2021-2022 Season

With the pandemic still a bit of an unknown, we are proceeding cautiously into a new production season. We will be producing live theatre, but with limited audiences, at least for the fall. That could change, as time goes on. But for now, the plan is to have invited audiences only. We also plan to record performances for streaming, so that you will still be able to view the hard work of our students, faculty, and staff.

 

The 21-22 season will include:

 

NOW SHOWING!

Mary Frankenstein

by Kathy Welch
Directed by Kathy Welch

Because we couldn't bring you a live show last year, we created a filmed version of Mary Frankenstein, a new adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel, Frankenstein, by SASA instructor Dr. Kathy Welch.

About the production:

Mary Frankenstein, an ambitious medical student, toils to answer the bold questions of science to heal her grieving heart. When her creation stirs to life, she runs away in terror and Mary’s refusal to nurture the unfortunate creature ends in tragedy.

The production team used a variety of film and theatrical techniques including shadow work and puppetry to create this highly stylized and unique production. The film was shot in Syse Theatre which was converted to a film studio for the purpose. Faculty and students learned interesting new ways of bringing theatre to audiences, while observing proper Covid prevention measures.

Here is the link to the full filmed version:

https://youtu.be/SOduHRu3pSA

Below are two trailers to give you a taste:

 

 

 

Typhoid Mary: A Plague of Angels

by Mark St. Germain
Directed By Dean Yohnk (Dean of College of Arts and Sciences)

 

Typhoid Mary: A Plague of Angels is a theatrical telling of the true story of Mary Mallon, known better in the early 20^th century as “Typhoid Mary.”  It is believed that Mary infected hundreds of people with typhoid fever, carrying the germ herself but never suffering from the disease.  As one of the most infamous women in America in history, she was incredibly stubborn, ambitious, and in fierce denial of any wrongdoing in the spreading of the deadly typhoid disease.

This searing drama, which will be performed as a staged reading, captures the controversy surrounding Mary and her steadfast conviction in her beliefs about the disease, questioning the validity of science and medical treatments, personal responsibility, and freedom of choice.   Playwright Mark St. Germain has brilliantly captured the woman behind the myths while exploring the enduring and timeless battle between science, medicine, religion, ethics, and personal choice in the face of a pandemic.  Following the staged reading, which closely parallels many issues related to the current Covid-19 pandemic, there will be a post-show discussion with the production team and UWRF communicable disease experts. 

 

The Tempest

by William Shakespeare
Directed By Kathy Welch

A powerful magician in exile creates a great storm that shipwrecks enemies on a magical island filled with mysterious sprites. Funny, wistful, vengeful and poignant, the play explores what it is to be human. 

Live performances 

October 28, 29, 30

Audience is by invitation only

Will be available to stream in early December

Link to The Tempest playbill

 

Wonder of the World

by David Lindsay-Abaire
Masquers Production, Directed by Flora Sherr-Nelson

Nothing will prepare you for the dirty little secret Cass discovers in her husband’s sweater drawer. It is so shocking that our heroine has no choice but to flee to the honeymoon capital of the world in a frantic search for the life she thinks she missed out on. It’s a wild ride over Niagara Falls in a barrel of laughs as Cass embarks on a journey of self-discovery that has her crossing paths with an assortment of hilarious characters.

Live Performances

February 2-5, 2022

 

We are in the process of deciding what show to perform in the Spring of 2022. We will make a decision based on the COVID situation, closer toward the end of 2021.
 

 

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20-21 Season Notes:

 

Last year was a challenging year here in the Stage and Screen Arts Department. We thrive when we are providing our students and audiences with LIVE performance and screening experiences, and we could not do as much of that as we usually do! We got creative, and found ways to give our students some great experience finding new ways to collaborate in order to create and share their stories. We have all learned a lot, and we believe that we can now provide even better learning and entertainment that aligns with what the Stage and Screen industries will require in their employees in the future. 

Here are some of the projects we worked on during the 20-21 season:

 

A Festival of Original Plays

A curated festival of Original One-Act Plays created for Stage and Screen Arts' Fall 2020 playwriting class was performed for a small, invited Covid-safe audience on April 1.

 

The Plays:

20-20 by Becca Donley

A new couple gets together at the beginning of the pandemic and grapples with issues like the disease, isolation, BLM, being a recent college graduate, and more. As the couple learns to accept the new normal, can they learn to accept each other?   

Waiting for Mother by Trevor Heim-Prechter
 

Leaving can be hard, but this young woman has set her sights on Ohio. In a conversation around a board game, we learn about a relationship between two people and what it means to leave your home and friends behind.  

 

The Ordinary Life of Frank by Isabelle Hammond
 

Stuck in writer’s block, Erin struggles to write her play in time to turn in for class. But with the help of one of the characters in her script Erin breaks her writer’s block and discovers a little more about herself too.   

Here is the program from the performance:  

Festival of Original Plays program

And here is the entire performance:

 

 

 

Directing Class One-Acts

The spring semester SASA Directing Class presented two nights of short plays and films to a limited audience April 22nd and 23rd. Through the course of the semester, the students each chose a script and produced in entirety either a one-act play or a short film. They learned the principles of script analysis, blocking, and working with actors. They chose costumes, designed sets and lighting,  held auditions, and then rehearsals or filming sessions. The program from the two nights of performances and film screenings is here.