Accomplishments
2015 Summer Productions by Theatre Arts Faculty
Two Theatre Arts professors are producing exciting things in the summer of 2015! Lisa Tromovitch will be directing William Shakespeare's As You Like It as the second production in the 2015 Livermore Shakespeare Festival, taking place in their new location at Wente Vineyards Estate and Wine Tasting Room. As You Like It runs from July - August 2015. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the official LSF website at http://www.livermoreshakes.org.
Cathie McClellan will be producing the fifth year of the grand celebration that is DeltaFusion. This year's celebration is titled "Stockton Steaming Ahead" and will take place on Saturday, June 27, 2015 from 5:00pm-8:00pm in Victory Park, Stockton, CA. For more information and how you can get involved, visit the DeltaFusion website.
Cathie McClellan, Costume Designer for PCPA's Peter and the Star Catcher
During Theatre Arts professor Cathie McClellan's sabbatical semester in Spring 2015, she worked as the costume designer for Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA)'s production of Peter and the Star Catcher! Check out the press release here: http://www.pcpa.org/starcatcherpr.html.
Another Successful Summer at the Livermore Shakespeare Festival
Theatre Arts professors Lisa Tromovitch and Gary Armagnac collaborated again at the 2013 Livermore Shakespeare Festival. Tromovitch directed the comedy "The Liar" by David Ives, adapted by Pierre Cornielle. Armagnac directed one of William Shakespeare's beloved comedies, The Taming of the Shrew. Included in the cast was William J. Wolack, professor emeritus from University of the Pacific's Department of Theatre Arts. More information about the festival and its future productions can be found at http://www.livermoreshakes.org.
Macelle Mahala, A Published Author
Associate Professor Macelle Mahala can officially add "published author" to her already impressive resume. Published in 2013, Penumbra: The Premier Stage for African American Drama explores the remarkable history of the nation's foremost African American theatre company. Robbie McCauley from Emerson College writes, "Macelle Mahala's Penumbra deconstructs the knee-jerk assumption that African American theaters are limited rather than positively significant. The book's rich weave places Penumbra Theatre Company at the center of a story that connects to core aspects of this country's culture and the diverse range of mores, triumphs, and contradictions with which black people live and make theater. Analytically grounded, the book presents a wide scope of views on black theater. It's an engrossing read." For more information on the book, visit http://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/penumbra.
Lisa Tromovitch recognized by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors
Theater Arts Professor Lisa Tromovitch will be recognized by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors with a 2012 Arts Leadership Award for her work with Livermore Shakespeare Festival. The commendation ceremony, which is free and open to the public, will be held on Tuesday, October 2, 10:45am at the Alameda County Administration Building, 1221 Oak Street, Oakland. This coincides with the County's celebration of California Arts Day and National Arts and Humanities Month.
Join the DeltaFusion Celebration July 23!
Cathie McClellan and Brett DeBoer (Visual Arts) successfully organized the first ever DeltaFusion festival. DeltaFusion is a celebration of Stockton's rich cultural heritage, and was funded in part by a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment of the Arts and Pacific Grant.
Lisa Tromovich directed and Randall Enlow did the scenic design for the Livermore Shakespeare Festival performance of "Macbeth."
Professor Enlow Recognized for His Dedication to Teaching
Rand Enlow, whose "office door is always open and cell phone always on," was a recipient of the Podesto Award given annually by Student Life to faculty members who have touched the lives of students. In addition, Professor Enlow received the Faculty/Staff of the Month Award in March from the National Residence Hall Honorary, an organization that Theatre Arts student and Resident Assistant Kristen Bloom participates in. She noted in her nomination submission the challenges he faced that month working on the set for "The Threepenney Opera" while his father fell seriously ill. She wrote, "Rand deserves nothing but a medal of honor for the dedication he showed to his family, the University, his students, and the show—all the time with a positive and professional attitude."
Professor Mahala Has Article Published in Theatre Topics
Macelle Mahala had her article "Black Nativity as Valence of Cultural Survival" published in the journal Theatre Topics.
Faculty and Students Participate in Region VII Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival
Professors Cathie McClellan, Gary Armagnac and Lisa Tromovitch presented workshops at the annual Region VII Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival held at Humboldt State University February 14-18, 2011.
- Professors Armagnac and Tromovitch taught "Working in Production with Shakespeare's First Folio."
- Professor McClellan presented tips on creating 19th century hairstyles in the workshop "Beyond Braids and Buns," and costume-design tips in the workshop "Straight Lines and Curves, or, That T-Mobile Striped Dress."
Emeritus William J. Wolak to Star in "A Life in the Theatre"
Theatre Arts emeritus William J. Wolak stars in David Mamet's A Life in the Theatre, March 31 - April 23, 2011, at the Bothwell Arts Center in Livermore. The show is produced by Shakespeare's Associates. Professor Lisa Tromovitch, Theatre Arts, is Artistic Director of the company. Visit www.LivermoreShakes.org for more information.
Professor Tromovitch to Chair Shakespeare Theatre Association Committee
Professor Lisa Tromovitch was elected to a two-year term as Chair of the Artistic Committee of the Shakespeare Theatre Association at the annual conference January 7-10, 2011. The organization changed its name from "Shakespeare Theatre Association of America" to "Shakespeare Theatre Association" to reflect its international membership.
Livermore Shakespeare Festival a Success
Theatre Arts professors Lisa Tromovitch and Gary Armagnac collaborated this summer at the Livermore Shakespeare Festival, with Ms. Tromovitch directing Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing and Mr. Armagnac directing Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Theatre Arts students and faculty members were involved in the productions. The festival, which takes place on the lovely grounds of Concannon Vineyards in Livermore, CA, received praise from patrons and reviewers alike. Read more
Professor Mahala Presents at Association for Theatre in Higher Education Conference
Professor Macelle Mahala presented the paper "Black Nativity as Valence of Cultural Survival" and her original performance piece, "Right Practice; Or, Which Way to the Good Life?" at the Association for Theatre in Higher Education national conference in Los Angeles in August 2010.
Professor Enlow Wins Willie Award from Stockton Civic Theatre
Professor Randall Enlow won Best Set Design at the Stockton Civic Theatre's annual Willie Awards for his design of "The Producers."