2020-2021 Season

Everybody

By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, directed by Olga Sanchez Saltveit

Live performances: May 13-16 at 7:30 pm / Streaming: May 19 - 21 at 7:30 pm

The Middlebury College Department of Theatre season continues with a lively production of EVERYBODY by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, “one of this country’s most original and illuminating writers” (NY Times).

This modern riff on the 15th century morality play Everyman follows “Everybody” as they travel toward life’s greatest mystery. So many questions arise along the journey. Why leave now? What can Everybody bring? Who will come with them? When will they return? Middlebury College’s version, directed by new Theatre faculty Olga Sanchez Saltveit, is a site-specific trek in and around Wright Theatre, and a collaboration with the Department of Dance, featuring original choreography and performance by The Dance Company.

The production will be presented live by a company of 17 actors and 9 dancers before a limited in-person audience restricted to college students, faculty and staff. Its recording will be streamed to the general public.

Making Breakfast

A one act monologue written and performed by Tré Stephens (senior 700 work)

May 9 at 7:30 pm on Zoom 

Tre Stephens takes their audience on a storytelling rollercoaster. Making Breakfast is a one act monologue written and performed by Tre Stephens. This performance addresses real issues that Tre Stephens has faced during their life. Tre invites the audience to come listen, escape, and reflect.

Writer’s Block

By Andrew Rosdail, directed by Raffi Barsamian

Streaming on Friday, May 7 at 7:30 pm.

I and You

By Lauren Gunderson, EmBallou (‘21) Senior 700 Work in Acting, directed by Gibson Grimm ‘22, featuring William H. Thompson III ‘22.5

Streaming: Friday, May 7th | 8:00 pm and Saturday, May 8th | 8:00 pm

In-Person: Friday, May 7th | 10:00 pm and Saturday, May 8th | 8:00 pm

One afternoon, Anthony arrives unexpectedly at classmate Caroline’s door bearing a beat-up copy of Walt Whitman’s ‘Leaves of Grass,’ urgent English class homework. Homebound due to illness, Caroline hasn’t been to school in months, but she is as quick and sardonic as Anthony is athletic, sensitive, and popular. What starts as a last-minute school assignment about a poem, transforms into an achingly beautiful journey by the light of a glowing turtle. “I AND YOU” is an ode to youth, life, love, and the funny business of human connection. It’s about the messy experience of adulthood and friendships, how to balance life and living under the shadows of death, and the memories you make while forced to work on group projects.

Happy

Robert Caisley

Online streaming on: Friday, April 30th at 7:30pm & 10:00 pm and Saturday, May 1st at 2:00pm

Alfred is happy about his life. He’s happy with his job. He’s happy with his marriage and his family. However, when his best friend invites him to meet the latest woman in his life, things spin out of control.

Bair Lambert (‘21) senior 700 work in acting, Ryan Kirby (’22) 500 Work in directing. Sponsored by the Theatre Program. 

Happy will be performed April 29th-May 1st, Thursday and Friday at 7:30pm, Friday at 10pm, and Saturday at 2pm in Seeler Studio in the Center for the Fine Arts. While in-person seats will be limited, both Friday performances and the Saturday matinee will be available to watch online.

Muriel Miguel: A Retrospective

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

3:30-4:30pm EST on Zoom  Go/Spiderwoman  PW: 820978

FYSE 1570 “Native Presence & Performance: Reclaiming the Indigenous Narrative”

Sponsored by Academic Outreach Endowment Grant

Muriel Miguel (Kuna/Rappahannock), founder and Artistic Director of New York City’s Spiderwoman Theater, shares the fascinating journey from her roots in Brooklyn to her landmark contributions to the contemporary feminist and Indigenous theatre movements in the United States, Canada and around the world. Experience her extraordinary life through stories, photos, and video from the last 60 years.

Giants Have Us In Their Books

By Jose Rivera

Friday, April 16 at 7:30 P.M., Saturday, April 17 at 2:00 P.M. and 7:30 P.M, and Sunday April 18 at 7:30 PM.

The Middlebury College Department of Theatre is proud to announce the return of its in-person performances with the presentation of GIANTS HAVE US IN THEIR BOOKS by José Rivera, directed by Alex Draper.

In this evening of short plays, Rivera applies his “profuse and sometimes self-consciously fantastical stew of magical realism” to the creation of fables for grown-ups, resulting in “compelling, entertaining and provocative theatre” (San Francisco Examiner). The production will be presented live by a company of 14 actors before a limited in-person audience restricted to college students, faculty and staff, and streamed to the general public.

Mid-term Showings

You’re invited to an informal showing of the Mid-Term Projects of the THEA 0238 Directing & Creating Class.

Thursday, November 19 • 5-6pm • On Zoom

Featuring the directing work of: Gabrielle Martin, Cole Merrell, Afua Bonsu, Raffi Barsamian

Reading: Something about Mia

A play by Zoe Samuels (700 Thesis)

Read by Katie Marshall ‘21, Cole Merrell ‘21 and Sara Massey ‘23

Wednesday, November 18 • 9pm • on Zoom

Chapters

Katie Marshall’s 700 project in Acting

Friday Nov. 13 @ 7pm | Saturday Nov. 12 @ 2pm & 7pm

This is a collection of monologues and scenes about a woman hungry for something more. This collection is an active search, a specific moment in time infused with discomfort and the undefined. She is searching for something that isn’t defined by a partner, a material object, or any sort of status. These are the chapters that make up a novel. This novel is full of self-doubt, humor, sabotage, pain, relief, release, and happiness. This novel ends with the comfort and fulfillment of being alone.  

