Show Celebrates Uniqueness of Theatre Students

I was reminded once again last evening when watching Soiree/Cabaret why I love so much working in theatre and how unique our program is in comparison to other college theatre programs in the country. I was wowed by the talent, moved by the touching stories, and laughed out loud much of the evening. What makes this production special is that the students created the whole piece themselves through a fall semester theatre class called Solo Performance directed by Bruce Levitt. You can just feel the pride and passion that went into this piece. There were theatre sketches about personal stories of despair and humor, poignant songs, live music, and some (pretty bad in a funny way) magic tricks. What makes this show and our theatre program so unique is that the majority of these students do not major or minor in theatre — they just love it — and they’re GOOD AT IT. They spend more time in the Schwartz Center than they do in the biology lab — even if they are biology majors or psychology majors or engineering majors. The great thing is that they can do BOTH and that makes their Cornell experience more rewarding and memorable.

Please come out and see Soiree/Cabaret!

The ensemble cast of Soiree/Cabaret!

– the students have laid their hearts on the stage — and it shows.

Auditions for spring plays!

Auditions for spring plays will be held February 2 from 7-10 pm — yes, that’s the REAL date — we’ve changed it several times. We’re excited to welcome guest director Richard Hamburger to direct The Government Inspector – this is the Jeffrey Hatcher adaptation of the Nikolai Gogol classic. A playwright, Richard is the former Artistic Director of the Dallas Theatre Center. We’re also auditioning for one of our Black Box Series shows, The Jealous Husband by Moliere. This is a great opportunity for students who don’t have a lot of time to commit but would like to get involved in a Schwartz Center show as the commitment is much less than a mainstage show. The Jealous Husband will be directed by student Carlos Guerrero ‘10.

Auditions are open to all Cornell students and faculty. Get more info and sign up for an audition time in the Schwartz Center’s Green Room (Room 125) on the first floor.

Prof has Play Named to Top 10 List

Congrats to Theatre Professor Beth F. Milles, who directed a production of The Importance of Being Earnest at Trinity Rep last year, which was named one of the “10 Best Theatre Productions of 2009″ by The Providence Phoenix.

A world premiere original work!

What happens when you bring together a group of theatre artists with no guidelines other than that they are to create an evening of theatrical entertainment with music? This is exactly what Director Bruce Levitt and the students in his Solo Performance course have been exploring since last semester. The performance you will see starting on February 3 is the culmination of their work.

Bruce Levitt says the guiding principle of their work has been “bringing it to the table.” This meant, literally, bringing material to the table to work. It also meant bringing up tough issues for the group to consider – from race and ethnicity, to religion, illness, sex and love – and being open and honest about those issues. Much of the material in the play is autobiographical. The songs range from jazz standards to Broadway musical tunes to modern rock. The end result, Soiree/Cabaret, is at times soulful and at times playful, but always original.

Cornell Dancers Perform in New York City!

Last week, Senior Dance Lecturer Jumay Chu brought her work, as choreographed on the dancers Alexandra Harlig, Deborah Schneider, Sam Keller, Emma Schain, Virginia Cromwell, and Tipaluck Mint Krityakierne, to the New York City Public Library for the Performing Arts. Chu was invited to show a finished piece as part of an ongoing series of events that are open to the public, sponsored by the NYPL, and in particular, her work was part of a unique combination of Indonesian and Post-Modern dance.

The show took place on Wednesday, December 9th in front of an audience comprised of both members of the Cornell community and visitors from NYC and beyond. Chu’s choreography was a medley of modern dance and Indonesian movements, and she also used music by Cornell composers and professors Chris Miller and Allen Fogelsanger, which was composed also in the Indonesian style.

The piece, entitled Elision, was comprised of two group pieces with the whole ensemble, two trios, and solos by each of the six dancers. It was exciting to bring Cornell dance to a stage off campus, especially one in New York City, arguably the

The dancers in the "Green Room" at the New York Public Library.

hub of the dance world. The Cornell performing arts are certainly worthy of all exposure, and this was a nice opportunity for the dance department to take its work and bring it to the eyes of a greater public.

Here’s what people are saying about “It’s a Wonderful Life!”

“Absolutely outstanding performance.”

“Superb production…enjoyed it sooo much!”

“And again, anyone who can stand to hear yet another person saying how great the show was, please pass that along: We loved it!”

“It was great. Hope you guys do it again!”

“I absolutely loved It’s a Wonderful Life Radio play Saturday night!”

The Schwartz Center really enjoyed bringing this holiday presentation to the campus and community. We may make it an annual event so watch for it in our 2010-2011 season promotions. Thanks to everyone who donated toys for the Women’s Opportunity Center. We just dropped off four big bags full, and they were so appreciative!

Looking for a unique holiday gift?

‘Tis the season and everyone is looking for that perfect holiday gift. Need something for that hard-to-buy-for person? A gift certificate to the Cornell Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts enables the recipient to choose from a variety of theatre or dance performances that suits his or her taste and time table. Gift certificates are available in any denomination. Please call our Audience Services Manager Terry Coniglio at 254-2789 or the Schwartz Center Box Office at 254-2787 for gift certificate purchases.

