Two New Productions

April 2019
In This Issue

President's Corner	Lysistrata
The Wolves	Young Alumni Commissioning
Still More Kudos	Graduation Nears
How To Live Forever	Merrily We Roll Along

This is a difficult message to write. It means I must acknowledge the fact that this will be the last Friends of Theater Newsletter from the desk of our devoted editor and all-round amazing Friend, Judy Canyock. Judy and Gordon will be moving to Texas this summer, bringing them closer to their family, which is a wonderful thing for them. But their Mason family here will miss them terribly. Judy is a founding member of FOTM and from the beginning there was no job she would not take on in the support of the School of Theater. The hole she leaves is huge and will be so hard to fill up. But we all wish them the very, very best.

This is indeed a time for good-byes. Also leaving the Board (but not moving away, thankfully) are three other charter members of the Friends of Theater: Eileen and Charles Duggan and Linda Evans. It was Eileen who envisioned a Friends group to support the growing theater program at Mason. Through the hard work of forming an organization and personally recruiting members, Eileen and Charles guided the creation and growth of FOTM. Indeed, it was Eileen who, knowing my love of the theater, recruited me and then Mack to the fledgling organization. Linda, with a history of life in and around theater, came on board from Theater of the First Amendment. She brought her knowledge and experience to our table. All of us at the Friends of Theater and the School of Theater owe these four visionaries a great deal of thanks.

And that leads me to an opportunity for all of us to say thank you. Please join us at the School of Theater picnic on Saturday, April 27, from 4 – 6 pm between the two Fringe productions that day. Check your email for the invitation sent out last week. We will celebrate the season and also celebrate and thank Eileen, Charles, Judy and Linda. It is also a time to wish our graduating seniors a bon voyage, including Brooke Gorsica, who has served as student rep to the board for four years. The new season will be announced, too.

We have so many reasons to come together to celebrate and would love to see many of our Friends there and be able to thank you all in person for being a Friend.

Paulette Miller, President
Friends of Theater at Mason

THE SCHOOL OF THEATER AND MASON PLAYERS

present

MASON FRINGE

THE WOLVES

By Sarah DeLappe
Directed by Jared Pugh

A timely play about a girls’ indoor soccer team that illuminates with the unmistakable ping of reality the way young selves are formed when innate character clashes with external challenges.

Contains adult language

PERFORMANCES

Thursday, April 25, 2019 8:00 PM
Saturday, April 27, 2019 8:00 PM.
Sunday April 28, 2019 2:00 PM

deLaski Performing Arts Building, A105,

TheaterSpace
Fairfax Campus

TICKETS

$20 Adult
$10 students, staff, seniors and groups

DIRECTOR'S NOTE

When approaching the beast that is this play, I knew my initial goal would be to create realism on stage. Through workshopping with the actors and collaborating with designers, I believe we created a theatrical environment for this show to live and breathe in. It was crucial for the realism to go beyond the stage an extend into the audience in order to give the audience an immersive experience. I wanted the audience to feel as if they were the parents and friends of these girls sitting in the bleachers on the sidelines. That way the audience could connect and relate to certain characters on a deeper level.

The incredible thing that Sarah DeLappe did when writing this play was create characters that come from all different sectors of life. We all can fully identify with at least one these characters and we all know someone else who is just like all the other characters. With such a diverse set of characters, there are bound to be opposing opinions and strong feelings, very similar to the polarizing society we find ourselves in today. The characters in the show and the opinionated people involved in politics on both sides of the aisle have one large tragic flaw, they don’t take the time to listen to the entire story. We don’t take a moment to listen and sympathize with differing opinions, which only ends in grievances for all. The Wolves is a show, in my opinion, that highlights the possibilities when we try to accept each other at the end of the day and realize that we are all on the same team.

It’s awooo season!
Jared Pugh

Jared is a junior Theater major and English minor hailing from Laguna Hills, California. Past Credits include: directing and readapting Love Letters at George Mason; scenic designing Mason Players’ Machinal; and interning in La Jolla Playhouse’s education department. Jared is a proud Teaching Artist with Acting for Young People.

