Student in the Spotlight: Jason VanMill

  This week's Student in the Spotlight is...

      Jason VanMill!

    Jason VanMill is a fourth year student at EMU majoring in Entertainment Design and Technology and Communications/Media/Theatre Arts! Jason has worked as an assistant stage manager for White as Snow Red as Blood: The Story of Snow White, Urinetown, Wedding Band: A Love Hate Story in Black and White, and Tintypes. He also stage managed The Shape of Things last year and is currently stage managing our upcoming production of Legally Blonde! When asked what his favorite show to work on was he said, "I liked them all for different reasons. They've taught me different things. My favorite would have to be Snow White. It was my first time as an assistant stage manager and Jenny Koppera is fantastic. It was a great way to introduce me into stage management."
   Jason's dream show to work on is Ragtime, "I think the music is beautiful; I love how layered it is. Now matter how many times I see or listen to it it always moves me to tears," he said.

    His favorite memory of EMU Theatre is, "All the people I've met along the way and all of the different things you take away from them. It's (EMU) a great environment. Everyone is really supportive of each other."
    After graduation Jason said, "I would love to get an internship and eventually stage manage in the real world. I would really like to do more directing too."

Student in the Spotlight: Anthony Petrucci

     This week's Student in the Spotlight is...

      Anthony Petrucci!

    Anthony Petrucci is a first year MA candidate at EMU studying Interpretation and Performance Studies! Anthony has performed in Guys and Dolls, Urinetown, in his undergad and this year he has worked on Dr. Faustus and Androcles and the Lion. Dr. Faustus is his favorite show he has worked on at Eastern! Anthony's dream show to work on is The Addams Family, "It was one of my favorite shows growing up.  I loved watching the movies and cartoons. It's something that I've loved since I was a little kid," he said. (Notice his hairless scalp? He's actually gearing up to play Uncle Fester in a local production of Addams Family!)
Anthony is also our full-time graduate assistant in our scene shop! Part of his responsibilities include being the lab technician for all the shows that take place in our lab theatre including our upcoming Student Written Student Directed One Act Festival!!!
    His favorite memory of EMU Theatre is, "When Jahmeel Powers and I got to accept our Notscar (now called Fauxneys) for 'Partners in Crime'."
    After graduation he plans to, "Get accepted into an MFA program and find a job teaching theatre at a University."

Student in the Spotlight: Joey Kulza

     This week's Student in the Spotlight is...

      Joey Kulza!

    Joey Kulza is a senior at EMU majoring in Theatre Arts! Joey has performed in Fiddler on the Roof, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, To Kill A Mockingbird, and was most recently seen as Stanley in The Birthday Party!! The Birthday Party is his favorite show he has worked on at Eastern! Joey has always wanted to work on A Streetcar Named Desire, "I really like the role of Stanley," he said. (We're sensing a theme between Joey and characters named Stanley. Hmm...)

    Joey is also on props crew for our upcoming production of Legally Blonde!  
    His favorite memory of EMU Theatre is, "Bagels, fresh Bagels!" (If you saw our production of Fiddler on the Roof, then you will know exactly what he's talking about)
    After graduation he plans on, "Pursuing an acting career in Chicago."

Student in the Spotlight: Tori Clayton

This week's Student in the Spotlight is...

      Tori Clayton!

    Tori Clayton is a transfer student in our Entertainment Design & Technology program! She has worked in numerous design positions during her time here at EMU. She was the Makeup Designer for Dead Gallery: Elysium Asylum, Costume/Makeup/Props Desginer for Afternoon of the Elves, and she is the Assistant Costume Designer for our upcoming production of Legally Blonde!!!

Tori's favorite show that she worked on here was Dead Gallery! As far as what shows she wants to work on in the future she said, "Anything I can get!"

   Tori's favorite part of EMU Theatre is, "The people, and meeting new people!" As far as post graduation plans, she said, in true college student fashion, "I have no idea." Whatever lies ahead we know it will be great Tori!

Student in the Spotlight: Natalie Joseph

This week's Student in the Spotlight is...

      Natalie Joseph!

      Natalie Joseph is a junior at EMU majoring in Theatre Arts and minoring in Musical Theatre! Natalie has performed in the Global Play Project's production of The Cat Who Ran, and she has worked on props crew for Guys and Dolls and Dr. Faustus! She is also working on props crew for The Birthday Party opening in February! 

         Natalie also wants to work on a production of The Last 5 Years at some point, "It's a great story."
         Her favorite memory of EMU Theatre is, "That time I made a dragon for Dr. Faustus with glowing green eyes and I named her Gladys."
         After graduation she plans on moving to California to pursue theatre and hopefully complete a second Disney internship. 

Student in the Spotlight: Brittney Gillespie

This week's Student in the Spotlight is...

      Brittney Gillespie!

