Pioneer Theatre Company presents Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, March 30-April 14, featuring Department of Theatre students Beret Brems, Greg Carver, Cameron Holzman, Connor Nelis Johnson, Isabella Reeder, and Nathan Allen Vaugh as part of the ensemble.

Department of Theatre Professor Sarah Shippobotham is serving as the text coach, ATP Area Head and Associate Professor Chris DuVal as the fight choreographer, and hair and makeup Adjunct Faculty Amanda French as the hair and makeup designer.

After a shipwreck, grief-stricken but self-reliant Viola washes up on the shores of 1812 New Orleans. Disguising herself as a boy, she becomes the confidant of Orsino, who sends her to woo in his name the beautiful but aloof noblewoman Olivia – who promptly falls in love with the “boy” she believes Viola to be! Filled with music, merry madness and improbable passions, Twelfth Night has long been one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies.

The love triangle of Orsino, Olivia and Viola will be performed by Shakespeare veterans A.K. Murtadha, Kelsey Rainwater, and Grace Morrison.

More info Box Office: 801-581-6961 Open 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Mon. – Fri. www.pioneertheatre.org

It's no secret that we can learn a lot from The Arts. The Daily Utah Chronicle writer and ex-theatre student, Haley Oliphant wrote about 5 things she learned as a theatre major in her article, "Five Lessons I Learned as a Theater Major." We are confident you can learn a thing or two from one of our theatre classes.

Original article can be found at: The Daily Utah Chronicle  

It’s no surprise to anyone that arts degrees have a bad reputation. They’re often thrown to the side as useless and trivial — degrees one pursues when there are no other options. This “last resort” degree is also painted as an easy cop-out, but that is simply not true. Actors spend weeks memorizing scripts and blocking, and they must be able to recite monologue after monologue at a moment’s notice. Dancers dance until their feet literally bleed, their bones or muscles snap or until their routine is absolutely perfect — and then they dance some more. Visual artists spend hours in front of a canvas or screen meticulously deciding what colors, shapes, lines, textures and themes to incorporate into each masterpiece. Writers take black and white text and use it to create technicolor worlds with living, breathing characters. The bottom line is that arts training is hard. Beyond hard. I was a theater major once and I couldn’t handle it. It takes its toll on you emotionally, physically and mentally. I left because acting wasn’t the right fit for me, but I don’t feel my time was wasted. Here are five lessons I learned in the two and a half years I spent as a theater major:

Show Up This is exactly what it sounds like. Show up for your job, your significant other or life in general. You miss out on the best things life has to offer when you decide to sit one out. This doesn’t mean show up to every event you’re invited to, but it does mean that when you take the time to pursue something, you should always be present.

Take the Note Once After each rehearsal for a show, the director gives notes to the actors on what they can do to improve their performance. This mantra means when given a correction, strive to not receive the same correction in the next round of notes. Warranted feedback helps you become a better person and it helps you avoid mistakes in the future. If someone you care about or respect offers their two cents about something, take it seriously.

Don’t Hide From Your Emotions I know, I know, cue the sappy Hallmark movie music, but this is important. I once started crying in the middle of my acting class (side note: no worries, this was pretty normal) but my professor, Sarah Shippobotham, wouldn’t let me look away from her. She told me I could cry all I wanted to, but I couldn’t hide my face. I learned in that vulnerable moment I shouldn’t be embarrassed about my emotions, and even though this is a lesson I’m re-learning every day, I have Sarah Shippobotham to thank for helping me take the first step.

If You Pee Clear, You Sing Clear This is one of professor David Schmidt’s many mantras of life. More simply stated: stay hydrated.

Practice How You Perform Surprise, surprise: practice makes perfect. Well, maybe not perfect, but at least better. This little saying, however, takes things a step further. Don’t phone it in when you’re studying for a test, practicing a monologue or learning something new. If you really want to be better at something, you have to practice it a lot, but practice it with all the effort you have. While I may no longer be pursuing a degree in drama, I have learned many life lessons about how to be a better version of myself. I’m grateful to the people who work hard to bring the arts to life and for the professors who taught me valuable things. There are more lessons to be learned through art, but those are the ones you’ll have to learn for yourself.

