Disaster, chaos and discovery

trevor.kenney — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 16:16:30 +0000

Virus plagues city, thousands quarantined, food shortages expected . . . When disaster strikes and chaos spreads, the lines of society may be redrawn, flipped upside down, or erased all together. Down From Heaven by Colleen Wagner explores the power struggles and relationships that either grow or break when the world changes for the worse.

The first production in this year’s TheatreXtra’s season, Down From Heaven plays Sept. 26-28 at 8 p.m. nightly, with a 2 p.m. matinée on Sept. 28 in the David Spinks Theatre. This deeply introspective drama is sure to provoke and entice audiences.

Down From Heaven plays Sept. 26-28 in the David Spinks Theatre.

Directed by third-year BFA Dramatic arts major Erinn Watson, this is a play she envisioned being a part of since reading it during her course work.

“There’s a moment in the script where two characters are talking to each other through a metal grate, and I could see it so clearly, I knew I wanted to direct it and so proposed it for TheatreXtra’s season,” says Watson.

Inspired by the SARS outbreak in 2003, Canadian playwright Colleen Wagner’s play revolves around a small fictional family, trapped in its basement due to an international virus outbreak.

Without access to information or food, beyond what their gardener-turned-secret policeman is willing to provide them, the family struggles to survive. The play has mature content.

“The events that occur in the play could happen tomorrow, next week or a year from now,” muses Watson. “Disaster will strike someday and this play strikes at what I think a lot of us fear greatly: having no control over our own situation, and being forced to rely on someone we are not sure we can trust.”

Tickets for TheatreXtra’s first production of the season are available at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Box Office (open Monday to Friday 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., or by calling 403-329-2616).

Individual tickets are priced at $12 regular admission, $10 seniors/alumni and $8 students.

Summer camp fun just around the corner

trevor.kenney — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:13:28 +0000

Pull out your paintbrushes and throw on your stage make-up: Fine Arts Summer Camps are back!

Last year's art and drama camp instructors have signed on for another exciting year of creativity and collaboration with children aged 7-16.

Drama camp instructors, and current ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge drama/education students, Erinn Watson and Elyse Whittaker are excited to spend the summer creating new and exciting plays.

"I'm so excited for this summer," says Watson, returning for her third year with the camps. "Every week I look forward to seeing the students' hard work presented on a working university stage, complete with costumes, lights and sound."

All the art and drama camp instructors are back for another year of creativity and collaboration.

Erinn and Elyse's enthusiasm for theatre and passion for sharing that energy with kids is immediately contagious. They've already been hard at work planning themes for each week including Kids in Blue (a parody of Men in Black), When I Grow Up (an exploration of career possibilities) and The Mother Goose Tales (a series of vignettes from classic Mother Goose Rhymes).

They have also come up with something new for this year – the final week of camps for 12-16 year-olds (Aug 12-16), students will have the opportunity to create their own viral video.

Art camp instructors Meagan Foreman and Michelle Sylvestre, also current art/education students, are looking forward to another summer inspiring students through the lives of famous artists and working with a variety of art mediums. Hands-on activities get the students involved in sculpture, painting, drawing and creating. Each week wraps up with a formal exhibition to present to friends and family.

Fine Arts camps at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge are unique in that they take place in real art and drama settings. Drama camps take place in the David Spinks Theatre, equipped with full stages, lights, sound, costumes and more. Art camps take place in one of the art studios, equipped with all the inspiration, tools and guidance needed to inspire artists of any level.

If you have questions about camps please call 403-329-2691 or 403-329-2227. Registration is now open for ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge weekly summer camps. Fees include all camp materials, camp t-shirt and lunch each day. Visit www.uleth.ca/sportrec to register today.

This story first appeared in the May 2013 edition of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

UNews - Erinn Watson

Disaster, chaos and discovery

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Summer camp fun just around the corner

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