StageNotes, 2008

2007-08 Highlights from Program Chair Jeff Wittman

The Lynchburg College Theatre Department had yet another year of growth with an increase to 25 majors and 20 minors. In Dillard, we saw the addition of new lighting instruments, a new dance floor and a repaired roof (no more leaks). This summer the Studio Theatre received a new, permanent computer/projection system. The College has placed new money in our annual budgets for equipment, supplies, and student travel to conferences. Our box office has come into the 21st century with credit card and LC account capability. And, thanks to Laurie Cassidy, our theatre programs are now in color!

Our students traveled to the Southeastern Theatre Conference in Chattanooga, where four received professional offers for summer 2008 or full-time contracts this fall with The California Theatre Center, Astor's Beechwood Mansion, Heritage Repertory, and Dogwood Dell. Theatre student Stephanie Harms interned at Disney World for nine months and is now the Disney College Program Campus Representative.

Our production last fall of Book of Days had over 50 student participants, including double casting and much freshmen participation. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat sold out four performances and two invited dress rehearsals - over 70 students were involved on stage, back stage, and in the orchestra. President Garren and Board of Trustees members were in attendance at Joseph and brought news that a major addition/renovation to Dillard is in serious discussion. Picasso at the Lapin Agilewas performed April 12-15 with guest director Nan Kordos. In our Studio Theatre, six one-act plays were produced in the fall and three senior project plays were performed in the spring. We welcomed Terry Jachimiak as our new faculty colleague in design-technical direction.

The Dance Works ensemble prepared 12 winter holiday dance pieces for public performances last December, including student choreography. Last spring the ensemble embraced Disney musicals and movies in 14 performance pieces to sold-out audiences. Our musical theatre voice students prepared solo works for a recital in April.

During the 2007-08 year, in leadership and academic circles, three of the 36 new Phi Kappa Phi inductees were theatre majors and three theatre students were elected into the ODK National Leadership Honor Society. Our students were also active on campus in the Academic Opportunities Fair, Relay for Life, and the Westover Honors Program. Our students, faculty, and staff remain active in the community by visiting, performing or teaching with The Academy of Fine Arts, Central Virginia Training Center, Renaissance Theatre, Black Theatre Ensemble, Little Town Players in Bedford, and Opera on the James. We also held arts partnerships with Brookville High School, Holy Cross School, and Dunbar Middle School.

You can now see our theatre students on-line on the LC Video You Tube Page at the following web address: http://www.youtube.com/user/lynchburgcollege. Our theatre department web page saw a major overhaul this past summer with new pictures, graphics, and navigation flow.

Thanks to those who attended our Alumni Lunch at Homecoming on Saturday, October 6, 2007. We were happy to see many former students and their families on campus. If you have news, please share with us through theatre@lynchburg.edu or through one of the many individual e-mail addresses in the newsletter.

So far this year we have filled the theatre with veterans and newcomers. Our dance classes expanded to four sections this year. We will see new courses in design and musical theatre in 2009-2010.

2007-08 was a fruitful and positive year for the department, and we said good-bye to a fine (and large) group of graduating seniors. Best wishes to all of our LC students, alumni and friends.

Jeff Wittman, Chair

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Congratulations to the 2007-2008
OUTSTANDING THEATRE MAJORS

Awarded to graduating seniors that exemplify academic excellence

Matthew P. Akers '08 and Dyanna Sorvillo '08

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LYNCHBURG COLLEGE THEATRE
2008-2009 PERFORMANCES

October 9-12 The Man Who Came to Dinner by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart
November 21-23 Splashes of Color performed by Dance Works
December 4-7 Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian Carlo Menotti
December 7 THEA 120 Dance Demo Class
December 11-13 Festival of One-Act Plays
February 26-March 1 The Sweet Smell of Success,book by John Guare; music by Marvin Hamlisch; lyrics by Craig Carnelia
April 16-19 Eurydice adapted by Sarah Ruhl
April 23-25 Senior Project Plays
May 1-3 Time: Looking Back and Moving Forward performed by Dance Works
May 3 THEA 120 Dance Demo Class

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CONGRATS TO OUR 2008 GRADUATES!

