Are you an incoming or prospective student with a passion for the visual and/or performing arts? Then this is the week for you! Every day we will be featuring a guest blogger, each with a unique story to share about the thriving artistic communities at UVA. Our first guest is Cady Garey, a professor in the UVA Department of Drama!
I imagine that being a UVA student with a passion for performance is like being a kid in a candy store: so many exciting, delicious options that it is torture trying to pick just one option. From the moment you step on grounds, you can truly be as busy as you want to be. Most UVA Students end up piling their plates precariously high with creative work each semester—it is nearly impossible to pass up squeezing in just one more thing.
Where to start? I would say the Department of Drama! One of my greatest pleasures as a faculty member in the Department of Drama is having the opportunity to introduce new students to the opportunities in store for them. You do not have to be a major or a minor or a third or fourth year to take classes or audition for our productions. Please check out the Department of Drama website or like our Facebook page for info and updates. A large majority of UVA students have interests in many areas and chose to have a Major and a Minor or a Double Major or some other interesting combo. This is very true for students involved in the Department of Drama. Some want to just take classes in Acting, playwriting, Lighting/Scenic/Sound/Costume/Digital Design, directing, African American Theatre, Speaking in Public, Theatre History, etc. Many want to take classes and be part of our productions, working onstage, backstage or in our shops. Most end up doing everything and are in our building constantly. When you get a chance, come check out our building - we are in the heart of Arts Grounds. I may be biased, but I think that we have the best lobby to hang out in and study or meet friends or rehearse anywhere on grounds. Are you a dancer? We also have a Dance Minor! Again, no requirements to learn and explore in classes or audition for our dance concert each semester.
Our Theatre spaces are amazing. We have the Culbreth Theatre, a proscenium theatre that seats 500+ people—this is the space where you might see a big musical or one of our Dance Concerts. It is what you imagine when you think THEATRE—an orchestra bit that drops down when needed, a computer controlled fly system and, well, it is huge. The Caplin Theatre is a thrust theatre that seats 300+ audience members. And finally, the Helms Theatre is a large Black Box space that is super flexible, seating up to 150 people. Both the Culbreth and Caplin can also screen films and are busy during the Virginia Film Festival—more about the VFF in a bit. Beyond our actual performance spaces, there are classrooms, studios, and shops -where we construct everything for our shows.
Heritage Theatre Festival, a professional Theatre company, takes residence each summer in our building and theatre spaces. UVA students are welcome to apply for jobs in all areas of this company and may also audition for productions.
Make sure to connect early with our student organization, Virginia Players. You can find more about them here and definitely like them on Facebook. Virginia Players members produce their own work through their Lab Series, host a ‘Play in a Day’ 24-hour short play creation and production event and numerous workshops each semester. There is a branch of Virginia Players that focused on Playwriting and one on Film—SO much student film going on at UVA! Virginia Players is currently putting together a Theatre Fair for the first week of classes. At this fair, you will get to hear about their work, meet some of the faculty members of the Department of Drama and hear from representatives from other student run theatre organizations on grounds. Some of the many student lead theatre producing groups you might meet at the Theatre Fair : Spectrum, Paul Robeson Players, First Year Players, Shakespeare on the Lawn and others. Improv and Sketch comedy? Yep! Check out The Whethermen and Hot Kids Comedy. And a cappella and dance groups? SO many—I do not even know where to begin. The Virginia Players are a great place to start—contact them through their web page or Facebook or email me, Cady Garey, at cew9e@virginia.edu to get on their email list. And keep an eye out for announcements about the Theatre Fair and make sure to attend.
Did you know that UVA Students are able to get a FREE ticket to any and all performances on grounds through the Arts Dollars program? This includes Music Department events, Drama Department Productions and the Virginia Film Festival. You could likely find some sort of performance to attend almost every day. Tickets and info can always be found at the UVA Arts Box Office. Make sure to check out the UVA Arts website and sign up for their emails. Always so much going on.
A big welcome to you! We are glad that you are joining us at UVA. Don’t wait to jump in and start working, playing, creating and finding people you click with. There is no doubt that Fall 2020 will be different than most semesters. Get settled in, dive deep into your classes and keep your eyes and ears open—art will find a way and you can be a part of it! We are excited to have you, your energy and your ideas on grounds.
Blog by Cady Garey of the Department of Drama. Contact her at cew9e@virginia.edu with any questions or curiosities about the performing arts at the University of Virginia!
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