The Sideshow of "Side Show"

Mathew Mayer, "XX", acrylic painting on canvas, 36" x 48"

The School of Visual Arts and Design and Theatre Department at UCF are pleased to announce a collaborative event themed around the theatre's production of Side Show.

"The Sideshow of Side Show" is an exhibition of student created and sideshow-themed artworks that will be displayed throughout the run of Theatre UCF's production of Bill Krieger and Henry Russell's musical Side Show, which runs October 25 through November 4. The artwork will be displayed in the lobby of the theatre building (TH-6).

The exhibition began as an opportunity for the UCF Theatre and School of Visual Arts and Design departments to work together. The exhibit will feature the works of SVAD advanced painting students in faculty member's Carla Poindexter's class. 

The twenty-four pieces of art featured in "The Sideshow of Side Show" exhibition are unique in subject and message. Some replicate the style of historical sideshow banners with dark humor and irony. Other paintings deal with historical versus contemporary issues related to ethics and exploitation of the sideshow/circus performers and their audiences. Others are simply entertaining and whimsical.

Director Earl Weaver is hoping the exhibit will help set the mood for theatre-goers. "Patrons of the circus or side show are surrounded with visual stimuli that enhances their experience: the smell of the popcorn, the sound of the calliope, the brightly-colored posters. We are hoping to re-create a piece of that experience for our patrons with this art exhibit. From the time patrons enter our theatre building, we want them to have the full sideshow experience, all the way through the end of the show."

The resulting paintings and other artworks in the exhibition are visual responses to Theatre UCF's lobby space; the actual props, costumes, and set designs in the upcoming play; and the content of the script from both a historical perspective and contemporary perspectives.

"Throughout art history visual artists have produced everything from set designs and costumes to hand bills for theatrical productions," says Associate Professor of Art Carla Poindexter. "This project gave our advanced painting students an opportunity to learn how to collaborate with the theatre to create paintings and mixed media artworks that not only support the production but also stand alone as a compelling exhibition of accomplished individual pieces."

Early in the fall semester, the Theatre department presented the script and design inspirations to the advanced painting class. Scenic Designer Joseph Rusnock reviewed the set inspiration and plans, Costume Designer Huaixaing Tan presented costume mock-ups, and Director Earl D. Weaver talked about the script and Theatre UCF's specific production. Students then toured the theatre lobby, where the art will be displayed for further inspiration.

The painting students also studied significant historical paintings with sideshow-related themes, including the famous carnival inspired works of Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Diego Rivera, and James Ensor. Students also studied the carnival's "golden age" of art by sideshow banner painters, including the historical but little known works of Johnny Meak and Norman Lewis. 

"With programs in digital media, architecture, film, and art all wrapped up into one school, the school of Visual Arts and Design is naturally a group that needs to collaborate," says Paul Lartonoix, Director of the School of Visual Arts and Design.  "When the opportunity came up for SVAD to partner with Theatre on Side Show, I thought it was an excellent idea--a special situation where the students can craft their pieces around a theme of a theatrical production. It's a fun and exciting topic with lots of avenues to explore. A focused topic forces the students to work within parameters and in this case, to work outside the normal 'client' experience. It truly is very exciting."

The exhibition is free, but tickets are required to see the musical. To purchase tickets or for ticket information call the box office at 407-823-1500. Standard tickets are $20 ($18 for seniors; $10 for students) and group rates are 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, call the box office in advance.

Annual Theatre Costume Sale Infested by Zombies

Theatre UCF will hold its annual Halloween Costume Sale on Wednesday, October 24 from 8 am-4 pm in room 218D (Key West) in the Student Union on the UCF campus. 

Featuring one-of-a-kind costumes, the sale has become very popular with people seeking unique costumes for the upcoming holiday. Full costumes can be purchased or buyers can creatively build an original concept from the many pieces. 

The costumes come from a range of productions including the 1950s-themed The Pajama Game, the 1970s-themed Deathtrap, and the hilarious No Sex Please, We're British, as well as the dance concert and an array of productions placed in more recent time periods.

This year, the Theatre UCF costume shop has been busy "zombifying" clothes in preparation for the sale. A popular item among the students working in the costume shop is the selection of "zombified" bridesmaid dresses. 

