WSUs Xanadu gets Three National Awards
By J. Michael Call
Weber State University's giggle-inducing production of "Xanadu" has made some people smile on a national level.
The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival has announced its national awards for 2011, and the WSU musical earned some kudos.
In each of 21 categories, the KCACTF awards recognize one outstanding show and several distinguished achievements for productions showcased at the eight regional festivals held across the country in January and February. WSU hosted the Region 8 presentation last month on the Ogden campus.
"Xanadu" earned three distinguished recognitions, including Distinguished Production of a Musical. The lighthearted romp back to the '80s was directed by Jim Christian, director of musical theater studies at WSU. Christian earned Distinguished Director of a Musical and Distinguished Choreography for the show.
"We were pleasantly surprised, it's always nice to receive things like that," Christian said. "We had an audience member who came and saw it at the festival. She came up to me the next day and said, 'That was the most delicious piece of literary bubble gum I have ever chewed.' "
Others Region 8 awards included Rene Michelle Aranda, who won the Outstanding Performance by an Actress as Willy the Space Freak in Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy's "The Unseen Hand." The college's production also was awarded Distinguished Performance and Production Ensembles.
Brigham Young University's production of "The Elephant Man" also won awards, including Distinguished Performances by an Actor, which went to both Darick Pead as Frederick Treves and Graham Ward as John Merrick. Jennifer Chandler also earned a Distinguished Performance by an Actress as the cellist/narrator for that same production.
For a complete list of winners, visit http://kcactf.blogspot.com/2012/03/kennedy-center-american-college-theater_04.html
A Grand show
Christian first fell in love with the zany "Xanadu" when it premiered on Broadway in 2007. He vowed then and there to bring the show to Utah audiences. WSU was the first Utah theater to premiere the musical, written by Douglas Carter Beane, with music and lyrics by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar. The show sold out when it played on campus in November in the Browning Center's black-box Eccles Theater.
Because of budget cutbacks within the KCACTF, Christian won't be taking the show to Washington, D.C., next month for the national festival.
But he isn't quite done with "Xanadu." Utah audiences will have another opportunity to see Christian's vision of the show as he directs a new production of "Xanadu," opening in May at the Grand Theatre in Salt Lake City.
"It's an absolute joy to work on," Christian said. "It's a very clever script and it's got music that is caught in the hearts of everybody who lived through the '80s. It's just one of those little confections of a show."
That Grand Theater production will feature many of the same elements that were used in the WSU show, as well as some of the same actors, including WSU senior Sean Bishop as Sonny.
Sonny is a chalk artist living in 1980 Venice Beach, Calif. Discouraged over his sidewalk mural depicting the Greek Muses, Sonny becomes despondent and suicidal. He needs help and inspiration, which comes in the form of a Greek muse named Clio, who rises with her sisters out of his sidewalk creation to help Sonny find Xanadu. The musical fondly spoofs the 1980 movie starring Olivia Newton-John, as well as the 1980s version of "Clash of the Titans."
Other returning cast members include Shelby Andersen as wicked muse sister Calliope, Maggie Goertzen as Urania, and Stephanie Jameson, who will take on different role and serve as Christian's dance captain for the show.
"It's going to be really fun to explore the show in the Grand Theatre space just because of the big open proscenium. There will be all types of different things that we will be able to do because of that," Christian said.
The original story can be found here.
News Release: “Unsung Heroes from the Telitha E. Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities”
Board members of AHA! (The Arts & Humanities Advisors) are pleased to announce winners of AHA! Scholarships, as well as Awards for Faculty, Staff, Alumnus, and Friend-of-the-College for 2012-13. The AHA! Board funds these scholarships and awards to support “unsung heroes” in the Telitha E. Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities at Weber State.
Scholarships go to students who persevere despite difficult circumstances, reach beyond their grasp, and exhibit a talent or promise indicating their commitment to education. Based on nominations from faculty members and application statements from students themselves, the Board determined that Kierstan Voorhees and Amy Gerard, both from the Communication Department, both of whom have faced considerable challenges in attending and succeeding in school, merit AHA! Scholarships. Each will receive $2000 toward next year’s tuition and fees.
