Graduate acting students with West Virginia University’s School of Theatre & Dance will present “MFA Showcase 2012” at Theatre Row’s Studio Theatre on West 42nd Street in New York City, Tuesday, March 27.
Performances will be held at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
The showcase features the graduate acting class of 2012—students who will graduate this spring with a Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre-Acting from WVU.
The students include: Todd Berkich, Branden Chowen, Greg Holt, Greg Jernigan,
Audrey Ahern, Kara Haas, and Amy Rene Byrne.
Talent agents, managers, casting directors, artistic directors of theater companies, WVU alumni and other guests are invited to attend the showcase.
“The purpose of the MFA Showcase 2012 is to introduce the students to the New York market and possible agent representation, as well as giving them the opportunity to produce and present their work in one of the leading centers for entertainment and art,” said WVU theater professor Lee Blair.
“The location, booking of space, selection of material, marketing, invitations and all other production aspects of the showcase are handled by the students,” he said.
“The showcase is an integral part of the MFA curricular requirements in the three years of graduate study with the School of Theatre & Dance.”
For the past three years, the graduate acting students have studied in an intense conservatory-style environment at WVU, designed to prepare them for a professional career in theater.
Various classes in acting, voice, speech and movement explore a variety of genres, playwrights and subjects, including Shakespeare, Chekhov, musical theater, stage combat, acting for the camera and more.
The MFA Showcase 2012 also serves to promote the educational opportunities offered by the School of Theatre & Dance, the College of Creative Arts and WVU within the “mecca” of theater—New York City.
The showcase is also an opportunity for WVU theater alumni in New York City to gather and reconnect with old friends, see the work of their colleagues and support the WVU School of Theatre & Dance.
In regards to the NYC location, Theatre Row is a collection of newly renovated historic theatres in Times Square, New York City, including The Acorn Theatre, The Beckett Theatre, The Clurman Theatre, The Kirk Theatre, The Lion Theatre and The Studio Theatre.
The Studio Theatre at Theatre Row is located at 410 West 42nd Street (42nd Street and 9th Avenue). For more information, see http://www.theatrerow.org/.
For more information regarding the MFA Showcase 2012, please contact the WVU School of Theatre & Dance at 304-293-2020, the Showcase coordinator, Prof. Lee Blair at 304-293-6100, or visit http://theatre.wvu.edu/future_students/graduate/mfa-acting-showcase.
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CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu
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