It's a new year and a new quarter. At the School of Drama that means new classes and new opportunities. It's only fitting that we get to welcome 2014 with new work. During the first week of the quarter, graduate students immersed themselves in workshops with visiting artist Whit MacLaughlin, artistic director of New Paradise Laboratories in Philadelphia. Then, for our first show of winter quarter, student-director Tina Polzin stages the world premiere of EM Lewis' Reading to Vegetables. All that just in the first month. It's going to be a full and fulfilling 2014!
Reading to Vegetables
By EM Lewis
Directed by Tina Polzin, PDTP
Previews Wed, Jan 29 and Thurs, Jan 30
Opening Night Friday, January 31
Runs through February 9
Glenn Hughes Penthouse Theatre
The opportunity to bring a brand new play from page to stage is rare for student directors. With Reading to Vegetables, Tina Polzin, a student in our Professional Director Training Program (PDTP), will work directly with Portland-based playwright EM Lewis to create a Hitchcockian world of suspense on stage for the very first time. Inspired by Milgram’s famous “Obedience to Authority Studies” of the 1960s, this psychological thriller centers on a pre-med student, working as a research assistant, who poses as a coma victim. Her test subjects unwittingly share their secrets, and when a terrible accident occurs, the audience is left to decide who is responsible.
A post-show talk with EM Lewis will be held on Saturday, February 1.
Tina Polzin moved to Seattle just a few months before receiving her acceptance into the UW MFA Directing program. “I believe in actualizing what you want and I was really happy with the way my choices manifested themselves.” Now, in the middle of her second year, Polzin is directing the world premiere of EM Lewis’s Reading to Vegetables. She took time out of a busy schedule to talk about what drives her to direct, the lessons she’s learning, and what the future may hold.
For your autumn quarter directing project, you chose The Twentieth Century Way by Tom Jacobson? What drew you to it?
It’s a challenging play on many levels. On the academic side, it took a lot to dive into exactly what the events were and how to make it clear to the audience. Two actors play eight to twelve characters each and scenes switch really quickly. On the content side, I knew some people would have strong reactions to it. Television is moving towards portraying more homosexual characters, but without intimacy. We pushed to show that intimacy. Same sex couples can also fall in love and can have a romantic kiss. Unfortunately, it is complicated by how society has traditionally viewed same sex...
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Theatre from the Inside Out Dinner Event
Wednesday, January 22
6:00 pm
UW Club
Reservations made through the UW Club at 206-543-0437 or uwclub@uw.edu. $29.95 plus tax.
In this highly interactive presentation, Andrew McMasters (PATP '95) demonstrates the lessons of improvisational theater and discusses how his workshops with businesses help drive creativity and innovation. His presentations cover creativity and problem solving, brainstorming, reframing situations, accepting change as opportunity, and stimulating creative thought and vision.
Andrew is a leading expert in experiential learning, working with theatrical techniques to help participants learn through the use of fun and laughter. Andrew holds a BA in Theater from Temple University and an MFA in Drama from the UW, as well as a certificate in Arts Management. Originally from Philadelphia, he relocated to Seattle in 1990 where he met Mike Christensen and started Jet City Improv. He works nationally as an actor, and has taught improv and theater internationally.
Reefer Madness
Music by Dan Studney
Book and Lyrics by Kevin Murphy
Directed by Jillian Johnson
Music Direction by Melanie Llona
Choreography by Kellyn Traenkenschuh and Rosalind Phelps
January 23-February 2
Cabaret Theatre, Hutchinson Hall
Reefer Madness is a musical satire of a 1936 anti-marijuana propaganda film of the same name. It chronicles the story of high school student, Jimmy, whose life unravels after being introduced to marijuana. The musical portrays the dangers of drugs and addiction with an over-the-top comedic twist.
Last month, Holly Arsenault (BA '01) was named by The Seattle Times as one of the 13 for '13 people poised to shape the arts in the Pacific Northwest. As Executive Director of Teen Tix, Holly works to connect young people with the arts through discounted tickets, workshops, and a Teen Press Corps.
Many of our alumni were honored theatrical excellence by the Seattle Times Footlight Awards. Highlights include Trouble in Mind and Broke-ology named as Top Mainstage Plays. Both were directed by faculty member and alumna Valerie Curtis-Newton (MFA '96). Pamela Reed (PATP '75), Amanda Zarr (PATP '09), and Richard Nguyen Sloniker (PATP '09) were honored for their Great Performances. Jocelyn Maher (BA '13) was recognized as a Fresh Face. Jennifer Lupton (MFA '80) and Andrea Bryn Bush (MFA '07 and staff) were recognized for their Dazzling Designs. Congratulations to all our alumni!
Photo by Erika Schultz/The Seattle Times
Wednesday, January 22
Theatre from the Inside Out: An Evening with Andrew McMasters & Jet City Improv
January 23-February 2
UTS Presents: Reefer Madness
January 29-February 9
World Premiere: Reading to Vegetables
Saturday, February 1
Reading to Vegetables post-show talk with playwright EM Lewis
For a full list of upcoming shows and events, visit drama.uw.edu
Banner Photo Credit: Anna Lamadrid in Reading to Vegetables (© Mike Hipple)