The South Florida theatre community converged on the Deering Estate at Cutler for the third South Florida One-Minute Play Festival (1MPF), held on January 17 and 18, 2015. 1MPF is considered the largest and longest running short-form theatre company in the country. Dominic D’Andrea is the festival’s Producing Artistic Director and Founder. 1MPF showcases the talent of local playwrights, actors and directors by inviting these local artists to submit original works about their world as it is here and now. About 70 plays are selected from the submissions received and 8 directors are chosen. It is the directors’ responsibility to put ‘clumps’ of 8 one-minute plays together and do the casting for said plays. As Artistic Director, Mr. D’Andrea is an integral part of the collaborative process, giving guidance to the writers and directors before the finished plays are presented to local audiences. D’Andrea attributes a lot of 1MPF’s growth to their unique methodology; ‘there’s really nothing like 1MPF. We are half play festival, half community-engaged convening.’”

This year, FIU Theatre Department Adjunct Professor and alumnus, Ivan Lopez, submitted two plays, Just Hit Send and Our Own Magic and was honored to have both submissions selected for the festival. Ivan directed Our Own Magic with a cast of all FIU alumni and current students: Melissa Ann Hubicsak (Class of ’09), Michelle L. Antelo (Class of ’12), Melissa Almaguer (Class of ’06), Danny Leonard (BFA Performance in progress) and Zack Myers (BFA Performance in progress). He had a great time collaborating with his FIU family. “It was fun working with this group.  We really are like a family sharing the same terminology, familiarity and sense of spirit.  I appreciate the effort they put in and the talent they brought to the play.” Ivan’s play focused around the the Miami Heat’s loss of Lebron James and the Heat fans realizing that Dwyane Wade is a superstar player!

Everyone in Ivan’s ‘clump’ had a superb experience and some shared their positive feedback.

Melissa Almaguar said “my experience with the One-Minute Play Festival was so positive! It was so nice to work with such a friendly and talented group of artists, in such a beautiful and cultural location. There were so many FIU students and alumni, I felt like I was part of this bigger FIU family that went beyond my time there and one that continues to grow. I loved it.”

Michelle L. Antelo concurred with her teammate’s views. “Since I graduated from FIU’s Theatre Department, I have had the pleasure of being embraced by Miami’s artistic community. Thankfully, students that graduated before me have made major contributions to the city’s talent and have created a wonderful reputation for those of us who’ve followed. I love having the opportunity to work alongside alumni as well as students currently in the department. It reminds me of the wonderful time I spent learning at FIU. I’m extremely proud of the work we’ve done and are continuing to do. I must say, it felt great to have so many panthers in the group!”

It is also noteworthy that other FIU Theatre alums and students participated in this year’s One-Minute Play Festival.

As usual, the Department of Theatre is thrilled to see our students participating in community initiatives. Keep up the hard work!

BFA Performance students Danielle Rollins and Madeleine Escarne were honored to be included in this year’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration, a twenty-four year old tradition here at FIU that pays homage to one of the world’s greatest leaders. Danielle was given the opportunity to write and perform a short skit under the guidance of School of Music’s Dr. Mary Kauffman for the Commemorative Breakfast, which is considered the premiere event of the celebration. The breakfast was held in the Graham Center Ballroom on Friday, January 16.

Madeleine Escarne performed the skit, entitled Wake Up, alongside Danielle and two other SOM students. She was very moved by her classmate’s ability to bring awareness to the fact that people can become apathetic to profound periods in history. “I feel privileged to be a part of this celebration for the second year in a row. It was wonderful to see everyone come together in remembrance the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”

According to Danielle, “I tried to portray the ideas that non-violence does not mean passive and non-violent and revolution can indeed go hand in hand. The skit included music from Marvin Gaye and some of Dr. King’s quotes that I believe are underutilized, quotes about materialism, quotes that talk about this very powerful movement he represented.”

The Department of Theatre is proud of our students involvement in the FIU community.  Keep up the good work ladies!

For more information about The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration, please click here.

Welcome back and Happy New Year to all FIU faculty, staff, and students, both new and returning. The Department of Theatre is looking forward to a year filled with fun events and thought-provoking productions.

Rehearsals are currently in full swing for the first production of the spring 2015 semester, Six Characters in Search of an Author, adapted by Steve Moulds from the play by Luigi Pirandello. Six Characters in Search of an Author is the story of six characters coming to life, in search of an author to complete their unfinished story. The play opens on Friday, January 23 and runs until Sunday, February 1, 2015.

Six Characters in Search of an Author is the play that brought Pirandello world-wide fame. The original version of the play was appropriate for the place and time in which it was written and the ideas he was trying to explore. Steve Moulds’ adaption is an apt way of approaching the original play. Audiences can expect to walk away thinking about, discussing, and questioning what is real. This play raises many introspective questions, such as: What is acting? What is fate? How are stories told? Do fictional characters exist in the mind of the actor or the audience? Audiences are definitely in for an intriguing night, complete with all the twists and turns a good psychological drama can offer.

According to the director, Wayne E. Robinson Jr., “this play is to be considered ‘an inside scoop event’, with the audience being part of the reality of the story. It is a very unique production, with many surprises and, of course, the magic of the theatre will bring everything together.”

Six Characters in Search of an Author incorporates two acting styles, improvisation and scripted acting, which means that the actors have to constantly be in the moment and listen carefully in order to avoid missing cues.

