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News From The Chair
by Tom Bloom, Chair, Associate Professor, Scenic Design
tab4p@virginia.edu

Tom Bloom

Another Drama Department season is underway and for our first production we welcomed back alumna Melissa Crespo as director of Neil LaBute’s Some Girl(s).  Melissa’s 5 week residency with us marked the conclusion of an episode in the life of the Drama Department that began over three years ago when I first asked her to direct our production of For Colored Girls…, produced Fall ‘05. At the time, Melissa was just finishing up her Drama major and was looking ahead to May graduation. Our production design conversations already were underway that spring when Melissa called telling me that she had just received a directing fellowship to the Arena Stage in D.C.!  Melissa’s experiences at the Arena Stage propelled her in to a number of other professional affiliations, ending up at the Second Stage Theater in NYC, where she’s now returned the day following the opening of Some Girl(s).  It was great to have Melissa back in the building – and to finally conclude a conversation that began over three years ago.

Some Girl(s)

Melissa joins a long line of U.Va. Drama students who have gone onto successful careers in theater and film.  Please take note of the “Where are they Now” article below that updates you on the accomplishment of a few recently graduated students. U.Va. is shaping a presence in the arts across the country –New York, to Chicago, to L.A.  Some names of U.Va. grads in the “business” are very familiar to us all – and other names are on their way to becoming more familiar.  One such group gaining recognition in the Chicago theatre community is the SideShow Theatre Company, formed by two ’07 grads (director Jonathan Green and actor Matt Fletcher) and one ’06 grad (playwright Walt McGough). Read more in this issue… and see you at the theatre!

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