Q&A with non-acting major Sydney Syverson

Sydney Syverson as The With in "Into the Woods"
photo by Jamie Kluth

Fun fact about UP Theater: You don't have to be a major to audition for the plays!

Here's a Q&A with senior Sydney Syverson, a social work major, who acts in UP Theater productions.

Q: What made you audition for UP Theater?
Sydney Syverson: I've been doing community theatre since I was 7. My dad has always encouraged me to be involved in theatre and he's my biggest fan. I attended a performing arts high school in Las Vegas where I majored in theatre. This was not an exactly favorable experience for me so I kind of gave up on theatre once I graduated. After returning from Salzburg my junior year I realized how much I missed being on stage. I auditioned for the shows Spring semester of my junior year and was cast as Little Sally in "Urinetown." And it's been awesome ever since! I finally realized that this is how theatre is supposed to be - fun and with a theatre family who supports you whole heartedly.

Q: How has it been for you to act with UP Theater?
SS: It has been such an amazing experience. I was so tired of the politics of theatre from High School and all that nonsense that I wasn't sure I was ever going to enjoy it again. I was so wrong. I have made the closest friends in the theatre department - I have truly been blessed to be so welcomed into their family! I love them so much!

Q: What made you get into acting in the first place?
SS: My incredible father, Michael Syverson. He is my biggest fan and advocate. He has always encouraged me to further my interest in and pursue theatre. I really appreciate having such encouragement from my parents. They fly ip from Vegas to see every show I'm in. It's wonderful.

Q: What advice would you give to a non-major who would like to act?
SS: Do it! Just because you're not a major doesn't mean you won't be cast at all. Another piece of advice is to be outgoing! The theatre kids are really nice people, but they have been together since freshman year so you do have to kind of weasel your way into the group. But if you put forth the effort, they will love you!

Q: What shows and roles have you had at UP Theater?
SS: Little Sally in "Urinetown," Mrs. Gibbs in "Our Town," and now The Witch in "Into the Woods."

See Syverson in "Into the Woods" this week! 
Performances are tonight through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

Senior Series Part Five: Danielle Larson

photo courtesy of Danielle Larson

Danielle Larson is constantly running around on campus. Whether it's running to class, catching a voice lesson, or grabbing a bite to eat before play rehearsal, Larson is on the go. Her four years on The Bluff have been memorable, from her eight shows to her and Phil Orazio going to the ACTF national competition in Washington D.C. her sophomore year. Larson has been seen in the UP productions of "Threepenny Opera," "Rumors" and "Much Ado About Nothing." Larson will be acting in her eighth and final show at UP in "Into the Woods."

Asides from UP Theater, Larson was heavily involved with the UP startup company Electric Opera Company, has performed in Mock's Crest Productions for the past two seasons, and has done stage readings for Portland Theatre Works.  Currently, Larson is a member of local ensemble company Theatre Vertigo.

Next year, Larson will be taking her acting skills to New York City with fellow UP Theater student Sammi Boyd.

"I've always known that I wanted to take a gap year to apply for MFA programs in Acting, but I recently made the decision to take that time living in New York," Larson said. "From there I'll be trying to get more acting work than other work while applying to MFA programs, Peace Corps, and Korean teaching programs."

In the future, Larson aims to become a "self-supporting artist of good repute."

"To me it feels like an exploration of the human soul and human capacities, and an exploration of the mysteries that pass between people," Larson said. "It's a process of fully exploring everything you're capable of as a human being, and simultaneously figuring out how to share that with other people so they can also learn through your exploration."

Musicals 101: "Into the Woods"

Original poster courtesy of Amazon.com

UP Theater will be presenting "Into the Woods" next week at the Mago Hunt Theater. The show runs from  April 12 - 16 at 7:30 p.m. and April 17 at 2 p.m.

"Into the Woods," music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine, combines many fairytales and well-known characters together into one musical. Some familiar faces in "Into the Woods" include Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Little Red Ridinghood.

The musical "Into the Woods" made it's debut at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre in 1986. The musical opened on Broadway on November 5, 1987 and would run for 764 performances.