      Brittney Gillespie is a sophomore at EMU majoring in Entertainment Design & Technology and minoring in Communication! She has been involved in Fiddler on the Roof (Assistant Stage Manager), Dead Gallery: Elysium Asylum, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Assistant Stage Manager), The Shape of Things (Props Crew), the 2014 One Act Festival (Stage Managing), numerous graduate thesis projects (Stage Managing), Who What Where When Why (Stage Manager), Dr. Faustus (Stage Manager), Dead Gallery: The Macabre Menagerie, Tintypes, and she is designing props for our upcoming production of The Birthday Party! Her favorite show that she has worked on here is Fiddler on the Roof! She also received an award from the American College Theater Festival for work as Stage Manager of Dr. Faustus!

         Brittney has also always wanted to work on Noises Off. "I just love the set and how rotating it is part of the show. I think that is so cool!"
         Her favorite memory of EMU Theatre was, "Being an assistant stage manager for Fiddler and interacting with everyone in the dressing rooms. It was my first time getting to know everyone. It's basically how I made all of my friends during Fiddler." 
         After graduation she plans on going to graduate school for stage management at Boston University.

Take a trip back in time with TINTYPES!!!

"...the Statue of Liberty emerging from the mist. Ah, there she was, the symbol of hope, freedom, of opportunity." –Emma, Act I

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!!  

A whirlwind musical revue of over 50 songs is coming your way!!! Explore one of the most exciting periods of American history told through the eyes of a Russian immigrant named Charlie and his interwoven experiences with Theodore Roosevelt, Anna Held, Emma Goldman and Bert Williams!

Take a trip back in time with,  Tintypes, opening this Friday, November 21th 2014! This show also runs the weekend of December 4th through December 7th!!

Conceived by Mary Kyte
with Mel Marvin and Gary Pearle
Musical vocal arrangements by Mel Marvin
Orchestration vocal arrangements by John McKinney

Directed by: Wallace Bridges
Musical Direction: Howard Cass 

We sat down with two of the performers in Tintypes, Sydney Woll and Nick Beezy! Find out what you can expect out of the show and get an exclusive first look at their musical talents!!! 

Performances Are:

November 21 and 22 at 7PM,
November 23 at 2PM
and December 4, 5, and 6 at 7PM,
December 7 at 2PM

Click here for Tickets 

Check us out on Facebook for More Information 

Student in the Spotlight: Christine Franzen

This week's Student in the Spotlight is...

Christine Franzen!

         Christine Franzen is a junior at EMU majoring in Simulation, Animation, and Gaming and minoring in Electronic Media and Film Studies! She has been involved in To Kill A Mockingbird, The Incredible Jungle Journey of Fenda Maria, and she is currently working on scenic crew for our upcoming production of Tintypes! Her favorite show that she has worked on here is To Kill A Mockingbird!

         Christine has also always wanted to work on the show, Wit, "I absolutely love that script."

         Christine's favorite memory with EMU Theatre is, "Finding out I got casted for the first time in Mockingbird! I was beyond excited because it was my first show in college. I called my mother immediately!" 
         After graduation she plans on interning or working at a production studio. Later, she would like to transition into special effects or character development in the entertainment industry and being Wes Anderson's new BFF and animator, naturally. Owning a corgi is also a non-negotiable part of her future plans. 

   

Come spend an afternoon with some ELVES!

"Sara Kate? Are you an Elf?" –Hillary, Act II

Remember a time when you believed in things like elves and magic? Remember a time when friendship seemed like a bond that lasted forever? Come relive some of the magic that can only be created in the mind of a child at Afternoon of the Elves!

Come spend an afternoon with the family at,  Afternoon of the Elves, opening this Friday, November 7th 2014 and running ONE WEEKEND ONLY!

Written by: Y York
From the Newberry Honor Book by Janet Taylor Lisle

Directed by: Mark Isler 

 

We sat down with two of the performers in Afternoon of the Elves, Lauren Zamiska and Gabrielle Morris! Check out what they had to say about the show and some of the fun things they did as kids!

Performances Are:

ONE WEEKEND ONLY

November 7th and 8th at 7PM 
and November 9th at 2PM
All tickets $7

Click here for Tickets 

 

Check us out on Facebook for More Information 

Student in the Spotlight: Alanna Elling

This week's Student in the Spotlight is...

Alanna Elling!

         Alanna Elling is a senior at EMU majoring in Theatre Arts and minoring in Drama Theatre for the Young! She has been involved in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Bobrauschenberg America, Dr. Faustus, and she is performing in our upcoming production of Tintypes! Her favorite show that she has worked on here is Bobrauschenberg America!
         Alanna's favorite memory with EMU Theatre is, "Being told I could be the Student in the Spotlight!" After graduation she plans on auditioning for grad school, acting professionally, and down the road teaching.

   

Student In The Spotlight: Nick Beezy

This week's Student in the Spotlight is...

Nick Beezy!

       Nick Beezy is a senior communications major with a musical theatre minor! He has worked on HONK!, and Chicago at EMU! Chicago is his favorite show that he has done here. He can also be seen playing vaudeville legend Bert Williams in our upcoming production of Tintypes!

       When asked what his favorite memory of EMU Theatre was he said, "Meeting the Fab Five!" After graduation he plans to leave Michigan and go to either the west coast or New York City. He hopes to continue singing and pursuing theatre, and maybe even get into radio!