Broadway veteran Mindy Cooper, professor of theatre and
dance, is the chair of the advisory board for the Ann
Reinking Scholarship which has been established to honor the
late award-winning choreographer, dancer and actress. The
scholarship is now seeking applications for its first gift now
through June 30.
Alumna Michele Apriña Leavy (MFA dramatic art, ’94), a lecturer
in theatre and dance, is featured on the cover of the April issue
of Montclair Living, a monthly publication
serving Oakland. The article covers Leavy’s career as a
performer and arts educator who rose to the challenge of teaching
acting in a virtual classroom. In addition, Leavy discusses her
heritage and background as well as her affection for her
community.
Ben Carter (B.A. theatre and dance, ‘20) has written and directed
a virtual musical parody that features numerous UC Davis alumni
and undergraduate students on and off screen. With music by Nate
Challis (B.A., theatre and dance, ‘20), the collaborative
project, A Marvelous Parody, spoofs superhero genre
films.
Throughout the academic year, the Department of Theatre and Dance
offers a diverse array of courses that explore cultures,
ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation through performance,
dramatic literature and theatrical techniques. Here is a cross
section of courses that challenge concepts of race and racial
representation in theatre and dance.
DRA 155 Representing Race in Performance explores representation
and performance of “race” in American culture featuring different
subheadings such as “African American Theatre” or
“Asian-Americans on Stage.”
Associate Professor Margaret Laurena Kemp and former Granada
Artist Sinéad Rushe were the co-directors of last year’s
production of AntigoneNOW. The duo have recently
contributed an article about the performance to American
Theatre Magazine. In the UC Davis Arts Blog, Karen
Nikos-Rose features insight and an excerpt of the article along
with a direct link to the piece.
Michele Apriña Leavy (MFA dramatic art, ’94), a lecturer in
theatre and dance, has been accepted into the ACCELERATE
Fellows Program, designed to support the creation of
inclusive and equitable e-learning environments, including but
not limited to the transition of face-to-face courses into online
courses.
Broadway veteran Mindy Cooper, professor of theatre and
dance, will be among the advisory board members for The Ann
Reinking Scholarship which has been established to honor the late
award-winning choreographer, dancer and actress.
Graduate student Jennifer Grace is among the actors, who have
played the iconic role of Emily Webb in Thornton Wilder’s “Our
Town,” interviewed in a New York Times article.
Gin Hammond, a distinguished dialect and vocal coach, will make a
virtual visit in DRA 135 The Expressive Voice on Nov. 18. Taught
by Associate Professor Margaret Laurena Kemp, Hammond is
scheduled to appear 12:40-1:50 p.m. in the class.
Outside of the students in the class, space is limited for this
event. Please email Professor Kemp, mlkemp@ucdavis.edu,
for consideration.
Michele Apriña Leavy (MFA dramatic art, ’94), a lecturer in
theatre and dance, has been honored by UC Davis Continuing and
Professional Education with an Outstanding Service Award for the
academic year 2019-2020 in recognition of her partnership,
service and commitment to continuing education.
During spring quarter 2020, Leavy had to adapt her course,
DRA198-Presentation, Communications, and Collaboration Skills for
International Students which is offered with the UC Davis Global
Studies Program, for online learning due to the pandemic.
Rose Kim, B.A. theatre and dance, ‘18, has recently published her
first book, “25: Before, During and Shortly After,” which is her
raw account of turning 25 and the powerful internal compasses we
are all equipped with for the journey into maturation.
Associate Professor Margaret Laurena Kemp and spring 2020 Granada
Artist-in-Residence Sinéad Rushe who
co-directed the UC Davis online production of
AntigoneNOW will participate as panel members in this
year’s Association for Theatre in Higher Education’s virtual
conference.
Alumna Jasmine Washington, B.A. 2018, has written
Callus, a new production that centers on the racial
disparities in America’s health care system. The new work is
being produced by Art Rat
Theatre which was founded by Rose Kim, B.A. 2018. The
production will be stage managed by undergraduate student Jillian
Yong.
As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor L.M. Bogad has
created “The
Plague,” a podcast series that not only explores the pandemic
but also our nation’s homemade plagues created by human
socioeconomic systems.
A book focusing on using theatre techniques for protest
by a UC Davis professor of theatre and an associate
professor’s collaboration about artist-made tools that
resist algorithmic racism have recently been included in the news
and social media coverage during the nation’s current period of
civil unrest.
UC Davis Department of Theatre and Dance Costume Shop Director
Roxanne Femling will retire on July 1. An alumna, Femling who
received her B.A. in dramatic art (costume design and
construction) in 1983, joined the department staff in Sept. 1999.
Noah VanderVeer-Harris was a member of the 2019 GFTF ensemble
while also serving as the publicity intern for the Department of
Theatre and Dance during the same period. He appeared in the
festival’s production of the new musical Fat Kid Rules the
World. Noah shares his insight into why you should be a
member of GFTF which has been re-branded as Catalyst: A Think
Tank Theatre.
The Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of
California, Davis is dedicated to integrating consent-based
practices into all classroom, studio and production environments.
The 180 Series of courses provide exciting practical instruction
and participation in all aspects of theatrical and dance
production. Whether you are exploring these courses as a
Theatre & Dance Major, Minor, or are simply an interested
non-affiliated student, you will find passionate people working
to create art and tell stories on stage. We invite you to
join us at this link.