@oliphant_haley

MTP students Micki Martinez as Nina Rosario and Mary C. Nikols as ensemble.[/caption] Musical Theatre sophomore student Micki Martinez makes her Pioneer Theatre Company debut as Nina Rosario in Lin-Manuel Miranda's In The Heights concert version. Most recently she appeared in the US premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Beautiful Game in the Babcock Theatre directed by Denny Berry. She is a proud recipient of the Lady Bracknell and College of Fine Arts Honors at Entrance Scholarships. Musical Theatre Program student Mila Santos will appear as Carla. MTP students Sky Kawai and Mary C. Nikols will appear in the ensemble along with Actor Training program student, Monica Goff. Stage Management student Kallie Erickson will serve as the non-AEA assistant stage manager.

Musical Theatre Program students, Andy Harrison and Alice Ryan participated and performed at the 2018 Performance >Voice Confere nce sponsored by the University of Utah Voice Disorders Center on Saturday, April 7.

Both students participated in a masterclass and performed for keynote speaker Leda Scearce, a Singing Voice Rehabilitation Specialist from the Duke Voice Care Center. The students receive vocal instruction in the Department of Theatre from Assistant Professors Shalee Schmidt and Brian Manternach, D.Mus., and were able to attend the conference through Dr. Manternach's involvement on the conference planning committee.

University of Utah Health Care presented the Performance Voice Conference in celebration of World Voice Day. Physicians, otolaryngologists, speech language pathologists, vocal coaches, voice instructors, faculty and students were invited to join for a day of instruction and collaboration with nationally and internationally acclaimed voice professionals.

Attendees learned about the science behind clinical and pedagogical approaches to prevent or care for voice problems affecting performing artists. Topics included the effect of medications, hydration, and voice rest on voice function and recovery after injury. Speakers offered scientific and clinical expertise including laryngology, speech-language pathology, vocal coaching and voice science The Department of Theatre is a sponsor of the conference along with the National Center for Voice & Speech, the University of Utah Communication Sciences and Disorders, and other college Communication Sciences & Disorders departments in the state of Utah.

"And Here We Are..."

A story of our years in the MTP

The Musical Theatre graduating class presents “And Here We Are…” The showcase is both a reflection and capstone for our graduating seniors of the Musical Theatre Program and will feature their wide-ranging and phenomenal talents. The seniors have created a show that shares the story of their lives over the past four years–including the hard work, friendships, and lots and lots of dancing! Come and see the Class of 2018 in their very last University show! The production runsApril 20-22 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee on April 22 at 2:00 p.m. in Studio 115. FREE tickets with RSVP at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/and-here-we-are-tickets-44810717061

Musical numbers in And Here We Are... include: “If You Knew My Story” - Bright Star “For Forever” - Dear Evan Hansen (Part 1) “Someone in the Crowd” - La La Land “Soft Place to Land” - Waitress “Everything I Know” - In The Heights “Cell Block Tango” - Chicago “I Don’t Need a Roof” - Big Fish “And Here We Are…” by Lloyd Livengood, Zach Marquez, Makayla Cussen, and Bailey Cummings

Ty Burrell, best known for his role as Phil Dunphy in the ABC sitcom Modern Family, visited the Department of Theatre Friday, March 30 to talk about his life and career in front of Theatre students, faculty, and staff.

ATP Head Chris DuVal joined him on the Babcock Theatre stage where Ty shared his views about preparation, commitment, and his perspective about acting.

Ty Burrell is a long time Utah actor and resident. He worked for both the Pioneer Theatre Company and Utah Shakespeare Festival before he developed fame in his current role in Modern Family. He is a theatre trained actor from Penn State and has worked in London, Broadway, and in many regional theatres across the country. Ty and Chris originally acted together in Cedar City in the late 90’s and have remained close friends since that time.

Ty’s wife, Holly is an alumna of our Actor Training Program. Ty and his wife Holly are valued supporters of the Department of Theatre at University of Utah.

Thanks for visiting and spending your morning with us!

Photo by Todd Collins Photos

We close the 2017-18 season with Our Country’s Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker, based on the novel “The Playmaker” by Thomas Keneally, April 6-15 in the Babcock Theatre. Directed by Actor Training Program Professor Sarah Shippobotham, this play-within-a-play is a story in which justice, power and the possibility of redemption come under scrutiny. In Jan. 1788, the first of the British prison ships arrived at Botany Bay, Australia and settled the penal colony at Port Jackson, the site of current-day Sydney. Many of the prisoners had committed minor crimes and their wardens were military men who fought and lost the war against the American colonies. When hope and supplies run low, a lieutenant tries to increase morale by staging a comedy, The Recruiting Office” by George Farquhar, using the convicts as the cast.

