Department of Theatre
Guest Artists
Sally B. Weinstock Guest Artist Endowment for the Theatre Department and the URT/A contract management program
Whenever possible the Department of Theatre brings professional Theatre Artists to work with UVM students to share their knowledge by teaching Master classes or conducting workshops. Recent guest artists have included New York casting director Merri Sugarman (Tara Rubin Casting), New York theatre press representative Chris Boneau (Boneau/Bryan-Brown) and Robert Birch, master upholsterer/furniture repair (Pompanoosuc Mills).
The generous endowment made by Miss Sally B. Weinstock, class of 1956, has enabled the Department of Theatre to supplement current courses by bringing in outside artists to teach specialty topics in a workshop format. Each year the faculty and staff meet to propose possible artists who will bring added breath and depth to our program. The February 2, 2008 MOU details the process of this program and is available as a public record.
URTA, University Resident Theatre Association, offers a Contract Management Program to administer contracts for Guest Artists who are brought in for production purposes.
In addition to the Contract Management Program, URTA also holds annual national auditions and interviews for students who wish to continue their education in a Graduate Theatre Program. Each year, seniors in the department who wish to audition or interview for a graduate program must see their advisor and ask to be sponsored for the URTA Audition/Interview Process. The student's advisor typically serves as sponsor for the URTA process. The sponsor/advisor then coaches the student and insures that they are well prepared for the auditions or interviews prior to the student's departure for their chosen city. If the sponsor's assessment of the student's preparation is that they are prepared to go, then they go forward to the auditions/interview. If the sponsor feels that the student's preparation is insufficient for a national audition/interview, then they can withdraw their sponsorship and recommend that the student attend in the following year.
UVM seniors are encouraged to attend the URTA national auditions and interviews. These regularly result in placement in graduate schools across the nation, often with our students receiving scholarships or assistantships that pay for their entire graduate school program.
Last modified June 15 2010 12:20 PM