| The CLIR-funded course Museum Theatre (TH 414), a collaboration between the UB Department of Theatre and Dance and the Buffalo Museum of Science, debuted in Spring 2004. The 17 students (theatre majors and minors, as well as one business student and one student interested in museum studies) functioned as an artistic production team, researching, writing, designing, building, and producing short plays on the theme of invention, which were performed at the museum for three days near the end of the semester. Over those three days, the students performed for probably 200-300 people.Audience response was very positive. And the students, most of whom had not known each other at the beginning of the semester, had evolved into a strong and supportive ensemble. Their pride in and ownership of the project was wonderful to see. |
Eric Breindel and Craig Chapman run lines «backstage» at the Buffalo Museum of Science |
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Surrounded by Egyptian pictures, the cast hangs out between performances. |
After several class sessions devoted to exploring other museum theatre plays, doing improvisations, reporting on research about inventions and brainstorming possible show ideas, the class began creating "The Invention Plays," which included: "Dottie's Trip Through Buffalo" - written by David Stearns and Anna Brenner, directed by David Stearns, costumes by Julie Rautenstrauch, set design and construction by Craig Chapman (with help from other class members). |
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