On Saturday, September 29, Middlebury College’s Theatre Program celebrates the imaginative artists performing behind the scenes. In addition to the Theatre Program’s acting, directing, and playwriting/literature tracks, there is a vigorous design track—these talented students develop their creativity as visual artists for the theatre, studying costume, set, and lighting design. The artistry of these designers and technicians enhances every production you see at Middlebury College.
It is in celebration of these talented design students--past and present--that the Theatre Program presents a symposium on theatrical design. The symposium features a number of workshops and seminars, free of charge and open to the public. In addition to the Middlebury alumni and staff presenting workshops, guest presenters include Randy Mercer, internationally renowned Broadway Makeup Designer; and Phillipe Pointard, Master Mask Maker from the National School of Theatre in Montreal. Mr. Mercer and Mr. Pointard present demonstrations of their artistry throughout Saturday afternoon.
In addition to the makeup and mask making sessions, afternoon sessions include: The Costume Maker’s Art; Costume Rendering With Markers; Scenic Illustration With the Computer; Scene Painting; Color in Light Design; Light Design for Dance; Sound Design; Fashionable Icons: Dressed to Rule; and a panel discussion addressing The Agony and Ecstasy of the Collaborative Process. Sessions conclude in the late afternoon, followed by a Symposium Dinner at Rehearsals Cafe.
Following dinner, participants can stroll upstairs to the Concert Hall for the The Artist Within—a conversation with professional alumni designers who will share their insights about accessing creativity. Chaired by Resident Designer Hallie Zieselman, panelists will include Production Designer Tom Meyer ’90, Costume Designer Alexandra Sargent '89 and Light Designer Josh Bradford ’93.
The evening will culminate in an “artful” reception in the Seeler Studio Theatre. Enjoy coffee and sumptuous desserts as you explore the design exhibit. The Seeler Studio Theatre will be transformed into a gallery, featuring the costume and set designs of our current students and notable alumni, as well as some favorite examples of past departmental productions.
Sign-up sheets for the Saturday afternoon sessions will be available at mysignup.com: http://www.mysignup.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?datafile=design_symposium. Tickets for the Symposium Dinner are $15; buy tickets online or call 802-443-MIDD (6433). All other Symposium events are free and open to the public.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Mahaney Center for the Arts, various locations
Schedule:
Friday 9/28/07
Alumni and Guest Artists arrive
1:30-5:30 P.M.: Makeup Master Class with Randy Mercer
6:00-8:00 P.M.: Private Dinner at Ross Commons
8:30—10:30 P.M.: Adjudication of student work
Saturday 9/29/07
9:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M.: Master classes
1:00 P.M.-6:15 P.M.: Symposium Sessions
to download a schedule of sessions, click here:
MiddleburyDesignSymposiumSessionSchedule.xls
to sign up for a session, click here:
http://www.mysignup.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?datafile=design_symposium
2:00 P.M.: Design Exhibition opens (on view through 10/14/07), Seeler Studio Theatre
6:30 P.M.: Design Symposium Dinner, Rehearsals Cafe, Tickets: $15, buy tickets online or call 802-443-MIDD (6433).
8:00 P.M.: “Panel Discussion on The Creative Process in Theatrical Design”, Concert Hall
9:30 P.M.: Design Exhibition Reception, Seeler Studio Theatre
Resources:
Click here to download the Saturday Symposium Session Schedule:
MiddleburyDesignSymposiumSessionSchedule.xls
Click here to sign up for workshop sessions:
http://www.mysignup.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?datafile=design_symposium
Click here to read biographies of the visiting artists and alumni:
MiddleburyDesignSymposiumBios.doc
For more information, contact the Theatre program Office at 802-443-5601.