The show was a success and earned a lot of fanfare during it's infant years on Broadway. With stars such as Bernadette Peters in the original "Into the Woods" cast, the show would go on to win awards such as...

• 1988 New York Drama Critic's Circle award for Best Musical
• 1988 Drama Desk award for Best Musical
• 1988 Grammy award for original cast recording
• 1988 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical (Joanna Gleason who played the Baker's Wife)
• 1988 Tony Award for Book for a Musical (James Lapine)
• 1988 Tony Award for Score for a Musical (Stephen Sondheim)
• 2002 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical

Asides from the original Broadway production, "Into the Woods" has had a 1988 U.S. tour, a 1990 London production for 197 performances, a 1998 London revival, and a 2002 Broadway revival with 279 performances.

The famous musical has not made it's way to the stage of Mago Hunt Theater at UP with it's new stories from some of our beloved fairytale characters. These new stories come with new endings and surprises that teach the audience some lessons in responsibility.

The characters all have something they need to accomplish and continually interact with one another in the woods. The audience will watch the Baker and his wife want to break the Witch's curse so they may have children, Cinderella trying to free herself from her awful household, and Little Red Ridinghood trying to find her way home.

UP Theater rehearsal for "Into the Woods"
photo by Christina Steiner

Tickets for University of Portland "Into the Woods" can be purchased at the Mago Hunt Box Office or call the box office at 503-943-7287. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors.

"Into the Woods" all-student cast:

Brian Burger (Narrator/Mysterious Man), Danielle Larson (Cinderella), Matt Sepeda (Jack), Doug Orofino (Baker), Sammi Boyd (Baker's Wife), Rachel Thomas (Little Red Ridinghood), Sydney Syverson (Witch), Anna Mottice (Jack's Mother), Connor Bond (Cinderella's Prince), Phil Orazio (Rapunzel's Prince), Hannah Kintner (Cinderella's Stepmother), Jamie Kluth (Florinda), Jordin Bradley (Lucinda), Rodrigo Gaspar (Cinderella's Father), Kellan Griffith (Cinderella's Mother/Granny), Kimo Camat (Wolf), Erin Oleson (Rapunzel), Chris Morell (Steward), Cassandra Tenorio (Sleeping Beauty), Kate Peifer (Snow White), and Jessica Hillenbrand (Voice of the Giant)

Where are they now?

UP Theater has graduated many talented actors, stage managers and producers over the past years. These alums once walked the halls of Franz Hall and graced the stage of Mago Hunt Theater. The question is, where do UP Theater alums go after their time on The Bluff?

Here is a cross section of the UP Theater alums who have graduated from 2009 and 2010...


View UP Theater alumni in a larger map

Senior Series Part Four: Brian Burger

Meet Brian Burger

photo by Owen Carey

Brian Burger is the happy presence that greets you everytime you walk into the Mago Hunt Theater lobby. Transferring to UP from Linfield College during his freshman year, Burger was immediately accepted into the UP Theater family. Burger's memorable roles include Caldwell B. Caldwell in "Urinetown" and Ken Gorman in "Rumors." He will be seen in UP's "Into The Woods" as The Narrator. Burger was also in the Nomadic Theater production of Conor Eifler's "Alice in Wonderland" and has also done staged readings for Fertile Ground and Readers Theatre Repertory.

For next year, Burger is hoping to spend his time down South in Florida.

"I'm awaiting reply from the Florida Studio Theatre Acting Apprentice Program, which asked me to apply after seeing my work at ACTF," Burger said. "If I get in, me and 11 other apprentices will be heading to Sarasota, Florida for nine months to learn the ropes of professional theatre, both acting and behind the scenes."

The program at Florida Studio Theatre would allow Burger to learn about professional theater as well as educational theater.

Burger hopes that through this program he will be able to accomplish his mission of making a difference in people's lives.

"Originally I thought I would do this as a doctor or a psychologist, but I was never able to completely tear myself away from the theater, so I just decided to make it my thing," Burger said. "Now, if I can brighten somebody's day or help that person learn something about the world or about him or herself, then I feel I have done my job."

