May 15, 2009
Theatre Orpheus. Download image.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Six students in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Theatre will perform an original play in Sofia, Bulgaria, May 18, as part of UAB's experimental company theater class.
The students are Emilie Soffe of Enterprise, Dustin Cañez of Northport, Stephen Webb of Madison/Huntsville, Chuckie Fuoco of Homewood, Sarah Hereford of Huntsville and Timothy Craig of Birmingham. The experimental company will be joined by student Kristina Howard of Vincent, who will research clothing traditions of the ancient Greeks and Thracians, and student playwright Julie Gafnea of Birmingham, who will assist the group with sound. They will be accompanied by Karla Koskinen, M.F.A., associate professor of theatre, and Vessela Warner, Ph.D., assistant professor of theatre. The group also will travel to Greece on the trip to research the play "Eurydice," which the department will stage next season.
The original play, "Orpheus: An Experimental Myth," features short pieces that explore various aspects of the myth of Orpheus through musical and vocal explorations, as well as live sound escapes and expressive, abstract movement. The broader focus of the role of the artist also is explored in the piece.
The work will be performed at @lma @lter Theatre at Sofia University at an international student theater festival. Another performance is slated the next day for students at New Bulgarian University.
The play was developed in the experimental company class in the fall semester and was performed in the Alys Stephens Center's Odess Theatre in December 2008 and at the Southeastern Theatre Conference's Fringe Festival in Birmingham March 6.
About the UAB Department of Theatre
The UAB Department of Theatre is fully accredited with the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST). Theatre UAB has won the highest honors awarded to university theaters, including national honors and best in region from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. In 2008, UAB's production of "In the Blood" was one of three shows chosen by KCACTF from 300 in consideration nationwide. It marked the first time in 22 years an Alabama university's show went to the national theater festival. Faculty members in the department continue to work professionally in addition to teaching. UAB Theatre performances are presented at the Alys Stephens Center, UAB's own world-class performing arts center. Next year the department will celebrate its 40th anniversary.