This year’s AHA! Recognition Award for Faculty, for a faculty member doing an exceptionally good job but who has not been previously recognized in significant public ways, goes to adjunct Music faculty member Linda Lee. About Linda, her nominator notes: “By using her disarming sense of humor and her rather unassuming character, she skillfully nurtures novice singers, and yet she can also challenge the most advanced singers to reach new heights.” Linda consistently works with between 14 and 16 vocal students per semester, pitches in to design and construct costumes for opera productions, and quietly takes on all kinds of other duties. Again, her nominator comments: “She is not simply an ‘adjunct voice instructor;’ she is one of the most reliable, trustworthy, and highly competent voice teachers and colleagues we could hope for.” Although it may seem ironic to give an “unsung hero” award to someone whose specific expertise is song, the Board is delighted to honor Linda Lee as our AHA! Faculty Member. This award is $3,000.
Diane Neri Stern, Director of Weber State’s Cultural Affairs Program, is recipient of the AHA! Recognition Award for Staff. One of her nominators says: “Energy, creativity, resourcefulness, talent, and integrity are but a few of Diane’s attributes. Her belief that the soul of a community must be nurtured by culture makes her exceptional.” Another nominator points to the way Diane has contributed to numerous programs—Mandy Patinkin, James Balog, Ta’u Pupu’a, for example—outside her own realm of responsibility. Anthea Kreston, co-founder and violinist of the internationally touring Amelia Piano Trio, writes that Diane is a person with “razor sharp intelligence, passion, and creative energy. . . . In her work, she digs deep to find the richest experience possible for her audiences. She cares equally about her artists and audience, and works with both to create memorable and thought-provoking events. She is, in my opinion, among the best of the best - always seeking to learn and share what she has discovered. Her passion is infectious and affects all who she touches.” We are grateful that Diane is a member of the Arts & Humanities College. This award is $3,000.
AHA! Recognition Award for a Friend of the College goes this year to the WSU “Treble Makers,” a student chapter of the Music Teachers National Association. The Treble Makers hold the national record of being awarded the most number of MTNA National Student Chapter of the Year (1997, 2003, 2005, 2007). Students who graduated from WSU’s Piano Pedagogy Program have also received the highest number of Student Teacher of the Year awards from the Utah Music Teacher Association (in 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007).
The Treble Makers merit the Friend of the College Award in recognition of their involvement in helping WSU become an “All-Steinway School of Music.” The hard work of individual members and of the group, as a whole, was directly responsible for enabling the Department of Performing Arts and Weber State University to join the ranks of the top music programs in the nation which provide Steinway pianos for student practice, lessons, rehearsals, and performances.
Over the past three years, the Treble Makers became increasingly involved in WSU’s All-Steinway School Initiative. Their participation began when several of their members took part in home recitals hosted by university donors such as Dr. Candadai Seshachari to raise awareness of the WSU music program. Their ability, as both musicians and as ambassadors for the university, grew as they performed, talked about their music, and conversed with current and potential donors. Award: a plaque and as much publicity as possible.
Dr. Stephanie Chamberlain is this year’s AHA! Alumnus. The daughter of Dr. Elmer Ericson, WSU professor of English (b. 1926, d. 1980), Stephanie received her BA in English in 1982 from Weber State College, followed by a master’s degree and doctorate in English. She currently is a Professor at Southeast Missouri State University, where she teaches Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature. A consummate scholar, she has published extensive and has presented at numerous conferences and other scholarly events. Through her education, teaching, research, scholarship and charitable donations, she has demonstrated a personal commitment to academic excellence that reflects highly on the Telitha E. Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities.
Stephanie has supported WSU through a gift to endow the Elmer H. Ericson Scholarship in English and through a gift to fund the Dr. Elmer H. Ericson Classroom in Elizabeth Hall. She also extends her commitment to education at Southeast Missouri State University where she has endowed the Dr. Robert W. Hamblin Lecture. Award: a plaque and as much publicity as possible.
