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Lycoming College theatre students learn from professionals at the 2018 Shaw Festival

Lycoming College theatre students learn from professionals at the 2018 Shaw Festival

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Lycoming College theatre department faculty and students attended a jam-packed professional trip to the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Oct. 11-14, for one of Canada's premiere professional theatre companies.

The trip is at the core of THEA 246: Fall Theatre Colloquium course. This year, 12 Lycoming students either majoring or minoring in theatre were accompanied by Biliana Stoytcheva-Horissian, Ph.D., associate professor of theatre and chair of the department, and C. Austin Hill, Ph.D., visiting assistant professor of theatre.

The group saw “The Magician’s Nephew,” “Grant Hotel,” “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” and “Henry V” in the Festival Theatre and the Studio Theatre. In addition, they attended a backstage tour of the Festival Theatre and participated in a specialized workshop for the productions of “The Magician’s Nephew” with ensemble member David Andrew Reid. The workshop was followed by conversations about rehearsal process, unique challenges in performance, professional training, and Shaw Festival production season and casting.  

“Our annual trip to the Shaw Festival provides a unique and exceptionally valuable opportunity for our students to immerse themselves in professional theatre experiences that perfectly complement their studies at Lycoming College while viewing productions of remarkable quality,” said Stoytcheva-Horissian.

“The Shaw Festival is an amazing experience. Collectively, you get to experience a different culture, see a variety of breath-taking shows done by a world renowned theatre company, and experience haunted houses or whatever cool attractions Niagara-On-The-Lake has to offer, all while fostering close relationships with your peers and mentors,” theatre major Nicholas Auletti ’20 (East Quogue, N.Y.) explained.

The following Lycoming students were also in attendance:

  • Sara Altieri ’21 (New Castle, Pa.) – theatre major; French minor
  • Esmeralda Cabrera ’20 (North Hollywood, Calif.) – theatre and corporate communication major
  • Daniel Egan ’20 (Upper Darby, Pa.) – business and corporate communication major; theatre minor
  • Amanda Goulden ’20 (Wharton, N.J.) – film and video art major; theatre and music minor
  • Caleia Hagwood ’21 (Bridgeport, Pa.) – theatre major
  • Makenzy LeFever ’19 (Williamsport) – theatre major
  • Taylor O'Brien ’20 (Marlin, Pa.) – corporate communications major; theatre minor
  • Briana Rumsey ’19 (Waldwick, N.J.) – theatre major
  • Jennifer Spencer ’20 (Philadelphia) – theatre major
  • A'Feyah Smith ’20 (Palestina, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands) – theatre major; photography minor
  • Ahlyah Williams ’19 (Queens, N.Y.) – theatre major; music minor

With 10 or more productions each year performed in four theatres for an audience of more than 250,000, the Shaw Festival has grown to become a major Canadian cultural icon, a gem in its rich cultural heritage. Inspired by the wit and passion of Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival is a contemporary theatre that features a smart, provocative, potent and diverse mix of plays from the past and present, performed by our celebrated repertory theatre ensemble.

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