Burger hopes to attend graduate school for acting in the upcoming years.

Although Burger is about to leave The Bluff, he looks back to his role in "Urinetown" as his favorite UP Theater experience.

"I don't think I've ever been more excited to simply go to rehearsal and see what crazy ideas the cast, the director, and even the band would have each night to make the show even more over-the-top fun than it already was," Burger said. "Plus, it's the only time I've ever gotten to play a villain, bumbling through he may have been."

Senior Series Part Three: Sammi Boyd

Meet Sammi Boyd

photo by Joey Keller

Sammi Boyd is the bubbly, burst of energy of the UP Theater Department. Most recently seen in "Our Town," Boyd has had many memorable roles during her time at UP Theater. Boyd has been in such performances as "Blithe Spirit," "Marat/Sade," and "Servant of Two Masters" at UP and also played the Chesire Cat in the Nomadic Theater production of Conor Eifler's production of "Alice in Wonderland." She will be playing the Baker's Wife in UP's upcoming production of "Into The Woods." This past year, Boyd and her partner Charles Lattin made it to semifinals at ACTF.

With her wonderful acting resume in Portland, Boyd is looking to the future for her acting career.

"I am hopefully moving to New York with Danielle Larson," Boyd said. "I will be auditioning around town wherever I end up. whether it be Portland or New York City."

Boyd hopes that she will be able to make it big in the Big Apple.

"As a female actor the odds are pretty slim of making it so I have decided to make my own luck, Boyd said. "I love theatre and I would love to be an actor, but I am honestly hoping to broaden my horizons and see if there is something else out there, maybe theatre related, maybe not. Who knows?"

Before her potential move with fellow UP Theater student Larson, Boyd is helping produce and put on a showin of 'Reefer Madness the Musical' with fellow UP Theater grads and Portland actors this summer.

At UP Theater, Boyd has been cast in a variety of different characters. From a maid to a debuntante, from a clown in an insane asylum to an old man.

"As a character actor I can and have plated pretty much everything," Boyd said. "UP has give me a diverse resume and I feel prepared to tackle professional roles because of the challenges I have done through here."

With Boyd's talent and unique resume, she hopes to give an audience the reasons why she loves being an actor.

"When I see a good play it can trasnport me to a new world, it can make a bad day good or teach me a lif e lesson," Boyd said. "Theatre is the easiest art form to connect to because its right in front of you, live and different every night."

Misconceptions about UP Theater

The University of Portland is known for many things. UP's women's soccer team consistently does well from season to season. UP's School of Nursing is known as one of the best in the state. Recently, UP's School of Engineering building Shiley Hall was deemed LEED Platinum certified.

But, what about the UP Theater department?

One aspect of life on The Bluff that students overlook is the Theater program. Just a quick poll around campus, many students can name only one or two drama productions. Even the ones they can name, many of those productions are years old.

Through some asking around, I found that many students are unaware of the student actors and the work they do in Mago Hunt Theater and the new Mehling Black Box Theater. Every year, the UP Theater program produces 4 mainstage productions and 3-4 second stage productions.

Some popular shows include "Much Ado About Nothing," "Urinetown" and "Little Women."

Students are involved in almost every aspect of these productions. Undergraduate and graduate students act, direct, create the sets, design the lighting, do stage makeup, and design costumes. They practice their craft everyday and are at rehearsals almost every night for these shows.

As mentioned previously in this blog, the UP Theater department competes in an acting competition called ACTF. Each and every year, undergraduate and graduate theater students receive honors and scholarships from their performances.

The University of Portland is a small university with a small theater program. But no matter how small, the UP Theater department should get the recognition it deserves.

Watch the video, find out about the University of Portland and UP Theater for yourself!

Senior Series Part Two: Connor Bond

Meet Connor Bond

photo by Owen Carey

Connor Bond is the charismatic actor who can be found spending his time rehearsing, acting, and singing in Mago Hunt Theater. Most recently seen in the UP production of "Present Laughter," Bond was most notably seen in UP's "Servant of Two Masters" and "Urinetown." Bond has also been in numerous productions in the Portland area. This past summer Bond was in Portland Center Stage's "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" and he was also Blue Monkey Theater's "Altar Boyz" two years ago. This past ACTF, Bond and his partner Phil Orazio made it to the final round of competition.

