph this year, but I didn't want to overload myself with courses, classwork and The Pajama Game [Barra was the dance captain for the university's fall musical]. Next year, it will be my senior year and I definitely want to choreograph something."

Barra is very excited to be dancing in Polarized, by Amanda Castro. "It's not just leaps and turns, but about the movement. Amanda is telling a story through movement. This year, her piece is about magnetism--the pushes and pulls between people and relationships."

"There is so much variety, there is every year, but this year there are a lot of music selections and styles--ballet, hip hop, contemporary; something for everyone to enjoy," says Barra.

The student choreographers generally have years of experience with dance and choreography. Many have been dancing since they were small children.

Recent graduate Cindy Heen is the choreographer of a piece entitled 3012. The futuristic dance consists of ten dancers and is a jazz style. She worked with costume designer Dan Jones to fully bring her vision to life by having lights installed in the dancers' costumes.

"Dance is something I eat, sleep, and breathe. Participating in UCF's past three dance concerts has helped me prepare for life after graduation by giving me the tools for the professional world as a dancer, dance instructor, and choreographer," says Heen.

"With the dance concerts I have been given the opportunity to work in a professional environment with highly talented individuals. Every year I have participated in the dance concerts, I have grown tremendously as choreographer and dancer."

Performances begin at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. on Sundays. To purchase tickets or for ticket information call the box office at 407-823-1500. Ticket prices are $17 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $10 for students, with group rates available. It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance, available through the Theatre UCF box office. UCF offers accommodations to make the theatre more accessible to patrons with disabilities--for assistance, please call the box office in advance.