I Never Saw Another Butterfly

This weekend Melissa Cassese opened her production of I Never Saw Another Butterfly. I am so very proud of the work Melissa has done. Here are some of the images as you enter the theatre. Audiences members are greeted by Nazi guards who demand tickets, stamp you hand, and then demand that you turn off your cell phone and take your seat.

Before the show starts the audiences watched images of children from the Nazi Concentration Camps. Then as the show begins, the Nazi guards move fencing into place as the actors playing children enter space.

Below is video of audience members entering the theatre

Make sure to catch the show! Tonight at 7:30pm and tomorrow at 2:30pm. The Goddard Theater on the Daytona Beach Campus! They have done wonderful work!

Geoffrey Kershner

Director of Theatre

Let's get ready to rumble!

(Cast list for THE ARABIAN NIGHTS, one post below)

This weekend the Daytona State College Theatre Program held a two day stage combat workshop. Read the article in the New Journal!

Here are some pictures from the article.

Below is video of a group hair pull. You don't see that everyday! ;)

Geoffrey Kershner

Director of Theatre

The Arabian Nights Cast List

The following is the cast list for the spring production of Mary Zimmerman's THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

*If you accept your role please email your acceptance to kershng@daytonastate.edu. Shortly you will be emailed a detailed rehearsal schedule and instructions on how to pick up your script. Rehearsals will begin at 7pm on Monday, February 8th.

This was a really difficult cast list to assemble. There was an incredible group who came out for auditions. Even if you were not cast, I encourage you to continue to audition for future productions, get involved with student directed projects, and volunteer back stage. It was a pleasure to meet you all.

-Geoffrey Kershner, Director of Theatre


CAST


Melissa Cassese: First woman (Scheherezade)

Jerica O'Neal: Second woman (Dunyazade, Dancer)

Kayla David: Third woman (Perfect Love, Other Woman)

Bridget Morris: Fourth woman (Slave Girl, Girl in the Garden, Sleeper, Woman by the River)

Paige Poteet: Fifth woman (Bride, Singer, Mother, Experienced Woman, First Sister in Law, First Woman by the River

Renee Hakim: Sixth woman (Dancer, Sympathy the Learned, Harun's Second Girl, Experienced Woman, Little Girl, Second Sister in Law)

Emily Gilardi: Seventh Woman (Jester's Wife, Harun's First Girl, Tortoise and Little Girl)

Tatiana Paris: Eighth Woman (Azizah, Little Foot and Second Genie)

Adelya Aldieva: Ninth Woman (Lead Dancer, Woman by the River)

Bri Long: Tenth Woman (Dancer, Woman by the River)

Cristina Contreras: Eleventh Woman (Dancer, Woman by the River)

Amanda Patanio: Twelfth Woman (Ensemble)

JP Stasiak: First Man (Sharyar, Mock Khalifah/Aziz)

Gage Spry: Second Man (Harun al-Rashid; Sheikh al-Islam, both Kings (Confusion of Stories)

Kenny Daniels: Third Man (Wazir (to Shahryar), Fool, Clarinetist, Old Boatman, Friend, Desert Thief, and Farmer)

Zach Zavala: Fourth Man (Camel, Figure, Fool, Genie, Donkey)

Aaron Green: Fifth Man (Prince of Fools, Jester, Sympathy's brother, Hard head and first Genie)

Sloan Drafton: Sixth Man (Jafar, Fool, Pastrycook, Sheikhal Fadl)

Scott Webb: Seventh Man (Fool, Third Sage, Bilateral the Pederast, Ishak of Mosul)

Spencer Meeks: Eighth Man (Shop Assistant, Poor Man, Ala al-din abu Shamat)

Victor Hernandez: Ninth Man (Chief of Keys, Man in the Dream, Abu al Hasan, First Sage, Masrur, Prince)

Alejandro M. Guevarez: Tenth Man (Camel, Madman, Chief of Police, Second Sage, Sleeper)

BJ Walton: Eleventh Man: (Farmer, Friend, and Desert Thief)

Jurden Rogers: Twelfth Man (Kadi, Friend, Desert thief, Farmer)

Brian King: Thirteenth Man (Ensemble)

Student works program begins!

Director Melissa Cassese at work

Melissa Cassese's production of I Never Saw Another Butterfly by Celeste Raspanti kicks of the new Coca-Cola Student Production Program at Daytona State College. I had the opportunity to watch a run through this afternoon and was very excited by what I saw.


Melissa has assembled a fantastic group of students who are playing a wide variety of roles from small children to Nazi soldiers in this Holocaust play. This very powerful piece of theatre is a wonderful project for both Melissa and our students. I was thrilled to see the work the students were doing this afternoon.



Melissa led the actors through a warm up, stage manager Paige Poteet kept things organized, and costume designer Kristina Lomelin conducted fittings and took notes before the run through of the show.



The run through was very successful. The company is in very good shape as they prepare for their opening a week from tomorrow. Make sure to come see them! The show dates are January 28th, 29th, and 30th at 7:30pm and January 31st at 2:30pm in the Goddard Theater on the Daytona Beach Campus.

Geoffrey Kershner
Director of Theatre

Spring Auditions! The Arabian Nights and Godspell!

Auditions announced for Daytona State production of GODSPELL

January 19, 2010 at 3 p.m., January 20 at 6:30 p.m. and January 21 at 3 p.m.

bldg. 230, room 123

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - The Daytona State College School of Music, Entertainment and Art announces upcoming auditions for GODSPELL, a musical based on the Gospel according to St. Matthew. Males and females ages 16-30 are welcome.

Auditions will be held on the Daytona Beach Campus, bldg. 230, room 123 on January 19, 2010 at 3 p.m., January 20 at 6:30 p.m. and January 21 at 3 p.m. Come prepared to sing, dance, improvise and do cold readings. A prepared musical audition piece is optional.

Production dates are February 23 – 27 and March 5 – 7 in the Gillespy Theatre at the News-Journal Center.

The Daytona Beach Campus is located at 1200 W. Int'l Speedway Blvd. For additional information call (386) 506-3524.

January 21 at 7 pm and January 22 at 3 pm

bldg. 230, in the Goddard Theater

Auditions announced for Daytona State production of THE ARABIAN NIGHTS

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - The Daytona State College School of Music, Entertainment and Art announces upcoming auditions for THE ARABIAN NIGHTS, an adaptation by Tony Award winning director and playwright Mary Zimmerman. All ages, genders, and ethnicities are welcome.

Auditions will be held on the Daytona Beach Campus, bldg. 230, in the Goddard Theater on January 21, at 7 p.m. and January 22 at 3 p.m. Come prepared to improvise and do cold readings. A prepared musical audition piece is optional (singing not required to participate in the show).

Production dates are April 7 – 18 in the Gillespy Theatre at the News-Journal Center.

The Daytona Beach Campus is located at 1200 W. Int'l Speedway Blvd. For additional information call (386) 506-4607.