Actress Shelly Miller is looking forward to opening night with a mixture of nervousness and excitement, “we are all having a blast with this play. Because we get to do a certain amount of improv acting, no two rehearsals are ever the same, which always makes for a fun time. I hope that everyone will have a good time and go along it.”

We look forward to seeing you on opening night!

For more information about Six Characters in Search of an Author, please click here

SUMMER 2015!
SHAKESPEARE IN STRATFORD
England Study Abroad Program

The Department of Theatre is pleased to announce its annual Shakespeare in Stratford/London: Text & Performance Study Abroad Program.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
“Shakespeare-in-Stratford & London: Performance & Beyond” explores the summer repertoire of the Royal Shakespeare Company. The RSC has set the gold standard for productions of Shakespeare’s plays for more than one hundred years. All plays will be studied at FIU prior to departure. Participants attend productions at the Rose Theatre and Swan Theatre in Stratford and the famed Globe Theatre on London’s South Bank. The 2015 season includes Othello, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Merchant of Venice, and Volpone, written by Shakespeare contemporary, Ben Jonson. Each production provides afternoon pre-show lectures conducted by eminent scholars from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in conjunction with the University of Birmingham. Featured RSC actors join participants for a morning-after post-production discussion in which they share personal perspectives on such production elements as rehearsal process, character development, and play’s themes and issues. An RSC Associate Director will lead the group in a directing workshop.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: January 30, 2015

DURATION: (Summer B Semester June 22 – July 31.)

COST: $3,300, which includes:
Three undergraduate credits, MIA-Heathrow return airfare, bed & breakfast accommodations in Stratford-Upon-Thames and London, attendance at five plays by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), Globe Theater, visits Shakespeare’s birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s cottage, Arden Farm, Warwick Castle, and Kenilworth Castle, a day trip to the city of Oxford, directing workshop, pre-show lectures and next-day discussions with RSC actors.
Experience education through a thrilling and unforgettable cultural immersion!

INSTRUCTOR
Phillip M. Church, Interim Department Chair, Associate Chair for Engagement, FIU Theatre | Email: churchp@fiu.edu; Phone: 305-348-3358

For information about financial aid, visit or call:
FIU Office of Study Abroad, PC 113
Phone: 305.348.1913 | Email: edabroad@fiu.edu

Evelyn Perez has been working in her field since she graduated from FIU in 1987 with a BFA Performance degree. In addition to being an actress and teacher, Evelyn has helped bring numerous productions to life for theatres such as The Coconut Grove Playhouse, GableStage, Hollywood Playhouse, New Theatre, and many others. Currently, she is the Assistant Director and Acting Coach at Miami Children’s Theater, and loves working with children. Some of Evelyn’s theatre credits include roles in The Rooster and the Egg (Nati Rafferty), The Cuban Spring (Olga), The Clearing (Roberta), and Property Line (Bianca). Evelyn drew on almost 27 years of experience to share her thoughts and wisdom with our students.

Many aspiring actors think they need to move to cities like New York, Chicago, or LA to find work in this field, so what made you decide to stay in Florida?

First of all, I love Florida, the diversity, the beaches, the culture, everything. This is my home. I often thought about leaving but I saw how difficult it was for people to make that move and how much they struggled. I decided that if I was going to struggle, I would prefer to do it at home. I have always wanted to work in my field, but I was never in it for fame and I learned that I didn’t have to leave Florida to do what I love. There are opportunities for actors right here, I have been able to find some of them and some of them have found me. I am very happy for the people who have left and achieved great success and fame, but it was never my calling to leave Florida.

What would you say to students who are thinking of leaving Florida in search of fame and great acting careers?

Information is at your disposal, use it. Students are always welcome venues such as Mad Cat Theatre Company, Artistic Vibes, and Micro Theater. At these places, they can get experience in writing, directing, and acting. The Florida theatre scene is a tiny community and we all know each and try to support each other, so reach out. There are agents right here in Florida, more studios are opening, and local theatres are doing great things, so get informed before making that decision to leave.

What challenges have you faced in your career?

Early in my career, I auditioned for many roles and was turned down because I “didn’t have the right look.” Truthfully, that felt like a glass of cold water in my face.  Luckily, actresses like Sofia Vergara, Eva Mendes, and Salma Hayek are paving the way and breaking down barriers for women and women of color in this field. It is a fact that there are less leading roles written for women and minorities, but that cannot stop you. If you are the only woman, the only Latina, the only African American, in an audition, be the very best you can be and trust that someone will recognize your passion and your talent, and cast you. If you are passionate about what you do, you will get ahead.

What do you think is lacking in the local theatre scene?

I think there should be more workshops and more opportunities for actors to get to know each other and network. Maybe people would be less eager to leave if they knew where to find work and and whom to contact. I live in a place where talent is abundant and new venues are popping up, but I would like to see greater community involvement. In my opinion, the issue is not lack of interest, but often lack of awareness. Somehow, we have to to find a way to engage this great community.

Do you have any advice for our theatre students?

Try to focus on solutions. We all know that there are obstacles in this field, just as there are in all fields, but concentrate on finding the solution instead of pouring too much energy into pointing out that the problem exists. We live in a technologically advanced world, so it is quite simple to create your own work and put yourself out there. Be your own PR person and remember that if you are passionate and persistent, you will get ahead.

