UMTAD Newsletter: March 23, 2021
Upcoming Spring Events
All free to access!
Mar. 25-28, 7:30pm CST | BFA Shakespeare Rep
March 26, 5:30-6:30pm CST | Shaking Up The "Classics": A Conversation with JL Rey and Lisa Channer
April 1, 5:30-7pm CST | Productive Discomforts: A Conversation on Race and Theater with Shá Cage
April 1, 7:30pm CST | University Dance Theatre presents: Local Motion (Part 3)
& more events from the UMTAD Arts Engagement HUB
University Dance Theatre presents: Local Motion
From the Dance Program and the work of local artists comes University Dance Theatre presents: Local Motion, a showcase of short films presented in 3 parts!
Featuring work by Cowles Visiting Artists
Performed by University of Minnesota Dance students
Directed by Erin Thompson
When: Part 3 premieres April 1 at 7:30pm CST
Where: Streaming on UMTAD YouTube & Facebook
Free to attend and open to the public.
Check out our website event page and Facebook event for more info.
Part 3: April 1, 7:30pm CST
Featuring:
- Testing for Done Choreographed by Hijack
- Live in Your Power Choreographed by Herb Johnson III
- Glimpse In-Out Choreographed by Patricia Brown (Johanna)
- Wadi Nar/Serotiny Choreographed by Leila Awadallah
BFA Shakespeare Repertory
Anthony and Cleopatra and Measure for Measure presented by the BFA Acting Class of 2023
Anthony and Cleopatra
Directed by Lucinda Holshue
Friday, March 26 at 7:30pm CST
Saturday, March 27 at 2pm CST
Sunday, March 28 at 7:30pm CST
Measure for Measure
Directed by Michelle O’Neill
Thursday, March 25 at 7:30pm CST
Saturday, March 27 at 7:30pm CST
Sunday, March 28 at 2pm CST
Streaming virtually on YouTube.
Click on the dates above to access each YouTube link!
Free to attend and open to the public.
HUB Engagement Events
Shaking Up The “Classics”: A Conversation with JL Rey & Lisa Channer
JL Rey (director of Sueño) and Lisa Channer (director of Hecuba) discuss the importance of refining what “classical” means now.
March 26th at 5:30pm CST via Zoom. Join the Zoom Meeting here.
Productive Discomforts: A Conversation on Race and Theater with Shá Cage (Catalyst Arts)
This session addresses student interest in conversations about the limits and opportunities of casting across race, gender, and sexuality.
April 1st at 5:30-7:00pm CST via Zoom. Join the Zoom Meeting here.
Indigenous Performance and Resistance: A conversation with Mona Smith, Dr. Jill Carter, and Emily Johnson.
April 15th at 5:30-7:00pm CST. Moderated by Dr. Jean O’Brien. Zoom link coming soon.
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Community Highlights
Our Community Highlights section aims to share a taste of upcoming creative projects by students, alumni, faculty, and staff of the Theatre Arts & Dance Department.
Current students, alumni, faculty, and staff are encouraged to share their projects by completing this form.
David Melendez (UMTAD PhD Candidate) will teach a 5-week class at the Guthrie Theater that looks at plays created by the Latino Theater Company. The course, The Canon Series: Latino Theater Company, explores and studies a series of plays by a playwright or multiple playwrights, with a focus on playwrights that have not traditionally been included in the Guthrie’s production or educational history. Learn more about David here.
Runs April-May; All experience levels welcome. Capacity: 18 participants.
There are scholarships available and no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Contact classes@guthrietheater.org or David at melen029@umn.edu to inquire.
Nathan Stenberg (UMTAD PhD Candidate) is a Panelist for the History Center's (Pittsburgh, PA) virtual event, Researching the History of Institutionalized People.
Held via Zoom on Thursday, April 15 at 6:30-8pm EDT (5:30-7pm CST).
Nathan is interested in how the stories we tell about disabled people influence everything from depictions of disability in popular entertainment to policy decisions for the disability community in the United States. Learn more about Nathan here.
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Coming Soon... Dear God, Men on Boats, & Hecuba
Men on Boats by Jaclyn Backhuas
Co-directed by Sara Pillatzki-Warzeha and Kym Longhi
Premieres May 12-19th on Vimeo
Men on Boats places women, non-binary, and genderqueer people centerstage in the true(ish) history of an 1869 expedition, when a one-armed captain and a crew of insane yet loyal volunteers set out to chart the course of the Colorado River.
Hecuba by Marina Carr
Directed by Lisa Channer
Premieres May 12-19th on Vimeo
Hecuba is a reimagining of the aftermath of the Trojan War and the events surrounding its iconic characters; a series of intense, dangerous personal encounters and impossible choices, described by those who witnessed and experienced them.
Dear God by Michael Punter
Directed by Hayley Finn
Premieres May 1-16 on Vimeo
Presented by the BFA Acting Class of 2021
Dear God is a newly commissioned work specifically written for our BFA Acting Class of 2021 group. Michael Punter is based in the U.K. and is the playwright behind The Wolves.
Media design and visual art by Gracie Stockton.
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COVID Corner
UMTAD's COVID-19 Plan can be viewed at z.umn.edu/UMTADCovidPlan. Our reopening plan highlights procedures put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and allow for social distancing inside our buildings.
For more on University of Minnesota's response to COVID-19, visit z.umn.edu/FallCovidPlan.
University of Minnesota Safe Campus
Please visit the Safe Campus website for University-wide news, resources for teaching and learning via alternative instruction, and archives of University system-wide messages.
College of Liberal Arts Neighborhood
Please visit the CLA Neighborhood for CLA-specific updates, info on the CLA COVID-19 Ad Hoc Committee, and archives of messages from Dean Coleman and the College of Liberal Arts.
COVID-19 Creative Resources
It is our priority to continue to assist students and community members throughout the COVID-19 pandemic by providing opportunities to access and engage with the arts, and resources that are unique to those in the creative sector. Check out our compiled list of creative resources.
Have an idea for a submission? Email theatre@umn.edu.