Interview with Dramaturg, Anna Rose MacArthur

Name: Anna Rose MacArthur

Major: Theatre Arts and English

Year in School: Senior

What are your responsibilities in the company?

I am Dramaturg; I help build the set; and I am also in the cast. And my responsibilities for that are…for dramaturgy I do the historical, contextual research for the show and present it to the company.  And, then of course, for the set, I help build the set and for the casting I act. 

What is your typical day like?

In the morning, I either help with the set or I’m doing historical research and composing that information into ready sources, such as a PowerPoint or a blog for the company. [Anna Rose's blog: http://thegooddoctoradramaturgy.blogspot.com ]  In the afternoon, I am in rehearsal. 

What is the most interesting fact that you have learned from your research?

Ummm.  This probably isn’t the most interesting….but, I am a writer and something that Chekov wrote that has stuck with me is that writing should be as objective as possible because that in itself is significant.  Just the day’s gestures of sitting down and eating dinner. He has this quotation how people sit down and eat dinner and all the while their lives are being created and being broken up, that those commonplace actions hold absurdity and significance.

What has been the best part about it?

I guess the best part about it has been being able to come in and do what I love everyday, which is theatre.  Even though that means waking up earlier than I would like and that means a lot of stress and a lot of time and a lot of energy, there’s really nothing else I want to do. 

What has been the most challenging?

The most challenging part has been, um,… it’s the daily energy requirement.  It requires a lot of energy every day, and the dramaturgy I had to start on during the break.  So taking my time during the break and devoting it to this project and not having a clean break from school; I had to carry the work with me.  And, being a senior, that’s expected.  Also, doing the historical research and figuring out dramaturgy, which I hadn’t done before…it’s a lot of isolated time researching. 

What makes this department unique?

Well, BSC is a liberal arts school and that permeates into the theatre arts major.  You don’t specialize in any field of theatre-- acting or set or costumes or lighting or what not.  You do it all, and that is very much seen in interim where you’re on a crew. And then, if another crew needs help, let’s say, you’re on costumes crew but set crew needs help, and costumes is having a light load for the day, you’ll switch over to the set crew.  If you’re acting, you’re also on a technical crew.  You really learn the whole process of theatre and what those roles require and also how to communicate with and appreciate the people in those roles.

How do you think what you have learned will help you in the future? 

Well, I ultimately want to teach, direct and write for theatre.  So, anything I do in theatre adds to my knowledge of theatre, which will help those career goals and inform those career goals.   

Anna Rose sneakily peers over her computer 

Anna happily working in the theatre lobby

Interview with Landi Drake

Name: Landi Drake

Major: Theatre Arts

Year in School: Senior

What are your responsibilities in the cast?

I am on props crew and in two short scenes.  I am in the surgery scene with Jasha Vaughn, and I play the doctor.  I am also in the Seduction scene with Nolan Martin, and I play the wife.

What is your typical day like?

In the mornings I tend to my prop crew duties.  Mainly in the last week we have done a lot of shopping off campus for various props and we have been making some props by hand.  So, I do that until about 12:30pm and then we have an hour break for lunch.  At 1:30pm, usually I am in rehearsals.  Umm, and then if my scene isn’t being rehearsed that day, I go back to my props crew duties. 

What has been the best part about it?

The best part about it has been…probably working with everyone in the department and working through rehearsals.  I love this department and I love all the people.  Whenever everyone has such a good work ethic rehearsals are just really exciting, and a time to play…so it’s fun.

What has been the most challenging part about it?

Um, probably the most challenging has been working through the show in a quick amount of time.  We basically blocked the entire show in four days.  Getting off book that quickly and getting use to putting on a show in three weeks is the challenging part about the process.

What makes this department unique?

I think what makes this department unique is the individual work ethics because when everyone comes together, things get done really well.  Everyone works well together, and we are kind of like a little family here.  It’s a great environment to come to everyday.  It makes it fun. 

How has what you have learned going to help you in the future?

We work at the same pace that a lot of professional companies do….I think that will help me in the future.  And, just the level of professionalism that everybody has, that will really pay off.  

Landi Drake Wallace 

Interview with Lighting Designer, Shea Glenn

Name:  Shea Glenn

Major: Musical Theatre

Year in School: Senior

What are your responsibilities in this production?

I have to design the lights…..obviously [laughs].  Really that’s pretty much all I do.  I think of the lighting ideas and Nolan Martin, the Light Crew Head, and I sit down and talk about it.  We have to figure out the best way to make it work.  As lighting designer, I’m also responsible for the paper work.

What does your paper work entail?

