 Tess Kaczorowski is a senior theatre major, specializing in history and criticism, from Greenport. She is the dramaturg for the student honors production "Blood Relations" opening in November.
November 4, 2009
Before the set can be brought in, Lighting Designer Chris VerSchneider needed to focus each and every light instrument on the grid. Chris, the Master Electrician Beca Schretzlmeir, and the light crew spent countless hours Friday night making sure that each instrument was focused where it needed to be in the space.
Chris gives direction as to where the beam of light needs to be
Mike makes communicates with the Master Electrician Below
Chris makes sure that the shutter on the instrument block the light that is past the red and green line.
Dramaturgy recently had student Olivia Zeis come into rehearsal to teach Jessica Quindlen (who plays the Actress) a jig that appears in the play. Olivia has been dancing and competing in the genre of Irish Dance for 10 years.
The following are some videos of the lesson.
Jessica Learns the Steps
The Try Running It With Music…
This past weekend our actors had a make-up workshop with our costume and make-up designer, Kitty Macey. This is a chance for the actors to learn how to put on their specific make-up so that the task of getting ready runs smoothly. It also gives the designer and director a chance to see what the make-up will look like so both can decide on the right look for the actor. Since the actors will be extremely close to the audience, the actors will need to use the technique of shading to show age.
Kitty Macey gives instruction to Knate Roy, who plays Andrew Borden
Kim, who is playing Emma Borden
Director, Keegan gives some tips…
This past Halloween was rewarding in more ways than one with the Blackfriars Theatre Organization, here on campus. Blackfriars is an organization that brings together not only Theatre Majors, but all of those across campus who are interested in theatre.
Members of Blackfriars participated in trick-or-treat for UNICEF
We raised enough money to to provide school supplies for 40 children, and water for dozens more.
Blackfriars also held a costume contest earlier that day, the following are a few favorites;
Sam Austin, and his very hairy costume
Rosie the Riveter!
Melanie as a Strawberry Beverage
October 29, 2009
Due to our crew hanging lights this week in the lab theatre, the director has moved rehearsals to a classroom in Tyler Hall. I am pleased to announce that as of last night, all skeleton blocking is complete! Tonight we will begin running each act, the director will make any necessaryadjustments to blocking, and the actors will continue to shape and develop their characters.
Knate Roy (Andrew Borden), looks over his script
Sarah Sterling (Abby Borden), listening carefully to her fellow actors
SM, Aaron, and ASM, Todd focus on adjusting blocking notes
Director Keegan leads a discussion, Knate and Danny thinking about the upcomming scene
The Theatre Department recently hosted the annual “Department Tea” at Fallbrook here in Oswego. The Tea is a chance to socialize with faculty and peers outside of class. Each member of the faculty and staff brings goodies (fruit, cookies, cheesecake, etc.), tea and coffee are served, and anecdotes are shared.
Dr. Jessica Hester’s story grabs the attention of majors Logan, Todd, and Courtney
Erik and Olivia in discussion while Stephanie enjoys her cookie.
Jessica and Craig in deep thought while Aaron is in deep thought.
October 21, 2009
Monday was a busy, but exciting day for our production team and cast. It was the first day of rehearsal, but before rehearsal could start our set had to be “spiked”. This involves getting our set designer, stage manager and director into the rehearsal space, which also happens to be our performance space as well. Armed with the floor plan and spike tape our team began measuring and marking the outline of the set, taking precaution to make sure that all of the measurements are correct. It is crucial that the outline of the set be exact to the floor plan, our director and lighting designer rely on these markings to represent the set while the set is being built. The director uses the markings for blocking purposes, and the lighting designer uses them to ensure that when they are focusing their light fixtures, the beam of light is hitting (or not hitting) the set the way they wish.
 
Set Designer Angela and Stage Manager Aaron use chalk line
Durring rehearsal Assistant Kate Boswell and I gave a little Waltz lesson to Actresses Jessica Quindlen and Courtney Bennett. We used poster board and construction paper to create a dance mat that layed out the basic steps.
October 18, 2009
This past summer I was a costume intern for the Sterling Renaissance Festival and now I have the pleasure of working in the costume shop this semester. We have a mass amount of costumes in storage, and our costume shop supervisor Judy McCabe, costume designer Kitty Macey, and costume students have been doing a large amount of downsizing over the past few weeks. What will we be doing with all of the costumes? The Theatre Department is having a Costume Sale just in time for Halloween! If you are looking for unique costumes, masks and hats that are all one of a kind (and under $20) then come out to our costume sale. It starts October 20th and goes to the 22nd. If we have any costumes left we will be having the sale again the 22nd of October to the 29th.
The sale will take place in Tyler Hall’s lower lobby. Hours on Tuesday and Thursday are: 9:15am-11:00am, 1:00pm-4:00pm. Wednesday it is 1:00pm-5:00pm.
September 29, 2009
I completed what we call an “Actor’s Packet” on Friday for those involved in Blood Relations. The packet contains most of my research that I have compiled since last semester. The actors read the packet to help them gain a better understanding of the play and the Director’s concept as it relates to the play. My focus is making sure that the production team as well as the Actors understand what the Playwright’s intentions were. This particular packet included; a production history with photos, biographical information on the playwright (her life and her work), clarifications within the text, historical information on the time period, Lizzie’s place in society, a compilation of criticisms made by other artists and critics, and finally, biographical information on each character.
I decided to try something a little different as well and made each actor a “Case File”. This included newspaper articles and cartoons surrounding the case that were printed on newspaper paper, crime scene photos, documents, and a detailed account of the day of the murders. The idea around this is that the Actors have objects from history that have been recreated. Rather than reading the historical information surrounding the murders, they can pick the items up, look at them and feel them. The Actors will have the items to aid in their journey back to that time period, and back to that day. I decided to call this Actor’s Packet a Dramaturgy “Tool”, and it will be referred to as such throughout the text rehearsal period.
Dramaturgy “Tool” Contents.
September 23, 2009
Theatre Majors, Jessica Quindlen and Courtney Bennett are excited to help with the Blood Drive!
Alyssa Vanno, Childhood Education Major, is donating for the first time!
Director, Keegan Bushey is there to sign in students, faculty, and staff!
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