Announcements
Assistant Professor Michael Sommers Wins Prestigious Enduring Vision Award
Michael Sommers, assistant professor in the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance, has been awarded a 2009 Enduring Vision Award from the Bush Foundation. The $100,000 prize is intended to propel the artistic investigations of mature artists. The Enduring Vision Award is the only award of this size and intent in the country. Up to three awards are given annually to artists in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota who have at least 25 years of experience as working artists. For the 2009 awards, nominations were received for artists working in the performing and literary arts.A regional panel of five performing and literary artists and arts professionals from Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota reviewed and selected 10 finalists for this year's Enduring Vision Awards. A national panel (including one panelist from the regional panel) then selected the three recipients, considering the breadth and depth of the finalists' work, their promise of continued future artistic excellence, the importance of their influence on their communities, and their interest in pursuing deeper investigations and/or new explorations to inform and enrich their work.Professor Sommers has practiced the theater arts as a designer, director, composer, performer, playwright, and technician, both locally and nationally, for 30 years. In 2000 he and his partner Susan Haas co-founded Open Eye Figure Theatre, and in 2007 the company opened an intimate venue in South Minneapolis. Sommers's work has been seen in venues ranging from major cultural institutions to backyards and the street. Through these experiences, and drawing from traditional theatrical forms, classical text, populist entertainment, folk art and the comedy and "tragedy of our daily lives," Sommers says he "creates original work that speaks in a contemporary voice directly to the audience." His work has been presented at the Walker Art Center and in New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Canada, and Mexico.Professor Sommers has also recently won a $25,000 McKnight Fellowship and a $50,000 United States Artists Grant. In an interview with the Star Tribune newspaper, Sommers said, "It's a crazy thing. This one feels different, quieter. I have a chance to shift gears, pause and think in a new way, not to sound too corny." June 16th, 2009A Bright Room Called Day Mentioned in Newsweek Article
Newsweek reporter Jeremy McCarter mentioned the University Theatre's production of Tony Kushner's A Bright Room Called Day and Kushner's talk with the cast in his article, "Tony Kushner's Day", which discussed Kushner's time in Minnesota. June 3rd, 2009Professor Emeritus Dr. Charles Nolte Makes Significant Donation to the University of Minnesota Libraries
Dr. Charles Nolte, distinguished and beloved teacher, actor, and author, has made a gift of his archives to the Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies at the University of Minnesota Libraries. To celebrate Dr. Nolte’s gift, which will allow students and scholars to continue to benefit from his remarkable gifts, the University of Minnesota Libraries, the Tretter Collection, and the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance are celebrating the donation of the Dr. Charles M. Nolte Collections in Theatre and Cinematic Arts with a reception at the Elmer L. Andersen Library. Portions of the archives will be on display at the Elmer L. Andersen Library.Monday, May 18, 20094:30 to 6 pmElmer L. Andersen Library222 21st Avenue SouthMinneapolis, MinnesotaProgramReception beginning at 4:30pmWelcome and Speakers at 5:00 pmKris Kiesling, Director Archives & Special CollectionsCarl Flink, Chair of Theatre Arts and Dance C. Lance Brockman, Professor, Theatre Arts and DanceDr. Charles M. NolteConclusion: Eric Colleary May 18th, 2009BIG LOVE Cast Announced
Director Lisa Channer has announced the cast for the October 2009 production of Big Love.Cast List for Big Love:Thyona: Sasha GibbsOlympia: Jenna FrankenfieldLydia: Julianna DrajkoConstantine: Nickolas MarcouillerOed: Ian KnodelNikos: Billy MullaneyEleanor: Addy SalamiLeo: Kalen KeirBella: Allison WithamGuliano: Nathaniel Nesheim-CasePiero: Kevin O’NeilAdditional Brides and Grooms will be announced later after discussions with the choreographer.A note from Lisa to all who auditioned: there were so many talented and prepared auditioners that this was a very difficult decision. Anyone who wants feedback on their audition, just email me and I'm happy to share what I can with you.A note from Lisa to those who are cast: I will be contacting you about prep work you can do over the summer. Please contact me also at some point to talk about the role and how you'd like to prepare for it. May 12th, 2009
Upcoming Theatre Events
- Is There A Doctor in the House?
- 7/7/2009 2:30 PM
- Location: Minnesota Centennial Showboat, Harriet Island, Theatre
- 7/7/2009 8:00 PM
- Location: Minnesota Centennial Showboat, Harriet Island, Theatre
- Big Love
- 10/16/2009 8:00 PM
- Location: Rarig Center, The Whiting Proscenium Stage
Upcoming Department Events
- "ORIGINS: First Nations Theatre from around the World": A presentation by Harriet Nordlund
- 10/1/2009 4:00 PM
- Location: Nolte Center for Continuing Education, 125
- Big Love
- 10/16/2009 8:00 PM
- Location: Rarig Center, The Whiting Proscenium Stage
Our Mission
In keeping with the University’s three public purposes—research and discovery; teaching and learning; outreach and public service—our primary mission is to educate our students and our audiences about the performing arts, and about the social issues and human emotions the arts speak to so powerfully. We are committed to realizing this mission by creating, producing and studying works of theatre and dance, and performing them publicly for diverse audiences drawn from both the University and the community at large.