Andy Senor describes his initial thoughts about RENT before he became a cast member; “During my final year as a student in 1997, RENT was fresh on Broadway and I was obsessed. Never before had a show spoken to me in such a way! I sang song after song, everyday, with the hope that I would someday be in RENT.”

The FIU Theatre alumnus and artistic director of District Stage Company, along with School of Music’s Carbonell Award winner Emmanuel Schvartzman (class of ’09), are currently in Havana working with local Cuban actors on a Spanish production of Jonathon Larson’s musical RENT. This is the second time the two will be teaming up as director (Andy) and musical director (Emmanuel) of the Tony Award-winning, ninth longest running show in Broadway history. After being involved with the show for many years and performing for millions of people all over the world, the two colleagues had the honor of directing the production right here at FIU in 2010. More recently, they have worked together on a musical production titled On Your Feet, about the life of Miami’s own Gloria and Emilio Estefan.

Senor has portrayed the role of Angel on tour nationally and internationally. Additionally, he worked as assistant director with the original director, Michael Greif, when RENT was revived off-Broadway. The show in Cuba will open on December 24 and run for three months at Havana’s Bertolt Brecht Theatre. This will be Cuba’s first fully produced Broadway show since the revolution, with a cast of all Cuban actors.

Since graduating from FIU in 1997 Andy has worked on numerous projects. He has appeared in commercials and music videos, presented on the Latin Billboard Music Awards. Some of his film and television credits include You Can’t Stop the Beat, Dummy, Ed and Lola.

The Department of Theatre is proud our alumni and wish them both great success in Cuba!

FIU Theatre students are bringing their talent to Artistic Vibes for two nights of solo performances! Recent graduates Amanda Ortega will portray the role of Sarah Jo Pender in 110 and Kayla Martinez will be playing Heidi Montag in There Will Be No Talent Displayed on Friday, December 12, at 8:00PM. Current students Lucas Hood and Caitlin Wiggins will perform Tonight is the Night to Drink and X’d on Sunday December 14, at 7:00PM.

Artistic Vibes is a creative collective whose aim is to grow South Florida’s local artistic community by producing a variety of performing arts productions, showcasing local talent, and providing a space for artists to exhibit their skills.

Location: Artistic Vibes 12986 SW 89th Ave, Miami, Fl 33176

Performance Dates: Friday December 12, 8:00PM and Sunday, December 14, 7:00PM

Tickets available at the door | Cash Only | General Admission $15, Seniors $12, Students (With ID) $10

For more information, click here.

Department of Theatre faculty member Rebecca Covey and husband Aaron Alpern, Department of Theatre adjunct, will be producing and performing The Heart of Winter on Sunday December 21, at 3:00PM at the historical California Performing Arts Centre’s Fremont Centre Theatre (FCT) in South Pasadena, CA. Their performance will feature a lively collection of classic and contemporary stories based around Christmas, winter, and Hanukkah by Dorothy Parker, David Sedaris, O Henry, Isaac Bashevis Singer, and others. The Heart of Winter revolves around the theme of yearning to connect with others and to find meaning during the holidays.

Actor and producer Lissa Reynolds is the Artistic Director at the Fremont Centre Theatre and a long-time associate of Professor Covey. The two have often spoken about collaborating on a project, but the opportunity never presented itself until now. After a recent conversation about Rebecca’s desire to do a show in California, Lissa extended an invitation to perform their project at FCT over the holidays, as she wanted to provide a holiday offering for her patrons. Rebecca immediately accepted and, having been given creative leeway over the direction of the show, chose literary stories she and Aaron would find meaningful and would both enjoy performing.

The Fremont Centre Theatre is a non-profit professional theatre. Their mission is “to discover and rediscover plays of value to produce in an artistic atmosphere that nurtures creativity, originality and excellence. In addition, FCT is committed to producing theatre that promotes diversity and attracts diverse audiences.” FCT is known for working with artists like Pulitzer Prize-winning author and playwright Ray Bradbury and producing award winning, original adaptations such as A Woman of Independent Means by Elizabeth Forsythe. They have been recognized by the NAACP, Women in Theatre, and many other organizations. It is an honor for Rebecca to perform at this prominent theatre, which has worked with artists of such high caliber.

Rebecca is very excited about this endeavor with the Fremont Centre Theatre. When asked about her expectations for the show and her future relationship with FCT, she responded, “I hope to establish a long-lasting relationship with the theatre. This could be a wonderful place for FIU Theatre to incubate new shows, especially new adaptations. I can envision larger scaled projects evolving over time, perhaps even on an annual basis. Aaron and I are looking forward to collaborating with Lissa to make next month’s performance a success.” It is also noteworthy that Rebecca is already in talks about bringing the show to different locations.

The Department of Theatre wishes Rebecca and Aaron great success in California on December 21. For more information about The Heart of Winter, please click here.

Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society is a collegiate society which encourages academic and professional success amongst college theatre students. The Theatre Department at FIU is pleased to announce that we have established a chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, with the first group of 28 members inducted on Monday, November 24, 2014. In following the tradition of using theatre-related terminology to describe the chapter officers, current BA student, Luisa Rodriguez is the Director (President) of the FIU chapter and she is very proud to be part of the induction ceremony. This idea has been in the works for quite some time and Luisa has spent countless hours doing research on starting the chapter and brainstorming with both her fellow classmates and their faculty sponsor, Theatre Chair Phillip Church. It is very satisfying to see all her hard work come to fruition. When asked why she wanted to start this chapter, she responded, “I am a member of another fraternity on campus and I really love that idea of brotherhood/sisterhood that these societies teach us and the fact that we all have similar aspirations and interests. I thought it would be great for my peers to be part of a group where we can feel comfortable enough to share with each other and learn from one another. So far, everyone has been incredible supportive and interested, so I hope that APO will continue to grow and be a success.”

