USU Theatre group plans trip to England
The summer of 2004 saw USU Theatre students again in Northampton, England doing what theatre students do best; act up! Last year’s vehicle was the Broadway hit Enchanted April, set in both England and Italy. Students spent FIVE months abroad researching (in England & Italy), and rehearsing on the University College Northampton campus, in the middle of some of the finest English countryside imaginable, a one-hour train ride north from London. At term’s end the production performed on two beautiful and prestigous estates, in Lamport Hall’s traditional gardens, and throughout the manor house at Kelmarsh Hall.
Operated by UCM through BYU, this year’s travel/study trip follows the rehearsal/performance and sightseeing pattern of previous years’ Pride & Prejudice (2002) and A Woman of No Importance (2003). All the excitement, creativity and exploration will revolve around a production of Richard Sheridan’s The Rivals, an 18th century comedy of manners set in Bath, a city en route to many others the students will visit during their stay in country. Roles are still available, so if you’ve a dream to act in England, now’s your chance! Last year’s lucky thespians were Chris Hudson, Amanda Beatty, Gail Hendricks, Logan Miller, Sylvia Loehndorf, Laura Sorenson, and Alicia Rutkowski. This July 8, the summer school’s starting date, will find Utah State’s Libbi Heap as Lydia, Elizabeth Stancliffe as Lady Absolute, Nancee Farrer as Lucy, Rebecca Johnson as Julia, and Lynnette Turner Parry as Mrs. Malaprop, in the single room w/bath, kitchen accommodation (plus maid service!) dorms on the UCN campus, rehearsing morning and night in the spacious, glass/wood rehearsal dance room not far away, all in anticipation of their August production premiere dates on estate sites. Vacationing in central England? They’ll reserve a ticket for you!
All-day Friday trips to Bath, Stratford, Warwick Castle, Stonehedge, Oxford/Bleinheim, plus an entire week in London proper, highlight an already expansive syllabus of sensational study/travel experiences. Students will see plays at the Royal Shakespearean Company, the Globe Theatre, and see such exciting actors as Vanessa Redgrave, Kevin Spacey, Ralph Fiennes, Ewan McGregor and David Schwimmer in vechicles as diverse as Hecuba, Guys and Dolls, Julius Caesar, The Philadelphia Story and Neil LaBute’s This is How It Goes. By the way, we’re traveling with our own “star vehicle” this year, Lynnette Turner Parry. Since Utah State, Lynnette has played Belle on Disney Cruise Lines, traveled with Lee Greenwood and headlined in Dollywood!
Research and writing in, around and about London’s chief historical venues, including The Victoria and Albert Museum, national galleries, British Museum, theatre museum, etc., will keep students centered in a field experience that actually has the potential of including all they see and hear (students will perform with an appropriate British accent learned by listening to and socializing with natives!) in their final testing arena, on stage. Nancy Hills, Utah State Theatre costume designer, will fit all actors with historically accurate costumes, and Dennis Hassan, Utah State Theatre design professor, provides props for a true “virtual reality” adventure. Says director Lynda Linford, “It’s like being in a painting instead of looking at one, in a Merchant/Ivory historical extravaganza, not merely sitting in a movie seat watching it…heady stuff!
Those interested should contact Linford at llinford@hass.usu.edu. “Great trip, great theatre, great price, great companions!”