A typical ideal exists in any profession. For young athletes, it’s the major leagues; for journalists, it’s to work at
The New York Times
; and for actors, it’s any theater house in New York City.
For the senior students studying theater performance at Ohio University, that image became a reality about one week after graduation.
The School of Theater took the senior project
Dancing in the Grey
to the Big Apple and performed for two nights in the Ensemble Studio Theatre.
The project stems from the Physical Theater class, which emphasizes the application of everything the actors have learned in their time in the program.
This year, the play reflected the actors’ own lives and identities as well as some current issues, said Chelsea Cannon, a member of the senior class.
“(
Dancing in the Grey
) is that space, that unknown space that we all have within ourselves and with others that we never really go into and look at,” Cannon said in a previous
Post
article.
Rebecca VerNooy, assistant professor of performance, instructed the class and was the one to suggest the idea of bringing the show to New York. Because she is a New Yorker, VerNooy said the idea had always been in the back of her mind, and it was early on in the semester when she thought she could do it.
“I thought this would be the perfect group to (go to New York) with,” she said. “They were a really smart, together group.”
The reactions to the performances echoed VerNooy’s thoughts. She said many of those in attendance were OU alumni who all told her how amazing and moving the show was, adding that it was because the students were making art versus simply showcasing their talent.
One of the most important lessons VerNooy wanted the actors to learn was how they don’t have to wait to get a job — they can produce and create their own work.
“Doing theater once you’ve graduated is not some scary, elusive thing,” she said. “Actors don’t have to wait for directors and casting directors to tell them when they can work. … You can make your own work, raise money and do it.”
The class raised more than $2,500 through a GoFundMe account, while hosting raffles and spa days in Kantner Hall.
Since he was 13 years old, Greg Atkin said he knew he wanted to perform in New York. And only one day before he did, he saw Tony-nominated play
Violet
starring Tony Award-winning actress Sutton Foster, who he got to meet.
“It reminded me of why I love doing this,” said Atkin, a senior studying global studies and theater performance.
VerNooy said the New York performance was better than the first Athens performances, and Atkin agreed because he said everyone felt freer in the place where no one knew them.
“Athens was great but New York City was perfect,” he said. “It was like meeting Santa Claus while watching the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy douse you in chocolate.”
Ultimately, the New York performance was the final chapter for this class’ time together.
“It was wonderful because everyone gets to say goodbye at graduation, but we got to say we’ll see you Tuesday and go to New York,” Cannon said. “I got to say goodbye to my studio in Times Square. It was incredible, momentous … It was life changing.”
mg986611@ohiou.edu
@buzzlightmeryl