The light plot [which is essentially the blueprints for the lighting design].  I make it using a computer program we have here at Birmingham-Southern.  Once done, you have to make sure that you have a circuit for each light and that each circuit is plugged into a dimmer so that they will actually work.  To keep things straight, we have to have a list of all the dimmers and which circuit goes in each; this is called a dimmer patch.  Then I have to make all the light cues for the show.  To do this, I sit in rehearsal and note when a light comes up and where.  This takes a lot of time.

What is your typical day like?

When Nolan goes to rehearsal in the afternoons, I act as Light Crew Head.  So essentially, I tell people what to do.  But, seriously, my light crew is awesome and they’re very quick learners so I can pretty much tell them what to do and it gets done. 

What is the best part about being the Light Designer?

The best part about being the light designer is that you see your design in your head, and then you see them on stage, coming to life.  That’s the coolest thing. 

What is the most challenging aspect?

When things don’t work and you don’t know why.

 [As we speak, Shea Glenn is beckoned by Technical Director, Matt Mielke, to turn on the lights in Theatre One and then returns to continue the interview.]

Another challenging aspect is having to share the space.  During the semester, the set crew works during the day and the light crew comes in at night.  However, during the Explorations term, both crews are trying to get things done at the same time.  Can’t turn off their lights because they need them!

What makes Birmingham-Southern’s theatre department unique?

The creative license that is given to the student designers is a cool part.  I’ve been mentored, but no one is standing over me telling be to do this or do that.  Also, this month-long process is good at teaching you what is like to work an 8 hour day in the professional theatre world.  I came here as a performance major and chose to do my senior project on light design.  Before I came here, I had never touched a light.  I’m a transfer student and at other schools, it is either you do tech or perform.  Since coming to Birmingham-Southern three years ago, I have worked in every tech position, as well as performed.  This is an aspect that is very unique to this theatre department. 

What are a few things you have learned here that will help you in the future?

I’ve learned how to work with different people and all personality types.  I know what is like to be the low person on the totem pole, as well as the leader of the pack.  Most importantly, I know so much more about theatre and the professional conduct it expects.  

Shea Glenn with her favorite light, an Inky.

Month of January

It’s January, which means it is Explorations term at Birmingham-Southern College.  During this period, students take a class on things like knitting, yoga or the 1960's; travel abroad; take part in a service-learning project; participate in an off-campus internship; or contract their own classes.  However, in this time of typical leisure, the theatre only has one thing on its mind: to produce a show in three weeks.

In order to understand what this means, you first must know that the average time allotted to get a show on its feet is about 11 weeks, and we do it by dedicating every day of January to getting this show on the road.   

When I say every day in the month of January, I mean it.  You will find everyone in the theatre every week day from 9:30am-5:30pm and every Saturday from 1:30pm-5:30pm working hard to get everything done.  It is an intense month-long process filled with set building, costume construction, props gathering, line memorizing and daily rehearsals.  During the morning period, everyone works on their assigned crew position and every afternoon those who are in the show rehearse.  Without the hard work and discipline of everyone in the company, the show would be impossible. 

“Given the long hours of work, is this experience even worth it?” you might ask, but even as I write this, sitting in the greenroom drinking my fourth cup of coffee, I say yes.  Must you give up the opportunity to take it easy for the month of January?  Yes.  However, you gain the opportunity to really push yourself and develop discipline.  I’m not going to lie, the month long process is challenging and difficult, but the payoff is grand.  Whether you are a designer, actor, or crew member, it is exciting to see your hard work come to fruition during the four performances at the end of the month.  By the sheer fact that you gave up so much of your time makes it more special.  It is same feeling you get when you save up all your money to buy that one thing you want more than anything.  When you finally get it, there is no way you will ever take it for granted.

 Another aspect that makes the interim worth your time is the relationships you build with the company.  Being a part of the company is like going on a long road trip.  You are with these people all day, every day.  It is as if we are all in one giant bus travelling together to reach a faraway place.  They become some of your closest friends and confidants.  This experience forces everyone to work together to get to our final destination and reach our many goals.  This takes trust and patience.  Through solving problems and completing tasks, this experience teaches us the skills to work with each other, a skill relatable to many areas of life.  

Assistant Director, Hillary Brown, and Stage Manager, Robbie Hindsman

Set crew working hard to complete the set

Light Designer, Shea Glenn, tending to her light plot 

Actor and Set Builder, Kelsey Shipley, caught on her way down to the scene shop!

American Colleges v English Universities Part II of II

USA: Many colleges have Greek life consisting of fraternities and sororities.

England: Greek life is nonexistent but there is cross over between male fraternities and sport societies.

Verdict: Watch Animal House and decide for yourself.

USA: Students pay for living expenses through family savings and employment.

