Recent News
October News
Oct 9, 2018
Events in October
Theatre Program Alumni Talkbacks/Workshops Alumni
programming that brings students together with alums from a variety of professions
- Real Talk with Trinity – How everything you’ve learned now actually matters
Trinity Smith (’17); Friday, October 5 from 12:00-1:30pm - #UsToo – Women graduates working and applying their theatre education into careers
Sarah Claspell (’05), Anna Gebauer (’12), Melissa Frye (’15), Jennifer Nelson (’14), Krista Schoenbaum (’07), Amanda Sitko (’03); Friday, October 26 from 2:00-4:00pm
Theatre Program Professional Workshop Series 2018-2019
- Act Like It’s Your Business – Branding for Artists Led by Jonathan Flom Friday, October 5 from 2:00-5:00pm
"Intelligence in the Arts"
- Dr. Matthew Henley Friday, October 19 from 2:10-3pm Cal Poly Warren J. Baker Center for Science and Mathematics (Building 180, Room 101)
A special lecture sponsored by the Cal Poly College of Liberal Arts and Theatre and Dance Department. In this lecture, Dr. Matthew Henley will discuss philosophical, cognitive, and neuroscientific justifications for viewing artistic practice and arts education as environments for the manifestation of intelligence. Adopting a neurodiversity framework, Dr. Henley will frame the revaluation of artistic ways of knowing and being in the world as a diversity and inclusion strategy, leveraging individual aptitudes in the arts as a way to support academic, professional, and personal success.
Cal Poly Theatre Program Los Angeles Alumni Mixer
- Friday, October 19 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Everson Royce Bar, 1936 East 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021
"Intelligence in the Arts" lecture this October
Sep 19, 2018
Guest Lecture Title: Intelligence in the Arts
Speaker: Dr. Matthew Henley
When: Friday, October 19 from 2:10-3pm
Location: Cal Poly Warren J. Baker Center for Science and Mathematics (Building 180, Room 101)
Who should attend: Arts Educators, Advocates and Artists of all genres
A special lecture sponsored by the Cal Poly College of Liberal Arts and Theatre and Dance Department.
In this lecture, Dr. Matthew Henley will discuss philosophical, cognitive, and neuroscientific justifications for viewing artistic practice and arts education as environments for the manifestation of intelligence. Adopting a neurodiversity framework, Dr. Henley will frame the revaluation of artistic ways of knowing and being in the world as a diversity and inclusion strategy, leveraging individual aptitudes in the arts as a way to support academic, professional, and personal success.
More information about Dr. Henley's research can be found in this Dance Magazine article: https://www.dancemagazine.com/dance-intelligence-2555975939.html
“His goal? For starters, he hopes his research will affirm that dance students are smart. 'Dancers sometimes feel dumb because we don't have access to language in the way that other people do,’ Henley says. He theorizes this is because many dancers process things holistically and spatially, rather than linearly and logically (which are typically more valued in our culture).” - Jennifer Stahl, Dance Magazine Dr. Matthew Henley, M.F.A., Ph.D., received a B.A. in religious studies and B.F.A. in dance at the University of Arizona where he studied with Dr. John M. Wilson. While in Tucson, Matt worked with Orts Theater of Dance, an aerial modern dance company. After graduating in 2001 he moved to NYC and began working with Randy James Dance Works for whom he taught extensively throughout the NJ and NY public school systems. In 2004 Matt became a member of the Sean Curran Company where he danced until moving to Seattle in 2008. In 2010 he completed the M.F.A. in dance at the University of Washington. In 2013 Matt completed the Ph.D. in Educational Psychology: Learning Sciences and Human Development, also at the University of Washington. His dissertation investigated perceptual-cognitive skills associated with dance. His research, more broadly, focuses on the relationship between movement and the brain, the role of the body in cognition and idea expression, and the cognitive and social-emotional benefits of an arts education. Dr. Henley is an assistant professor in the Department of Dance at Texas Woman’s University.
Facebook event link
Questions? Please feel free to email Prof. Christy Chand.
September News
Sep 10, 2018
Events in September
- TRUST FALL Auditions – Sunday, September 23. Actors: 5:00p-7:45p in Building 45, #212. Puppeteers & puppeteer/actors: 8:00p-10:30p in Building 45, #206. Scripts available in the Theatre and Dance Dept. office: Bldg. 45, #10
- ORCHESIS Auditions. A Mandatory Information meeting is held on Tuesday, 9/25 at 6:10 pm. Auditions on Thursday, 9/27 - dancers learn and perform short combinations in the Ballet, Modern & Contemporary Jazz
Student Accomplishments
- Theatre Major Kathryn Curran (’19) is finishing up her internship with SLO Repertory Theatre. In the fall, she will be assistant directing/assistant stage managing their ACT show, Pride and Prejudice.