Madeleine Escarne, Alpha Psi Omega’s Business Manager and BFA Performance student, describes the chapter as, “a bridge between the theatre community and the outside community. Alpha Psi Omega aims to raise awareness about FIU’s Theatre Department, encourage our students to be part of the camaraderie that is a fraternity and to serve as an honorary big brother/big sister to surrounding schools, especially the ones that have suffered loss of funding to their arts programs. Being a part of this society is an opportunity to give back and live up to APO’s motto-Seek a Life Useful. We want to prepare high school students for college life, teach them about the culture of the theatre and most importantly, to let everyone know how great FIU’s theatre program is. It is a wonderful feeling to be part of a group with common interests and goals.”

Alpha Psi Omega has numerous fun-filled and fund-raising events planned. On December 1, they will be having a bake sale in Graham Center lobby 11AM-1PM. They are also planning a holiday party (date TBD) and will be offering holiday song-o-grams. Please continue to visit our webpage for further details.

Requirements to become a member of Alpha Psi Omega
All prospective members must:
-Be a declared Theatre major for at least 2 consecutive semesters.
-Maintain a cumulative gpa of 2.5 or higher, be in good academic standing with the university and have no pending disciplinary actions.
-Meet the participation requirement. (Please contact Luisa for details about the participation requirement at lulusings@bellsouth.net)

To learn more about Alpha Psi Omega, please click here.

For more information about the FIU Department of Theatre Chapter of Alpha Psi Omega or officers, please contact Luisa Rodriguez at lulusings@bellsouth or visit the Department of Theatre Main Office.

Other Alpha Psi Omega officers include:

Juanita Olivo

Chachi Colon

Amanda Iglesias

Pia Isabelle Vicioso-Vila

Matthew Pastor

Erik Rodriguez

Sarah Perez

Melissa Lopez

Roselyn Moreno

Liana Sierra

Despite being on the road for most of the year, Cedric Liqueur always returns to his hometown, Dade City, Florida, for the holidays. Occasionally, he has the opportunity to share his art with other Shakespeare and theatre enthusiasts on those trips home. Through his personal research he became interested in performing at FIU and contacted the Chair of the English Department, Dr. James Sutton, with his request. Dr. Sutton liked his proposal so he decided to partner with the Department of Theatre to bring Mr. Liqueur to FIU to meet with the faculty and students for a Q & A session and to present his fifty five minute performance of The Middle of King Lear. In anticipation of his visit, Mr. Liqueur has taken the time to answer a few questions about himself and his career.

Why did you write The Middle of King Lear? Do you have any expectations for the performance?

“I began my career in the theatre, reading the works of the greatest poet the world has produced, William Shakespeare. I’d thought about Lear for several years, but I knew that most of the actors who have played the part in the full plays often spoke of how difficult it is to carry the ‘weight’ of Lear. Some actors feel you have to do almost all Shakespeare plays to do Lear. When I made up my mind to do Lear, I hadn’t done all the plays, but I felt, and still feel, I can bring all I have to this complex, compelling, tragic character. My intent in this solo production is to explore what Shakespeare wrote about Lear without any other players. Call it ‘research.’ Research that I do each time I walk onto the stage.”

There are many colleges and universities in Florida, why did you approach FIU?

“The name ‘International’ caught my attention when I looked at the colleges and universities in Florida. I read on the website that it is classified as a research university and I spend far more time now doing research than I ever did as an undergraduate or graduate student. Also, I believe if any artist has the opportunity to go back inside a classroom and talk with students and educators, they should, as I think they will become better artists.”

Why are you so passionate about Shakespeare?

“Shakespeare put the English language and the magic and mystery of theatre together. To me, his 37 plays and 154 sonnets captured the 14th through 17th centuries-like a digital camera today snaps the perfect color of a butterfly’s wings in flight! How did he manage to capture almost all these colors, in human beings? Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets are about relationships during the Renaissance era. The Tragedy of King Lear, particularly, and in this work, is about the relationship between fathers and daughters. He understood that history repeats itself and brought this to the stage. His stage brought to life ‘human’ characters with complex yet recognizable personalities, something never seen on stage in the Renaissance era so dramatically and with such popularity. He knew about the Renaissance because he was a product of it. For me to present The Middle of King Lear, on stage, I have ‘become’ a product of that era as well.

Do you have any advice for aspiring performers or writers, particularly those interested in the Renaissance era?

“Be patient. It is the advice I first received as an actor from Sir Patrick Stuart at the Royal Shakespeare Company: ‘Cedric, after about twenty-five years, if you are still in the business . . . you should then be a pretty good actor.’”

For more information on Cedric Liqueur’s visit, please click here.

FIU Theatre, in collaboration with the Department of English, is pleased to present The Middle of King Lear by independent actor and playwright, Cedric Liqueur on Monday, November 24 at 2:00PM in The Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center | Black Box Theatre. The Middle of King Lear is a fifty-five minute condensed variation on Shakespeare’s play-script, with the main focus being the oncoming madness of the legendary King–and the audience sitting and standing in the same light as Shakespeare’s most complex major character.