In addition to the zombie costumes, between 10 am and 2 pm, members of the Advanced Theatre Makeup class will be holding demonstrations on how to apply zombie makeup and prosthetics. The makeup lessons are free and the students will be seeking volunteers for the makeup applications.

Dan Jones, costume shop manager for Theatre UCF, explains why zombies have infested the costume sale this year. "Zombies are a fun, hot thing, especially around this time of year. Plus it will help build the excitement for our upcoming production of Zombie Town, which is a new script and deserves as much excitement as possible."

Zombie Town: A Documentary Play is a comedy written by Tim Bauer and will run at Theatre UCF starting November 15. "To complete the cycle," says Jones, "the zombie costumes used in this production will most likely be sold at next year's sale."

The Halloween sale is a benefit for the theatre department. The proceeds from the sale go back to the costume shop and augment costume budgets for future productions, particularly those with student designers like the dance concert or graduate thesis productions. 

The costume sale is open to the public. Most items are priced at less than $10. Cash is preferred, but checks also will be accepted. Credit cards cannot be used. For directions to the Student Union, visit http://ucfsu.com/directions/. Regular UCF parking policies will be in effect, so shoppers will need to have a permit to park.

"Stop Kiss" Shines a Light on Social Issues

Photo by Erin Lartonoix.

Theatre UCF will present Stop Kiss by Diana Son on September 27-29 and October 10, 12, and 14. The play tells the story of the evolution of the relationship between two young women.

"This is a play about two women who fall in love, but it's less controversial, and more human," says director, Be Boyd. "It's a beautiful piece. Whether you are straight, or whether you are gay, and whatever your age, you are going to be able to relate to the themes of Stop Kiss... restlessness, finding true love, fulfillment, and the loss of a loved one."

Gracie Winchester plays one of the lead roles of the play. A junior in the BFA Musical Theatre program, Winchester has had a busy year on the UCF stages. Her first role at UCF was in last fall's production of The Pajama Game, and since that time she has also acted in Bury the Dead, No Sex Please, We're British, and Spike Heels.

"The past year has been a lesson in balance and in learning how to juggle school, learning lines, and extracurricular activities. Plus, it's been an emotional journey, especially with Bury the Dead [where the character commits suicide]. In that show, I learned to leave my personal drama at the door and pick up my character's when I enter rehearsal. But then I have to leave the character's emotions on the stage and not take them home with me," says Winchester.

"In Stop Kiss, I draw an emotion from my past and picture someone that I love in my mind hurt and bruised. Once the scene ends, I try to shake it off, laugh, and it is over."

The other lead will be performed by Shanel Sparr. Sparr is a newcomer to the UCF stage, and a sophomore in the BFA Acting program.

Stop Kiss will be presented in repertory with Good Boys and True by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Both shows address homosexuality as a theme. Where Stop Kiss examines the friendship between two women, Good Boys and True focuses on two young men.

"Both shows encompass a variety and scope of areas including themes of gender, sexuality, entitlement, and the morality of society," says Theatre UCF Chair and Artistic Director Christopher Niess. "We are living in a time of growing acceptance, but these plays, set in the 1980s and 90s, offer a look at relevant issues that just a couple of decades ago were suppressed, and even taboo."

To help address questions and concerns that may arise from the content of the plays, Theatre UCF has invited departments and organizations on the UCF campus to participate in pre-show discussion panels and to have information available to patrons in the lobby. The preshow panels will take place on October 5 (before Good Boys and True) and October 10 (before Stop Kiss) at 7 pm in the Black Box Theatre. The panels are free and open to the public.

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. Standard tickets are $20 ($18 for seniors; $10 for students) and group rates are 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, call the box office in advance.

Photo by Tony Firriolo

Ira Levin's classic murder mystery Deathtrap returns to the Theatre UCF Main Stage August 23-26. The play, which opened on the stage earlier this summer, will run for just one week at the beginning of UCF's fall semester.

The theatre department reprises one production from the summer season to open the academic year because otherwise, the school would not be able to present a play until late September. Auditions are held the week before classes begin and students need time to rehearse and build costumes and sets.

Reprising a production has challenges. The production should look exactly the same in August as it did in June, and Stage Manager Emily Hankins, a second year transfer student in the BFA Stage Management program, is charged with that responsibility.

"As the Stage Manager, I find the remount challenging because we have been away from the show for some time. I have the responsibility of ensuring that the show carries on as the director intended."