Faculty Accomplishments
- Over a ten-year period, Prof. Al Schnupp created a series of assemblages - each inspired by a single classic, contemporary or original play. Each piece is 44 inches by 44 inches by 5 inches. He attempted to capture the mood, theme, characters, metaphors, and key ideas from each play. Materials include wood, paper, paint, plastic, metal, glass, found objects and crafted objects. Works also incorporate text, printed images, manipulated images and miniature scenography. The entire collection can be seen on his website www.playsanddesigns.com under the heading “Theatre Gallery." Actors Theatre of Louisville has assumed ownership of 16 pieces of the series (3 other assemblages are in private collections). Actors Theatre of Louisville is a highly-regarded regional theatre. In 1980, it received the Special Tony Award as an outstanding non-profit resident theatre. The company premiered three Pulitzer Prize-winning plays, as well as nineteen Pulitzer finalists.
August News
Sep 4, 2018
Student Accomplishments
- Dance Minor Sarah Dirk performed as an apprentice with Interweave Dance Theatre in Boulder, Colorado. She also performed a new solo she created called “Tunnel Vision”, as well as the work of three other choreographers in the final performance of the Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop that took place between July 22 and August 4. She participated in both BJDW and the Commercial Dance Intensive.
- Dance Minor Marin Govett participated in the Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop and the Commercial Dance Intensive from July 20 to August 4.
- 12 Students from across the University (including TH Majors and Minors) with Smile and Nod performed during the whole month of August in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/california-backstage)
Faculty/Staff Accomplishments
- Associate Prof. Christy Chand taught multiple jazz and choreographic process classes while also resetting a piece of choreography for the student show, which she also co-directed for the 40th Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop from July 22 -August 4. She also taught for the two-day Commercial Dance Intensive that preceded BJDW. Christy performed with and presented a new piece of choreography for Interweave Dance Theatre in her 16th season as an IDT dancer.
- inclusIVitY - the Ivy Bottini Story, an original play by Prof. Al Schnupp, was produced at Emerald Theatre Company in Memphis, TN late in the Spring, 2018
Cal Poly Theatre Program shows the strength of family love in "4,000 Miles"
Dec 14, 2017
Read the New Times SLO article on "4,000 Miles"
"Stupid F**king Bird" opens in May
Apr 25, 2017
Cal Poly’s Theatre and Dance Department will present Aaron Posner’s “Stupid F**king Bird” at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, May 11-13 and 18-20, in the Spanos Theatre on campus.
Orchesis Dance Company
Sep 30, 2016
Auditions for the 2017-2018 Orchesis Dance Company will be held on Thursday, September 21 at 6:10 p.m. in the Cal Poly Dance Studio (Building 60, Room 6 - Crandall Gym).
A MANDATORY Informational Meeting will be held at 6:10 p.m. on Tuesday, September 19 at 6:10 p.m. also in the Dance Studio. Please bring your schedule and a pen with you to this meeting.
Al Schnupp's Play "The Collection," Tours California
Jul 21, 2016
Al Schnupp's play The Collection, about the fascinating life and times of art patron and collector, Peggy Guggenheim, is currently touring around California and receiving great notices in San Luis Obispo Tribune, Santa Barbara News-Press and The Fresno Bee.
'The Collection' by Professor Al Schnupp to Tour Central California July 2016
Jun 30, 2016
"THE COLLECTION," written by Cal Poly professor, Al Schnupp, celebrates the life and legacy of Peggy Guggenheim, eccentric and invincible collector of modern art. The play features four actors, 34 vibrant episodes and 40 transformational paintings.
Black Comedy Opens 5/12
May 11, 2016
Cal Poly’s Theatre and Dance Department will present Peter Shaffer’s “Black Comedy” at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, May 12-14 and 19-21, in the Spanos Theatre on campus. “Things are funnier in the dark,” said Josh Machamer, Cal Poly theatre professor and director of the production. “The play revolves around a lovesick artist who looks to impress his fiancée’s father by borrowing art and antiques from an absentee neighbor. It’s a perfect plan -- until the lights go out! With the characters literally and figuratively in the dark, the audience is exposed to unexpected exploits and escapades in this madcap British farce.”