Mr. Liqueur is in his eighteenth year as a solo performance actor and playwright. He spent two years as an apprentice at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre Company, which led to many future roles in Shakespeare productions. He began writing and producing historical biographies in 1997. To date, he has written and produced twenty one shows, with The Middle of King Lear being one of his most recent. We are honored to have him visit our university and meet with the faculty and students.

Sarah Bartels ’10 is currently in Colorado working as a Producer and Casting Director for a short film entitled Two Secrets. This is Sarah’s first major film project since earning her BA in Theatre. As Casting Director, her duties include reading the script and collaborating with the director and other producers to create breakdown notices (brief descriptions of the physical attributes, skills, and experience sought in actors to portray particular characters.) She is also responsible for selecting the actors, scheduling auditions, and managing rehearsals. This job is new to Sarah and she has learned that a great deal of flexibility is required because of the long hours, necessary travel, and last minute surprises. Her strong interpersonal and communication skills have certainly been an asset in dealing with the plethora of different personalities she has encountered since the inception of Two Secrets.

Sarah is driven by this project because of the professional credit it awards her but also for personal reasons. This film is based on the true story of her partner, Alison Dolan, and she wants it to be portrayed well. Alison was abandoned shortly after birth, with her umbilical cord still attached, on the wintery streets of New York. She was found in a beer crate by two teenagers and taken to a hospital and was later adopted by a loving family. She has never been able to find any information about her birth mother. The film Two Secrets is told from the perspective of twelve year old Janey, played by Cassidy Mack. As the title suggests, there are two secrets: the story of Janey’s abandonment, which is kept from her, and a secret that she is keeping from everyone else.

South Florida’s Grammy nominated and Latin Grammy winning record producer, engineer, and mixer Charles Dye is the writer and director of the film. It is his hope to drum up enough interest and funding/investors from this short film to produce a feature film about Alison Dolan’s life in the future. Jay Riggs, founder and Executive Director of the national charity Will Play for Food, is also a producer. Other members of the team include script co-writer Meryem Ersoz, one of Colorado’s top film producers, internationally known photographer Laffrey Witbrod as Director of Photography, guest artist Alexx Calise, and many others. It is also noteworthy that the costume designer for Two Secrets is FIU Theatre alumnus Giovanni Valazquez (Class of ’11.) Once filming in Colorado is done, the team will begin working on making Two Secrets Oscar eligible for film festivals.

Sarah is very excited and a little nervous about this project. She says, “this is a huge responsibility for me professionally and of course I want it to be a great success. At the same time, if we make a feature film, my life will be included in it and that’s a little nerve wracking!” She recently came to the Theatre Department seeking advice from Department Chair Phillip Church and Head of Performance Wayne E. Robinson Jr. She talks a bit about her experience as an FIU Theatre student. “In addition to taking Phillips’s classes, I worked as his Assistant Director on The Cherry Orchard. That experience helped me to grow and boosted my confidence a lot. He basically handed me the reins on Tech Weekend because he could not be here and I really appreciated his trust in me. I felt that I was really part of the production. I wanted to get Wayne’s advice on working with the actors and things I could do with them, since they are quite young. He was always helpful as a professor.”

We wish Sarah and entire team working on Two Secrets the greatest success.

For more information on Two Secrets, please click here.

For more information on Alison Dolan, please click here.

Richard Armstrong, world renowned performer, director, and teacher, will be conducting a workshop on the Roy Hart Technique and extended voice at the Wertheim Performing Arts Center on November 21-23, 2014. His workshop will include vocal training for theatre students as well as professional development sessions with Department of Theatre faculty. He will focus on exploring range and character and emphasizes proper use of breath, body alignment, and physical grounding.

In addition to being a musical theatre faculty member of the exclusive Banff Centre in Canada, Mr. Armstrong offers workshops and demonstrations nationally and internationally on a regular basis. He was instrumental in establishing one of Europe’s most influential schools of voice and research, The Roy Hart Theatre in France. Needless to say, the Department of Theatre is extremely pleased to have someone of his caliber facilitating this workshop at the university.

FIU Theatre Department faculty member Rebecca Covey worked with Mr. Armstrong several years ago and remained in contact with him. When she learned that he was on sabbatical from New York University’s Experimental Theater Wing at the Tisch School of the Arts, where he is currently an Associate Arts Professor, she seized the opportunity to invite him to share his talent and expertize with the faculty and staff of the Theatre Department.

Detailed information on the workshop to follow.

For more on Richard Armstrong, please click here.

Coincidentally, the lead female role in Juanita’s Statue is being played by BFA Performance student Juanita Olivo. This has been her biggest role to date and the roller coaster of emotions she has been experiencing makes her giddy. Juanita describes the play as “the story of a woman who is forced to dress like a man to save her life. In the process, she helps other people discover love within themselves. If there is a message in this play, I think it is that we must all love ourselves as we are. Sometimes we need a little encouragement from others but once we find our wings, we shouldn’t be afraid to get out and fly. I sincerely hope that the audience will enjoy the chase that is Juanita’s Statue, but also pick up on the larger message of the show.”

Our leading lady also described her experience being a part of a collaborative effort as something that “means that your entire perception of your character can change in the blink of an eye, but we come into the space knowing that we are exploring together and we all have fun in that exploration.” Because Juanita is open-minded and understands that this is a learning environment, she welcomes the opinions of her peers and professors. She finds it fascinating that one slight change can alter her previously discovered character and bring everything together in a different way. Overall, the open communication and sharing of ideas gives the actors the feeling that they have a say in the direction of the play, which motivates everyone to work a little harder.