Next year, Bond will be leaving Oregon for California to become a student in the UC Irvine MFA acting program. Bond auditioned for UC Irvine, one of the schools on the "top of the list," in New York during the URTA auditions.

"I had a private audition set up with UC Irvine and I also got called back through the URTA auditions," Bond said. "After that I was invited to a callback at UC Irvine, which occurred a few weeks ago and days after I got a call that I was accepted!"

Bond hopes to move to Los Angeles after the UC Irvine acting program to "continue living the actor life and challenge what I have learned in my three years of grad school."

And more than anything, Bond hopes to continue to develop his craft.

"The development of an actor is somewhat progressive," Bond said. "It seems to get better every time you do it. I hope that feeling continues throughout my entire life."

Meet Devin Olson: UP Theater alum

Meet Devin Olson: apprentice at Actors Theatre of Louisville (ATL), 2010 UP alum, and dear friend of the UP Theater Department. Since graduating in 2010, Olson has been busy acting, auditioning, and learning about theater in Louisville, Kentucky. Olson, who plans to move to New York City after the program, talks about ATL, acting, and his wonderful experiences at UP. Olson was seen in many shows at UP including memorable performances such as Lenny Ganz in "Rumors" and Claudio in "Much Ado About Nothing."

photo by Alden Ford

Q: Talk to us about Actors Theatre of Louisville. What is the program and what do you do?
Devin Olson: Its official title is the "Actors Theatre of Louisville Apprentice/Intern Company" where 22 young actors are selected to come to Louisville for nine months and be immersed in professional theatre. Over 2,500 people auditioned for the program last year alone. We live, breath, and sleep theatre. We get full access to Actors Theatre of Louisville to learn the business side of professional theatre such as what goes into hiring a cast, working with playwrights and new works, building sets, managing a company budget, networking, and most importantly how to survive in the "real world" as an actor.

Q: How has your experience been thus far?
DO: I will be the first to say that I have been truly blessed and lucky this year. From now only getting selected from the program, but finding success once I've been here. I have gotten to work on three ATL main season shows as well as the apprentice season shows.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish in your acting career?
DO: To eventually have an acting career! Being a working actor is competitive and difficult, but what career isn't these days? I would want to accomplish a resume of shows where I truly believe in the work, and didn't just do it in order to play the rent. I want to build my own network of friends and colleagues so that I can work on projects that I want to work on. I also want to gain respect as both an actor and a person.

Q: What memories do you have of UP Theater?
DO: Family...the department is so small and everyone knows everyones business. Mago Hunt Theater was my second home for four years. I spent an ungodly amount of time in that building working so hard for my dreams. I was very blessed at UP, getting to work just as hard on stage as off. I was treated very well there, and will never have anything but respect for the work the theater department produced and the actor they have helped shape me into.

photo by Joe Geinert

Q: How has UP Theater prepared you for your acting future?
DO: Good training, plain and simple. They have prepared me in the most basic aspects of theater. They taught me to make bold choices, and to do my homework. If you're auditioning for a play, read it first. When preparing a monologue, read the entire play. You'd be surprised how many people don't do these things! The UP Theater department has taught me to be a good person. They faculty always kept a level head on us and were not afraid to put us in our place.

Q: What advice would you give to the UP Theater seniors?
DO: Dream big. Why not, right? Trust that you know what you're doing. Never stop wanting to learn more about acting, and how you fit inside the acting world. Don't stress too much about finding your "type" because it'll eventually find you. If I can do it, then so can you. (I love you all!)

Q: What should we expect from you in the upcoming year?
DO: The Acting-Apprentice show in the 35th Humana Festival of New American Plays premieres very soon and I couldn't be more excited! My first world-premiere full-length play! After the program, I am heading to New York City to start auditioning, use the contacts I've made while at ATL, and just experience this business to the fullest! I am not expecting to find success right away, but where else would a 22 year old actor want to be?

