Summertime is like an alternative universe on a university campus. Instead of the usual hordes of undergraduate and graduate students making their way across campus, we hear the battle cries of elementary camp kids playing games outside our windows. Here at Hutchinson Hall, we have been home to Seattle Children's Theatre camps and the International Stunt School. Meanwhile, our students are keeping busy with off-campus projects and traveling the world.
It's this alternative universe into which our new Executive Director, Dr. Todd London, has stepped. After trekking across the country, Todd has arrived with his family and is settling into his office and the University of Washington. Please join us in welcoming Todd to the School of Drama family!
Every student in the MFA Design program takes a quarter to do a professional internship. Some students choose to work outside Seattle, but many remain in town. For Julia Welch and Jared Roberts, scenic designer students graduating spring 2015, they chose to stay in Seattle and have been working with UW alums Matthew Smucker (MFA ’02) and Jennifer Zeyl (MFA ’03), respectively.
The designers all agreed to sit down to chat about their projects, the internship experience, and their time at UW. It turned into a conversation that included discussion about director-designer dynamics and the shift in visual training brought on by the insurgence of digital media. Some highlights from the chat are excerpted here.
What are you working on and how is your working relationship set up?
Jen: I’ve had UW grad students in their professional quarter approach me before, but the timing has never worked out. When Jared approached me, I had the Angels in America project, which is going to be huge, and I knew if an assistant slowed me down for a second I would just cut them. Jared started coming in to work once a week, and from week to week he actually remembered the things I was telling him. It was stunning. I’ve never had an...
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Former faculty member and alumnus Jay Glerum (BFA ’63, MFA ’69) passed away on June 26, 2014. Many will remember Jay as Technical Director and faculty member at the School of Drama from 1986-1992. All in the theatre community will remember Jay, if not as a personal friend, than for his contributions to improving backstage safety for theatrical riggers and stagehands. Jay wrote the definitive book on theatrical rigging, Stage Rigging Handbook. He was inducted as a Fellow of USITT (US Institute of Theatre Technology) in 1995. During his professional career, Jay also held Technical Director positions at Marquette University and Seattle University.
Friends and colleagues of Jay have written tributes, which you can read here and here.
Be on the look-out for our 2014-2015 season brochure, arriving in mailboxes this month. Single tickets go on sale September 10, but you can order your season subscription as soon as your season brochure arrives. Not on our mailing list? Email us.
Our biggest congrats to the School of Drama faculty and alumni who have received 2014 Gregory Award Nominations! You make us very proud. Congratulations to you and all the nominees for making Seattle a great and vibrant theatre town.
Matt Starritt (BA '05, guest lecturer), Outstanding Sound/Music Design for Bo-Nita, produced by Seattle Repertory Theatre.
Melanie Burgess (MFA '02), Outstanding Costume Design for The Importance of Being Earnest, produced by Seattle Shakespeare Company.
Sarah Nash Gates (Professor), Outstanding Costume Design for Oliver!, produced by 5th Avenue Theatre.
Jessica Low (BA '03), Outstanding Choreography for The Wild Party, produced by Sound Theatre Company.
Andrew D. Smith (MFA '05, Lecturer), Outstanding Lighting Design for The Boy at the Edge of Everything, produced by Seattle Children's Theatre.
Christopher Mumaw (MFA '12), Outstanding Scenic Design for The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, produced by Book-It Repertory Theatre.
Matthew Smucker (MFA '02), Outstanding Scenic Design for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, produced by Seattle Repertory Theatre.
Lisa Estridge (PATP '93), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a...
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Marya Sea Kaminski (PATP '04) has been named the new Associate Artistic Director at Seattle Repertory Theatre. We second The Stranger's view: "a promising choice for the future of the Rep and the future of Seattle theater."
Intiman Theatre Festival stages Tony Kushner's epic Angels in America, with scenic design by Jennifer Zeyl (MFA '03) and starring Marya Sea Kaminski (PATP '04) as The Angel, opening August 12.
Gavin Reub (BA '10) participated in the Lincoln Center Theatre Directors Lab, a developmental program for nurturing stage directors from around the country and around the world, from July 7-26.
Elisa Pupko (BA '05) plays Lolita in Zorro! at the East Lynne Theater Company through August 30. At the end of the show, Elisa will have earned the necessary points to earn Equity membership. Congrats, Elisa!
At Strawberry Theatre Workshop, Richard Sloniker (PATP '09) performs in and Andy Smith (MFA '05, lecturer) designs for ...
Read moreBanner Image: Musical Theater students in rehearsal. Photo by Steve Korn.