The Department of Theatre and Dance has released the list of productions for the 2009-2010 season. The upcoming season offers a wide-range of productions in order to benefit both students and patrons alike. Jennifer Blackmer, managing director and assistant professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance, deliberates with other faculty members for months when deciding what productions to include for a diverse season.
While making decisions, both students and patrons are taken into consideration.
"First, we must decide for the students," Blackmer said. "We want to provide them with the right experiences and opportunities. Next, we work to serve the patrons of the community and find shows for all audiences to enjoy."
The department provides 20 productions each season in an effort to involve as many people as possible. The season contains the Mainstage Subscription Series, Actor's Studio Series, Workshop Series, dance concerts and a special event.
Mainstage Subscription Series
The Mainstage Series contains the department's major productions and includes two plays, two musicals and two dance concerts. The University Theatre hosts these productions and features student performers and faculty directors and designers.
Blackmer says the "recent Broadway revival and renewed interest" of "Hair," inspired the decision to have the musical kick off the upcoming season. Because of the 1960s, hippie-spirit of the production, she hopes it will generate and expose new audiences and students to the revolutionary era.
The comedic play "Noises Off" follows both the off-stage and on-stage struggles of an acting company's attempt to put on a production. Blackmer looks forward to the play because a "physical comedy hasn't been done in years." Next on the schedule is William Shakespeare's play "Macbeth," which was chosen with the intent to provide a "new, modern take" on the familiar classic.
The season's "big blow out" will be a huge production of the classic musical "My Fair Lady." This major production will take place with the help of Robert Kvam, dean of the College of Fine Arts. With his role as musical director, it will be Kvam's first involvement in a Ball State production.
"I am a conductor, with both of my graduate degrees in conducting, so this is a great opportunity for musical experience," Kvam said. "But this is also a great opportunity to work with very talented students and faculty in the theatre department."
Also involved in the production is Kvam's associate dean Michael O'Hara. As a seasoned director of Ball State productions, O'Hara is looking forward to another directing experience. "One of my areas of research is in George Bernard Shaw. One of his most successful plays, 'Pygmalion,' is the basis for 'My Fair Lady,'" O'Hara said. "And 'My Fair Lady' is one of the most famous adaptations of 'Pygmalion.' It is one of my favorite all-time works - it is irresistible."
"Steppin' Out with Gershwin on a Cole Winters Night" is the first dance concert in the Mainstage Series. The dance production will feature some of the best, classic compositions by George Gershwin and Cole Porter and many different styles of dance. "An Evening of the Arts" is the second dance concert in the series. Inspiration for the choreography will be derived from different aspects of the fine arts including literature, poetry, paintings and sculptures.
Strother Studio Series
The Strother Studio Series includes four productions. The productions will take place in the Edward S. Strother Studio, and the 100-seat venue creates a much more intimate setting. The small cast and simple, stylized set and costumes offer a different experience. The intimacy of Strother Studio, Blackmer explains, "emphasizes and focuses on actor-director and actor-audience relationships."
The production list includes "God's Ear," a new play exploring the impact of language and its underlying messages, a musical based on the classic American novel "Little Women," and "Intimate Apparel," a play following a forbidden love story set in New York City in 1905.
Also included in the series is "The Women of the Manhattan Project," a play in which Blackmer and 10 students are in the midst of writing as part of a summer immersive learning project.
"I can't speak any higher of the implementation of the immersion learning programs," Blackmer said. "They are so beneficial to the theatre department."
Blackmer holds the current projects "close to heart," and will be traveling with the students to the Playwrights' Center in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., this July, in which professional actors will perform and critique their play.
"The actors will be able to give a tremendous amount of insight into the play and how to make it better," Blackmer said, "because they have such great, professional experiences. Their level of training and experience will be very helpful."
Workshop Series
Six productions take place in the workshop series, and are performed in the Cave Theatre. The Cave is a student-run venue and provides another small-scale, intimate setting. Each production is a one-act play, and part of the compilation "Suburban Motel" by George F. Walker.
Dance Concerts and Special Event
In addition to the two dance concerts involved in the Mainstage Series, the Ball State Dance Theatre offers three other concerts and a special event. The productions include the "Senior Choreography Showcase," "Junior Choreography Showcase," "Works in Motion" and special event "Festival of the Word and Dance."
The Department of Theatre and Dance's upcoming season provides many opportunities for both student involvement and patron entertainment. The eclectic season will have something for everyone to enjoy.
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