As our faculty consists of professional teachers who are theatre professionals, many are currently working this summer. Here is some of the work your faculty is doing this summer!
Prof. Kathy Voecks – Kathy is at Black Hills Playhouse designing Rogers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella and Something Rotten. Recent graduate Meghan McGehee is also at Black Hills this summer. Read more here: https://www.blackhillsplayhouse.com/
Prof. Dana Pinkston – Dana reports “I am working with the Artistic Director of North Shore Music Theatre and Theatre By the Sea on his original play. I spent 2 weeks in NYC reconnecting with friends and alumni. I saw A Strange Loop, SIX and Girl From the North Country as well as the Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute’s current exhibition. Our costume alums are doing extraordinarily well with many of them working on Broadway. Briana Koczan is currently working on a film shooting in the Bronx. K-State Theatre alum, Chamblee Ferguson, made his Broadway debut in Come From Away. I will be returning to NYC soon to shop fabric for Head Over Heels and hope to see him then.” Associated links:
https://www.nsmt.org/ https://www.theatrebythesea.com/
Prof. Jerry Jay Cranford – Jay is choreographing Freaky Friday at New Theatre (KC). Several K-Staters will be featured on and off the stage in the professional production of Freaky Friday the musical July 7 through Sept. 12 at the New Theatre in Kansas City. Jerry Jay Cranford, associate professor of theatre, is serving as choreographer. In the cast are K-State alumni Craig Benton, Noah Lindquist, Morgan Sterrett, Lauren Taylor, Emma Price and Franci Talamantez-Witte. Other K-State alumni working behind the scenes are Chase Rossman, full-time technical director; Jackson Wilks, spotlight operator; and Joshua Yankoviz, social media management.
Eight performances will take place weekly of the Disney hit musical. The plot centers on an overworked mother and her teenage daughter who magically swap bodies. Chaos ensues as they must walk a day in each other’s shoes while trying to put things right before the mom’s wedding.
For tickets and further information visit: www.newtheatre.com.
Prof. James Davis – James is serving as Executive Director/Resident Lighting Designer for the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre. Recent grad Sterling Oliver is Light Designing The Wedding Singer for the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre. Read more about it here: http://www.clintonshowboat.org/
Dr. Joelle Arp-Dunham – Joelle writes: “At ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education) I am presenting ‘Scaffolding Consent and Intimacy in the Classroom’ for the Acting Focus Group’s panel ‘Beyond Choreography: Practices in Rehearsal and Classroom’ and ‘Let’s Get Uncomfortable in this Brave Directing Space’ for the Directing Focus Group’s panel ‘Toward an Antiracist Theatre: Strategies, Tips and Cautions for Teaching Directors.’ I am also moderator for the latter on and for the Directing Focus Group’s Curated Roundtable ‘Challenging the Directorial Hierarchy.’ I also serve as the Directing Focus Group Conference Planner.” Read more about it here: https://www.athe.org/
Melissa Neville, MFA – Melissa, our Costume Shop Manager, is headed to Missouri for a week long training course and session on servicing and repairing sewing machines.
Prof. Sally Bailey – Sally says “I’m working on the second edition of The Drama Therapy Decision Tree.” You can read about Sally’s first edition of the book here! https://www.intellectbooks.com/the-drama-therapy-decision-tree