Upcoming events at the Schwartz Center:

Soirée/Cabaret
February 3-14
Professor Bruce Levitt and Cornell students create a world premiere performance combining music, laughter and contemporary political commentary.

Biloxi Blues by Neil Simon
February 17-27
Neil Simon’s play centers on Eugene Jerome, an inexperienced 20-year-old from Brooklyn, who decides to enlist in the Army during World War II. Sent to Biloxi, Mississippi, for basic training, Eugene learns life lessons through a series of hilarious challenges that teach him about different folks, the meaning of love, and “the real world.”

Dance Concert 2010: Dance, Drama and the Disco of Desire
March 11-14
Take a trip of illusion and play into inner space, outer space, club space and the dreamscapes of desire in a three dimensionally staged after hours world of love, life and the pathos of symbolic death.

The Suzanne Farrell Ballet
March 17
The favorite muse of famed choreographer George Balanchine, Suzanne Farrell is one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century. Her ballet company, based at the Kennedy Center, is committed to the legacy of Balanchine through performances of his classic ballets.

The Government Inspector
adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher from the Nikolai Gogol classic
April 29-May 8
The Government Inspector is a biting satire and political farce lampooning bribery, corruption and greed in a wacky, Russian town.

Holiday family fun at the Schwartz Center!

There are lots of fun things planned at the Schwartz Center next week in conjunction with its holiday presentation of It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Show. First, when you come to the show, enjoy pre-show refreshments by Collegetown Bagels while listening to holiday song selections from the Trumansburg Community Chorus and the Newfield High School chorus. The Schwartz Center is also sponsoring a Holiday Toy Drive. Bring a new, unwrapped toy and place it in the Christmas boxes in the lobby! Toys will benefit mothers and children from the Women’s Opportunity Center downtown. Also, in the spirit of the holiday season, a portion of the proceeds from Saturday evening’s performance will be donated to the United Way of Tompkins County.

Performances of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Show will be held December 12 at 2:00 and 7:30 pm and December 13 at 2:00 pm. For tickets call 607-254-ARTS or visit schwartztickets.com.

Caption: The Cornell Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts will be staging a special holiday presentation of It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play on December 12-13 featuring stage veterans (from left) Michael Kaplan, Jeffrey Guyton, Paul Hebron (far back), Sonja Lanzener, Madeline McDonough-Maher, and J.G. Hertzler. For tickets call 607-254-ARTS or visit www.schwartztickets.com. Photo by Cascadilla Photography

A Definite to put on your Holiday calendar!

Be sure to reserve a space on your holiday calendar to see the Cornell Schwartz Center’s special holiday presentation of It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. Love the American holiday classic? Watch it come to captivating life as a 1940s radio broadcast. Imagine six actors embodying over 30 characters and a foley artist making unique and fun sound effects live on stage — all under the auspices of a delightful old time radio show!

All five of the Schwartz Center’s Resident Professional Teaching Associates (J.G. Hertzler, Jeff Guyton, Michael Kaplan, Sonja Lanzener, and Paul Hebron) as well as Cornell staff member Madeline McDonough-Maher are in the show with Schwartz Center Props Coordinator Tim Ostrander as the show’s foley artist. Artistic Director David Feldshuh directs this holiday special. “This play combines the nostalgia for the film it’s based on and for a simpler time when radio was the chief source of entertainment. Our actors do an astonishing job of making every character come alive in the audience’s imagination,” said Feldshuh.

There are still plenty of good seats left! Call 607-254-ARTS or visit www.schwartztickets.com!

Post-Romeo and Juliet thoughts

Last Friday I had one of those typical Cornell days where a long sequence of class discussions and lectures is punctuated only by the non-stop trekking up and down hills and across quads battling winds, cold, and fatigue. Normally, by the time 7:30 pm rolls around, I’m pretty weary. But on November 20th, I was so excited to see Romeo and Juliet that my tiredness was a non-factor, and my perseverence was rewarded. The show was great. Visually, it was stunning. The graffiti-ed stage, the costumes, and the set in general, was consistent with the theme of urban disarray, but in a vibrant color scheme that screamed technicolored madness.

Despite its place as one of the most revered plays in human history, I have never actually been to see a version of Romeo and Juliet. But this production was particularly clearly geared toward Shakespeare-lovers and non-theatre goers alike, and I found it entertaining, even for a non-Thespian such as myself. The audience that attended on Friday night was an interesting crowd, with tendencies to laugh during unconventional times in the place, such as a death scene; and yet everyone seemed to enjoy the show. The actors were great, too. The actors who played Romeo and Juliet had good chemistry, and Resident Actor Sonja Lanzener was fantastic as Nurse. (Also great onstage was a certain red-headed assistant to the prince.)

Romeo and Juliet is the best way to cap off the end of a busy week, and so don’t miss your chance to see the show December 3-5!