Contact: Madonne Miner madonneminer@weber.edu">madonneminer@weber.edu" data-mce-href="mailto:madonneminer@weber.edu">madonneminer@weber.edu 801-626-6424
WSU Drumline Ranked #1
When Tyler Hess and Robbie Speelman started the Drumline Club at Weber State University six years ago, they never dreamed that by 2012 the group that began as the local “whipping boy” would be ranked No. 1 in the nation.
However, that’s exactly what happened at the WGI Regional Championship in Corona, Calif., last Saturday, where the indoor percussion group swept first place with a score of 88.8 out of 100, currently the highest score in the nation.
This is the first year that the WSU’s 31-member ensemble has qualified to compete in the Championship. The club joined 23 other groups competing before a panel of judges for the chance to go to the World Championships next year.
The group performed its six and a half minute show several times throughout the competition. At the end of the night, the ensemble was stunned to see that its final score was five points higher than the second-place score and four points higher than last year’s champion.
“When we first got here, I felt like maybe we’ll do okay,” Speelman said. “I was pretty nervous because I’d never been to a show like this. It was the biggest show I’d ever seen, and I’ve been doing this for a long time. We saw some of the other drum lines, and they seemed to be doing really well. After our final performance, I felt like it wasn’t as good as we could’ve made it, and then I heard the score, and I was really, really taken aback. I had no idea we were going to do that well especially for our first time ever being in a regional.”
The victory on Saturday has been a long time coming, Hess said, and is the result of dedicated staff and performers and a rigorous training regimen. All 31 members of the team are required to do at least 30 minutes of cardio exercise every day in addition to regular rehearsals for five hours every Friday and all day every Saturday.
“It takes a lot of endurance,” Hess said, “and getting 31 people to push themselves to the limits in order to win, that was a challenge. But it was absolutely worth it.”
The group’s show “Slow Me Down” portrayed how fast-paced life is and the need to slow down. It was a perfect fit for the ensemble, Hess said.
“We’ve been kinda pushing the ensemble for 3-4 years to get better every year and things were just getting so serious that when we saw this show about taking a minute to look around and breathe it seemed to fit our group perfectly. That was an attitude that we decided we wanted to embrace and give to our performers. So in our show you’ll see us perform and do visual and musical things that portray the ensemble slowing down. Giving the impression of stopping to look around at life and take things in.”
It was this somewhat unconventional show, focused on conveying that theme of slowing down with quality and precision, that gave the WSU Drumline the edge it needed on Saturday, according to Hess.
Hess also expressed gratitude for the support of the faculty and student body. He hopes to increase awareness of the club among students.
“The faculty support is completely off the charts,” Hess said. “I’ve never seen so much support for the arts as I have at Weber State University. From the students, we get support when students know about us, but the group is so new that I don’t think students know we’re there or what we’re doing, but we do get quite a lot of support when people know about it.”
Students will have the chance to see the drumline performing “Slow Me Down” on April 14 when WSU will host the Intermountain Percussion Championships. The club will compete in the World Championships in Dayton, Ohio, next year.
More information can be found on the club’s website at www.weberstatedrumline.org
Original story found here
WSU Honors 2011 Distinguished Professors
April 13, 2011
Anthropology professor Brooke Arkush, English professor Judy Elsley and music professor Yu-Jane Yang were selected by WSU’s Board of Trustees. They will formally receive their awards at the university’s spring commencement exercises April 22.
Each professor will receive a cash prize of $16,000, payable over four years, which may be used to further professional academic goals. Honorees also will retain the Presidential Distinguished Professor title throughout their tenure with the university. Upon retirement from WSU, “Emeritus” will be added to the end of the title. The professors also will be featured on the Honor Wall for Presidential Distinguished Professors located on the second floor of the Stewart Library in the west atrium.
Funding for the annual recognition program was made possible by a generous gift from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous. The program was established in 2006 as a way to recognize outstanding WSU faculty members who demonstrate the highest quality of teaching, scholarship, research and community service.