England: Most students pay for living expenses through maintenance loans that begin being paid back when their annual income reaches £15,000

Verdict: English students leave university with more living expenses debt.

USA: Students pay for tuition and fees with a combination of family savings, grants, loans, employment, financial aid, and scholarships.

England: Students pay for university the same way as Americans except loans are more common and financial aid and scholarships are very rare.

Verdict: US wins because financial aid and scholarships are amazing.

USA: Most students live on campus in dorms, suites, apartments, or Greek houses.

England: University accommodation consists of flats, and students can only live in university accommodation for their first year. 2^nd and 3^rd year students live in off campus houses or flats.

Verdict: England wins, because students always have a kitchen. Also, university flats provide individual rooms unlike dorms, and living in a house or flat during 2^nd and 3^rd year beats living in a dorm or a suite to a pulp.

USA: Optional summer classes are offered and are usually taken in order to get ahead in one’s degree or because four years is not long enough to fit in all required classes.

England: Following a month-long spring break, which students are supposed to dedicate to studying for exams and to writing essays, university requires students to attend a summer term dedicated to turning in all the essays to taking all the exams prepared during the month-long spring break.

Verdict: US wins by shoving all essays and exams into the semester, effectively clumping all the stress together and getting the term over with.

USA: Law and medicine degrees are not offered at the undergraduate level.

England: Law and medicine degrees are offered at the undergraduate level.

Verdict: England wins, because in the US by the time you graduate from medical or law school, you are balding and being threatened by debtors’ prisons.

USA: Students are assessed multiple times throughout the semester through homework, quizzes, tests, essays, and exams.

England: Students are assessed 1-4 times (usually just 2 times) throughout the term with the majority of the final mark deriving from a final exam or essay.

Verdict: England wins with a lighter workload, but you are screwed if you mess up that final exam or essay. US wins with keeping students on their game and by spreading the weight of the final mark over many assignments.

USA: Many colleges require freshmen to take a writing class in order to learn how to properly write varies types of essays at the undergraduate level.

England: No writing class requirement.

Verdict: Depends if you like to write or wish you had learned.

USA: Students choose a major, which is the degree that they choose to pursue. A minor is equivalent to half of a major. Students can pursue multiple majors and minors. Pursuing two majors is called double majoring, and the student must take all the classes for both majors.

England: Students choose a single-honor, which is the degree that they choose to pursue. Minors do not exist. If a student wants to pursue two subjects, then he/she can pursue a joint-honor. The joint-honor student takes the same number of classes as the single-honor student with half of those classes deriving from one subject and the other half deriving from another subject. Therefore, the English joint-honor is equivalent to two American minors but is the English option of the American double major.

Verdict: England wins on lighter workload. US wins on freedom of choice.

USA: Guided learning philosophy

England: Independent learning philosophy

Verdict: US wins because independent learning is like communism, sounds good but doesn’t work. Given more free time, students are going to party, not research.

USA: Requires that all students take general education (gen ed) classes, which are classes required from every discipline that provide students with a broad knowledge base. These gen eds are taken in addition to a student’s major(s) and minor(s) classes.

England: Students are required and allowed to take only one class outside their degree during their 1^st or 2^nd year. This class is called a MOMD [Module Outside Main Discipline].

Verdict: England wins on focus. US wins on well roundedness.

USA: Undergraduates are marked on a 0-100 scale with 90-100 being a 4.0 (an English 1^st) and 69 and below being failing.

England: Undergraduates marked on a 0-85 scale with 70 being a 1^st (an American 4.0) and 40 and below being failing.

Verdict: Just different.

America: Wear graduation gowns and throw caps into the air.

England: Wear graduation gowns and throw caps into the air.

Verdict: We both wear ridiculous outfits on graduation day. I’ve never figured out if throwing the hats is an act of celebration (Hooray! I earned this degree and survived!) or panic (Oh, cruel real world! Don’t take me away! What am I supposed to do with my life?!)

American Colleges v English Universities Part I of II

Hello! I am Anna Rose MacArthur, a rising senior Theatre and English double-major at BSC. For both semesters of my junior year, I studied theatre abroad at the University of Birmingham, England, and I have been asked to blog about some of my experiences here. Before I launch into my tale, it will help if you understand some of the differences between the American college and the English university system. 

American Colleges v English Universities Part I of II

USA: Undergraduate institutions are called colleges. Postgraduate institutions are called universities.

England: Undergraduate and postgraduate institutions are called universities. College is where students take their A-levels.

Verdict: It is what it is.

USA: Contains over 4,000 higher education institutions

England: Contains 131 higher education institutions

Verdict: With England being 74 times smaller than the US and having ¼ the population of the US, England wins with a larger ratio of institutions to size and population.

