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It's About Being Real
October 27, 2008
The greatness of a society is often judged by its commitment to the arts; Greece, China, Rome, and now Rollins. Over the past few weeks, the Theatre Department has been in a flurry of activity.
 My roommate Mike Mastry, is a theatre major and a member of the Rollins Improv Players (RIP). RIP is a troupe of students who study improvisational comedy under Assistant Professor of Theater Arts & Dance David Charles.
They perform short form improv exercises, long form shows, as well as a wildly successful improvised murder mystery last year entitled "Murder We Wrote." This past week, RIP performed a long form show composed of scenes based in part on the audience’s suggestions. I once asked Mike if it was difficult to practice being funny for hours at a time. “It’s not about being funny,” he said, “it’s about being real.” The other day I got to help Mike practice being real by running lines with him for his next play. Mike is starring in the upcoming production of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize winning drama Rabbit Hole in the Fred Stone Theatre.
 My friend Joseph Bromfield just finished starring in a show in the Annie Russell Theatre entitled Doubt: A Parable. He played a priest accused of molesting a child. I really enjoyed that the audience is allowed to explore their own doubts about his guilt or innocence. My friends and I had lively debate as to the merits of each side.
I personally concluded his innocence, but maybe that’s just because Joseph portrayed the priest as such a believable character. His next role is even more prestigious; he co-wrote and will be directing a play in the Fred Stone Theatre. For his Honors thesis, Joseph researched the life of Annie Russell and co-wrote the play Stage Fright with Associate Professor and Director of the Theater & Dance program Jennifer Cavenaugh.
Joseph described the play as “historical fiction set in turn-of-the-century New York City about Annie Russell, but more than that, it is about the struggle to break out of mediocrity, to transcend the status quo. In Annie's case that meant finding a role that would challenge her and let her display all of her talent--so the basic plot is Annie Russell fighting to play the role of Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" against her manager's wishes.”
Rollins’ encouragement of personal expression allows the Theatre Department to push the envelope in terms of provocative and engaging entertainment.
| More about Daniel... Daniel has been involved with a wide range of activities over his first three years at Rollins. He has worked for Residential Life, the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership, the Dean of the Faculty, the Admissions Department and the Office of Public Relations & Communications.
Daniel has also taken advantage of the many opportunities for co-curricular education. He traveled to New Orleans with Rollins Relief and to Australia for a semester abroad. Daniel describes involvement at Rollins by saying, “Rollins has so many amazing opportunities for personal growth. I hope that my entries will help new students find everything they’re looking for.”
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Daniel's R-Journal archives:
| Date |
Link |
| April 22, 2009 |
Cheering On the Magic Men |
| April 05, 2009 |
Like It's Going Out Of Style |
| March 24, 2009 |
Don't Drink the Water |
| March 03, 2009 |
Classy Ladies |
| February 21, 2009 |
Mandatory Fun Time |
| February 06, 2009 |
A Hand Up |
| January 25, 2009 |
Climb Your Mountain |
| November 22, 2008 |
Not Confined to the Classroom |
| November 05, 2008 |
We The People |
| October 27, 2008 |
It's About Being Real |
| September 25, 2008 |
Back in the Swing |
| September 18, 2008 |
Growing My Own Way |
| May 20, 2008 |
End of Days |
| May 20, 2008 |
LEAD Team |
| April 21, 2008 |
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year |
| April 01, 2008 |
Chillin' at Rollins |
| March 18, 2008 |
Residential Life |
| January 27, 2008 |
Home Again |
| December 12, 2007 |
Australian Field Trips Provide Exploration & Insight |
| December 12, 2007 |
Australia: So Close, Yet So Far Away |
| December 12, 2007 |
Rollins Provides a Whole New World of Opportunity |
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