“It is a pleasure to recognize these distinguished professors,” said President Ann Millner. “While they represent different disciplines on campus, they share a strong commitment to teaching, scholarship and excellence. All three recipients have made lasting contributions to the university.”
“This year’s honorees engage students in learning opportunities beyond the classroom, and lead by their example in the field, in literature and on stage,” said Provost Michael Vaughan. “We are very grateful to this donor for recognizing the important role faculty play in the lives of our students and the vitality of the campus.”
Brooke Arkush
Anthropology professor Brooke Arkush likes getting his fingers dirty, and he encourages his students to do the same. Since joining the faculty in 1990, Arkush has taught the lion’s share of archaeology curriculum and served as director of WSU’s Archaeological Technician Program. His lesson plans occur both in the classroom and at dig sites as part of his annual field schools. For four weeks each summer, Arkush mentors eight to 12 students who live, learn, eat and sleep on site. Students receive hands-on experience in documenting and recovering archaeological data, understanding regional, natural and cultural history, and interpreting the archaeological record of prehistoric foragers. Arkush’s research agenda focuses on prehistory, protohistory and colonial history of western North America, especially communal big-game hunting, ancient settlement patterns, subsistence systems and Native American cultural continuity and change after contact with European settlers. His scholarship has led to the publication of 24 articles and book chapters about his personal research and collaborations with students. Through his research, Arkush has added a great deal to the understanding of Great Basin Archaeology. He serves on the editorial board of two scholarly publication series and is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Society for American Archaeology and the Rocky Mountain Anthropological Association. His previous honors and awards include being selected as Endowed Professor of WSU’s College of Social & Behavioral Sciences from 1996 to 1999, the 2004 George and Beth Lowe Innovative Teaching Award and the 2006 Gwen S. Williams Award of Excellence. Arkush is described as a “delightful” colleague who “expands our understanding of ancient cultures.”
Judy Elsley
English professor Judy Elsley is equally passionate about text and textiles. Elsley is the author of three books, 17 refereed publications, four articles published in books and seven non-refereed publications. She has presented her work locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Elsley has drawn on her expertise in narrative writing to create a substantial body of work exploring the topics of quilts in literature and society. Throughout her 21-year career at WSU, Elsley has played a key role in the development and enhancement of institutional programs. She has served as director of the Writing Across the Curriculum committee (1992-1995); co-coordinator of the First-Year Experience program (1995-2000); and coordinator of the Bachelor of Integrated Studies program (2000-2007). For the past three years she has served as director of the WSU Honors program. In addition to her scholarship and campus leadership, Elsley is an exceptional teacher. Year in and year out her teaching evaluations cite her skills in the classroom and her willingness to work with her students. The recipient of the John S. Hinckley Award in 2009, Elsley has also received the Nye/Cortez Distinguished Professor award in 2003 and the President’s Award for Exemplary Teaching in 1993. She served as the Endowed Scholar of the College of Arts & Humanities from 1996 to 1999. In 2002 Elsley received the “Woman of Wonder” award from Women’s Resources. To quote one of her peers, Elsley shares her wisdom freely, and “the success of students, faculty, and the university as a whole is her top priority.”
Yu-Jane Yang
An accomplished concert pianist in her own right, music professor Yu-Jane Yang is recognized for her ability to train a new generation of award-winning performers. Yang joined the WSU music faculty in 1992. In the past two decades, she has performed in concert on three continents and grown WSU’s Piano Program, elevating its renown on the national and international stage. That heightened awareness has helped Yang successfully recruit piano students from around the world to Weber State, in some cases eschewing famed conservatories like Julliard and Oberlin in favor of WSU. As one of her peers has noted, Yang has developed a “reputation as a teacher able to combine high – indeed, world class – expectations with a comfortable yet rigorous classroom atmosphere.” Under her tutelage, these young pianists have gone on to win prestigious competitions at the national and international level. Yang is the author of numerous articles on piano teaching published in leading piano pedagogy journals. She is a sought-after teacher of both piano workshops and master classes as well as a judge of national and international piano competitions. Yang was one of three national winners of the distinguished D.H. Baldwin Fellowship for Teaching Excellence in Piano, and received the Women in the Arts Award from the Utah Symphony Ballet Association. Yang has been named an Endowed Scholar/Artist in the Telitha E. Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities and was the recipient of WSU’s Lowe Innovative Teaching Award in 2000. She also has spearheaded the Steinway Project at WSU, working to attain the prestigious “Steinway School” designation. Last year Yang was chosen to receive the Utah Music Teachers Association’s highest honor, the UMTA Legacy Award. In March, she was honored as a 2011 Foundation Fellow by the Music Teachers National Association.