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2007-08 Theatre Scholarship Recipients

Matthew P. Akers '08
ROBERT C. HAILEY SCHOLARSHIP
Presented to a rising full time senior majoring in theatre, with 3.0 or better grade point average
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Dyanna Sorvillo '08
CARL PFEIFER SCHOLARSHIP
Presented to a student who has distinguished him/herself in theatrical performance or directing.
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Ashley Byrne '10
WILL APPLEBY SCHOLARSHIP

Presented to a freshman or sophomore student who has demonstrated academic promise and
an interest in a major or minor in theatre.

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Class Notes

To receive the Class Notes section of StageNotes, please contact Laurie Cassidy at cassidy.l@lynchburg.edu.

Faculty and Staff Notes

Shayna Schwartz
Shayna is our new instructor of dance at LC. She is a native of Miami, Florida, and relocated to Lynchburg to attend Virginia School of the Arts. Shayna received her BFA in Dance at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, where she performed in Chicago, Guys and Dolls, A Chorus Line, Anything Goes, Crazy for You, and Showboat. She also performed with the Lost Colony Outdoor Drama in Manteo, N.C. Besides teaching classes at LC, Shayna is also the assistant artistic director of LeeAnne Ashley Studio of Dance in Bedford. She is currently the assistant director and choreographer for A Holiday Fantasy that will be performed next month at the Studio.

Tom Nowell
In addition to teaching technical theatre classes at LC, Tom is the president of Renaissance Theatre in downtown Lynchburg. This year, he did the makeup design at LC for Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. At Renaissance in 2007-2008, he designed the scenery and lighting for Barefoot in the Park, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Moonlight and Magnolias, And Then There Were None, and Champagne Sundays. Tom also directed And Then There Were None and Barefoot in the Park this year. Tom still found time to design the lighting for the Little Town Players' productions of Driving Miss Daisy and Dearly Departed.

Jeff Wittman
Jeff recently directed Book of Days and The Man Who Came to Dinner at the College. As a professional guest artist, he appeared this year with the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra, performing the narration to Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf. He recently appeared as Moonface Martin in Anything Goes and Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls at the Academy of Fine Arts in downtown Lynchburg. Jeff continues as the Director of the Academy's Teen Theatre Program, where he teaches and directed the recent productions of Seussical and Honk! He has been asked to adjudicate the Virginia AAA secondary school State Theatre Festival this coming spring at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center in Charlottesville.

Terry Jachimiak
Terry designed the scenery and lighting for last semester's production of Picasso at the Lapin Agile. This summer, he worked at the Heritage Theatre Company at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville (with Rachel Sargeant '08), where he was the props designer for all the productions. Locally, Terry has been designing sets for Renaissance Theatre, The Academy of Fine Arts, and the Black Theatre Ensemble. Terry also performs in front of the curtain and will star in The Kitchen Witches this January at Renaissance Theatre.

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Keep in Touch by E-mail

We love to hear from you! Please keep in touch via the e-mail addresses below.

Laurie Cassidy '02: cassidy.L@lynchburg.edu

Tom Nowell: nowell@lynchburg.edu

Megan Harker Emanuel '01: memanuel@campbell.k12.va.us

Terry Jachimiak: jachimiak@lynchburg.edu

Kenna Ludwig: ludwig@lynchburg.edu

Shayna Schwartz: Schwartz.S@lynchburg.edu

Jeff Wittman: wittman.J@lynchburg.edu

Update your Information and send us your news for StageNotes:

We are continually updating the theatre alumni e-mail list. Please send your current e-mail address to Laurie Cassidy '02, Cassidy.L@Lynchburg.edu (434/544-8349), along with any information or news you would like to have us put in the next edition of STAGENOTES 2009.