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Additions and Upgrades
Renovations, a new Sound Studio and the Debut of Our RecentWorks Series

With generous support from the U.Va. Arts Council, the Office of the Provost for the Arts and the College of Arts and Sciences, we have installed a new sound studio and media lab in B010, are planning renovations to our rehearsal studios in 115B and 115C during this upcoming winter break, and presented the first of two productions, By the Bog of Cats, as part of ournew RecentWorks Series.  In association with Bog we welcomed guest artist and Irish actress Olwen Fouéré to our Department for a series of master classes, symposiums and post-show discussion. We sincerely appreciate the continued support of both entities.  Below you will find more details on these projects and upgrades.
 
Acting Studio Renovations:
Update from Marianne Kubik, Associate Professor of Movement:

I was awarded funds for classroom improvement to two Drama Building studios, 115B and 115C. After assessing the overall needs of these studios, the College of Arts and Sciences decided to fold my Arts Council award into a larger plan for improvement, covering several major renovations in addition to my requested needs in my Arts Council proposal. The work scheduled to be done over Winter Break 2010-11 will now include the following:
·         Prepare reflected ceiling plan to show sprinkler head locations.
·         Rework sprinkler heads for installation of drop ceiling.
·         Install drop ceiling tight to the bottom of the ductwork.
·         Replace old incandescent fixtures with dimmable fluorescent lights using the existing lighting circuits.
·         Refinish floors.
·         Paint walls.
·         Install two 8’ white boards.
·         Install sound barriers between studios.
·         Install new audio-visual equipment.
·         Install new cabinets and benches for storage and seating.

Sound Studio and Media Lab:
Update from Michael Rasbury, Associate Professor of Sound Design:

I am pleased to report that ten Digital Performer software upgrades and nine QLab licenses were added to our teaching inventory with full support from the Arts Council’s Annual Fund.  Digital Performer is digital audio workstation software used by professionals working in film and theatre sound design.  Students in our program use this software to create original soundscapes and music for live performance. QLab is the industry standard for triggering the work created in digital audio workstation software in tandem with a live performance through our existing multi-channel sounds systems in our theatres. Digital Performer and QLab are now installed in our five-station, technology teaching lab in Room B010.  Both programs are also installed on our playback computers in the Helms and Culbreth Theatres.  Finally, two copies or each is installed on the computers in my office and are used for unscheduled teaching and independent studies occurring in my office. The Arts Council has generously supported my teaching with technology upgrades since 2005.  

Guest Artist Residency:

Olwen Fouéré, one of Ireland's major actresses, was a guest artist in residence in the Drama Department Oct. 26 through 30. Fouéré originated the role of Hester Swane in Marina Carr’s By the Bog of Cats at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. "The exposure of our students to Fouéré and her extensive experience to this form of theater-making was invaluable to our students, and especially to the M.F.A. students who have all taken a class we offer on devised work," said Kate Burke, associate professor of voice and speech. During her residency, Fouéré participated in a symposium arranged and moderated by Professor Burke entitiled, "Encountering the Other: The Irish Traveller," on Oct. 27 at 4 p.m. Additional symposium participants included Marc Conner, professor of English and modern Irish literature at Washington & Lee University; Peadar Little, a native Irish language speaker and teacher; Victor Luftig, U.Va. associate professor, Department of English, Irish Literature; and moderator Kate Burke, U.Va. associate professor of voice and speech. Fouéré also joined Marianne Kubik, associate professor of movement and director of By the Bog of Cats, and cast members in a post-show discussion on Oct. 28. And finally, Fouéré met with students one-on-one to talk about her experiences in relation to their theatre aspirations.

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