We've made it through dreaded "dead" week, and students are finishing up finals before heading home for a well deserved winter break. As one of our most jam-packed fall quarters, we started the 2016/2017 academic school year off with a bang. Take a look below for a recap of all the amazing things our students have created, and some very exciting visits from nationally known playwrights, actors, and directors. Happy holidays!
In this issue:
Recap: Iphigenia and Other Daughters
Recap: Fucking A
Recap: The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G
Recap: UTS Productions and Other Events
Up Next: What to Look Forward to in Winter Quarter
Alumni News
We started our season with Ellen McLaughlin's poetic and transcendent adaptation, Iphigenia and Other Daughters. Helmed by Seattle Repertory Theatre's Associate Artistic Director Marya Sea Kaminski, this production featured the talents of graduate and BA student actors and designers. The production was described by our audience members as "beautifully staged," "thought provoking," with "powerful performances."
Playwright Ellen McLaughlin stopped by the Iphigenia rehearsal room to connect with the director and cast for the production. McLaughlin was in Seattle performing in the Seattle Repertory Theatre's production of Roz and Ray, written by School of Drama faculty member and senior artist-in-residence, Karen Hartman.
You can take a look at some production photos of Iphigenia and Other Daughters here.
We had our first thesis production of the year with Suzan-Lori Parks' Fucking A, directed by 3rd year MFA candidate Malika Oyetimein. This beautiful and haunting adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter told the story of Hester Smith - branded A for Abortionist - in her efforts to do whatever it takes to buy her son's freedom from prison.
The production featured live music, transformative design, and a cast made up of MFA actors, BA students, and School of Drama alumni. This powerful and poignant piece raised serious questions about the role of race, gender, and poverty in society, and examined the distance between those with access to everything, and those left without anything.
Audience members described it as "Devastating...astounding play...performed magnificently," and that it is "very important that we continue to have theatrical experiences like this."
Take a look at some of the production photos here.
After his wild and rollicking direction of Taylor Mac's The Walk Across America for Mother Earth, we invited Intiman Casting Director Ali el-Gasseir back this year to direct The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G by Qui Nguyen. The third installment of Nguyen's "Gook Story Trilogy," this meta-theatrical ride features Qui Nguyen as a character trying to discover the best way to tell his family's story. Swinging wildly between genres and filled with puppets, ninjas, and rap numbers, the audience was treated to a raucously good time.
One audience member remarked that they experienced "laughter and tears, excellent commentary on societal issues and stereotypes, and really excellent performances." The cast and design team were made up entirely of BA students.
Currently running at the Seattle Repertory Theatre is Vietgone, Qui Nguyen's sequel to The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G. The cast and team from Agent G went to see a invited dress rehearsal for Vietgone, and we were lucky enough to have Qui Nguyen and the cast of Vietgone join us at our performances!
"Meeting the playwright was such a unique opportunity," said actor Annie Willis. "Qui took the time to talk to us and give us advice about being young artists, and he was incredibly nice. The cast of Vietgone may...
Read more![Ellie Mondloch, Daphne Sage Gomez, and Jake Thomas Lemberg in a promotional shot for The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged) [revised].](https://drama.washington.edu/sites/drama/files/styles/medium-square/public/images/uts_shakes_0.jpg?itok=AY8jEqwc "Ellie Mondloch, Daphne Sage Gomez, and Jake Thomas Lemberg in a promotional shot for The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged) [revised].")
UTS
For the first two shows of their season the Undergraduate Theater Society turned up the comedy! They opened with Debate: An Improvised Comedy which was a long-form improv show that parodied the American presidential debate structure. Talk about timely!
For their second production of the season, they produced The Complete Work of Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] which turned the Bard on his head. Performing all of William Shakespeare's canon in less than two hours provided for a high-energy and hilarious mash-up.
Learn more about these productions and check out some photos here.
Lecture Series
The School of Drama continued its tradition of presenting lectures on cutting edge conversations about the arts. In its fifth year, this October's lectures series focused on the role of the arts and humanities in the STEM-focused academy. With our largest turn out yet, we were thrilled to hear from Catherine Cole, the new Divisional Dean for the Arts, Jesse Oak Taylor from the Department of English, and Jason Groves from the Department of Germanics.
In 2017 we are continuing our dedication to producing bold, meaningful work and creating a creative and collaborative environment.
Maple and Vine - January 17-29th at the Floyd and Delores Jones Playhouse
Katha and Ryu have become allergic to their 21st century lives. After they meet a charismatic man from a community of 1950's re-enactors, they forsake cell phones and sushi for cigarettes and Tupperware parties. In this compulsively authentic world, Katha and Ryu are surprised what their new neighbors - and they themselves - are willing to sacrifice for happiness. This is the thesis production for 3rd-year MFA Directing candidate, Sean Ryan.
Learn more about Maple and Vine here.
As You Like It - February 7th-19th at the Glenn Hughes Penthouse Theatre
Shakespeare's glorious comedy of love and change is reimagined for 1950's America. With her father the Duke banished and in exile, Rosalind and her cousin Celia leave their lives in the court behind them and journey to the Forest of Arden. There, released from convention, Rosalind experiences the liberating rush of transformation. Disguising herself as a boy, she embraces a different way of living and falls spectacularly in love. Directed by...
Mike Jones (BA '10) just finished principal photography on his fist short film, "The Great Outdoors."
Barzin Akhavan (PATP '07) will be performing in the world premier of A Thousand Splendid Suns at the Actors Conservatory Theater in San Francisco in February 2017.
Shaudi Vahdat (BA '12) will be appearing in Washington Ensemble Theatre's production of Every Five Minutes, opening January 13th at 12th Ave Arts.
Ben Gonio (PATP '05) and Jason Sanford (PATP '11) appeared in Theatre Anonymous' production of It's a Wonderful Life on December 10th.