The complex staging of Juanita’s Statue is a challenge for Juanita who knows that it is the actors’ responsibility to ensure that the blocking of the elaborate chase scenes is seamless. She feels confident that they will be a connected ensemble by opening night. Another challenge she faces is adopting the persona of a man; she has to “talk, walk, carry myself differently AND make it seem natural. It takes a lot of work and discipline but I am getting there.”

Juanita is looking forward to opening night with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. She was a little worried about her family’s reaction to the risqué scenes in the play, but her mother’s encouraging words – “this is your art, your craft, this is what you do!” – helped to put her fears to rest.

For more information on Juanita’s Statue, please click here.

The Department of Theatre wishes to congratulate Joseph Haj (Class of ’84) who was recently honored with the 2014 Zelda Fichandler Award from the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC). Haj was unanimously chosen from 62 other nominated directors for this coveted accolade. According to SDC, the prestigious award recognizes “an outstanding director or choreographer who is transforming the regional arts landscape through imaginative, brave work in theatre.” The SDC chose Haj thanks to his “exemplary artistry, diverse and exciting programming choices, and deep commitment to the arts in North Carolina.”

The Haj family moved to Miami from New Jersey when Joseph was quite young. Growing up in South Florida, Joseph did not find his true calling until his senior year of high school, when he registered for a drama class. As a child of Palestinian immigrants, this passion for the theatre came as somewhat of a surprise to his family, who presumed that he would pursue a career in medicine, law or engineering. However, it was the theatre that provided a much needed outlet for his teenage anger, frustration and loneliness. Joseph earned his BFA Performance degree from FIU in a remarkably short time and went on to complete his MFA from University of North Carolina. He gained the full support of his family once they realized his talent and determination to succeed.

Haj worked as an actor for several years before shifting focus from acting to directing. When asked about the circumstances that contributed to the shift in focus he responded, “it happened fairly abruptly. For the longest time, everything I wanted to explore in the art form, I felt I could explore from the position of an actor. Then, almost overnight, acting began to feel very limiting and specialized to me. I started feeling like a punter on a football team and I wanted to have more ownership of a production, more of a say in how a piece was to be made.”

Joseph Haj is currently the Producing Artistic Director of PlayMakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He has directed and performed in theaters throughout the United States as well as overseas. He has conducted numerous workshops and been nominated for various awards, many of which he has won. American Theater Magazine named him “one of 25 theatre artists who will have a significant impact on the field over the next quarter century.” He has even directed Shakespeare productions at different maximum security prisons regionally. Elaborating on this, he explains that “those of us who spend a lot of time in the plays of Shakespeare go around protesting that Shakespeare is for everyone, even while having the nagging suspicion that that might not be true. I wanted to see if Shakespeare could be performed by those who had never come in contact with the work and for a community that also had little background with the work. The results were thrilling for both the inmates who acted in the productions and those inmates who attended the performances.”

A career in theatre for a man of color comes with certain challenges and Joe shares some of the challenges he has encountered. “It is very difficult to have a career as an artist. Ours is a field that has long supported ideas about diversity and inclusion. There are plenty of unconscious biases that negatively impact opportunities for women and people of color. I spent many years acting in the plays of Shakespeare all over the country, but I have never even had an audition for a Shaw or Moliere play. Women and people of color are under hired as actors, directors and designers.” He also offered some great advice to our aspiring theatre students; “your ambition will want to write checks that your talent cannot yet cash. Be humble, find mentors and learn from those who have gone before. Ours remains an apprenticeship game and what we know is handed down, so find great mentors.”

FIU Theatre is sincerely proud to call Joseph Haj one of our own and we wish him continued success as he strives to bring equity and inclusion to the stage in terms of stories, voices, directors and designers. It is rare to hear someone declare their love for their career and the people they work with, but love epitomizes Joe’s feelings about the theatre. It is truly inspirational to listen to someone refer to their career as a ‘calling.’

Jacqueline E. Lawton writes to answer the big questions about the world. One of her questions about The Hampton Years was, “How these artists find the focus and determination to create such beautiful and lasting art when everyone around is telling them that they shouldn’t be artists?” This is a valid question that required a great deal of research to answer.

The Department of Theatre is thrilled to collaborate with talented playwright Jacqueline E. Lawton on a dramatized staged reading of her play The Hampton Years. The play’s world premiere was in 2012 as part of Theater J’s Locally Grown Festival, an initiative intended to highlight local stories by local playwrights. Since then, the script has been rewritten in development with Virginia Stage Company. On Sunday, October 19, at the first rehearsal in preparation for Monday’s performance, Ms. Lawton heard the edited draft for the first time.

The idea for The Hampton Years came from the author’s interest in exploring the relationship between African Americans and Jewish people, two groups that have shared a history of oppression and exclusion in history. She was particularly interested in the time period when these two groups were able to come together in support and encouragement of each other. When asked what compelled her to tell the story of Viktor Lowenfeld and his relationship with students Samella Lewis and John Biggers, Jacqueline responded, “I started doing research to learn about professors who went to teach at historically black universities. I found out about Viktor Lowenfeld, this Austrian Jewish professor who choose Hampton Institute over Harvard University. He went on to establish the art department at Hampton Institute at a time when black artists were being encouraged to go into trade, become farmers, educators, nurses or do things that were considered more practical. I loved the story that revolved around creative expression and using art as a tool for social justice and advocating for racial equity.”