"Deathtrap has many onstage difficulties such like stage combat and special effects. This show is also tense and tough on the actors but the cast is wonderful in preparing and keeping the energy at a high level."

A good stage management team is crucial to the success of a production. Coordinator of the Stage Management program Molly McCarter says, "The artistic and technical sides of a production speak different languages. The stage manager bridges the gap and acts as the translator between the departments."

"With a show like Deathtrap that is complex and has weapons, this becomes a safety issue and that ability to translate becomes more vital."

Director Be Boyd says "The Deathtrap rehearsal and performance process has been supported by a very strong and unified team. We have been extremely fortunate to have them. Each one brought a unique set of skills to the show."

"The team was led by Emily Hankins, who’s a top notch leader--she makes great decisions under pressure, keeps everyone in line and does it all with grace and dignity. [Assistant Stage Manager] Jessy Reaves' previous experience with the show proved to be a wonderful resource for the team. [Assistant Stage Manager] Christa Arzon's attentiveness to the props and weapons helped to create a smooth transition for the actors from the rehearsal space to the stage."

The 1978 play by the author of Rosemary’s Baby holds the record for the longest running thriller on Broadway. It received a Tony Award nomination for Best Play when it premiered and has been adapted into a film.

"Levin was masterful at creating parallel stories that overlap in unique and clever ways," says Boyd. "If you love a good plot twist, appreciate a great wordsmith, are fond of suspense, or have a keen sense of humor, you’ll enjoy Deathtrap."

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. Standard tickets are $20 ($18 for seniors; $10 for students) and group rates are 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, call the box office in advance.

Theatre UCF Presents "Spike Heels"

Photo by Erin Lartonoix.

Theatre UCF presents Theresa Rebeck's Spike Heels in the Black Box from July 12-22, 2012. The play consists of four young adults from different classes and education levels exploring the limits of self-determination, sexual harassment, and expectations of gender roles in an increasingly feminist world.

In the script, the characters discuss Shaw's Pygmalion (on which My Fair Lady was based) and the play itself picks up on similar themes. Friends Andrew and Edward are attempting to transform the lesser-educated and flashy Georgie into a lady. Spike Heels is a more modern version of the tale, however, and Georgie rebuffs their attempts.

"Spike Heels defies genre," says director Kate Ingram. "It addresses serious topics and issues like sexual harassment not lightly, but without dragging the audience down. Just reading the script sounds like it might be offensive to women, but it isn't. It is a fun play, like riding a roller coaster."

Junior Gracie Winchester plays the lead role of Georgie in Spike Heels. Winchester has performed a wide variety of roles in the past year on the UCF stages--a comedic secretary in The Pajama Game, a distraught widow in Bury the Dead, and a comical call girl in No Sex Please, We're British. This role is a departure from her previous work.

"At UCF, I've been in roles that were either highly comedic or dramatic, but this role is different because I'm just being a human being. It can be much harder to not 'act' and just be normal," says Winchester.

"Georgie can be funny and sarcastic and also angry and sad. It's a broad spectrum of emotions and I have to be ready for all of them. I try to stay as present as possible in the moment and keep listening to the other actors and respond as honestly as I can, without anticipation. It's high energy, for sure."

"I think the audience will find Spike Heels funny and very relatable," continues Winchester. "It's a very realistic play. We all have a little Georgie in us. Everybody goes through a time where they have to figure things out for themselves and that’s what Georgie is doing. She's not right or wrong, she's learning who she wants to be rather than letting people decide for her."

Playwright Theresa Rebeck is the creator and executive producer of the NBC hit Smash. Her other credits include "NYPD Blue," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," and the screenplays for Harriet the Spy and Gossip. Rebeck is also the author of Seminar, currently running on Broadway and starring Alan Rickman.

Spike Heels contains adult situations and mature language.

Classic "Deathtrap" has a thrill for everyone

Ira Levin's classic murder mystery Deathtrap comes to the Theatre UCF Main Stage June 21-July 1, and August 23-26.

The cast comprises UCF faculty members, graduate students, and undergraduate students. The blend is not unusual for Theatre UCF productions, but is working exceptionally well for this production, says Be Boyd, UCF Associate Professor and director of Deathtrap.

