Livin' Out Loud :: UND Theatre Arts

A Day In The Life...

2010-04-19T10:19:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone!

My name is Abby Schoenborn. I'm currently a freshman at the University of North Dakota...and a Theatre Arts major. I can honestly say that I am so proud to be a part of this department. How many people can say that they are majoring in their passion? During the spring of my senior year of high school, after much thought, I decided to pursue something that I really loved. Recently, I found out that I was accepted in the Musical Theatre B.F.A. program, something I never thought I could do! But with a little help and support from my friends, I had a great audition and now I can gear up to start working for my B.F.A. in Musical Theatre!

I have taken so many leaps since school first started. Last summer, I was a nervous wreck, I was so worried that I was making the wrong choice or that I would't make friends within the major...but I was very wrong! Upon arriving on campus, I immediately checked out good old Chandler Hall and I saw a poster for auditions coming up and immediately started looking for audition pieces. After my first college audition, and my first ever dance call, I found out that I was cast in the musical Godspell! Doing the show really helped my open up and made me realize that I had made the right choice and this was where I needed to be. I met some great friends and I'all always remember my first show at UND.

I also helped out on the tech team for the production of Two Rooms. That was another great opportunity. In high school, I didn't do a lot of technical work so it was nice to see what goes on backstage. Currently, I am the assistant stage manager for the season finale Eurydice. I can't believe that we open on Tuesday! It's been such a learning experience for me and I definitely am glad to be a part of it.

I'm also involved in a one-act musical called EDGES (a graduate directing project). We've worked so hard on this show, I can't wait to perform!

However, probably the most exciting part of my freshman year has been my trip with other theatre majors to New York City!! It was such an unforgettable experience, even with the monsoon! One of the days was so stormy and it rained all day! If it were anywhere but NYC, it would have been awful, but it made for the most epic day ever!!

I highly suggest the Department of Theatre Arts at UND...it's quite the experience!

Live Out Loud!

Abby Schoenborn

New Beginnings and Exciting Opportunities!

2010-03-26T11:19:00.000-05:00

Hey guys! My name is Philip Muehe and I'm a freshmen in the UND Theatre Arts department! I had always done theatre throughout my life, but never thought I could do it as career. I declared a Communications major in the fall upon arrival, but I could feel the theatre calling my name. I got cast in the fall production of GODSPELL as Lamar. The experience was amazing. There was such a level of professionalism I hadn't felt before. The set and lighting design blew me away, as well as the amazing talent on and off-stage. Everyone was phenomenal, and I quickly made friends and was accepted into the theatre family. I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life!

After some discussion, I decided to take the leap to Theatre Major. I'm now doubling majoring both in Communications and Theatre. This weekend I'll be auditioning for the BFA in Musical Theatre program. I'm really excited about the opportunities ahead of me! So for those of you who think a life in the theatre can't be done...DON'T! There are so many opportunities for both Majors and Non-Majors to get involved, make friends, and enjoy the awesomeness that is theatre!

I'm currently cast in the play EURYDICE as Orpheus. It's going very well so far! I'm enjoying working with some old friends, as well as meeting new friends as well! It's a very interesting show, with really cool effects! I can't wait to see the end result!

My experience with UND Theatre Arts has been an amazing journey so far. I've continued to meet new people in the department, and everyone is great. The faculty and students have a genuine care for each other. The graduate students act as mentors for us underclassmen, and everyone is there for support as well as friendship. The people are the best part of my experience so far! Of course, the education and experience I've gained along the way has been great as well! I'm certain that I'll be well equipped to have a career in theatre when I'm done here!

For those of you considering joining us, I highly encourage you to take the leap! You won't regret your choice! I hope to see you all on or off-stage next year! Prepare for the experience of a lifetime!

Live Out Loud!
Philip Muehe

"tick, tick...TIME FOR THE SHOW!"

2010-02-16T12:29:00.000-06:00

So, when we started rehearsal I knew it was going to be a very short period of time before we started tech week and eventually the run of the show, but the rate at which it's come up on us is insane! We have next week and then two days before we start tech rehearsals. It's amazing how far we've come though, and the difference in the staging is really cool. I've never worked on a thrust before. It's a big challenge to try to face everyone in the audience as much as you can at any given time.

My favorite part of the rehearsal process so far is how fast it goes by. I don't even notice that four hours have passed since we started. And we get a LOT done. We blocked the whole show in two days. Whoa. I've never worked that fast, but then I've never only had a four week rehearsal period to be honest...

Anyway, we're 10 days into rehearsals and have six more of our own before the rest of the show gets to join in. I'm excited. It's going to be a great show. And I hear the lights are pretty darn impressive too...I, personally, can not wait to see everything stuck together as a final product. It will be amazing!

Sing. Act. Live
Emily Elisabeth

Emily is a Junior BFA Student in Theatre Arts

Spring Semester... busy busy busy.

2010-02-11T14:31:00.001-06:00

Greetings Y'all! (this is my North Dakota homage to Professor Emily Cherry and her fun Texan drawl!)

The spring semester has kicked off and is full of things to do and things to see. I'm Ben Klipfel - one of the UND Theatre Arts Graduate Students... I'm in my second semester of my M.A. and am having such a great time - though it's busy.

tick... tick... BOOM! by Jonathan Larson opens on March 2 - which ironically is my birthday, so I am very excited about that - I'm not in the show, so I'll just be a spectator. Jonathan Larson's works hold a very special "musical theatre" place in my heart. Unlike a lot of my fellow students - I was in college the year RENT came out, and was part of the generation that was moved, almost to frenzy, but the show. It's great to be able to see the "coming of age" story about RENT (tick...tick...BOOM) on our own stage. I have a lot of friends in the show too, so I am really looking forward to it. After TTB, however, I begin rehearsals for Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl. I am more excited for Eurydice than any show I've been in... and it's not just because I get to play "Nasty Man/Child, Lord of the Underworld." Okay... it's mostly that, but the show is brilliant, and I hear that it's going to rain on-stage, so that is always a good time.