Ms. Lawton holds a BA concentration in theatre and dance, a BS in radio-television-film, and an MFA in playwriting. She has been recognized as one of the top 30 national leading black playwrights by Arena Stages American Voices New Play Institute. Growing up watching musicals starring Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, and Judy Garland, she always knew that a future in theatre awaited her. This was a difficult decision, since it was a career choice which came with the challenge of learning how to overcome the fact that very few female playwrights are produced each year and there are fewer opportunities for women of color in the theatre. This knowledge was a main contributor in her shift in focus from acting and writing to writing. In an effort to rectify the inequality she saw, she decided to concentrate on writing more roles for women and women of color. She is inspired by the next play that needs to be told, the next story out there, the next character that needs to be introduced. According to Jacqueline, “I don’t want those coming after me to struggle as much as I did in terms of finding a place for their voice. We need a greater sense of diversity in our stories that are selected, our playwrights that are chosen, in our actors, directors, designers and artistic directors. That’s what inspires me to continue doing this work. I want to create space for more artists do continue doing their work and be viable artists telling stories in the community”

Jacqueline had some insightful advice for students pursuing a degree in theatre; “first and foremost, don’t compare yourself to anyone else and always strive to be better than yourself vs being better than someone else. Be clear about your definition of success. I always encourage young people to become professionals and view theatre as a profession, not just a passion. Be your own PR person by creating your website and being in charge of your personal narrative. Educate yourself on the business side of the work you are doing and try to find a balance between mastering the art and the business.”

Ms. Lawton is excited to see how the South Florida community will respond to the play. She is always interested in learning what compels audiences to become interested in a particular production. This is also an opportunity to learn about the issues that need to be addressed in the community. This play is very special to her as it was read and liked by Samella Lewis, an extraordinary woman for whom she has great respect and admiration.

For more information about Jacqueline E. Lawton, click here.

For more information about The Hampton Years, a dramatized staged reading, click here.

Michael Yawney, director of the Department of Theatre’s upcoming production of Juanita’s Statue by Anne Garcia-Romero, describes the play as “a lot of lighthearted fun and a little thoughtful. This production is full of frantic chases, telenovela-like love scenes and action packed fights. Audiences will feel like they are standing in the middle of a race track as characters rush, collide and whiz by each other at every possible moment.” Michael hopes that everyone coming out to enjoy the show will laugh and snuggle a little closer to the person sitting next to them. One of the things that intrigued him about the play is that it deals with topics everyone can relate to, like the feeling of crushing self-doubt after losing a loved one or the intoxicating boost of confidence as new love blossoms. Somehow, the author manages to delve into potentially painful topics in a delightful way.

Juanita’s Statue is based on the premise of a young woman who disguises herself as a man and surprisingly discovers that she is irresistibly attractive to both sexes. The play is set in an undisclosed town where Spanglish is commonly heard, not unlike Miami. It revolves around a chase with moving walls and arches, set to the beat of wonderful vintage boogaloo. South Florida audiences are going to love the fast paced, crazy, rhythmic mix of Spanish and English in which the characters speak, along with the lively music and vibrant colors. Come out expecting to have a good time!

Directing Juanita’s Statue has been a collaborative process for Michael who believes that people work more effectively when they are part of a team. The designers meet regularly to share ideas about how to make the show a success and to iron out any production wrinkles that arise. The actors are in rehearsals every night working on perfecting their characters.  Everyone is diligently working together to create an enjoyable, riveting production for theatre-goers.

The main challenge he has encountered in staging Juanita’s Statue involves timing. This play requires amazing precision because it is so fast paced that if an actor takes one misstep, they will very likely be run over by everyone else.  Therefore, the choreography must be exact while appearing effortless. It is a small obstacle that Michael is confident the actors will overcome by opening night.

For more information about Juanita’s Statue, please click here.

At a recent FIU event, Department of Theatre faculty members Rebecca Covey and Michael Yawney had a conversation with School of Music (SOM) conductor Dr. Brenton Alston about a possible future collaboration between the two departments. Consequently, it was no surprise when Dr. Alston approached Rebecca with an invitation to read a poem for the SOM’s Wind and Percussion Arts Series, paying tribute to the late Dr. Maya Angelou, on October 8.  Instead of doing a reading for the performance, Rebecca, the department’s Voice and Speech professor, chose to coach three of our talented students – Madeleine Escarne (BFA Performance), Krystal Aleman (BFA Performance) and Adele Robinson (BA) – so that they could participate in her place.

Preparing the students for their readings took Rebecca over a week. They began by familiarizing themselves with the acoustics of the space and selecting the poems to be read. Rebecca then worked with each student individually; after warm-up exercises, they were encouraged to allow themselves to be affected by the imagery of their poems and to find personal meaning in each piece. They worked on discovering and utilizing variety in their voices as well as maintaining energy throughout a piece.

Rebecca has been with the Department of Theatre for the past 3 years.  She has worked as a professional actress since age 14 and holds a BFA in Acting from University of California, Santa Barbara and an MFA from University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.  Additionally, she is a Designated Linklater Voice teacher, a certification which requires 4-5 years of training.  When asked why she pursued a certification that took so long to obtain, her response was, “as an actor, I have always felt that my way into character was through voice, but I always bumped into walls because of my voice. I soon learned that Linklater Voice work would make me more easily heard and understood. I could be more connected to my voice and self. Working this way is liberating for me as an actor.” Also noteworthy is the fact that Rebecca was the Voice and Dialect Director for the Department’s recent production of An Ideal Husband. She trained eleven students to maintain a British dialect for the two hour production.

