Getting a Leg Up on Rehearsals

There has been a rash of activity in the USM Scene Shop lately, but it isn’t because of any pressing deadlines or a sudden need for flats. The newest craze for the cast and crew of Eurydice is stilts.

While Tom is the only actor who uses stilts in the show, once it was discovered that building stilts is fairly easy, some of the other actors and designers decided to make their own under the tutelage of Perry Fertig, USM’s Technical Director. Perry has years of experience with stilts and generously helped anyone interested in making and walking on their own pair. The stilts Tom uses in Eurydice, at three feet tall, are already pretty scary to watch, but the pair Perry used for demonstration were nothing short of terrifying.

They are five feet tall and in them Perry is a towering 11 feet tall. Thankfully none of the students’ stilts are taller than three feet; Eurydice director Meghan Brodie is already concerned that Eurydice (Madelyn James) will literally break a leg using her stilts.

The stilts certainly keep everyone entertained, especially now that our sound designer, James Futter, has figured out how to duck under the Scene Shop door on his stilts and wander around the theatre. Apparently he even managed to convince Rich, our custodian, to put a pair of stilts on and take a few steps.

Blog by Alice Hofgren, Eurydice Dramaturg and Assistant Stage Manager

USM Department of Theatre is pleased to present Dance USM!, highlighting the talents of student dancers and choreographers as USM presents an evening of thrilling and unique dance. Featuring professional guest choreographers, these special performances are a not-to-be-missed exhibition of the power and beauty of the world’s oldest art form.

“This year the energy is electric and the excitement about dance is contagious,” says Director Maria Tzianabos “I have spent 15 years directing this show but I am most excited about Dance USM 2011. I am seeing a greater respect for dance as an art form, a rigor in the rehearsal process and a feeling of camaraderie within our cast and crew.”

Performances are at RUSSELL HALL, University of Southern Maine, 37 College Ave. in Gorham; December 8, 9, 10 at 7:30pm; December 11 at 5pm;

Ticket prices are as follows:

Adult: $15, Student: $8, Senior: $11, USM Faculty, Staff, Alumni: $11

For more information on show times and tickets call the USM Theatre Box Office at 207.780.5151 or visit www.usm.maine.edu/theatre to purchase tickets online.

A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE

ONE WEEKEND LEFT!

“Thomas Power directs USM actors in a beautifully subtle production of this tragedy.”

-Portland Phoenix

Read the entire Portland Phoenix review here

http://portland.thephoenix.com/arts/128247-usms-bridge-leads-from-safety-to-tragedy/

Performances in the Russell Hall auditorium on the Gorham campus are October

14, 15 at 7:30 p.m. October 16 at 5 p.m.

For more information on show times and tickets call the USM Theatre Box Office at

207.780.5151 or visit www.usm.maine.edu/theatre to purchase tickets online.

A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE opens this week!

"A kitchen sink drama with knives"

The New York Times

The University of Southern Maine Department of Theatre is pleased to present A View From the Bridge – one the great plays of American Theatre – written by Arthur Miller and

directed by Thomas Power.

Passion can have a huge creative power - but not for Eddie Carbone; not in Brooklyn the year his only niece turned 17 - not by a long shot. When his niece falls in love, Eddie dives headlong into a pit of self-destruction. Only Arthur Miller could have written this story - which is like a force of nature. You're not watching a play, you're watching a fire out of control. This is a blistering work from an American master.

Performances in the Russell Hall auditorium on the Gorham campus are October 7, 8,

13, 14, 15 at 7:30 p.m. October 9, 12, 16 at 5 p.m. High school matinee October 12 at 10

a.m.

For more information on show times and tickets call the USM Theatre Box Office at

207.780.5151 or visit www.usm.maine.edu/theatre to purchase tickets online.

A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE opens next week!

Real life in Brooklyn becomes Greek tragedy

in this one-of-kind masterwork.

The University of Southern Maine Department of Theatre is pleased to present A View From the Bridge – one the great plays of American Theatre – written by Arthur Miller and

directed by Thomas Power.

Passion can have a huge creative power - but not for Eddie Carbone; not in Brooklyn the year his only niece turned 17 - not by a long shot. When his niece falls in love, Eddie dives headlong into a pit of self-destruction. Only Arthur Miller could have written this story - which is like a force of nature. You're not watching a play, you're watching a fire out of control. This is a blistering work from an American master. The New York Times called this harrowing play a “kitchen sink drama with knives.”

Performances in the Russell Hall auditorium on the Gorham campus are October 7, 8,

13, 14, 15 at 7:30 p.m. October 9, 12, 16 at 5 p.m. High school matinee October 12 at 10

a.m.

For more information on show times and tickets call the USM Theatre Box Office at

207.780.5151 or visit www.usm.maine.edu/theatre to purchase tickets online.