Marshall University Theatre Newsletter: Fifth Edition
Year: 2016-2017, Issue 5
By: Charity Irby, Andrew Stephenson , Christian Moore,
Kelsey Hoff , and Alexis Ullmann
Welcome!
Welcome to the fifth edition of the Photo Credit MU web
Marshall University Theatre Newsletter. In this edition we take a Inside this issue:
close look at the amazing hand drawn and hand painted drops for Professor Mike Mur- 2
our up coming musical, Guys and Dolls. We also have a talk with our phey: Behind the Drops
cast about their experience working with the Obie Award winning Circle Mirror Transfor- 3
play, Circle Mirror Transformation by Anne Baker. Student activity maƟon: Cast Talk Back
has been incredible so far this semester and we will take a look at
Student Ac vity in the 4
Theatre
what they are learning and achieving in class and outside of class. APO, and Theatre ETC! 5
Again, we will check in on our honor society, Alpha Psi Omega, and This Season and a word 6
to our patrons
our traveling children’s theatre show, Antigone.
PhoPthooctroeCdirteTdhite: aCthrerisarcahnivMeosore PhotoPhCorteodCitr:edSittorCyhrMis oaonsaMoore
Year: 2016-2017, Issue 5 Page 2
Guys and Dolls: Behind the Drops
Only a few more months un l the magic of Guys and Dolls hits
Marshall University’s stage, so we thought it would be nice to
take a look behind the scenes, or drops as it were. Depicted on
the right is one of the drops that will be used for Guys and
Dolls while it was being painted on our scenic shop floor. I inter-
viewed scenic designer, Professor Edward “Mike” Murphy, to
tell us his process of crea ng a
drop.
As Mike and I talked he said Scale drawing and painters evalua on
the most important part of designing a drop is
the research put into it. He showed me his research materials that he ac-
quired for his design; most of which were from other produc ons of Guys
and Dolls. A er his research and notes from the director and other design-
ers he makes a scale pencil drawling of the drop to get approval. Once
approved he paints the background of the scale drawing, which is called a
painters’ eleva on. The eleva on is painted with the same acrylic paint
that the bigger drop will be painted to keep constancy.
A er the painter’s eleva on is made he puts a grid system that mirrors
the one on a 30x40 foot canvas. For Mike the best part of crea ng a new
drop is seeing how much fun the students have he says, “They are on
it like paint busters!”
Interviewer: Andrew Stephenson, Marshall University Theatre Production Major, Freshman
Story Moosa, Junior
Pain ng of the canvas
Hand drawn 30x40 canvas Photo Credit: Story Moosa and Charity Irby
Page 3 Marshall University Theatre Newsletter: Fifth Edition
Circle Mirror Transformation by Anne Baker
“Circle Mirror TransformaƟon has been a crazy experience. It’s a
different process than I’m used to. It feels like the most honest
work that I’ve done so far. It’s a lot different because it doesn’t
feel like a play. It seems like real life and it feels like a lot of our-
selves are in the characters. I feel like for the first me, I know my
character one hundred percent. I didn’t realize how many mes I
haven’t been truthful on stage because of this being the most hon-
est role I’ve done. And it’s terrifying because I’m super vulnerable
on stage. It’s weird to think an audience is going to see the show
because it feels like our baby right now.”
Mandy Harper, Marshall University Theatre Performance Major, Sen-
ior
Interviewer: Kelsey Hoff, Marshall University Theatre Performance Major, Sophomore
“I’m an actor who loves experimen ng with different styles and
techniques, and with this show, I’ve been rehearsing like I never had
before. Our director, Nicole Perrone, offered an advanced ac ng
class last semester which taught us the Sanford Meisner technique.
This emphasizes listening to scene partners and cra ing perfor-
mances moment-by-moment. Working this way allows my cast and I
to perform spontaneously and deliver the utmost authen city.
As a cast, the five of us have an extensive warm-up rou ne wherein
we complete a 15-minute yoga flow, run dialog and repeat. Repe -
on is one of the most important elements of Meisner work. It is an
exercise in which partners pick up on each other’s verbal or nonver-
bal impulses through analyzing one another’s behavior. Everything
said in repe on must be completely honest, which forces the ac-
tors to work from an authen c, emo onal place. A er ten minutes
of this exercise, our awareness and vulnerability are heightened
enough to perform the play.”