"It has been a very interesting group to direct and observe. We have a unique mixture in the cast that actually reflects the composition of a professional company. We have a cast composed of actors who are experienced major players and actors who will be the next generation of leading players. The company functions as if they have been working and playing together for years. There is a generosity of spirit and playful energy among the group that has been refreshing to watch."

Tara Snyder is an assistant professor in the Theatre Department and is playing the role of Helga Ten Dorp in Deathtrap.

"When I was in graduate school I had the privilege of working on a production with one of my professors. It has been wonderful to be on the other side of the table with Deathtrap," she says.

"I have found our students to not only be professional, but extremely collegial. Whether we are working on a scene or having a cast lunch during a break in rehearsal, we are equals. However when I shift back into a position of authority, for instance when I give notes as the show's fight captain, they make the appropriate attention shift. It's really a testament to them that they are immediately putting their training to work in a 'professional' setting."

The 1978 play by the author of Rosemary’s Baby holds the record for the longest running thriller on Broadway. It received a Tony Award nomination for Best Play when it premiered and has been adapted into a film.

"Whether you are seeing the play for the first time or whether you are familiar with the story, you will enjoy watching the way the mystery unfolds, the richness of the language and the freshness of the characters," says Boyd.

"Levin was masterful at creating parallel stories that overlap in unique and clever ways," she continues. "If you love a good plot twist, appreciate a great wordsmith, are fond of suspense, or have a keen sense of humor, you’ll enjoy Deathtrap."

Theatre UCF Presents "No Sex Please, We're British"

Theatre UCF kicks off the 2012 summer season with the bedroom farce No Sex Please, We're British. The comedy by Anthony Marriott and Alistair Foot is a riotous romp for audiences, but also a great learning opportunity for UCF students.

 

No Sex Please, We're British is directed by Theatre UCF department chair Christopher Niess. The show runs June 7-17 in the Black Box Theatre.

As in most farces, the plot is simple: a straight-laced newlywed couple orders Scandinavian glassware and but instead receives an unwelcomed delivery of pornography. Farcical antics ensue as they try to ditch the scandalous contents from friends, parents, bosses and the law, and try to stop the persistent proprietor.

No Sex Please, We're British is an active play, with doors slamming, characters falling down, and high-stake action. The cast has just three weeks of rehearsal to pull together all of the blocking and timing, but also has another skill to master in that time: because the characters are British, the cast members have to perfect their dialects.

"It would be such a different play if it weren’t in dialect," said Maggie Langlais, who is playing Frances Hunter, one of the lead roles. "A lot of the comedy stems from the accents, because the British accent is interpreted as being more reserved. It wouldn't be as funny if it were 'No Sex Please, We're Italian.'"

"Teaching young American students a new dialect is almost trickier than teaching a new language," said dialect coach Kate Ingram. "They are reading scripted words on the page, trying to act believably, but they are also being asked to speak differently--this can throw an actor--'I don't sound like myself, I'm not sure I'm believable.'"

"I always remind the actor that the character needs to speak this way! That's the fun part of working on dialect. We try to find some time away from the on-your-feet-rehearsal business, so that the actors can slow down and live inside the words and remember why they are saying those words."

Whit Emerson plays the role of Leslie Bromhead, the district manager of a bank. He has one of the few upper-class roles in the show. "Working with Kate not only helped my dialect, but it helped me develop the character. Everyone else in the play is working class, but maybe Leslie went to a private school or talked like Winston Churchill."

"I can't read the script without an accent anymore," said Kristin Shoffner. "The dialect provides a rhythm for the words. It becomes like a song that we are dancing to on stage." Kristin is cast in the role of Eleanor Hunter.

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 2 p.m. Sundays.

To purchase tickets or for ticket information call the box office at 407-823-1500. Standard tickets are $17 ($15 for seniors; $10 for students) and group rates are 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.

Summer at a glance:

No Sex Please, We're British

By Anthony Marriott and Alistair Foot

Directed by Christopher Niess

June 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16 at 8 p.m.

June 10, 17 at 2 p.m.

Black Box Theatre

Price: Standard $17, Senior $15, Student $10; Group discounts available

Subscriptions: $40 standard, $36 senior, $20 student

Address: 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando

Box Office Phone: 407-823-1500

Box Office Hours: Tuesday through Friday: noon to 5 p.m. and 2 hours before performances

                                                            

For more information about Theatre UCF, visit http://theatre.ucf.edu.