The Arabian Nights: Rehearsals Begin!

FAMILY DANCE!!!

The Arabian Nights has begun! Last week we began table work. (Gage, nice face ;). Bridget and Alejandro look possessed ;) ). We have a wonderful cast assembled and I am so excited to begin work on this project. The cast is very large and their is a plethora of characters. This is both exciting but also complex to manage. Lindsey (our wonderful stage manager) has her hands full with this one!
This week we began staging. The beauty of this show is that we are very aware of the actors as actors. They interact with the audience directly and ensemble members are always in the space, even when they are not in the main action of the play. Here we can see Kenny and JP in an early scene while other ensemble members look on from pillows and trunks that hold props, clothing and instruments.

As a special treat, here is a little video sample from last night's work. Here we see a husband trying to worm his way out of his marriage by bring in a "party of fools" who pretend to be his family to pry the father of the bride from the marriage bond. Here we see the "fools" and the early staging of their "family dance."

What more can be said...

Geoffrey Kershner
Director of Theatre

A successful KCACTF 2010

Well, I must say that Daytona State's first KCACTF in nearly a decade was a success. Our student's represented themselves very well. Lindsey did an excellent job stage managing the New Play Festival, Kristina represented herself very well with her costume designs, and our actors hung with the best that the Southeast had to offer.

Audience members await the start of the Irene Ryan finals

Melissa and JP made it to the finals and were showcased with 16 other groups in the Tucker Theater at Middle Tennessee State University. There was a fantastic group of actors performing and Melissa and JP did wonderful work. I was immensely proud of their work and their achievement. They were among the elite in our region and belonged. They did not make the final cut, but their achievement is nothing to scoff at. We were all very proud of them.

Melissa and JP at their rehearsal for the finals on Friday morning

We made the 10 hour drive in one haul yesterday and arrived back in Daytona as a race was letting out at the Speedway. It was a fitting welcome home from Daytona Beach and I know many of us were happy to return to some warmer weather.

Tomorrow we begin The Arabian Nights! Very exciting! Stay tuned!

Geoffrey Kershner

Director of Theatre

We did it!

This is the lamest photo posted, but it is of the semifinal round audience (I left my camera in my motel room tonight). I am so proud of the work that Sloan, Aaron, Melissa, and JP did today. They represented Daytona State with professionalism, skill, and excitement. They have done incredible work this week.

I am proud to announce that both Sloan and Aaron have been invited to call-backs for the Actor's Theatre of Louisville and that Melissa and JP have made it to the finals for the Irene Ryan scholarship.

Tomorrow Melissa and JP will compete with the final 16 candidates for the honor of representing the southeast in Washington DC. This is a massive accomplishment and a great honor. Tomorrow Melissa will add a monologue to the two scenes that she performed with JP.

So proud.

Geoffrey Kershner

Director of Theatre

We live to perform another day!

Above are the Irene Ryan Semifinalists celebrating after the announcement

There are 400 hundred actors who arrived at the festival to audition for the prestigious Irene Ryan Scholarship. Of the 200 groups (2 actors who are partnered) only 32 move on to the semifinal round on Thursday. I am very proud to announce that 2 of our 3 groups advanced (and in my opinion the third was absolutely deserving as well) to the semi-finals. Many schools are lucky to have one group advance and we have two! Sloan, Aaron, Melissa and JP will compete tomorrow.

Here is Sloan and Aaron after their first round audition.

I also spent the day in the first round. I was serving as respondent. I sat in with the two judges (there were two audition rooms with two judges each) and watched a "flight" which consists of four group auditions. Then I would relay my notes and the judges notes to the actors (one on one outside). This gave me a wonderful chance to see performers from all over the region. There were many strong performers and ALL of our actor's work stood up. I was just as proud of Paige and Gage's work. Their preparation and hard work was unmatched.

Before the evening's performance of Ladybug

I also met with the chair of Region 4 today and we discussed the strong possibility of hosting next year's festival in Daytona. This would be very exciting. I also think the region is excited about escaping the snow and hitting the beach!

Melissa, Sloan, and Lindsey

Gage...

JP and Paige

Sloan and Aaron rehearsing the semifinal round performance in their room

So, tomorrow I will work with Melissa, JP, Aaron and Sloan on their semifinal auditions. Round one was one two person scene. Now they will perform that scene and add a second contrasting two person scene. We have a rehearsal in the space in the morning and then they will all perform in the afternoon.

Break a leg you all!

Geoffrey Kershner

Director of Theatre

KCACTF or bust!

A report from the front lines: The Daytona State Theatre Program has landed in Murfreesboro, TN! We are very excited. Six of our actors (JP, Gage, Aaron, Melissa, Paige, and Sloan), a costume designer (Kristina) and a stage manager (Lindsey) are ready to compete for awards in this national competition (The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival). I will also be serving as a responder for Irene Ryan Award auditions.

We made the 10 hour drive by leaving Daytona at around 3pm yesterday. We made a pit stop in Marietta, GA and then finished the last leg of the trip today. We also gained an hour as we entered Central Time!!

SNOW!! This group from Daytona Beach was THRILLED to see snow on the ground. An impromptu snow ball fight broke out when we arrived at the motel in Murfreesboro. I also heard rumor of a snow man being made, but this two day old snow might not hold up too well. I am keeping my fingers crossed though.

Keep your fingers crossed for our students as well! They have all worked very hard on their auditions and presentations and I am so proud of them. Also, a big thank you to SGA for the funding for this trip. You all are awesome.

More soon from Tennessee!

Geoffrey Kershner

Director of Theatre