Multimedia writer and performance artist James Scruggs engages in conversation with Playwright-in-Residence Charlotte Meehan about his critically acclaimed performance work, Disposable Men. He speaks from research, observation, and experience about the “weaponized Black male body” via current events and the long U.S. history of killing unarmed Black men. This event includes Scruggs sharing images of his performance, reading from his work, and a Q&A.
Calling all creatives, from every corner of the Wheaton College Community! The Theatre & Dance program spring 2021 mainstage production is entitled: The Wheaton X Series, and the subject of this theatrical experience is you and your responses to the events of our time.
The Wheaton X Series (xperimental/xperiential/xpression) is a multi disciplinary, community wide live virtual event spanning two nights of programming, comprised of ‘acts’. The stories reflected through the performance pieces (dance, song, word, music, and film) will be created in response to the prompt:
2020 and Beyond: Our Reflections. Our Responses.
We are inviting all Wheaton voices (students, alumnae/i, staff and faculty) to respond to the prompt through any form of creative expression.
All performances will be recorded, and edited into a two-evening event premiering April 8 & 9, 2021 celebrating the great talent and passion of our community. The premiere will be followed by a ‘Behind the Scenes’ event with the creative team on April 15.
Even if you do not wish to perform, you will have the opportunity to contribute work that may be performed by others (especially original music that can be used for dance performances, or other means of artistic expression.)
Questions? Contact Joe Wilison Jr. ([email protected])
Playwright Joyce Van Dyke, director Judy Braha, and actor Elaine Vaan Hogue talk about their collaboration on a new one-woman play featuring suffragist and abolitionist Julia Ward Howe, who asks, “What does it do to your soul if you don’t have representation?” The play is a fever dream and a call to action by Howe, who was a playwright, poet, and founder of the American Woman Suffrage Association which supported voting rights for Black women as well as white women. The conversation will draw parallels between Howe’s mission and today’s election.
Ten original plays—written, directed and performed by Wheaton students—will be showcased in our biannual festival.
Interested in getting involved in the performing arts? Faculty, staff and students from the music, theatre and dance programs will be available to answer questions about academic and co-curricular opportunities.
Longer form plays—written, directed and performed by Wheaton students—will be showcased at our annual festival.
The Department of Theatre and Dance Studies is happy to announce early auditions for the spring MainStage production, Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, directed by Trinity Rep company member and Wheaton College teaching adjunct Joe Wilson Jr.
Come One, Come All: Blind casting (short for color-blind/gender-blind casting) is the practice of casting without considering the actor’s ethnicity, skin color, body shape, sex and/or gender, or physical abilities.
Please read the play (https://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/shakespeare/juliuscaesar/) and prepare to read from the text, or perform a one-minute monologue from the play. Sing up for an audition slot on the Theatre call board in Watson by the rehearsal room (Watson 127).
Please note: THEA020: Rehearsal and Production rehearsal schedule—M/W 10:30am-12:20pm, Thursdays 7-10pm, Fridays 1-5pm
Come check out what arts@wheaton is all about, including how you can get involved. There will be live performances, music, tie-dye, airbrush tattoos, screen printing and more. Oh yeah, and a food truck serving up tacos. Come play with us!
Emily Morse, Artistic Director of New Dramatists (NYC), engages in a conversation with Professors Charlotte Meehan and Stephanie Burlington Daniels about her work supporting contemporary playwrights and collaborating on ensemble-made theatre in her own practice as playwright, dramaturg, and performer. New Dramatists has been a major force in the development of US-based playwrights since 1949.
written by Aaron Posner, directed by Stephanie Burlington Daniels ’97 and Isabel Pongratz ’19
A homage to Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull, Stupid F**king Bird, is a hilarious tale about love, family, and the creation of art and beauty. A frank portrayal of mental health and suicide with contemporary language and nudity this production is not for the faint of heart. Join us as we sing through depression and find laughter through loss. Tickets: $10 general, $5 with a Wheaton ID & seniors. Tickets may be purchased online through the Box Office.
Trailer by Gracie Vicente ’22