Slaphappy Spotlight: Kenzie Bradley

We posed a series of questions to Slaphappy: A Covid-Era Commedia stage manager, Kenzie Bradley. Kenzie is a first year graduate assistant in the props shop and gave us a glimpse into the process of stage managing this devised production! Tell us about yourself – where are you from and what brought you to Villanova?…

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The Scar Test Spotlight: The Befrienders

The Scar Test features three characters that are part of a charity called the Yarl’s Wood Befrienders. Playwright Hannah Khalil worked with the Befrienders to gather information for her play. She talked to detainees as well as other volunteers as she crafted her rich and accurate representation of life inside the center. In 2001, the Befrienders…

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An Interview with Kara Scaramazza, Director of SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD

Songs for a New World Production Dramaturg, Matthew Reddin, posed a series of questions to Director, Kara Scaramazza about the unique process of directing a musical virtually. Keep reading to hear her thoughts! How would you describe Songs to someone who knew nothing about the show? Songs for a New World is a song cycle musical; each…

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Meet the Cast: Tina Lynch (Agave in BEGINNING)

Production dramaturg Zach Apony interviewed a number of our graduate students who appear in Bakkhai Variations. Enjoy this profile on Tina Lynch who is pursuing her thesis as Agave in Jessica Bedford’s Beginning. Reblogged from Zach Apony’s dramaturgy blog found here. 1. When you found out you were cast in this role, what were you excited about? I LOVE…

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Meet the Cast: Lora Margerum (Semele in BEGINNING)

Production dramaturg Zach Apony interviewed a number of graduate students who appear in Bakkhai Variations. Enjoy this profile on Lora Margerum who is pursuing her thesis as Semele in Jessica Bedford’s Beginning. Reblogged from Zach Apony’s dramaturgy blog found here. 1. When you found out you were cast in this role, what were you excited…

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“I Killed a Lion” Origin Story and Lyric

In late September, Artistic Director Michael Hollinger sent a text to Bakkhai Variations Supervising Director James Ijames:   I woke up in the middle of the night last night with an idea for a song that could be played over whatever closing credits the composite BV film may require. Would you be open to this? Got up and…

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Meet the Designer: Anna Sorrentino (’21)

In pursuit of her Master’s thesis, graduate student Anna Sorrentino has undertaken the monumental task of designing for the sweeping creative undertaking BAKKHAI VARIATIONS. What’s it like designing for five plays instead of one as the sole student designer? Hear from this incredibly talented rising star as she is interviewed by Dramaturg Zach Apony. What…

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Meet the Dramaturgs!

(Reblogged from Zach Apony’s Dramaturgical Website) Villanova Theatre deploys dramaturgs (theatre artists focused on the literary, historical, and current context of plays) in two different capacities: production and education. Below, the two dramaturgs working on Bakkhai Variations will introduce themselves. Hello, everyone! My name is Zach Apony and I am serving as Production Dramaturg for Bakkhai Variations. I…

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Come on and Zoom!

Ain’t no party like a Zoom party ’cause the zoom parties don’t stop (or at least it seems that way these days). Get festive on your next video call by adding one of our fun theatrical backgrounds to create some artsy ambience. We hope you enjoy this fun collection of photos that span from this…

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Interviewing MIDSUMMER Director Ed Sobel

​by Jay A. Kimberley Villanova University Theatre is home to some of the most innovative and passionate theatre makers in the Philadelphia area. From the classroom to the stage, students are challenged to perform as both artists and scholars. Driving this call to excellence are professors like director Ed Sobel, who challenge the student body daily…

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