Theatre performance major Eleanor Baxter was featured in a local Jackson online publication about her part-time job at a local diner! Check it out!
Monthly Archives: April 2011
Bald Soprano — Production Pictures
Hey , check out our production pictures from The Bald Soprano. If you would like to purchase prints or downloads from this production CLICK HERE.
Theatre Department Awards 2011
Each year, the theatre department gives out a pair of awards, the Priscilla and Barnabas awards, to the theatre majors who most exemplify our department’s concept of the Servant Artist, willing to serve both backstage and on, using their talents and energies in the art and activity of theatre.
This year’s Priscilla Award was presented to senior Deanna Smith, who has been selfless in her desire to support others, excellent in her ability to manage and organize as a leader, and has expanded her realm of service beyond the theatre into supporting this spring’s faculty dance concert as their stage manager. After doing excellent work last year in stage managing Murder in the Cathedral and leading the props crew for Importance of Being Earnest, it’s been a pleasure to watch Deanna’s passion and drive become richer as they have been further tempered with patience and compassion.
The Barnabas Award was presented to junior Dave Harris, who has emerged as a strong leader in our department through taking on senior production responsibilities, establishing himself as a role model of willingness and service. Dave has been a force onstage for several years, playing lead roles in Much Ado about Nothing and A Doll’s House, but over the past year, as he has developed his abilities as a leader and motivator behind the scenes, his spirit and his giving has shown itself in even stronger performances in Three Sisters and The Bald Soprano this spring.
Please join our faculty in congratulating this year’s Theatre Award recipients.
SETC IS Whatever YOU Make It
This was my first ever SETC Convention. Well, to tell the truth, it was the first convention I’d been to that was about theater. When we drove into our hotel in Atlanta, after our six-hour car drive, I realized the sheer size of the thing I had stepped into. Our seniors tried to tell us what’d be like. We had meetings on where to register, how to dress, what job contact was like, they laid everything out with a quiet solemnity of the experienced.
Sound Design and Portfolios
Being a tech theatre major I have learned there are two main things that you need. First is a specialized skill set, and second is a portfolio. For me the first thing has never been hard to figure out. I have loved running sound since I was a kid. The second part was a slight bit more difficult. Most techies work with physical things (i.e. sets, props, costumes.) being a sound designer and engineer is a little different though because I am working with things like digital sound files and sounds that you hear. So when my professors told me I need to start creating a sound portfolio I was slightly distraught on how to take these intangible items and present them in a way that allows me to explain my concepts to people who don’t know much about sound.
My first idea had been to create a website that others could visit and have all the information and sound files there. The problem that I had with this is that I could not afford to use a web site host, and I don’t have access to a server that I could have hosted my web site on my own. Not to mention the fact that I actually have no web design and creation background. So I kept brainstorming for ideas. The next idea I had was to create some simple presentations that people could click through. This was actually not a bad idea. The only issue is walking the line between sophisticated and crap. To help keep on the side of sophisticated I decided to use the hyperlink ability that Keynote has to help me gain a website feel.
To actually present my work I took 30 to 40 second clips of various tracks from the different shows I had worked on. Then created links to each of these on slides for each show. This allowed me to give a broad example of my concepts.
While at SETC this past weekend I was given the opportunity to show my portfolio to several experienced sound designers, and get feed back about how I can improve my portfolio. Overall everyone thought that I had accomplished the challenges of sound designers quite well. Most of the advice I received was just in the presentation of my material. They recommended that I add more photos or video, which is something that I have wanted to do, but just haven’t had an opportunity to get the images I need. They also talked to me about some paper work like speaker position layouts, channel hook-ups, and screen shots of programs and the multi-track works that I have created that would be a great addition.
Another idea for presenting my work that I saw one designer use was to create three to four minute soundscape clips that give an example of the entire play’s sound design. Though complex it gives a snippets of the atmospheres and moods created through out the show by the sound design.
Over the next several weeks I hope to use all of the information and feedback I gleaned from SETC, and the sound designers I met with, to boost my portfolio to a whole new level.
CL
Expect the unexpected @ SETC
“Expect the unexpected,” is what I learned at SETC Atlanta.
I decided to go this year just to experience SETC for the first time. It was a hard decision to make, because I am a junior and it seemed unwise for me to not do job contact or an audition of any kind. But God gave me peace about just going and seeing what it was like, taking workshops, and meeting theatre people from all over the country. When I got to Atlanta and to the hotel, the only thing I could say was, “man, thank God I didn’t try to do more.”
It was quite a sight. There were hundreds of people everywhere of every type bustling about with excited facial expressions, suitcases, and a contagious energy. I felt rather small, honestly. Coupled with that, however, was feeling incredibly blessed to be among a big group of people passionate about the same thing — theatre.
So, I mentioned “expect the unexpected” at SETC. What’s that about? Well, (this is where I would recommend a little more preparedness) I was wandering through the university/theatre school booths downstairs when I came to the Stella Adler Studio of Acting table. I got talking with the marketing associate, Ryan, and he gave me an application for their summer 2011 acting conservatory. I hadn’t auditioned for them or didn’t really have any ambition to go to NY this summer, but completely ecstatic, I did it anyway. I ran back to the table after filling it out, gave him my headshot and resume (I JUST printed it off. Again, God was gracious in this instance, so just in case — PREPARE [unlike me :)]) and he promised to call me with an interview time later.
Throughout the weekend, I kept running into him randomly. Our conversations usually went something like this:
“Hey Ryan!”
“Hey, um, Stephanie? Right?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Good to see ya!”