Senior Series Part One: Phil Orazio

Welcome to the first of an eight part series about the graduating seniors from the UP Theater acting program. These eight students are now faced with the daunting task of figuring out their future. Some will try their luck with stage, others will take their skills to the big screen. Regardless of what path they choose, these eight students will become professionals as they enter the theater world after UP.

Meet Phil Orazio

photo by Owen Carey

Phil Orazio is a forced to be reckoned with in the theater world. Most recently seen in the UP production of "Our Town," Orazio's acting career has extended past Mago Hunt Theater during his four years at UP. Orazio was in the Actor's Repertory Theatre's production of "Ah, Wilderness!" this past year as well as the Nomadic Theater production of Conor Eifler's "Alice in Wonderland" adaptation. During both his sophomore and junior years, Orazio was the regional champion for ACTF. 

"Basically I want to be successful at my craft," Orazio said. "I have been training for four years and it is never quite enough, but I want to get to the point where I am great at my craft and able to make my living as a working actor. I would love nothing more than that."

Now Orazio is faced with where he wants to perfect his craft. With numerous possibilities, Orazio hopes to make his important decision soon. 

"Next year I am planning to either study at the University of Houston with a full ride or attend the Actors Theatre of Louisville apprentice program or possibly move to LA and take my chances as an actor trying to get work," Orazio said. "The possibilities are pretty much endless right now."

Although Orazio is set to graduate and leave Mago Hunt Theater in May, he remembers the wonderful moments that have happened in the past four years.

"It's hard to pinpoint one experience that was the most valuable because there has been so many, but to pull one out of the hat, I would have to say performing at the ACTF conference in "Servant of Two Masters," Orazio said. "It was almost like a magical experience. The stars were aligned for us to be incredible - and we were."

A tour inside Mago Hunt Theater

Many University of Portland students pass by Mago Hunt Theater on the way to class, but do they really know what's inside?

Here's your personal tour of UP Theater's home!

"Two Gentlemen of Verona" Opens Tonight!

photo by Scott Chia

What do love, friendship, betrayal, self-discovery and a dog have in common? William Shakespeare's "Two Gentlemen of Verona" of course!

The University of Portland's "Two Gentlemen of Verona opens tonight at 7:30 p.m. The play, which has an updated "college interpretation," will be held at UP's Mago Hunt Theater.

The play will also be performed:

March 4-5 at 7:30 p.m.

March 6 at 2 p.m.  

March 9-11 at 7:30 p.m.

"Two Gentlemen of Verona" centers around best friends Valentine and Proteus, played by seniors Conor Eifler and Alex Kirby, as they both fall in love with Silvia, played by sophomore Jessica Hillenbrand. Matters become complicated with Proteus' betrothed Julia, played by sophomore Maddie Eberhard, comes into the picture. Mayhem ensues as they must choose to keep their "bromance" with one another or maintain their respective romances.

The idea of making this classic play a story about "bromance" came under the direction of Rico Nan. Nan, the director of UP's "Two Gentlemen of Verona," chose to update the setting and approach of this classic Shakespearean comedy. As opposed to 16th century England, this production of "Two Gentlemen of Verona" is set at modern day University of Portland.

photo by Steve Hambuchen

"The underlying messages of friendship, love, and having to listen and deal with authority, even when it contrasts with what someone actually wants, transfers into any era," junior Eleanor Johnson, who plays Valentine's good friend Speed, said. "The play actually worked being set in the present even through it was written hundreds of years ago."

The costumes have a modern vibe with Nike sneakers, blue-streaked hair, and hipster sunglasses. The costume design was done by junior Megan La Fleur.

Kirby, who is doing his acting capstone with "Two Gentlemen of Verona," is happy that this is his last show at Mago Hunt Theater.

"Shakespeare is classic theatre-going fun," Kirby said. "To go out on a note like that is great."

Coming on the tail end of a busy UP Theater month with ACTF and URTA (University/Resident Theatre Association) auditions, many of the actors had to balance their schedules with this rehearsal process.

