I talked to some University of Florida students earlier this week. They didn’t know much about the current season, but they all seemed to have a favorite musical, and their answers may surprise you. Enjoy!

Like this view of the acropolis? Wanna see more? Just click on the picture above. It will take you to a slideshow of my entire trip. And it opens the show in a new window, so you can just as easily come back and post a comment to let me know what you think!

I’m giving you the skinny on the UF Theater Abroad Program and highlights from the ’06 and ’07 tours of Greece and Brazil.

The podcast is only a 5 minute listen and you can access it just by clicking here.

Intro.

My first New Year’s Eve in Times Square was with this little lady. I also had the pleasure of traveling to Greece with Miss Josie two years ago and keeping up with her has put me on a real whirlwind. Josephine toured Brazil with UF’s International production of Our Town in 2007 and spent last summer in New York working, auditioning, taking voice and acting lessons, going to Broadway shows, and even attended the Tony’s!

She’s a senior in the BFA program here at UF and this season, you can spot her in the Florida Player’s Production of Hair and the UF School of Theater and Dance’s production of Pride and Prejudice. Feel free to read up on the plot lines and don’t miss Josephine delivering her lines this April.

Show Times for Hair

April 3-5, TBA

Show Times for Pride and Prejudice

April 10-19, TBA

If you find yourself in the Big Apple this May, you won’t want to miss her in the University of Florida’s New York Showcase. I caught up with her during some rehearsal time and her monologues and scenes are sure to thrill!

The Plot

“The world is becoming more technologically dependent not only day by day but nanosecond by nanosecond.” And the University of Florida’s School of Theater and Dance is staging a new multimedia production to illustrate it. Electronic City, written by German playwright Falk Richter and directed by Ralph Remshardt and Kelly Cawthon, tells the story of Tom and Joy and the struggles they endure in a high-tech world. The production’s main storyline begins when Tom, a consultant, and Joy, a temp who works at an airport kiosk, catch a glimpse at each other. But the catch is, audience members are not supposed to know where they are nor whether or not they know each other.

Director’s Notes

• The characters symbolize the way people are today with technology; it’s kind of a comedy about the impossibility of not being able to make any real contact with each other.
• The play travels back and forth in time. It’s a non-linear piece, so audience members need some patience with that.

The Set

Electronic City uses a multi-level space and video technology to help bring the constantly changing environment to life. I don’t want to ruin it for you, but I will say there are a number of ways in which the collaborators are trying to push the envelope in terms of technology.

The Talent

Electronic City uses dancers along with actors to keep the idea of rushed movement at the forefront of the play. The movement represents the rapid world of modern technology.

Show Times

• Friday, January 30th at 7:30 P.M.
• Saturday, January 31st at 7:30 P.M.
• Sunday, February 1st at 2:00 P.M.
• Tuesday, February 3rd through Saturday, February 7th at 7:30 P.M.
• Sunday, February 8th at 2:00 P.M.

Ticket Info.

Tickets for all University of Florida School of Theater and Dance season productions are available at the University Box Office and through http://www.ticketmaster.com/. The box office is located in the lobby of Constans Theater and is open Monday through Friday from noon to 5:00 P.M. and 45 minutes prior to each performance.

The Plot

Shakespeare’s well-known play tells the story of the Scottish general Macbeth. After three witches prophesied that Macbeth will become King of Scotland, Macbeth embarks on a path of treachery and violence to destroy all who threaten his quest for power. Filled with murder, battles, witches, and ghosts, Macbeth is a story illustrating the chaos and devastation that follow ambition unrestrained by morals.

The Adaptation

Florida Player’s Director Matt Gordon-Martin has put together an experimental adaptation highlighting the energy and imagery behind Shakespeare’s eloquent language.

Show Times

• Friday, February 20th at 7:30 P.M.
• Saturday, February 21st at 1:00 P.M.
• Saturday, February 21st at 7:30 P.M.
• Sunday, February 22nd at 1:00 P.M.
• Sunday, February 22nd at 6:00 P.M.

Ticket Info.

As always, the Florida Player’s performances are free and open to the public. But seats are filling quickly, so reserve your tickets ASAP.

Location

Macbeth will make its UF debut in the Black Box Theater at the Curtis M. Phillips Center for Performing Arts.

    It wasn’t for the easily offended…. The Constans production was loud, brash, profane, sexy, colorful, and outrageously over-the-top.

The Plot 

The plot, consists of two innocents, Brad and Janet, suffering a flat tire on an unfamiliar road. They approach a castle to ask for help and are ushered into a veritable bedlam of oddballs by an even more oddball butler named Riff Raff. They are welcomed into the primary chamber of horrors by Magenta, a maid, and Columbia, a groupie, and soon the party begins with the appearance of Dr. Frank ‘N’ Furter, who introduces himself as “a Sweet Transvestite from Transsexual Transylvania.”  That would be Christopher Fahmie, a friend of mine who is far from the flamboyant character he flawlessly plays in this production.

The Costumes 

The costumes astounded us, particularly all the pleather, neon, and bling.  Any flaming sweet transvestite would have been proud to put those on. 

The Set

The production also featured T.V. sets, lighting effects, and a six-piece rock band wearing fright wigs.  I left my mother at home for this show, as a scrim and light combination made for some steamy sex scenes. 

The Talent

Other bravo performances were Thaddeus Pearson and Melody Goodell in their portrayals of Brad and Janette.  Their prudeness really heightened the hysterics and the singing was phenomenal.  I’ll end with a round of applause to Ric Rose, Judy Skinner, and Tony Mata.  I can honestly say from experience that Ric Rose is an amazing teacher and incredibly creative.  Ric and Judy brilliantly choreographed all those favorite rock songs.  Finally, the show was under the direction of Tony Mata who truly deserves a standing ovation.  Professor Mata and the cast vividly conceptualized this show and dove deep into its themes of good vs. evil, while still making me move in my seat.

Fall Season Overview   

Bravo! UF student performers have work to be proud of after an excellent Fall Season. The University of Florida’s School of Theater and Dance had a packed season. They kicked things off with a powerful historical drama in George Washington’s Boy. Then, they went from heavy to naughty in Cloud Nine, a spoof of the Victorian Empire. Finally they ended things with a bang and did the time warp again, and again, and again in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. If you missedthese outstanding performances, check out my breif run-downs by clicking on the show name. 

George Washington’s Boy

The Plot

Under the direction of Dr. Mikell Pinkney, the UF School of Theatre and Dance kicked off it’s 2008-2009 season with this new historical drama.  George Washington’s Boy gave us a glimpse into a new view of American history, where the fight for freedom from the British, the Declaration of Independence, and the first presidency of the United States is presented from the viewpoint of George Washington’s closest confidant–ironically, his slave William “Billy” Lee. 

Relevance

What makes this play so special is that it made it’s debut on the Constans mainstage.  Students and faculty at UF have set the standard and set it high for this show.  George Washington’s Boy is the newest of twenty-two plays the writer, Ted Lange, has brought us.  He is a graduate of London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and a prolific actor both on stage and on the big screen, but  Lange is recognized around the world for his portrayal of Issac Washington from the classic television show, “The Love Boat.”