Photo Credit Chris an Moore Lukas Hagley, Marshall University Theatre Performance Major, Senior Photo Credit: Chris an Moore
Year: 2016-2017, Issue 5 Page 4
Student Activity
Stage Makeup Class
This semester students are learning what it takes to
pop on stage. Stage Makeup is a fun hands on class
that teaches students how to create stage looks,
old age makeup, cuts, bruises, burns, much more!
Photo Credit: Charity Irby Photo Credit: Charity Irby
Sleep Deprivation Chamber: A Student Directed Play
Photo Credit Chris an Moore For over a year, Marshall University Theatre
Performance Major, Charity Irby has been work-
ing on a direc ng project outside of classes. She
has taken the project on head first and with the
help from Marshall’s Intercultural Office and
Marshall Theatre her show is in full produc on.
The play is in honor of Black History Month, and
follows a young black man’s journey to court
a er and alterca on with a police officer. Sleep
DeprivaƟon Chamber is a gripping autobio-
graphical play that brings a black family’s worst
nightmare to reality.
Photo Credit Chris an Moore
Ballet Masterclass
This spring , Marshall University dance students, (Carleigh Napier, Elizabeth Mor-
gan, and Jade Wa s) a ended a masterclass led by dancers from The State Bal-
let Theatre of Russia. The dancers were in Hun ngton performing their ballet,
Cinderella. Though the instructors didn’t speak any English, Marshall students
were able to keep up with the class because the universal language of ballet is
French.
Page 5 Marshall University Theatre Newsletter: Fifth Edition
Alpha Psi Omega
In recent years, Marshall University has renewed our Beta Photo Credit Charity Irby
chapter of Alpha Psi Omega—a Theatre Fraternity and Honors
Society. APO was founded in order to provide honor and ac-
knowledgment to those achieving high standards in theatre in
an academic se ng. Alpha Psi Omega also works to support a
na onal charity, Broadway Cares: Equity Fights Aids. with them.
The next up-coming event for the students is the APO Banquet
which will be held at the Joan C. Edwards Playhouse on April 30th.
We have a lot planned for the Banquet and look forward to honor-
ing all the students and their hard work throughout the season.
Theatre ECT! ANTIGONE
Marshall Theatre’s Educa onal Tour-
ing Company, Theatre ETC!, are cur-
rently presen ng Sophocles’ An go-
ne, adapted by Emily Mann, to middle
and high schools in the local area.
Mandi Butcher, Marshall Andrew Durst, Marshall University
University Theatre Performance Theatre Performance Major, Senior
Major, Senoir
"Being in this show has been such
“Children's Theatre has made a great experience. We've spent a
lot of me learning about the style
me realize the importance of art. of Greek plays and how to incor-
porate that into our produc on.
We perform for some children One of the best parts about being
in this show is ge ng to perform
who have never seen a play it for local students and hopefully
have a posi ve impact on their
before. To me, it's really cool lives."
that I get to be a part of that first
experience for them. I hope it
inspires them to seek out more
theatre or other art forms in the
future.” Photo Credit: MU Web
Year: 2016-2017, Issue 5 Marshall University Theatre
Photo Credit Chris an Moore Spring
Season
Shows
CIRCLE MIRROR Photo Credit Chris an Moore
TRANSFORMATION
BY ANNIE BAKER
February 15 – 18 & 23-25 / 7:30 PM
The Francis-Booth Experimental Theatre at
The JCE Performing Arts Center
SLEEP DEPRIVATION GUYS & DOLLS
CHAMBER
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY FRANK LOESSER
March 9th and the April 19 – 22 / 7:30 PM • April 23 / 2:00 PM
10th The Joan C. Edwards Playhouse at the
JCE Performing Arts Center
Doors open at 7:00,
starts at 7:30
Francis-Booth
Experimental Theatre
in the Joan C. Edwards
Playhouse
A word to Alumni and Patrons
Thank you so much for checking out Marshall University The-
atre Newsle er. Remember to get your ckets for our spring
season! We appreciate your con nued support of our pro-
gram, we couldn’t do it without you! Be on the look out for
future Newsle ers. See you at our next performance!