Theatre's Directors' Debut Series, Dance Senior Studio, & Other Events

Theatre's Directors' Debut Series, Dance Senior Studio, & Other CAM Events
October 27, 2022
Coordinated by Nifemi Bola
CAM Media Contact: Jackie Swan

"American Son" by Christopher Demos-Brown
Presented by the Department of Theatre & Musical Theatre
Directed by Javon Rougely
Nov. 1 & 3, 2022 | 7:30 p.m. each evening
Nov. 5, 2022 | 2 p.m. matinee
Showcase Theatre, University Theatre Center
Contains adult content.

"American Son" follows an estranged bi-racial couple who must confront their feelings about race and bias after their son is detained by the local police following a traffic stop incident. Their disparate histories and backgrounds inform their assumptions as they try to find out what happened to their son.

Tickets are available on the Box Office website for $12 in advance and $15 the week of the event. Season passes for $99 include 10 events of choice per year. SHSU students, faculty, and staff may redeem one free ticket per event with a valid Sam ID. Student tickets will be available the week of the event. Restrictions may apply. Contact the Box Office for details. www.shsutickets.com

"Betrayal" by Harold Pinter
Presented by the Department of Theatre & Musical Theatre
Directed by Sharif Goodlette
Nov. 2, 4, & 5, 2022 | 7:30 p.m. each evening
Showcase Theatre, University Theatre Center
Contains adult content.

Traveling backward through time, "Betrayal" exposes all three sides of the romantic triangle between a married couple and their best friend. Truths get laid bare as lies are revealed and the danger grows, from the end of the affair to the first flirtation.

"It's All A Blur"
A Senior Studio Concert
Presented by the Department of Dance
Nov. 3–5, 2022 | 8 p.m. each evening
Dance Theater, Gaertner Performing Arts Center
Programs will vary each night and may contain elements of haze and strobe lighting.

"It's All A Blur" is an ensemble of dynamic choreography created by the 2022–2023 dance senior class. Together, they have created a concert full of novel ideas, raw athleticism, and never-before-seen dance that transports you into the imagination of each choreographer. Get a taste of everything with a diverse line-up that boasts a variety of ideas, from urban legends to the analyzation of time and space, to the celebration of music.

Program A (Nov. 3 & 4)

“Channels” choreographed by Madison Manning
This piece shows the process of spiraling through different networks, not knowing what comes next, and entails different moods and stylistic movements.

“Taken By The Sun, Brought Back By The Moon” choreographed by Danielle Shaw
This piece encompasses what it means to view life from the outside and features ten dancers who bring audience members on a journey of a lifetime, showing the moments of curiosity, chaos, and natural human emotions that we may or may not realize we feel.

“Illusive Dreams” choreographed by Olivia Westerburg
This piece explores the idea of recurring patterns in human thought. Through dynamic shifts and expansive moments, this piece will pull audience members into an ominous and disorienting state that will linger throughout the work.

“Not My Own” choreographed by Rebekah Evans
Four dancers will tell the story of strength and brokenness through movement and music based on Evans’ personal journey with loss and resilience.

“Life is a Simulation” choreographed by Zinnia Havelka
A daring and captivating piece exploring life's intricacies and those times of self-realization, this piece draws inspiration from the video game, The Sims, and explores athletic, comedic, and tense themes throughout the work. Experience the Theory of the Uncanny Valley and the separation of a person from the mundane everyday routine.

Program B (Nov. 3 & 5)

“Existing Is Not Living” choreographed by Pierce Pennington
This piece intentionally embraces the human heartbeat to carry an unseen feeling through physicality, undeniable emotions, and raw connection. This piece offers an experience of movement unleashed, and a release of emotion that is undefinable and evokes an overwhelming sense of a hidden burden that lacks words to convey.

“Don’t Think Just Think” choreographed by Megan Robinson
Thoughts never seem to cease and this piece explores how a restless mind can lead on to feel detached and dissociated from the world. Dancers portray a multitude of racing ideas through short, sporadic gestures, and unanticipated movements.

“Skinned Blueprints” choreographed by Maria Perez
Inspired by movement patterns that oxygen takes inside the body, this piece utilizes dynamic change, both physically and mentally. Dancers are challenged to dive into a world where breathing controls and overpowers fatigue. Perez hopes the audience will feel connected on the same rhythm and wave as the dancers.

“Velvet Rodeo” choreographed by Carolynn Rose
Inspired by Western industry entertainment, this piece captivates the audience through the alluring country aesthetic and concludes with an enthusiastic and upbeat song that will have everyone moving along. The movement in this piece displays the sultry and playfulness of a woman through the women of country music.

“Let Us In” choreographed by Justin Curry
Inspired by the urban legend of the Black Eyed Children, this piece travels into the dark corners of the macabre in an attempt to escape from the looming human-like entities watching from a distance. This wildly thrilling and nail-biting production takes aim at the question: How do you get away if they’re already here?

Program C (Nov. 4 & 5)

“Intermittent” choreographed by Mackenzie Laflamme
This piece explores the concept of how changing the time or rate of movement contrasts with the steady flow of the music.

“Brick by Brick” choreographed by Meghan Billey
This piece explores the meanings behind Pink Floyd’s album The Wall and showcases the understanding that humans potentially build theoretical and protective walls around themselves from past experiences that change them and also provide a way to relate to one another.

“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” choreographed by Madelyn Kraynik
Travel back to the ‘70s with a piece that showcases how movement can emphasize or contrast the undertones in a song. Kraynik explores how to enhance the qualities and textures in music that listeners may overlook and encourages dancers to find artistic freedom in the way they interpret the song and find joy in performing this piece. Page Break

“The Door” choreographed by Sophie Tiede
Tiede explores the many paths life has to offer and its unpredictability in this piece through her stylized and smooth movement on stage.

School of Music Events

The School of Music hosts a variety of ticketed and non-ticketed performances throughout each academic year. The following performances are ticketed. For a full list of all School of Music events, visit shsu.edu/camevents.

Fall All Choirs Concert
Nov. 1, 2022 | 7:30 p.m.
Payne Concert Hall, Gaertner Performing Arts Center

Symphony Orchestra Concert
Nov. 3, 2022 | 7:30 p.m.
Payne Concert Hall, Gaertner Performing Arts Center

Wind Ensemble & Symphonic Band Concert
Nov. 15, 2022 | 7:30 p.m.
Payne Concert Hall, Gaertner Performing Arts Center

Department of Mass Communication

As part of the SHSU Common Reader program which provides students with an annually selected book, the Department of Mass Communication hosts an annual film festival to recognize students for their film submissions that are based on the theme of the book. This event is free to attend and no ticket is required. For a full list of all Department of Mass Communication events, visit shsu.edu/camevents.

7th Annual Mass Communication Common Reader Film Festival
Nov. 16, 2022 | 6 p.m.
Olson Auditorium, Academic Building IV

Department of Art Exhibitions

The Department of Art hosts a variety of exhibitions throughout each academic year that are free to view during gallery hours. The following exhibition will be on display in the University Gallery, which is open Monday–Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For a full list of all Department of Art exhibitions, visit shsu.edu/camevents.

63rd Annual Faculty Exhibition
Works by SHSU Department of Art Faculty
Oct. 16 – Nov. 23, 2022
University Gallery, Dana G. Hoyt Fine Arts Building