| DPA students shine during open house 
Photos by Jeff Watts
From the young saxophonist in the recital hall to the vivacious thespians down the hall, the Katzen Arts Center was brimming with talent last Wednesday during the Department of Performing Arts’ first annual open house. During the three-hour event, student performances were critiqued by DPA faculty, and visitors sat in on monologue coaching and music master classes. “It was very helpful to perform for and receive feedback from the faculty,” said vocalist Laura Petravage ’07, who performed with pianist E. Justin Simone and violist John Harrison Akins. “[They] gave us some great comments and ideas that will give us new focus and drive as we work on the piece. [The] event was a wonderful opportunity for us as student performers to learn from experienced musicians.” Christy Washington ’08, who stopped by the open house between classes, was impressed with the space and the students. “Katzen is beautiful,” she said, and proof of “American’s commitment to the arts.” Washington also noted the attention to detail on the costumes, sketches, and fabric swatches from Into the Woods and Antigone, which were displayed throughout the building’s airy lobby. Meanwhile, in the Studio Theatre, students in Carl Menninger’s fundamentals of acting class performed their monologues for the visitors. Clutching the back of a black, folding chair, Asher Huey ’07 listened intently as his classmates offered their critique of his monologue from The Crucible. “Great focus,” said one. “Nice connection to the listener,” volunteered another. Menninger then walked Huey through an exercise to help the young actor discover “the moment before” and give him a sense of his character’s emotional baggage. After identifying a person in Huey’s life who causes him the same frustration his character experiences, he delivered the monologue again, this time with more depth and complexity. “Wow,” offered one classmate. “That was so much better.” —AF |