The theatre students were honored to read the poetry of Dr. Angelou and pay tribute to someone for whom they have such great admiration. They unanimously agreed that it was a wonderful experience and they were most appreciative of Rebecca for her training. The department looks forward to future collaborations with our neighbors, SOM.

On Thursday, October 2, the whole of The Wertheim Performing Arts Center was buried in utter darkness as a monster storm struck outside the Main Stage theatre while Act II of Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband was in full flow. It was a random stroke of luck that Gaby Lopez (Assistant Events Manager), BJ Duncan (Technical Production Assistant) and Geordan Gottlieb (Assistant Technical Director) were all in the audience on a night that they were not required to be there.  Thinking quickly, Gaby immediately shone the light from her cell phone onto the stage to ensure the actors’ safety while Geordan professionally advised the audience to remain calm, stay seated, and encouraged the actors to continue. One would expect an abrupt end to the show, even an irate audience, or perhaps mass panic, but this was not the case. As they say in this business, “the show must go on!” The audience remained seated, with everyone graciously offering the lights from their cell phones to illuminate the stage. The crew, along with BJ and Geordan, found additional lights in the department and the actors finished the last twenty minutes of their performance, barely perturbed by the slight hiccup. According to Gaby, “it was the most beautiful thing to see! The way the actors took the situation in stride and continued their performance was great, the calm support from the audience was admirable and even though we had been trained for this, we had never experienced this situation before, so the outcome was pretty good!”

Department Chair and director of An Ideal Husband Phillip Church recounts Thursday night’s experience, “At least twenty phones were pointed in the direction of the stage. Audience members’ phones included!  It was, to say the least, a surreal experience, but the actors flawlessly marched on, and it reminded us, without the sound of that continual low-humming air conditioning, just how powerful pure silence and quiet can be. The voices of the actors were magnified and so sharp and crystalline. The pauses were so much more profound, aided by the suspension of alien light that gave the whole scene an eerie yet moving patina of a black and white movie. The curtain call was received with raucous cheers – even more phone lights lit up. This was without a doubt, a memorable event and one that many of our students are sure to recall with their children and grandchildren. And in this way are legend and myth birthed! Congratulations to all our students who, in an instant, stood their ground artistically, remaining in the zone of artistic inspiration. And thanks to our audience members who had the faith to remain with us.  It truly was an extraordinary theatre experience.”

Zack Myers, Danny Leonard, Allyn Anthony, and Pia Isabell Vicioso-Vila were all on-stage when the lights went off.  Pia was stunned at first, but took her cue from the audience and her fellow actors who did their best to bring humor to the situation.  She too immediately adopted a ‘the show must on’ attitude and finished her lines. Pia too was thrilled by the audience reaction.“It was truly amazing to see the front row of the audience all get up one by one and place their phones on the stage so that we would have enough light to continue.”

Lovanni Gomez describes the incident as amazing and intimate. When the show ended, he felt as though he was walking away from something special. It was a very different experience from other nights.

Waiting to go on-stage was BFA Performance student Sofia Sassone. Her first thought was concern for the safety of her fellow actors coming off-stage in the dark. She was surprised to realize that they were going to continue but glad she had the opportunity to experience this remarkable situation. She describes it as, “the best thing ever:”

After the show ended, some members of the audience actually remained in the faintly lit rotunda of the Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center to greet the cast and offer their support. Overall, the actors were greatly appreciative of the encouragement and love they received. The Department of Theatre is proud of the students and staff for responding with such aplomb in an unexpected situation. Using cell phones to illuminate a stage was certainly an innovative choice and most definitely a sign of the time. The show must go on! And it did!

The Department of Theatre’s Phillip M. Church will be directing a dramatized staged reading of The Hampton Years, by Jacqueline E. Lawton, at Gablestage on Monday, October 20, at 7:00PM. Husband and wife team and Department of Theatre Professors, Rebecca Covey and Aaron Alpern, will portray the roles of Viktor and Margaret Lowenfeld, and adjunct professor Stephen Neal will play Dr. Malcolm Shaw Maclean. Theatre’s showing will not be limited to faculty members, however – talented BFA Performance student Madeleine Escarne will portray the role of Samella Sanders (Lewis).

The Hampton Years is a historical play; chronicling local events, it focuses on pivotal years at the Hampton Institute, Virginia, during WWII and explores the development of African American artists John Biggers and Samella Lewis under the tutelage of Austrian-Jewish refugee painter and educator Viktor Lowenfeld. The author touches on many profound topics like the discrimination Africans-Americans and Jews faced in the 1940s, war, art, and pursuing one’s dreams. Audiences will instantly take to Viktor because of his progressive thinking, open mind, and admirable passion for his work. John Biggers is bright and insightful, and Samella Lewis comes across as talented and strong minded. The play is captivating because most people can relate to one or more of the thought provoking topics explored.

Author Jacqueline E. Lawton will be coming to Miami to collaborate with the cast during rehearsals.

Performance Date: October 20, 7:00PM

Location: Gablestage 1200 Anastasia Avenue Coral Gables, Fl 33134

This is a free event with limited seating on a first-come-first-serve basis.

For more information, click here.