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WFU Theatre & Dance Fall 2022 Newsletter

This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing

We opened our 2022-2023 season on Homecoming weekend with the family-friendly production by Finegan Kruckemeyer's family-friendly production. Led by director Brook Davis with an imaginative set created by Kyle Ransbottom ('12), the show told the charming story of three sisters who embark on fantastical journeys as they grow up and follow their dreams.

In addition to our traditional audiences, the production included a special weekday matinee with a house full of fourth graders and their teachers from three local elementary schools. Dramaturgs Ian Davis-Huie, Marilla Morrison, and Ananya Bali and graphic artist Zac Anderson created a study guide with lesson plans for teachers to support integration of the work in their curriculum.

Julius Caesar

In October, we welcomed back Mark Cohen to direct Shakespeare's political thriller. Joining our mostly student cast were department members Michael Kamtman, Leah Elyce Roy, and Lara Ianni, who all performed double duty members of the production team as well.

In addition to the stellar cast, set design by Rob Eastman-Mullins, lights and projections by Kevin Frazier, and costumes by Mary Wayne-Thomas created a visual delight for audiences.

Fall Faculty & Guest Artist Concert

The Fall Faculty & Guest Artist Concert featured 40 dancers and choreography by faculty members Sam Shapiro, Nina Lucas Rice (who also directed the concert), Tina Yarborough-Liggins, and Chris Martin and Brantly Shapiro.

The concert also featured the work of guest artists Ming-Lung Yang and Liz Guerriri ('13). Ming-Lung Yang is on faculty at University of North Carolina School of the Arts and former member of the Trisha Brown Dance Company. His choreography has been presented by numerous venues across Asia, Australia, Europe and the United States. Liz earned her bachelor’s degree in Health & Exercise Science and was a member of the WFU Dance Company and the Dance Team, she works in the Commercial Industry as a dancer and choreographer.

Student Organization Spotlight: Lost in Translation

Lost In Translation started the semester off by performing at A.S.I.A’s Harvest Moon Festival. They performed dances to Fearless by Lesserafim, Pink Venom by BlackPink, Zoo by NCT & Aespa, and Bloodline by Ariana Grande. They also performed at Parents Weekend with the same dances plus Left 'n' Right by Seventeen. Both of these performances were huge achievements as it helped spread L.I.T’s reputation and name to new first-year students and other members of the community.

Lost In Translation held their annual fall showcase on November 4th. They performed a variety of dances from different artists such as 90’s love by NCT, Power by Little Mix, Love Dive by Ive, Kiss Me More by Doja Cat, and many more. Guest artists such as Momentum, Set the Groove, Selina Du, and UKDT from UNC, Chapel Hill also performed. The showcase was a huge success and L.I.T were very grateful for everyone who showed up. They had been practicing for the showcase since October 17th and were glad everyone could see their hard work.

aWAKEn Announces Designer for Silent Sky

At World Stage Design 2022, hosted at the University of Calgary in August, Associate Professor for the Department of Theatre & Dance, and Chair of OISTAT‘s Performance Design Commission, Rob Eastman-Mullins, announced the selected designer of the aWAKEn International Scenic Design Competition. Egyptian designer, Héba Elkomy’s design for Silent Sky was selected to be developed and produced on the Tedford Main Stage this coming Spring. Héba will work from a distance with director and Professor of Theatre, Cindy Gendrich, and the rest of the production team to adapt her handsome design for Wake’s stage before being in residence for two weeks on the Reynolda campus, leading up to opening night.

A glimpse of Héba’s design can be seen below. Originally designing for the Ring Theatre, Héba agreed to move her design to the Tedford where Cindy and the other judges thought it would be better realized.

The aWAKEn International Design Competition is sponsored by the Department of Theatre & Dance as a project out of OISTAT and its Performance Design Commission.

Silent Sky will open on the Tedford Stage on March 31 and performances will run through April 8.