And then one day, I began,
“So, have you decided on interview times yet?”
He responded, “Yes, sorry I’ve been meaning to get back to you. We’ll sign you up for the first slot, Saturday at 6pm.”
Saturday at 6pm. Yeah, I was nervous. But so excited! I really didn’t know where this was all going. I knew that it was pretty unlikely I would get in, but I went along with it, and the next step was Saturday at 6.
The interview went pretty well. It wasn’t outstanding. In fact, I kind of felt like I was putting them to sleep 🙂 But after a long, stressful weekend for everyone, it was understandable.
In conclusion, a week later, I got a call from Ryan with an acceptance into their summer program. I couldn’t believe it! God definitely used this to teach me to expect the unexpected and be prepared for the unexpected. So, even if you’re going to SETC to experience it for the first time, don’t hesitate to come over prepared and with an open heart to meet lots of people. Trust God, and you never know what He will do.
“Hey Ryan!”
“Hey, um, Stephanie? Right?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Good to see ya!”
And then one day, I began,
“So, have you decided on interview times yet?”
He responded, “Yes, sorry I’ve been meaning to get back to you. We’ll sign you up for the first slot, Saturday at 6pm.”
Saturday at 6pm. Yeah, I was nervous. But so excited! I really didn’t know where this was all going. I knew that it was pretty unlikely I would get in, but I went along with it, and the next step was Saturday at 6.
SB
Always Follow Up
This was my second time going through the job contact service at SETC. Now I knew that I should have my resumes printed on actual resume paper, rehearse what I wanted to say about my stage management experience (position I was applying everywhere for), and actually take notes during each on-the-spot interviews. A bunch of companies would tell me to e-mail them once the conference was over to let them know whether or not I was still interested, which was not a whole lot of fun. What do you write in attempt to get hired when you can’t physically show your work to affirm what you say? I simply thanked them for their involvement with the conference, said their company interested me, and reminded them that they should have my resume on file to consider as they were making decisions for summer employment. I ended up receiving an offer for an paid summer internship as an ASM three weeks later! Lesson learned: ALWAYS follow up with companies, even if you’re only mildly interested, because you never know which opportunities will fall through and which ones will actually happen.
GV
My SETC Experience
This year was my second year to attend SETC, and it was different for me in more ways than one. The biggest being that I passed State Screenings in December and was able to audition for about 80 different artistic directors from many theatres around the country while at SETC. Last year I didn’t pass State Screenings but I was still able to do Job Contact at the conference, which was very beneficial for me. It was good to be able to take in the craziness of the conference and get myself mentally ready for this year. Coming into this year’s conference I felt a lot more prepared and knew what was expected of me. I was really thankful that two of my best friends, Scott and Marie, were also passed on to SETC auditions and it was great to be able to bounce ideas off of them and journey through the overwhelming (but rewarding) process together.
I was thankful to audition on Thursday, the second day of the conference. My audition wasn’t until 3pm, so I had the entire day to focus, go over my monologue, and relax. The way the auditions went were that the auditionees went into a large ballroom 40 at a time and waited in chairs on the side of the room while one person went on the stage to do their monologue and/or song in front of many tables of artistic directors. I won’t lie, it was quite intimidating. The level of talent and dedication around me wasinspiring, and I felt like a “little fish in a big pond.” I feel confident that I gave my very best efforts that day, and the fruits of my labor paid off in 4 callbacks, which I went to later that night. I met some truly wonderful people and learned about several great internships that theatres around the country offer. The knowledge I gained from those callbacks is invaluable, and even if I don’t hear back from the ones that interested me most, I’ve made connections that I wouldn’t have made any other way!
DD
Theatre Festival “opening ceremony”
With storms rolling through the Metro Jackson area, we’ve decided to move our ‘opening ceremony’ to the world wide web. The storms will have passed through in time for the rest of the evening’s festival events to continue as scheduled.
Opening Address:
On behalf of the faculty, staff and students of the Theatre department, I would like to share a few thoughts on the Belhaven Theatre Festival, which officially begins this evening and continues through Saturday, April 16. While this is our inaugural festival, it is our sincere hope to make this an annual event.
The idea of the festival grew out of our desire as a department to create as many opportunities as possible for students to showcase their talents, their interests, and their gifts, particularly when it comes to the creation of new theatre. We are excited about the slate of events this year, including the visits of our guest artists Rich Swingle and C. McNair Wilson.
The word ‘festival’ is derived from the word ‘feast’, which was used to describe not only a celebratory meal (often during times of plentiful supply), but also in connection to a religious ceremony or celebration.
The Greek word ‘theatron’, which is the basis for our word ‘theatre’, literally translates as “a seeing place.” The word contains the implication that the theatre is a place to perceive, to visit, the action that takes place there; action which often includes the presence of the divine.
It is our hope that the Belhaven Theatre Festival will be that place where we may come into contact with, and enable ourselves to perceive, the divine. That it will be a time of plenty, and that it will be a time of celebration. A celebration of our community.
Our prayer for the Festival:
God
Our Father
And Creator
We give you praise
We thank you for your gifts to us
We thank you for the opportunity to offer them back
We offer you this Festival
An offering of our time, our talents, our energies, our focus
May it be a blessing to you
May it be a blessing to the audiences you bring
May you speak your Truth through us
May you guide our work
May you keep us safe
May your presence be with us
And bless us
We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ
Amen
Belhaven Theatre Festival in the news!
We are proud to have our Theatre Festival featured in an article in the Clarion-Ledger, Jackson’s local paper. Check out the online version of the article here.