The creative set of this modern classic designed by Department of Theatre’s technical director and associate professor Kyle Becker, aims to put the themes of this inspiring play at the fore. Performed by a cast of highly talented actors from the Actor Training Program and Musical Theatre Program, this production is set to be an innovative portrayal of the struggle for justice, power and humanity. Stay after the show for a conversation with the cast and creative team about the production following the Friday, April 13 performance.

Our Country’s Good at a glance:

Dates and Times: April 6-8 and 12-15 at 7:30 p.m. with matinees on April 14 and 15 at 2 p.m.

Post-Performance Discussion: April 13.

Location: The Babcock Theatre, located at 300 S. and University Street (1400 East) in the Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre, lower level. Free parking is available to the south of the theatre and at Rice Eccles Stadium.

Tickets: General Admission tickets are $18, University of Utah faculty and staff are $15, University of Utah students are free with UCard and all other students with valid student ID are $8.50. Tickets can be obtained by calling 801-581-7100, online at tickets.utah.edu or at the Performing Arts Box Office, located at Kingsbury Hall.

Please join us for the Public Presentations of our Theatre Chair Candidates All presentations will happen in PAB/Studio 115 at 9:00 a.m. the following dates:

Candidate Sydney Cheek-O'Donnell March 29

Candidate Joe Price April 3

Candidate Kate Moncrief April 10

Candidate Harris Smith April 17

Eclipsed directed by Stephanie Weeks received several national awards for our production showcased at the 2018 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival including:

Distinguished Performance and Production Ensemble

Eclipsed by Danai Gurira - University of Utah

Outstanding Performance and Production Ensemble

Eclipsed - University of Utah

Distinguished Performance by an Actress in a Play

Darby Mest, the Girl, Eclipsed, University of Utah

We first produced Eclipsed in March of 2017 in Studio 115. Later that year, we were invited to attend the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Region 8 in Mesa, AZ February 12-16, 2018.

Eclipsed tells the story of five extraordinary women brought together by upheaval in their homeland of Liberia near the end of the Second Liberian Civil War. Traveling to AZ to share a tale of survival, hope, humor, and resilience couldn't have been possible without our cast, crew, creative team, director, and everyone else who joined us on this journey.

Congratulations!

Cece Otto is a senior in the Actor Training Program and Student Advisory Committee President for the Department of Theatre. She won the 2018 College of Fine Arts Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award for the creation of her original piece, Hyperthymesia, which she performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2017. Cece was awarded a UROP grant two semesters in a row, allowing her to fund the project under the supervision of her mentor and Assistant Professor, Robert Scott Smith.

"Scott taught my acting class the second semester of my freshman year, and ever since then I have been enamored with his passion for the theatre and creative ideas. His talent as a theatre maker is incredible, and working with him was so delightful. I knew he had a vast background in devising work with his theatrical laboratory, Flying Bobcat, and decided to take the opportunity to absorb some of his wisdom. He pushed me to work harder, while allowing me plenty of room to grow on my own. I'm so grateful for the opportunity I had to spend time with him as a mentor."

Recent projects Cece has worked on include The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at Pioneer Theatre Company, Harbur Gate at Salt Lake Acting Company, and Self Defense, or Death of Some Salesmen at the University of Utah. She is the Marketing and Outreach Intern at UtahPresents, and was chosen to be an intern at Pioneer Theatre Company this past fall. Additionally, she is a co-founder of WHO’S LOUIS?, a devised theatre company based in Salt Lake City, and enjoys being a “Big Sister” for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Utah. She will be playing the part of Dabby Bryant in the Department of Theatre’s upcoming production of Our Country’s Good this April. She is grateful to her family, friends, and teachers for their endless love and support.

Congrats, Cece!

Theatre projects Cece has worked during her time at the U include:

Our Country's Good / Dabby Bryant / Babcock theatre The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time / u/s Siobhan/Voice 5 / Pioneer Theatre Co Hyperthymesia / Performer/Creator / Edinburgh International Fringe Festival (Scotland) Hyperthymesia / Performer/Creator / 59E59 East to Edinburgh Festival (NYC) Harbur Gate / Marine / Salt Lake Acting Company He Married a Tigress / Performer/Co-Creator / Eccles Broadway Theatre Grand Opening Self Defense, or Death of Some Salesmen / Lu / Studio 115 Apt. 404 / Performer/Co-Creator / Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival The Three Sisters / Irina / University of Utah Residue / Performer/Co-Creator / Kennedy Center ACTF Region VII Numb and Awake / Performer/Co-Creator / Dark Days 24 Hour Theatre Festival (1st Place) Whispering Gallery / Performer/Co-Creator / Kennedy Center ACTF Region VIII