The fall semester of my junior year is OVER! Here are a few shenanigans I was a part of this past semester:
- I was cast as a dancer in “Chicago”, and later took on the role of Dance Captain. I was responsible for giving choreography notes and organizing brush-up rehearsals.
- I was also cast in two Fredonia Dance Ensemble pieces: Angelika Summerton’s “Rhapsody”, and Jon Lehrer’s “Alliance.”
- Over Thanksgiving, I performed in “The Nutcracker” as a Party Adult, with the Neglia Ballet at Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo.
- In December, I was in the Orchesis “Winter Works” performance, which is a student-choreographed dance concert.
- My friend Tess Egloff and I were interviewed for the new department promo video!
- I was cast as the lead in two film projects with seniors in the film department. One of which is on YouTube (I dare you to find it!).
In terms of coursework, this was definitely a heavy semester for me. My acting classes were Shakespeare and Unarmed Stage Combat. Throughout the Shakespeare class, we learned about the style and form of performing Shakespeare’s works, and we applied it in the form of a monologue and three different scenes. Thanks to that class, I’m starting to realize how much I love the art form.
Unarmed Stage Combat was awesome. We started from scratch, worked on dozens of combinations and scenes in class, which culminated in our SAFD testing. SAFD stands for the Society of American Fight Directors, and we were tested in our unarmed proficiency. Everyone in both classes passed their certification, and I was able to get a Recommended Pass! Next semester I get to take the next step to Actor/Combatant, by testing in Armed Combat: Rapier & Dagger.
To supplement my minor in Dance, I took Choreography I, Ballet II, and Modern II. Choreography was a special challenge, since I had almost no experience in it at all. Once I got used to it, I was able to learn more about myself as a dancer, and my personal movement preferences. Next semester I will be taking Choreography II, and continuing my technique education with Jazz II and Ballet II.
Other highlights of the upcoming semester are Ballroom Dance and Musical Theatre Styles I. Musical Theatre Styles will be the first truly multi-disciplinary course I take here at Fredonia, where my classmates and I will be able to use our skills that we have been developing over the past three years, and put it toward one final product.
My departmental commitments will be the test of what I have learned at school so far. “Stop the World – I Want to Get Off” is the first production, in mid-March. I will play a Cockney Everyman character, who takes a journey from tea-boy to Parliamentary politician, making his way through the “Seven Stages of Man” (as outlined in Shakespeare’s “As You Like It”). The amount of work I have to do in this show is more than I have ever had to do for a show! Between the massive amount of monologuing and dialogue and the vocal demands tailored specifically to Anthony Newley’s incredible instrument, I have a lot on my plate.
In February, I will be auditioning at the StrawHat Auditions in New York City for summerstock employment. I auditioned last year, so I have a little more experience, but the companies are casting for completely different seasons. It is bound to be a completely different experience.
At the end of the semester, my final commitment will take place: The annual Fredonia Dance Ensemble concert. I may even be auditioning for an Honors Voice Recital (which is primarily classical voice), depending on how busy this upcoming semester turns out to be! This is shaping up to be my most exciting semester yet!!!
Until then!
Steve Russell