USA: Prospective students can apply to as many colleges as they desire and as they can afford. Each college charges a different application fee.

England: Prospective students can apply to a maximum of five universities. No application fees.

Verdict: England wins on cost. US wins on freedom of choice.

USA: College usually lasts 4 years, but can range from 3 to 5 years with students on average taking 32-40 classes during that time.

England: University strictly lasts 3 years with students taking 15-18 classes during that time.

Verdict: England wins on less time and less work. US wins on demanding more from students.

USA: 1^st years called freshmen. 2^nd years called sophomores. 3^rd years called juniors. 4^th years called seniors. 5^th years called super-seniors.

England: 1st years called 1^st years or freshers. 2^nd years called 2^nd years. 3^rd years called 3^rd years.

Verdict: USA wins on creativity. England wins on clarity.

USA: Classes meet 2 to 3 times a week.

England: Classes mostly meet 1 time a week with a few classes meeting 2 times a week.

Verdict: England wins if you don’t like going to class. US wins on face time.

USA: Every class taken throughout college is weighted equally in the final mark aka GPA.

England: First year does not count towards the final mark, but students must pass with 40% in order to move onto second year. Second year counts 25% towards the final mark. 3^rd years counts 75% towards the final mark.

Verdict: It is as though England know that students are going to behave like debaucherous lunatics during first year and accommodate them accordingly.

USA: Apart from specific upper level classes, students from all years take the same classes.

England: First years only take classes with first years; and second years only with second years; and third years only with third years.

Verdict: England wins on all students being on the same academic level. US wins on combining students from different backgrounds, allowing for more knowledge and intellectual diversity in the classroom.

USA: Each college decides their costs of tuition and fees, which include little government subsidy. College costs between $25,000 to $50,000 per year.

England: Government subsidizes and caps university costs, and almost all universities charge up to the permitted cap. University costs £3,000 per year currently, and due to government budget cuts, university costs will rise to £9,000 per year beginning September 2012.

Verdict: Despite budget cuts, attending an English university is significantly cheaper than attending a US college.

USA: Students can transfer colleges with most of their credits transferring as well. Also, students can easily switch degrees if done during the first two years.

England: Students can transfer universities after year 1 and enter year 2 at a different university. If they change their degree, then have to start as a first year again, because their degree courses are so focused.

Verdict: Just different.

Gap year— the year between finishing high school and beginning college (or the year between finishing A-levels and beginning university for the English) in which students take a hiatus from school to travel, work, and/or volunteer.

USA: Gap years are rare and even looked down upon.

England: Gap years are a common and legitimate option.

Verdict: England wins. US fails and needs to embrace this concept.

Quad at University of Birmingham, UK Where I Studied Abroad

Quad at BSC

Summer Intern :)

Summer vacation? Hah. I'd rather spend my summer working at Red Mountain Theatre Company.

As summer was approaching, I knew I wanted a change of scenery and a break from the "school" setting; yet I still wanted to be completely immersed in theatre.... as per usual. So I signed myself up for interning at Red Mountain Theatre Company, a local professional, non-profit theatre in Birmingham. I had worked with RMTC as a kids several times, and thought why not! I figured I would be doing typical intern duties (i.e. coffee runs, cleaning jobs no one wants to do, and running errands everywhere) but boy was I in for a surprise. While I am still making the coffee runs, and cleaning grimy closets no one has touched in years, I am also getting to experience first-hand how a professional company runs, operates, and produces it's shows.

I feel like I have already learned so much. Just to touch everything here are some of the things I've gotten to take part in.... season auditions, ticket sales, marketing and advertising, event planning, development and non-profits, workshop performances, and rehearsals.... just to name a few. A lot of my work has also been focused on their summer workshops (summer camps provided for youth which include instructors from all over the U.S. for training in dance, theatre, music... etc.) I have also gotten to witness the production build, concepts, and ideas for their upcoming production of HAIRSPRAY. Watching how production meetings are held is so interesting because it really shows how all the different areas come together to produce this show.

The season auditions and workshop performances have probably been the highlight of my time at RMTC. It is so interesting to learn all of the steps to run an audition and how much has to be done before they even take place. Every single detail and step is important, and now more than ever I see how important it is that everyone does their part in order for a smooth event.

This experience is letting me see a completely different side of the theatre than I have seen before; yet I relate everything I have done at BSC to what I see being done at RMTC. Cheesy as it sounds... it really makes me appreciate and understand why everything I'm learning at BSC is so important.

So in the midst of endless ticket sales, the forever broken copier, and scripts, scripts, and more scripts I am going to keep you updated about my time at RMTC and all that I am getting to learn.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer :)