WCT’s ‘Dance Project,’ ‘The Originals’
Over the next five days, from May 7-11, Wagner College Theatre will offer two programs of original work:
- “The Dance Project: Moving Through Life,” a program of original choreography, and
- “The Originals 2021,” a program of original student playwriting produced and performed by students.
Both shows will be streamed online, free, and “The Dance Project” will be staged live, outdoors, for the on-campus community, although Covid health-safety protocols prevent visitors from attending.
DANCE PROJECT 2021
Five performances of “The Dance Project: Moving Through Life” will be presented live, outdoors, on the steps of Wagner College’s Main Hall for the on-campus audience:
- Friday, May 7, 6 p.m.
- Saturday, May 8, 2 & 6 p.m.
- Sunday, May 9, 2 & 6 p.m.
The show will also be streamed for our off-campus audience on Saturday, May 8 and Sunday, May 9 at 8 p.m. Use this link to access the webcast.
“The Dance Project: Moving Through Life” explores how we move through life with different ideas of success, setting goals along the way. They can be big or small, they can take a while to achieve — and they can develop into something new. The beauty in all of this is that every journey is as unique as the person on it. In the end, it is that journey that moves us through life, shaping who we are and what we have achieved. Those achievements, big or small, deserve recognition and celebration.
“The Dance Project: Moving Through Life” is directed and partially choreographed by Carissa Bellando ’05, who previously choreographed the 2019 and 2020 versions of “The Dance Project.” Two student choreographers, Kayla Morgan and Rachel Makstein, also choreographed for the show.
“The Dance Project: Moving Through Life” features Rachel Makstein, Kayla Morgan, Gabriel Argate, Hannah Davis, Nicholas Nunez, Charlie Rudalavage, Emily Durkin, Mackenzie Quinn Ross and Alexa Santiago.
The creative team includes Anabella Lenzu (choreography professor), Jordan Thomas Burnett (production stage manager), Alan Michael Smith (costume designer), Joie Milbourn (assistant costume designer), Alyssa Bowne (props master), Brendan Flannigan (assistant stage manager), Nicole Donello (assistant props master), Ben Sellers (sound board operator), Conchetta Aronowitz ’20 (sound supervisor) and Vicki Neil (video supervisor).
THE ORIGINALS 2021
Over the past few years, Wagner College Theatre has implemented a new program called “The Originals,” bringing new plays to life at Wagner’s Stage One studio theater. “The Originals 2021” is composed of 16 entirely new works written by Wagner College’s Fall 2020 playwriting students, taught by Professor Benjamin Marshall. Casting, direction and production is handled by the students in Professor Mickey Tennenbaum’s Spring 2021 Directing II class, with all roles performed by Wagner College student actors.
“The Originals 2021” will be recorded in Stage One for webcasting on Monday, May 10 and Tuesday, May 11 at 8 p.m. All are invited to watch these webcasts on the Wagner College Theatre Facebook page. Use this link to visit the WCT FB page. The 16 original student plays will be divided between the two nights, so each evening’s audience will enjoy completely new material. Check to see which plays are on which nights, using this event link.
“The Originals 2021” features scenes written by James Brautigam, Divya Khanna, Zoe Krofchik, Allison Madrazo, Drew Matthews, Amy Nicefaro, Sofia Shirey and Emmy Steele.
The directors of the “Originals 2021” plays are Elbi Cespedes, Brianna Cielo, Remy Van Collen, Lila Cooper, Victoria Gullo, Seth Jolles, Kirsten Kaiser, Andrew King, Emily Lagace, David Leon, Rachel Makstein, Drew Matthews, Lindy Pokorny, Emmy Steele, Kira Wiggins and Kamila Zando.
The creative team includes Phill Hickox (production manager), Brian Sharron (technical director), Vicki Neal (video supervisor), Alyssa Saylor (lighting designer), Conchetta Aronowitz (sound supervisor), Nahomy Cuesta (sound designer) and Aaron Frongillo (stage manager).
“The Originals 2021” stars Elbi Cespedes, Sophia Constantino, Sadie Corley, Claire Dempsey, Kate Durgin, Lauren Keffler, Andrew King, Gracie Klebine, Andrew Kolar, Aidan Leach, Jack Lobley, Amanda Rose Miller, Marvin Moser, Alex Moss, Gina Prince, Greyson Riley, Ashlyn Roth, Cat Sapovits, Kirby Sclafani, Viraj Shri, Joshua Staufenberg, Bryson Taylor, Joshua Thau, Miles Wilkie, Savannah Yates and Sarah Younan.
Wagner College Theatre’s final show of the semester will be “Urinetown: The Musical,” directed by Michele Pawk and music director Lauri Young. Live performances from Wagner College’s Main Hall auditorium will be streamed online May 20-23 at 8 p.m. on ShowTix4U. Check out the Wagner College Theatre website and Facebook page for more information.
Though all of these Wagner College Theatre programs are streaming for free, WCT is always accepting donations to Friends of the Theatre. Please consider donating through this link so that we can continue making theater for everyone to enjoy.