It's not even September yet, and already we have tons of events to share with you. Coming up first is a pre-screening of Becoming Mermaid, a film project conceived and created by Elizabeth Shiffler (BA 2015), Taige Kussman (BA 2015), and Evelyn Osborne (BA CineMedia 2014). The story was first conceived in Professor Scott Magelssen’s "Adaptation" class in December 2014. For each of the creators, it’s their first major project since graduating from UW. Come check out what our talented and entrepreneurial young grads are up to!
We also want to invite all alumni, students, and supporters to help us usher in fall quarter by celebrating the work of Malika Oyetimein (MFA directing student) and Julia Welch (MFA scenic design '15) after the September 29th performance of Bootycandy, part of the Intiman Theatre Festival. Malika directs and Julia did the scenic design. Use discount code UWDRAMA2015 when purchasing tickets. More details below.
Becoming Mermaid is a short film that explores the body of the mermaid and its narrative qualities. Informed by director Elizabeth Schiffler’s (BA 2014) research in post-human comparative mythology and cinematographer Evelyn Osborn’s (BA 2013) knowledge of HC Andersen’s work. The creators, Schiffler, Osborn, and actress Taige Kussman (BA 2014) are bringing their own strengths and lenses to approach the difficult task of telling a story about a body that cannot exist in the world in which it resides. Becoming Mermaid was filmed in Anacortes, WA at the site of the ruins of an old fish cannery. It is currently in post-production.
The film's creators invite you to attend a pre-screening of the film at Arundel Books, in Seattle's Pioneer Square. There will be two showings on Tuesday, September 1, 6:30 PM and at 7:30 PM.
Second-year MFA directing student Malika Oyetimein (pictured) is the first featured director of Intiman's Director's Lab program. Joining her on the creative team for Bootycandy, which runs September 17 through October 3, is scenic designer Julia Welch (MFA '15).
Friends of the School of Drama can purchase $20 tickets to the September 29 performance, and are invited to a special post-show reception.
Use the discount code UWDRAMA2015 when purchasing tickets online or over the phone.
UW Alumni Night at Bootycandy
Tuesday, Sept 29
Show at 7:30 PM
Reception to follow
Contact Katrina Ernst at katrinae@uw.edu or 206-685-0600 with any questions.
The School of Drama is on the threshold of launching a truly ambitious season. Many of you have already heard our appeals for support. And several of you have answered those appeals with a financial contribution to the season. To date, we have raised $15,210!
We're planning a season unlike any other, with new and thought-provoking work, a blend of student and professional artistry and learning. We're building bridges across this vital artistic city. And we need you to make it happen!
Your gift to Friends of Drama will help us as we work to give our remarkable students the richest environment for exploration and learning. Help us reach our goal of raising $75,000 before the start of our 75th Anniversary Season this fall.
Give online today or call 206-685-0600.
In partnership with Meany Hall and One Coast Collaboration, the School of Drama presents a series of five free, public readings of representative plays from seminal Seattle theatres of the past. As part of the School 75th Anniversary, we’ll be celebrating the Seattle theatre community of which we’re an integral part. The reading series will pay tribute to inspiring companies no longer up and running: Alice B. Theatre, Bathhouse Theatre, Empty Space Theatre, Northwest Asian American Theatre, and the Seattle Group Theatre.
Join us at Meany Studio Theatre on September 28 at 7:30 PM for the first event in the series with readings from plays produced by Alice B. Theatre.
All events in the reading series are free, but we suggest that you reserve your tickets in advance. Tickets can be reserved online.
For information about the entire series, visit drama.uw.edu/events.
And get to know One Coast Collaboration's founding creative producer, and School of Drama alumnus, Michael Place in this interview.
Naomi Mercer (BA ’00) turned a background in singing and a love for words and dialect into a successful career as a voice over actor. Along the way, she learned how to sustain both her business and her passion. After 12-years in Los Angeles, Naomi is settling back into Seattle, working, and hoping to create a local voice over community.
How did you end up doing voice over work?
After I graduated from UW, I spent about two years in Seattle. I sing too, and I was in some bands that played around the Seattle area, and it was just too fun to go anywhere else at first. When I was 24, I moved to Los Angeles and worked on everything—assembling a team around me and trying to book whatever work I could get my hands on. I had done music before and was familiar with microphones and microphone technique—I even had bits and pieces of equipment laying around. I wanted a career in acting, and voice over was where I was making money. So, I got busy teaching myself how to record and edit, and started focusing primarily on voice over auditions.
What are the opportunities available in voice over work?
Day-to-day jobs include phone trees for companies and company instructional videos. E-learning has become a huge market that didn’t exist until recently, and now there are actual e-learning production companies. Then there are small market commercials. Some of those are really fun projects because you get to work directly with the writer and...
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Javonna Arriaga (BA '13) stars in The Passion As Told by Antígona Pérez, produced by Thriving Artists and running through August 30 at 12th Avenue Arts. Also featuring Emily Fairbrook (BA '10) and current PhD student Duygu Erdogan Monson.
J Jha (PATP '14) is currently onstage at Altarena in Eat the Runt, running through September 13.
Daniel James Cole (BA '91) co-wrote The History of Modern Fashion: From 1850, which is avaible September 15.
David Morden (PATP '93) spent the summer as the voice and text coach at Santa Cruz Shakespeare. He'll next be seen on stage in repertory in Hamlet and Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead at The Rogue Theatre.
Mykel Hill (PATP '93) played Martin Luther King, Jr. in The Mountaintop as part of The Snowy Range Theatre Festival at the University of Wyoming. In October, Mykel will direct The Brothers Size...
Read moreUpcoming Events
Becoming Mermaid Film Pre-Screening
Tuesday, September 1
6:30 PM & 7:30 PM
Arundel Books, Pioneer Square
Seattle Theatres Lost & Founded
Featuring play readings from Alice B. Theatre
In partnership with Meany Hall & One Coast Collaboration
Monday, September 28
7:30 PM
Meany Studio Theatre
Reserve tickets online
Alumni Night at Bootycandy
Tuesday, September 29
Show at 7:30 PM; reception to follow
Cornish Playhouse at the Seattle Center
Buy discounted tickets online
The Cradle Will Rock
Season opener; directed by Valerie Curtis-Newton
Oct 30–Nov 8 (previews Oct 28, 29)
Wed–Sat at 7:30 PM; Sun at 2:00 PM
Jones Playhouse
Tickets and Info
Banner photo courtesy of "Becoming Mermaid" production team.