This is a faculty performance production of a new multimedia music theater piece freely inspired by Anna Maria Hong’s novella, “H & G,” a cubistic re-envisioning of the Grimm’s tale of Hansel and Gretel as a surreal, feminist hero’s journey. Here abandonment, enchantment, and the fear of being consumed challenge the protagonists to imagine the unimaginable: how do you give birth to the self you want to become when everything is stacked against you?
There are roles for the usual suspects, Father, H., G., and Witch, as well as a chorus of Feral Children/Stars (physical movers who sing). Singers/Actors who sing, Dancers who sing, Movers who sing, especially those who can read music, are encouraged to audition. Auditions will be held on campus in October of 2021. Once cast, students will be given music and instruction to aid them in learning the music.
When we return to campus in February 2022, we will work as an ensemble on the music and rehearse throughout the term. We generally rehearse in the evenings from Tuesday to Friday with some Saturday afternoons. The show will be staged immersively with live music composed and performed by Allen Shawn, projection and set design by Sue Rees, and directed by Jean Randich, The process culminates in three public performances in Lester Martin Theater on April 22, 23 and 24, 2022.
Following the example of Lynn Hernandez, we practice presenting material and activities that respect equity, inclusion, and diversity. This embraces gender identity, sexuality, disability, age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, nationality, religion, and culture. The ability to read musical notation strongly encouraged.
Learning Outcomes:
Learning how to sing a cycle of songs and to imbue them with the thoughts and desires of your respective character.
Learning how to analyze and interpret a text and synthesize that into a performance,
Devising movement through improvisation and developing with the ensemble a physical vocabulary for the piece.
Learning to follow musical and dramatic direction.
Learning how to recognize the big ideas and values expressed by a piece and personalizing your reasons for performing it: what are you trying to share with the audience?
Learning how to reflect on your own experience in rehearsal: how does the process affect the work? What ideas can you contribute to the performance?
Performing in the premiere of a multimedia music theater piece.
Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Prerequisites: All interested students must audition for "H & G" in October 2021. Information will be disseminated at the top of the term, so keep your eyes peeled. Depending on the covid protocols, we will either be conducting auditions and callbacks in person or via zoom.
Course Level: 4000-level
Credits: 4
T/W/Th/F 7:00PM-10:00PM, Sa 11:00AM-4:00PM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 16
Course Frequency: One time only
Categories: Advancement of Public Action , All courses , Drama , Fully In-Person , Music
Tags: acting , Collaboration , composition , dance , devising , interpretation , performance , singing , text analysis