This is a journey back to the self.

Theatre Lunch with Peter Kim

Broadway Actor and featured actor in he Sundance 2020 Award Winning The 40 Year Old Version with Radha Blank

November 13, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

finally

November 6-7 • Live Streaming

A call for further representation of artists of color, finally aims to explore the ideas of identity, acceptance, and belonging through a collection of short plays and monologues written by Asian American playwrights and performed by an all-Asian cast. Each piece in this socially distanced performance not only tells a story, but brings to life the struggles of feeling different, alone, and the pressure of leaving behind a legacy.

Intimacy for Stage and Film

Join us for a talk and demonstration by Broadway and Regional Theatre Fight and Intimacy Directors, Michael Rossmy and Kelsey Rainwater.

November 6 • 3:30-5:00 pm

Join Broadway and Regional Theatre Fight and Intimacy Directors, Michael Rossmy and Kelsey Rainwater for an introductory workshop in the pedagogy and practice of Intimacy for Stage and Film. In this workshop we will discuss the foundations of building a consent-run-room, the guideposts for approaching intimate work in the classroom and onstage, and group exercises to facilitate consent based choreography. Moderated by Michole Biancosino, Assistant Professor of Theatre.

This program is being funded by the Engaged Listening Program.

Costumes from Design to Body

With Anita Yavich, Costume Designer and Jai Alltizer, Production Supervisor

October 30 • 1:50 – 2:40pm  • Zoom

This presentation is offered in conjunction with Middlebury College’s Department of Theatre’s FA20 course, Page to Stage.  It is a private session for class members and guests by invitation.

State vs. Natasha Banina

Sponsored by the Committee on the Arts and the Engaged Listening Project

Saturday, October 24 • 8pm live on Zoom

“Critic’s Pick! A bracing trial by Zoom…Riveting!” - Maya Phillips, The New York Times

From Boston’s award-winning Arlekin Players Theatre, this interactive digital production is set inside a live “ZOOM courtroom,” where the virtual audience serves as the jury. Performer Darya Denisova gives a “mesmerizing portrayal” (The Boston Globe) of Natasha Banina, a teen orphan on trial for a crime of passion, whose alluring testimony reveals her dreams for love, family, and freedom.

This inventive digital production that began in May 2020 as a living room experiment and went on to earn critical acclaim from The New York Times is based on Natasha’s Dream by the Russian playwright Yaroslava Pulinovich. Says director Igor Golyak, “We are creating a new art form to overcome social distancing, the pandemic, and ultimately unite people in one virtual space by merging theater, cinematography, and video games.” A leading example of innovation in virtual theater, State vs. Natasha Banina is evidence that live performance can engage audiences even when experienced at home.

State vs. Natasha Banina is followed by a discussion with the artists and audience.

• Based on Natasha’s Dream by Yaroslava Pulinovich
• Performer: Darya Denisova
• Translator: John Freedman
• Director and Video Design: Igor Golyak
• Production Associate: Marianna Golyak
• Animator: Anton Iakhontov
• Music Composor: Vadim Khrapatchev
• Produced by Igor Golyak & Sara Stackhouse

The Agitators

Sat. 10/17 and Sun.10/18 at 2:00 PM, livestreamed from the Clemmons Family Farm

A play reading about the relationship of Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony, two abolitionists who fought for the rights of others. Play by Mat Smart, directed by Michole Biancosino ‘98 as part of the 21st Century Theatre Festival, sponsored by the Middlebury Performing Arts Council. Presented by Middlebury College’s Theatre Program, Town Hall Theater, and the Clemmons Family Farm. Livestreamed from outdoors at the farm. Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes including one intermission.

Creative Movement Workshop 

October 14 • 4:30 – 5:30 pm  • Zoom

With: Actor, Frank Wildermann ‘99 and NYC Ballet Principal Dancer, Craig Hall as part of First Year Seminar 1063 “Creative Power”

Together Apart: the 25th Annual First Year Show

Directed by Julia Proctor

October 10 • 8 pm livestream

Join us for the 25th Annual First Year Show streaming live on October 10th at 8pm ET.

This year’s show is a 24-hour new play festival featuring plays written, directed, designed, and performed in a 24-hour period.

The event showcases the talent of 55 Middlebury students including performers all new to the Middlebury stage!

Stage Makeup for Performers of Color

With guest speaker Jerrilyn Lanier

October 9 • 1:50 - 2:40 pm • Zoom

Offered in conjunction with THEA 0225 Page to Stage

Workshop in El Teatro Campesino performance training: Theatre of the Sphere

With Lakin Valdez

October 6 • 3:15 pm • Zoom

Offered in conjuction with THEA 0102 Acting 1 and open to all interested students

Theatre Hair Styling 

With Jeanna Parham of the San Francisco Opera

September 24 • 1:40 – 2:50pm • Zoom 

This presentation is offered in conjunction with Middlebury College’s Department of Theatre’s course, Page to Stage.