Newsfeed
Printer-Friendly ModeTheater program hotbed for hands-on learning
October 12, 2009 —
passing it from one student to the next.
When a performance hits the stage, it is hard to imagine all the work it took to get there. The Vanguard recently went behind the scenes and found out that there’s more to the theater than first meets the eye.
“SVSU has a talented department that offers lots of opportunities,” said Erinn Holm, a theater senior.
Holm, who has performed in plays since high school, came to SVSU with plans to major in education. When she felt that wasn’t enough, she switched to theater.
“It felt like a perfect fit,” she said. “It was a comfortable atmosphere, and I felt appreciated.”
On average, the department puts on four major productions a year.
“All the directors are different and pick plays that work for us,” Holm said.
Each director gets to pick his or her own play, and these range from comedy to drama to musical to children’s theater.
“We try to have a well-rounded series of shows,” said Steven Erickson, a theater professor.
The University gives one set sum of money at the beginning of the year to the theater program. Each straight play receives a budget of around $2,500, while for musicals, allowances can range between $6,000 and $12,000.
To keep costs down, the theater department rents many of its costumes and builds its sets and props from foam and other materials. Cardboard is a major penny-saver for the department.
“It’s easy to take apart and reconfigure,” said Erickson.
“Reuse and repaint is how we save money,” said Amanda Mueller, a theater junior. “A lot of hard work is put into set-making.”
In winter 2007, the department performed Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
“The set was made mainly from cardboard and two-by-fours,” Holm said. “It was beautiful and very effective with the unconventional tools used.”
SVSU used to get donations for productions, but lately has not. Proceeds from plays help pay for royalties, scenery, costumes and conferences for students.
The department recently bought new microphones along with control panels for lighting and sound.
“The old ones ran out of service, as they are used constantly,” said Ric Roberts, associate professor of theater. Performers put in a lot of time and have to be dedicated.
“The key is to stay organized," said Bear McBride, a theater junior.
The actors, who perform on a volunteer basis, spend around 20 hours a week preparing for a show.
“Our green room is like a locker room,” Holm said, referring to the space for performers when they aren’t onstage during a performance. “It’s a good environment since we share the same goals and interests. We help each other out by going over our scenes, and all roles are treated equal.”
Straight plays typically require five weeks to plan, and musicals take seven weeks. Lots of time is needed to make the show work.
Blocking, the movement actors do onstage, requires time but becomes second nature, Holm said.
The theater department is an open group that invites everyone to become a part of the playmaking,” said Erickson. Open auditions are posted for all productions and applicants need not be theater majors.
Other theater opportunities for students include working as a dance choreographer, and helping to produce student productions and 24-hour– planned mini-productions.
Mueller was cast in her first musical as a freshman and said she owes that to the University.
“At a bigger school, I would just now get casted,” she said. “Theater majors at SVSU get a lot of one-on-one time with the professors and more guidance than at bigger universities.”
Although acting is her favorite, Mueller has discovered interests in choreography and makeup. She is the choreographer for the current play, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, a children’s production based on the renowned children’s book.
“[Choreography]’s a long process to create moves that fit,” Mueller said.
“Seeing them in my living room and onstage makes a huge difference. I make changes until it all works out.” But theater is much more than just acting onstage, Mueller said many people aren’t in the spotlight.
Included in keeping the show going on are the prep and running crews.
The prep crews’ work comes before the show — building the set, designing costumes, handling publicity and preparing the show’s lighting and sound.
The running crew works backstage throughout the performance. Some move set pieces and help actors with speedy outfit changes, while others run the lights and sound effects.
The theater department offers open shop hours in Curtis 190 and 193 for any student who wants to become involved in the playmaking.
Last year SVSU hosted the Kennedy Center and Theater Festival, a scholarship program that recognizes students from regional universities.
“It’s competitive, and it was a great opportunity to be involved,” Holm said.
Both girls plan on pursuing theater and believe SVSU was a great start to their careers.