THE WOLVES, A SIDEBAR
Amelia McGinnis, Stage Manager

I have had the opportunity to work on many productions as both a stage manager and choreographer, but have never experienced anything quite like working on The Wolves. This production highlights the bond of a team and the cast has found a special bond with one another. At the beginning of every rehearsal, the cast stretches and does soccer drills, which is used as a warm up but also helps everyone get to know each other and relax into their characters. Within a short few weeks, the cast has quickly become their own team. These girls push each other to their best ability but also support one another if someone is falling behind or needs help.

I believe that a lot of this derives from the cast being involved in sports previously. Almost half of the cast has played soccer before and are very excited to be returning to their roots. Many of them gave up soccer to pursue acting which is why this production is so special to many of the people involved. Because of their previous experiences, the cast understands the team mentality. As the stage manager of The Wolves, it has been a rewarding experience to watch these ten actors create this special bond.

In my past experiences, I have managed movement heavy shows that derive from choreographed movement. In this production, some of the movement has come from an organic place which makes it more difficult to track. In my prompt book, I have dozens of diagrams and pictures of stretches to ensure I have everything recorded accurately. I am so grateful to be working on a production that has challenged me as a stage manager and also given me the opportunity to work with such hardworking theater artists. Come see The Wolves to see a production where teamwork and sportsmanship is highlighted.

Amelia McGinnis

Amelia McGinnis is a sophomore theater major pursuing a BFA degree in Design for the Stage & Screen originally from Atlanta, Georgia. Her past credits with the Mason Players include: Student Production Manager & Stage Manager on Originals!, Assistant Stage Manager on The Pillowman and The Imaginary Invalid, and Choreographer on Machinal. She is an Acting for Young People Teaching Artist where she is currently serving on the choreography team for Aladdin Jr.

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LYSISTRATA

By Aristophanes
Directed by Theresa Ohanian

Lysistrata persuades the women of Greece to withhold sexual privileges from their husbands and lovers as a means of forcing the men to negotiate an end to the Peloponnesian War – a strategy, however, that inflames the battle between the sexes.

This show has offensive language and explicit sexual content.
Not suited for ages under 17.

PERFORMANCES

Wednesday, April 24, 2019 8:00 PM
Friday, April 26, 2019 8:00 PM
Saturday, April 27 2:00 PM

deLaski Performing Arts Building, A105

TheaterSpace
Fairfax Campus

TICKETS
$20 Adult
$10 students, staff, seniors and groups

DIRECTOR'S NOTE

A Director’s Definition
Theresa Ohanian

What is Lysistrata? Lysistrata: (noun) cir. 411BCE; meaning “dissolver of armies.” She may be a play about a woman’s mission to end the Peloponnesian War by denying men sex. She may be a comedy about the interactions between the sexes or an absurd tragedy of the desperation one may have for peace. She may be a reminder that as one war ends, another begins and takes its place. She may be a conversation that speaks as loudly in today’s society as she did over 2,400 years ago. She may be a wrestling match, a spectacle, a journey. She may be a story about unity, strength and peace. She may be a drama of divided factions, toxic masculinity and human weakness. She may explore the patriarchy of war and she may be a reminder that we have very far to go. Our story is not meant to divide; it is meant to unify in discussion and conversation. Take a side, play along and let the war begin.

Theresa Ohanian has directed and performed across the US, Canada and the UK for longer than she is willing to admit here. She studied at Emerson College in Boston and York University in Toronto. After receiving her MFA, she was ecstatic to find a home at George Mason. Currently, she teaches Voice and Theater 101 and feels selfish because she loves teaching and her students so very much. Her family is her biggest source of strength and she is hoping to get a dog soon. Thank you to the marvelous actors in this production, the support of the faculty and staff, the talented design and run crew, Jon for his music inspiration and Aristophanes; we hope we made you proud.

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KUDOS

YOUNG ALUMNI COMMISSIONING PROGRAM

There is always so much to celebrate in George Mason University’s School of Theater. We are consistently in production with great work, our faculty, students, alumni and staff are making splendid contributions to the arts in the region, nationally and across the globe. The growth, stemming from class, workshops and studio, reflects a high level of achievement. Collaboration is modeled, valued, and rewarded here. The College of Visual and Performing Arts’ Young Alumni Commissioning Project is one example of that reward. This new initiative provides crucial support for our alumni’s artistic development, across the College, through a commissioning fee, project expenses, and venue support for a public showing of the new work. The award of those vital elements of time, money and space was made available to alumni who graduated since 2008.

Proposals needed to be for an original new work in any art form, suitable for performance, exhibition, or screening in a Mason venue. Many proposals were submitted. These included a project summary, work samples, a project budget, and a list of collaborative team members. I was honored to serve on the selection panel of experts from each discipline in our College. This distinguished panel considered three key elements before making a recommendation to the Dean:
—Artistic Excellence

—Impact on the artist’s career trajectory

—Feasibility of completion

As Zach wrote, “Tangier Island is, for lack of a better word, sinking into the Chesapeake Bay. Along with it, an isolated waterman's culture and a rare dialect of American English will vanish. The island has lost two thirds of its land mass in less than 170 years. The ‘Tangiermen’ cry erosion, others cry climate change. Regardless, the island may only have a few decades left. The dwindling island population has scored national media attention in recent years but is no closer to being saved.”   The Waning Island of Tangier, and why it maybe should be saved.  (Class of 2015) have received the inaugural Young Alumni Commissioning Award and $5,000 in commissioning support for the new play, Andrew Reid, and Zachary Wilcox, Rebecca Wahls

Rick Davis chose to support three deserving projects. One at the full amount. We are proud of our  School of Theater alumni who received the top award.

Zachary Wilcox, Rebecca Wahls, and Andrew Reid  (Class of 2015) have received the inaugural Young Alumni Commissioning Award and $5,000 in commissioning support for the new play, The Waning Island of Tangier, and why it maybe should be saved.  As Zach wrote, “Tangier Island is, for lack of a better word, sinking into the Chesapeake Bay. Along with it, an isolated waterman's culture and a rare dialect of American English will vanish. The island has lost two thirds of its land mass in less than 170 years. The ‘Tangiermen’ cry erosion, others cry climate change. Regardless, the island may only have a few decades left. The dwindling island population has scored national media attention in recent years but is no closer to being saved.”

These artists have been working with Mary Lechter, as some of the wonderful alumni mentors for our student Originals. This team founded Who What Where Theater Collective and intend to tell the stories of the people of Tangier through filmed interviews and dramatic expression. The Waning Island of Tangier, and why it maybe should be saved will be produced in the spring of 2020 at George Mason University. This will be a strong compliment to the coming season.

So many chances to SEE YOU IN THE THEATER!

Ken Elston

Director, School of Theater

MORE KUDOS

Deb Sivigny, Assistant Professor of Design/Tech in the School of Theater, has been awarded a travel grant to the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space, an international design event held every four years. Sivigny was chosen to be part of the United States delegation (for the exhibition of professional designers) with her designs from her immersive event HELLO, MY NAME IS... which she wrote and scenic designed in 2017. It was produced by The Welders, Washington DC's only playwrights' collective dedicated to new work.

Thirty-four emerging student designers and 51 professional designers from the U.S. have been selected to exhibit and feature their work in the 2019 Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space (PQ), the largest performance design event in the world. The 14th PQ will take place June 6-16, 2019, in Prague. The U.S. exhibition at the PQ is supported, in part, by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

A pool of close to 300 designers submitted work that plays off of the rich ethnic culture and artistic diversity of the U.S. The selected works have been divided into three exhibitions: imagination, transformation, and a performance space architecture exhibition — theater of our world.

Exhibited designers are allocated space to exhibit multiple images. All exhibited work will be presented in digital format and will include interactive digital display panels. After its run in Prague, this work will be a touring exhibition throughout the U.S.

The PQ is often described as the olympics or world’s fair for performance designers. USITT has been a proud sponsor of the U.S. exhibition at the PQ for more than 40 years. By exhibiting thousands of designs from dozens of countries, and by bringing together designers, directors, students, and general public, the PQ provides an unprecedented exchange of ideas that goes beyond the narrow confines of theatrical design and style.

“Encompassing the best of theater design from the U.S. is an almost insurmountable task,” said David Grindle, USITT’s Executive Director. “The wealth of creativity and artistic expression in our nation is immense. I’m excited that USITT can share a sample with the world and with the nation as the materials tour over the next several years.”

The Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space was established in 1967 to bring the best of design for performance, scenography, and theater architecture to the front line of cultural activities to be experienced by professional and emerging artists as well as the general public. The quadrennial exhibitions, festivals, and educational programs act as a global catalyst of creative progress by encouraging experimentation, networking, innovation, and future collaborations. PQ aims to honor, empower and celebrate the work of designers, artists and architects while inspiring and educating audiences, who are the most essential element of any live performance.

As a costume and scenic designer, Sivigny has worked on over thirty world premieres with Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Theater J, Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences, Imagination Stage, The Source Festival, Young Playwrights Theatre, The Hub, Studio Theatre 2nd Stage, and Rorschach Theatre where she has been a company member since 2006. She has also designed for Round House Theatre, Olney Theatre Center, Everyman Theatre, Signature Theatre, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Rep Stage, Adventure Theatre, Shakespeare Theater’s Academy for Classical Acting, 1stStage, Keegan Theatre, Baltimore Shakespeare Festival, Opera Vivente, WSC Avant Bard, Flying V, DC and Seattle Fringe Festivals, Peridance, Dance Elixir and Tia Nina, among others.

She is a member of the second generation of The Welders, where she served as Lead Producing Playwright for her work Hello, My Name Is… Set in a house, she designed and created environments that channeled the lives of Korean adoptees. She is currently developing ideas for future iterations of the work. Her research includes development of “design-driven” works inspired by classic literature, politics and personal aesthetic and experience. She is a member of IATSE USA 829 and USITT.

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STILL MORE KUDOS
Paulette Miller

On April 10 the members of OLLI were treated to an amazing performance by Mason musical theater students. Thanks to our own Norma Jean Wreck, Mason theater freshman and self taught student of the works and life of Stephen Sondheim, Caleb Caselle, taught a 4 part class at OLLI called Putting it All Together: the Life and Works of Stephen Sondheim. As part of the class the session on April 10 was a fabulous cabaret style production called Anyone Can Whistle : A Musical Celebration of the music and lyrics of Stephen Sondheim. With Caleb acting as MC setting up each number, and the wonderful Joe Walsh on the piano, 10 of our shining stars from School of Theater performed 13 of Sondheim’s songs from 10 of his musicals. Needless to say, they absolutely wowed their OLLI audience. Mack and I were so proud of them all. As the OLLI members left they could not stop praising the students and the performances. Indeed, the finale duet from West Side Story with Angelica and Adelina left many in tears!

So KUDOS to Caleb Cassell, Jessica Barraclough, Jeffrey Trent, Colleen Kleveno, Angelica Miguel, Khaya Fraites, Ryan Phillips, Rachel Sharp, Adelina Mitchell, and Kathleen West for a wonderful program and for being the best ever ambassadors for the School of Theater. I have no doubt they created more future audience members in 90 minutes than even the most enthusiastic fan could. As I keep telling people, you just have to see them once and you will become a believer.

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GRADUATION NEARS
Brooke Gorsica

(Photography courtesy of AKB Multimedia)

Senior Theater Major Brooke Gorsica will be graduating with the class of 2019 this spring. Brooke has been a board member of the Friends of Theater at Mason since her freshman year. Her experience as a Friend of Theater board member has allowed the board to hear the student body’s voice at their meetings. Brooke tells us that she “will miss her (my) home at Mason as well as the Friends of Theater” as she continues her pursuit of becoming a theater artist in the New York region after graduation.

Brooke’s experience as a Mason theater student has been very diverse as she has been an actor, stage manager, director, and lighting designer for various Mason Players productions over the course of four years. Brooke describes her experience at Mason by saying, “I am very grateful for the opportunities George Mason has given me as well as the School of Theater. I pushed my boundaries as a theater artist and got to explore various aspects of stage that I hadn’t ever experienced before coming here”. Brooke will be graduating Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater as well as a double minor in Film & Media Studies and Event Technical Production.

Congratulations and thanks for all you have done!

A CONCERT PRESENTATION

MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by George Furth

Directed by James Gardiner & Erin Gardiner

Musical Direction by Joe Walsh

Choreography by Stefan Sittig

This critically acclaimed musical is Stephen Sondheim's semi-autobiographical musing on friendship and the high price of success. Join us for this special concert presentation, featuring Mason’s Musical Theater student performances and direction by members of our professional, musical theater faculty.

Presented By

MASON SCHOOL OF THEATER

Friday, May 03, 2019 3:00pm
Friday, May 03, 2019 8:00pm

Center for the Arts Concert Hall, Fairfax Campus

TICKETS

$20 Adult
$10 students, staff, seniors and groups

PRESIDENT'S CORNER