A unique Winter Session course on creating musical theatre will be offered in conjunction with the spring production of "Campus Chatter."

Creating musical theatre

Winter Session musical theatre course offered in conjunction with 'Campus Chatter'

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1:38 p.m., Nov. 25, 2014--A unique University of Delaware Winter Session course on creating musical theatre will be offered in conjunction with the spring production of Campus Chatter, an original work that looks at the life of contemporary college students.

The course, Campus Chatter: From Page to Stage, Creating Musical Theatre (MUSC/THEA 367) is designed for general UD students who have an interest in music productions, especially musical theatre.

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The four-week course, with 1-3 variable credits, will be offered in January by Xiang Gao, Trustees Distinguished Professor of Music and producing artistic director of the University’s acclaimed Master Players Concert Series.

It will focus on the history, creation, performance and professional hands-on preparation for Campus Chatter, which will have its world premiere at Mitchell Hall on the weekend of March 20, 2015. 

Students in the Harrington Theatre Arts Company, co-presenter of Campus Chatter, and general UD students will study under professional artists on the UD campus and participate in the creative process of a professional musical theatre production. Multiple scholarships are available.

As the producer and composer of Campus Chatter and teacher for the course, Gao said he will invite many guest lecturers who are professional musical theatre artists to work with the students. 

For questions related to the course and available scholarships, write to xiangg@udel.edu.

This is one of a variety of four- and five-week courses being offered this year during Winter Session. To learn about other offerings, click here

About the instructor 

The students will be privy to discussions with the instructor and professionals who have each created music, lyrics, librettos and visual design for at least two decades, and who will in turn mentor the students with their own creations.

Gao, who will direct and teach the course, is recognized as one of the world's most successful multifaceted musicians and concert producers of his generation from the People's Republic of China. His musical integrity and virtuoso technique have gained accolades from audiences and reviewers around the world, and he has performed for many world leaders. 

In October, Gao was presented the Delaware Governor’s Award for his contribution in the Arts. 

During this course, he will teach song writing, notation, arrangement, orchestration, concert producing, studio/demo recording (mixing, editing, and mastering) among many other aspects of producing an original musical or music production. 

About the guest lecturers

Joyce Hill Stoner, Edward F. and Elizabeth Goodman Rosenberg Professor in Material Culture at UD, conducted many of the interviews for Campus Chatter. She has taught at UD for 38 years, and was part of the Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop in New York City for five years. There, her classmates included Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Little Shop of Horrors), Maury Yeston (Nine, Titanic) and Ed Kleban (A Chorus Line). She has lectured often from her notes from that class and critiqued song lyrics. 

She has written music and/or lyrics for 22 musical theatre productions including four shows in New York City. I’ll Die if I Can’t Live Forever ran Off-Broadway and was called “the best mini-musical in town” by The New York Times, and has been published by Samuel French Inc.

Scott F. Mason, senior associate director, University Student Centers, has written over 20 theatrical productions, including a piece on campus diversity commissioned by the Provost’s Office and a script for Circulus, an event to raise awareness for the Delaware Foundation Reaching Citizens with Intellectual DisABILITIES. 

Mason has a master in education degree in college counseling, extensive experience in theatre, and has worked for the last 25 years in Student Life. He works with student organizations, fraternity and sorority life, and campus programming. 

Stoner and Mason have unique capabilities to lecture to and guide students about the creation of socially responsible theatre pieces. Mason (playwright) will teach three sessions:

  • Auditions: How to prepare for the stressful situation of auditioning- how to dress, choosing a monologue, cold readings, and helpful hints.
  • Directing: Focusing on the aspects of blocking a show and manipulation of height/depth and utilizing the “space.”
  • Writing a Script: Basic guidelines on how to take an idea to the page including a focus on characters, dialogue, and the importance of research on one’s topic.

Brian Touchette, director, has extensive experience with directing, set design, light and sound design and backstage roles such as props and stage management will teach the following sessions:

  • Director as collaborator: How a director creates an overall concept and works with other designers (set, light, sounds, costume, props, music director, choreographer) to create a coherent vision that stays within budget and on schedule.
  • Director and the actor: How a director makes decisions about casting and the role of a director in helping a cast build their character (from movement to body language to voice). 

William Browning, professor of theatre, regularly designs lighting and scenery for the Resident Ensemble Players (REP) productions at UD. Most recently he designed the scenery and lighting for the 2014 production of Faust. He has designed scenery and/or lighting for the Delaware Theatre Company, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, the Frankel Theatre and the Oulu City Theatre in Finland, Trier City Theatre in Germany, Next Generation Theatre, and Erie Playhouse. 

He also designed the lighting for iMusic5 and iMusic7 in the Master Players Concert Series and the set for the CNN national broadcast of the 2010 Delaware senatorial debates. 

Browning will be lecturing on set design and train student who are interested in the roles of stage managing and designs.

Jody Anderson was a principal dancer with the Kansas City Ballet for 16 years and had the honor of performing some of the greatest works of the 20th century. She was also hand picked by Alvin Ailey to perform as a guest artist with his company, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. 

Anderson is currently on the faculty of the Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia. An acclaimed choreographer, she will teach dance, choreography in musical theatre, and will train students how to dance in multiple styles, including students who are part of the Campus Chatter cast.

Marjory Eldreth is a professional music director and singing-actress. She has directed musical theatre productions in the area for over 20 years and will be sharing with the class her expertise in the area of music directing a new production and developing new songs with her cast.

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