I do have to say how grateful I am for UND Theatre. In my "professional" life, I produce community theatre, children's theatre and non-equity professional music theatre. UND has made my transition back into a graduate student so seamless, and I have learned so much in the short time here - lessons I can immediately apply to my professional life. UND Theatre makes their students "job ready" and that is something very unique! I figured I best blog now, since my thesis is coming up (SCARCITY by Lucy Thurber - Next November), and I envision dissappearing into solitude and the library for the next several months! :) Mix that in with

Current UND students - thank you for welcoming this "old guy" into the student fold - and potential future UND theatre students... get here, get involved, get on stage. One of the things I love best about UND is the opportunities we have as students. This semester alone, there are over 40 opportunities to audition for shows, scenes, one-acts, musical theatre numbers. There will be two mainstay student directed shows next year (one of them is mine). There is so much going on, it's hard to believe! I invite you to come, take a gander, join our family and get the education of a lifetime!

All the best - Ben

Singin' and Dancin' and Improv-in: Oh My!

2009-10-26T10:19:00.007-05:00

Hey everyone! My name is Amy Driscoll, and I’m a student here at the University of North Dakota. I am actually a pre-nursing major, but I’m a theatre minor, and I love it!

This semester I am involved in Godspell, Two Rooms, and I am also taking the Stagecraft class as well. Godspell is currently the top priority in my theatre life right now, as we are getting ready to open the show on Tuesday. So far, the show has been a lot of fun, and a lot of hard work as well. We have been rehearsing five days a week for the past month and a half, and we have been learning so many things! We have been singing and dancing and improving oh my! I’ve learned a lot about singing and dancing at the same time, and it has been both frustrating and rewarding.

I feel that we’ve all come a long way from the beginning and I know that I am more than ready for an audience tomorrow night!

Overall, I think that Godspell is really a show for everyone, and everyone should come and see it! It’s a high energy show, and interesting to watch from beginning to end.

Live Out Loud!

Amy Driscoll

Freshman Lives Out Loud... right away!

2009-10-07T11:32:00.002-05:00

Hey!

My name is Lucas “Luke” Skjaret and I am one of the Freshman Theatre Art majors here at UND. My first few weeks here at UND have been a blast! Over the summer I went into a little “drama withdrawal” but now that I am here, surrounded by a bunch of cool thespians, I am feelin’ good again! I am currently one of the stage managers for our fall musical, Godspell. It is been such an amazing experience. I get see all aspects of the production and am able to be super involved in it. I even get to participate in production meetings and behind the scene work--I feel like I am really working on Broadway!

My classes are going great also. I am currently taking Acting One and Intro to Theatre. Acting One is such a cool class. We do a bunch of exercises that get our minds and bodies focused. We are also learning a lot of the core skills in acting. I really feel that I am learning the building blocks that will help me become a better actor. Not to mention, theatre classes are usually small, so that much needed “intimate” relationship between myself and the other classmates is awesome. We are currently working on monologues so we when audition for the spring productions, we will be fully prepared.

Introduction to Theatre is one of my bigger classes but the teacher, Brad Reissig, makes it feel like it is just him and I. We are learning a lot of the basic stuff about theatre (types of theaters, periods of theatre) and we also read a lot of plays, which is nice cause an actor needs to have a large repertoire of plays. Now, the basic stuff may seem kind of “lame” but it is actually really cool. There is so much more to theatre than just a person on stage talking to themselves. Also, Brad’s humor and fun teaching style is a nice break from my other, more boring, lecture classes.

All in all, I am super glad that I decided to be a Theatre Art major at the University of North Dakota. I just can’t wait to get back to Burntess Theatre!

Live Out LOUD!

Luke Skjaret

Welcome to the Livin' Out Loud Blog

2009-10-07T11:29:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the Department of Theatre Arts Blog! I'm Kathleen McLennan, Department Chair for UND Theatre, and it my pleasure to be the first to post on Livin' Out Loud.

We are in the midst of a very exciting academic and production year, and through this blog you will be able to read about the experiences of our students, faculty and staff.

We have great programs in place and exciting plans for the future with a place for you. We promise a full curriculum for theatre majors with small classes and one-on-one attention. First year students have opportunities to audition for main stage shows and several student-directing projects as well as an opportunity to work on production crews and in our shops. Students may direct and design in our lab theatre.

We welcome two new faculty this year, Professor Emily Cherry (MFA), who will head up our new musical theatre focus, and Professor Lon Hurst (MFA), who will oversee our dance minor. Our new Dance Minor offers technique classes in Tap, Ballet, Jazz, and Modern Dance with advanced classes in Dance Composition and Choreography. Our Music Theatre curriculum includes classes in acting, dance, and classes in the Department of Music.

Theatre Arts at UND prepares students for careers in theatre and a host of other areas with its strong liberal arts tradition. The BFA in Performance honors the liberal arts while providing a rigorous curriculum in acting styles, dialect, and movement for the actor. Design students have regularly worked in the lab theatre and completed a main stage show as a senior project. All students take a common core of classes before electing an area of interest.

Students who want to study a little of everything in theatre may select from a broad array of classes in theatre history, dramatic literature, directing, and playwriting.

We're glad you are here... join in on the most exciting times of our student's lives, and LIVE OUT LOUD.