"The rehearsal process after ACTF was more focused and structured," Johnson said. "It was nice to be able to come back from ACTF and have only the play be the priority."

Although the rehearsal process might have been crazy with ACTF and URTA auditions, the actors are excited to present their modern interpretation of "Two Gentlemen of Verona."

"Being on that stage with such a fantastic group of people is an honor and a privilege," Kirby said. "It is a little disheartening that something like this play with this group of people will be hard to come by again. I am definitely soaking it in as much as I can."

Tickets for University of Portland's "Two Gentlemen of Verona" can be purchased at the Mago Hunt Box Office or call the box office at 503-943-7287. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors.

photo by Scott Chia

"Two Gentlemen of Verona" all-student cast:

Conor Eifler (Valentine), Alex Kirby (Proteus), Maddie Eberhard (Julia), Eleanor Johnson (Speed), Eric Lyness (Launce), Logan Matthews (Antonio and Frat Boy), Hillary Joseph (Lucetta), Hillary Burrelle (Pantina and Hostess), Clarke Orr (The Dean), Jessica Hillenbrand (Silvia), Jeff Phillips (Thurio), Andrew Ottolia (Frat Boy) and Charles Lattin (Frat Boy)

with special guest artist:

Patrick Rexroat (Eglamoure)

Special Effects Stage Makeup

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending Professor Jill Hoddick's Stage Makeup class. The class, which meets every Tuesday and Thursday at 2:30 p.m., is held in Mago Hunt Theater. On Thursday, the eight students worked on special effects makeup for the stage. They explored the art of special effects makeup with the use of latex bullet holes, silicone scars, flesh effects makeup, and fake blood.

Here's what they did!
Watch to the end for the gruesome final photos!

Meet Conor Eifler: UP's student playwright

Meet Conor Eifler: student playwright, ukulele master, and senior actor at the University of Portland. Eifler, who is currently starring in UP's production of "Two Gentleman of Verona," is an avid playwright whose plays have performed by UP students and professional actors. His latest play, "It Happened at Mickey's" was performed last week at the ACTF competition.

photo by Gary Norman

Q: Why did you get into playwriting?
Conor Eifler: I have loved both the theatre and writing from a very young age, so when I got to high school and took a really good visiting playwriting workship from a local actor and playwright, who became mentor of mine, it was just about perfect. And I love how much you get to craft stories from the group up unlike any other role in the theatre.

Q: How would you describe your writing process?
CE: Exhilarating when it works and frustrating when it doesn't.

Q: Where do you get your inspiration for writing?
CE: Different inspiration every time. Sometimes an idea of a theme, sometimes a character or situation that I want to write about, sometimes just a really good line of dialogue from real life.

Q: Describe the arcs of the characters you develop.
CE: They still feel pretty forced. I'm working on that.

Q: Talk to us about "It Happened at Mickey's." What was your thought process when writing? 
CE: I wanted to write a throwback to a campy sci-fi, an homage to the "Twilight Zone." I also wanted to practice writing scenes with more than 3 people in them. Those were the two main jumping off points. I came up with a situation and a cast of characters I thought would be interesting to see together, outlines most of it because it was the first piece of length I had attempted (I have mixed feelings about outlines), and camped out to finish it. There was also a lot on my mind at the time I wrote it, the first draft in my sophomore year, a whole lot really and I was trying to cram it all in there, which meant it got pretty lost and confused. One of the challenges now is to go back and sift through all my ideas and intentions, carve it out and simplify, even when that means cutting chunks I really enjoyed if they are no longer imperative to the story I want to tell.

photo by Kai Hayashi Photography

Q: What plays/playwrights do you admire? Why do you admire them?
CE: Many, there are some I enjoy more as a writer or more as an actor and some just 'cause. Tom Stoppard is a master wordsmith, plain and simple. Harold Pinter is so damn complex and subtle. Peter Sinn Nachtrieb is so absolutely hilarious and full of heart, plus he weaved in science in the coolest ways. Tracy Letts, Lee Blessing also make the list right now.