Faculty members are nominated by current or past WSU colleagues, administrators and/or students. Nominees are screened and evaluated by a selected group of senior faculty and academic administrators appointed by the provost. The finalists are recommended by the president of the university to the Board of Trustees for approval.
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
- Contact:
- Michael Vaughan, provost
801-626-6006 • mvaughan@weber.edu - John Kowalewski, director of Media Relations
801-626-7212 • jkowalewski@weber.edu
Student Achievements at American College Theatre Festival Region VIII
WHAT: Student Achievements at American College Theatre Festival Region VIII
WHERE: Los Angeles, California
WHEN: February 2011
Weber State University Department of Performing Arts students and faculty recently attended Region VIII American College Theatre Festival in Los Angeles. The production "Under Construction" was accepted for presentation at the regional festival but was not selected for the national festival at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in April.
Chris Shenefelt's play REALITY FALLACY has been selected as one of four finalists for the John Cauble Award for Outstanding Short Play and will be presented at the Kennedy Center in April (see separate release).
Two actors were selected for the final round of the Irene Ryan Acting scholarship competition which is a great honor considering there were hundreds of students who audition and 16 finalists are selected. The actors were Stephanie Purcell (partner Carleton Bluford) and Marza Warsinske (partner Tyson Baker).
Marza Warsinske was honored with the regional Classical Acting Award.
Kalyn West was honored as one of five actors in the festival for her work in "Under Construction," as was Austin Archer for his choreography for the same show.
Jaime Frank was selected as a regional finalist for his set design of "Under Construction;" and Tyson Baker and Austin Archer were also selected as finalists for their sound design for "Our Town."
For more information about the students at Region VIII ACTF contact Tracy Callahan, tcallahan@weber.edu.
WSU Playwright a Winner!!
Who: Weber State University Department of Performing Arts
What: “Reality Fallacy” by Chris Shenefelt, national finalist
When: April 19-24
Where: Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Washington D.C.
“Reality Fallacy,” by WSU theater major Chris Shenefelt of Ogden, was selected by readers in Region 8 as one of four national finalists to be given a concert reading by equity actors at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Washington, D.C., April 19-24. After the recent Region VIII American College Theatre Festival in Los Angeles, one-act play respondents read and selected four national finalists from all regional finalists for invitation to the national festival in April.
Chris’ play is a finalist for the John Cauble Award for Outstanding Short Play. Two plays were named “semi-finalists for the award at the conclusion of the Los Angeles Festival. The play was considered, along with the one-act plays invited to the seven other Regional Festivals and those named semi-finalists by the Regions, for invitation to the National Festival at the Kennedy Center. The play will be one of four plays considered a finalist for the John Cauble Award.
The John Cauble Award For Short Play
The Short Play Award is named in honor of Dr. John Cauble, Professor Emeritus of UCLA, who provided guidance and support for the establishment of the Michael Kanin Award Program. His continued participation in the recognition of student playwrights through the former “Playwriting Awards Development Committee” is a cornerstone within the Michael Kanin Awards Program. This program seeks to bring recognition to the area of student-written short plays and to encourage young writers to develop the short play form in preparation for the playwriting profession.
The John Cauble Award for Outstanding Short Play recognizes one or more outstanding scripts each year for presentation at the national festival at the Kennedy Center. The playwright who is the recipient of the John Cauble Award will receive: $1000 provided by the Kennedy Center.; Professional Development Fellowship; The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival will provide the award recipient with an all-expenses paid professional development opportunity; Dramatists Guild Award. The Dramatists Guild Award provides the playwright with Active membership in the Guild. It will also honor the author with the awarding of a certificate presented at its offices in New York City. In the past, the award recipient has been cited at a Guild reception to honor all the playwrights of the previous year.