Q: What other plays have you written?
CE: A One-Act about Activism that was done at Focus The Nation a couple years ago, an adaptation of "Alice in Wonderland" this past year for Nomadic Theatre, and a bunch of ten minute plays and sketches about people falling in love at a bus stop, kids reading Playboy and Shakespeare making dick jokes. I am currently working on another full length about a father and a son, featuring faux-science, time travel, aged rock 'n' roll musicians, an Antarctic explorer and it all takes place on a train. We will see how it goes.

Q: What do you hope to do in the future?
CE: Write and act.

Q: How do you get through the ever-so-frustrating writer's block?
CE: Beat myself up over it, read books, watch plays, and movies, listen to music, get working on something else and either inspiration will return or I will drop the project.

Q: What advice would you give to an aspiring playwright?
CE: I feel like I'm still one of those, so to my fellow comrades, let's keep writing, keep plugging away, remember to have fun with it, make our own opportunities and sit back and enjoy the show when the curtain comes up on our pages.

ACTF: The End

Three seniors were passed onto the final round at the ACTF competition this past week in Humboldt, California. Although UP will not be represented in the national competition in Washington, D.C., the UP Theater program is very proud of their showing at the competition.

"Having six nominees make it to semi-finals, including every single Drama major in the class of 2011, was huge for UP," Danielle Larson said. "There is definitely a buzz over UP right now in the theater world."

UP Theater students who made it to the final round are...
Larson with her partner Phil Orazio
Senior Connor Bond, who was also partners with Orazio
Senior Alex Kirby with partner freshman Jordin Bradley


These three students were required to perform two scenes and a monologue. They were in the final competition with 16 other students from theater departments from Alaska, Northern California, Colorado, Idaho, Northern Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

The two students who won the competition from ACTF, and will move onto the national competition in Washington D.C., were from University of Wyoming and Sacramento State University.

Although students from UP Theater were not selected for the national competition, ACTF was a good chance for the students to showcase their talent and acting skills.

"When we got to the rehearsal for the Final Round I was overwhelmed looking around the room at all of these wonderful actors who I'd seen in preliminaries and semifinals," Larson said. "I am incredibly honored and delighted that I was keeping company with them."

Larson, through her performance at ACTF, received a $1,500 scholarship to study with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival this summer.

UP Theater students also excelled in other ways at the week long competition. Graduate student Erin Lucas was runner up in the directing competition at ACTF. Senior and playwright Conor Eifler also received accolades for his one-act play "It Happened at Mickey's" which was one of six plays to have a reading at ACTF.

Next up for UP Theater will be there performance of William Shakespeare's "Two Gentleman of Verona" which will begin its run March 3.

ACTF semifinalists have been announced!

It was an exciting night for UP theater students in Humboldt last night when it was announced that six students and their partners have moved on to the semi-final round at ACTF! The announcement came just after 5:00 about the 32 winners who will be passed on to the second round of the five day competition.

The nominated UP students in the semi-finals are:
Sammi Boyd
Danielle Larson
Jamie Kluth
Connor Bond
Conor Eifler
Alex Kirby

These students happen to be six of the eight graduating seniors within the theater program.

"I'm ecstatic to have this opportunity to move on to semi-finals," Kluth said. "It doesn't get much better than having the chance to do what you love for the rest of the world."

After being passed on to this second round, these six students will have perform two scenes with their partner under five minutes. Semi-finals have been pushed back from today until tomorrow morning in Humboldt, California. There is no word yet to why the second round has been delayed until tomorrow.

The third round winners, which will be narrowed from 32 to 16 students, will be announced tomorrow night.  The third round for the nominee will consist of two scenes with their partner as well as monologue of their chose. The judges will then decide the 2 nominees who will be performing in the national competition in Washington, D.C.

Fingers crossed for our six semi-finalists! 
More updates to come as the competition progresses!

It's ACTF time!

The UP Theater students left bright and early this morning for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (ACTF) in Humboldt, California. With the 10 hour drive to Humboldt, the 40 students are getting ready for their “scholarship audition” for the Irene Ryan Audition/Acting Competition.

Their work will then be shown from Feb. 14-18 in Humboldt as the UP students will compete in the Irene Ryan competition. Students are nominated from their performances in the past year to participate in the Irene Ryan competition.