For more information: Char Nelson, regional chair of the National Playwriting Program, BC4M@aol.com.
Chris Shenefelt: cmshenefelt@gmail.com
MTNA winner donates Steinway to Weber
OGDEN, UTAH – When Dr. Yu-Jane Yang and Fan-Ya Lin met several years ago in Taiwan, it was the start of a teacher-student relationship that would bring Ms. Lin to the United States.
Earlier this year Ms. Lin, who studies with Dr. Yang at Weber State University in Ogden, won first prize in the Music Teachers National Association Young Artists Competition in Albuquerque, N.M. The youngest winner in the competition’s history, the talented 20-year-old sophomore was awarded a Steinway 1098 vertical piano valued at more than $22,000. Ms. Lin and her mother generously decided to donate the piano to Weber State to augment theirefforts to become an All-Steinway School. “I’m thankful to the school and the education I’m receiving here,” says Ms. Lin. “I also wanted to show students at Weber that it is possible to win – to get what they want – even if they are studying at a state university rather than at a conservatory.”
A&H News January 25, 2010
Weber Wins Again! Music Students head to National Competition
WHAT: WSU Students: Southwest Regional MTNA Competition Winners
WHEN: Competition January 8-10, 2010
WHERE: University of Hawai'i at Manoa - Honolulu HI
Weber State University Department of Performing Arts is proud to announce its many students who are recent winrers at the Southwest Region MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) Competition held at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa - Honolulu HI. Winners advance to the national competition being held March 20-24 in Albuquerque March 19-21.
The Weber State University First Places Winners are:
Steinway Young Artist: Fan-Ya Lin, piano, a student of Yu-Jane Yang
Senior Strings: Moriah Wilhelm, violin, a student of Shi-Hwa Wang
Senior Woodwinds: Jana Gardner, flute, a student of Cindy Henderson
Chamber Ensemble: Tria Fata Piano Trio with Katie Palkki, violin; Sam Runolfson, cello; Nicholas Maughan, piano.
The purposes of the Music Teachers National Association Performance competitions are to provide educational experiences for students and teachers and to recognize exceptionally talented young artists and their teachers in their pursuit of musical excellence. The state competitions are considered the primary educational level with the division and national levels showcasing outstanding performance and honoring significant pedagogical Sponsors for these competitions include Kawai America, Yamaha Corp. of America, Steinway and Sons, MTNA Foundation Fund and several other.
Weber Wins Again!
- WHO:: Weber State University Department of Performing Arts
- WHAT: WSU Students: Southwest Regional MTNA Competition Winners
- WHEN: Competition January 8-10, 2010
- WHERE: University of Hawai'i at Manoa - Honolulu HI
Weber State University Department of Performing Arts is proud to announce its many students who are recent winrers at the Southwest Region MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) Competition held at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa - Honolulu HI. Winners advance to the national competition being held March 20-24 in Albuquerque March 19-21.
The Weber State University First Places Winners are:
- Steinway Young Artist: Fan-Ya Lin, piano, a student of Yu-Jane Yang
- Senior Strings: Moriah Wilhelm, violin, a student of Shi-Hwa Wang
- Senior Woodwinds: Jana Gardner, flute, a student of Cindy Henderson
- Chamber Ensemble: Tria Fata Piano Trio with Katie Palkki, violin; Sam Runolfson, cello; Nicholas Maughan, piano.
The purposes of the Music Teachers National Association Performance competitions are to provide educational experiences for students and teachers and to recognize exceptionally talented young artists and their teachers in their pursuit of musical excellence. The state competitions are considered the primary educational level with the division and national levels showcasing outstanding performance and honoring significant pedagogical Sponsors for these competitions include Kawai America, Yamaha Corp. of America, Steinway and Sons, MTNA Foundation Fund and several other.