The nominated students each choose a scene partner to compete with them throughout the ACTF. Students choose two scenes based on their interests and strengths for the competition.

Nominee senior Sammi Boyd and her partner senior Charles Lattin chose scenes from “Baby with the Bathwater” by Christopher Durang and “Cymbeline” by William Shakespeare.

“It’s a chance to choose scenes that you have always wanted to work on. Baby With the Bathwater was a scene that I saw in class that I have always loved,” Boyd said. “Cymeline was just one that I found I thought was a good contrast. Shakespeare is tricky for female strong scenes so I found one that I liked and just went for it.”

Other scenes chosen by UP Theater students:

Nominee senior Jamie Kluth and senior Brian Burger – “Hunter Gatherers” by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb and “Ivanov” by Chekhov   

Nominee senior Connor Bond and senior Phil Orazio – “Julius Caeser” by William Shakespeare and a song from “Into the Woods” by Steven Sondheim

Nominee senior Sydney Syverson and sophomore Kimo Camat – “At Home” by Michael Weller and “Scripted” by Mary Harvey Levine

Last year Orazio and his scene partner, UP graduate student Michael O’Neill, were regional champions for the Irene Ryan competition. The year before, Orazio and partner Danielle Larson advanced to the final round and competed in Washington D.C.

What is ACTF?

UP Theater will be competing with other schools in the Region VII division, which has various theatre departments from Alaska, Northern California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Northern Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. There are eight regions in the country.

ACTF focuses on theatre education and also aims to bring theatre students from many universities together to compete and learn from various workshops that are taught during the festival.

How does ACTF work?

The competition consists of three rounds during the five-day festival. The 32 winners of the first round go onto perform in the second round, which requires two scenes to be performed in less than five minutes.

The nominees are then cut down to 16 for the third round, which allows six minutes for two scenes and the nominee's monologue. It is after the final performance that the judges pick the two nominees who will advance to the national competition.

Updates to come as the UP Theater competes in Humboldt this week! 

UP in Theater: Welcome!

"The primary function of theater is not to please itself, or even to please its audience. It is to serve talent." -- Robert Brustein

Hello and welcome to my blog, UP in Theater!

My name is Roya and I am a senior at the University of Portland. This blog will center around the Performing & Fine Arts Department at the University of Portland in Portland, Oregon.

There are about 44 students within the acting program. These students are being trained and are performing at the Mago Hunt Center, the home of UP theater.  Many of those students are also participating in Portland theater with various acting projects outside of school.

The 8 seniors in the drama department alone have accomplished some amazing feats while being students at the University of Portland.

My housemate, senior Danielle Larson, is a member of Theatre Vertigo, an ensemble theater group in Portland, while Connor Bond, also a senior, starred in a Blackberry commercial this past year. Senior Phil Orazio is a two-time regional champion for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Also, senior Conor Eifler wrote an adaption of “Alice in Wonderland” which was performed last summer by Nomadic Theatre.

Four of the 8 seniors in the acting program just returned from a trip in New York City where they auditioned for graduate schools such as Harvard University and New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

And if that wasn't enough, next week 44 UP theater students will be traveling to Humboldt, California to compete in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

  

So why am I blogging about theater?

Well, ever since I was in high school, I have been fascinated with theater and the arts. I never had the guts to audition for a play, let alone stand on the big stage. When I came to college, I really discovered my love of theater, of acting, of the actors. I became really good friends with those in the UP Theater Department through my high school best friend Karen Vance. Now, three years later, I actually live with three students who are heavily involved in the program! Theater is all around me, and I would love to share that all with you.

Anyone can be a part of theater even though many of us will never step on stage. From listening to actors and attending plays, I have learned so much. I have learned the value of conveying emotion, the power of a good script, the importance of excellent stage direction.

This blog will give insight into the world of acting through the stories of UP theater students. There will be updates on upcoming productions, reviews of scenes, interviews with professors, and acting insight from students.

Check out UP in Theater for news, interviews, photos and more.

The best is yet to come!