Theater Studies
When you read a play from the early 1600s, are you reading a literary artifact or a blueprint for a live production? Is the dialogue better understood by analyzing the text or acting it out? What’s more important: the tropes of the era or the architecture of the theater it was first performed in? The answer to all of those questions is both, and a collaboration between the departments of Theater Studies and Romance Studies will show why when a new production of Pedro Calderón de la Barca’s famous play “Life Is a Dream”… read more about How 2 Departments Brought a 17th Century Play to Life in 2022 »
A new program for Duke sophomores – which launched earlier this year – will include a Theater Studies course this fall: “Power, Theater, Politics” (THEATRST 225S). The course is part of the new “Transformative Ideas” program that is designed to promote open and civil cross-disciplinary dialogue on questions and big ideas that change lives, link cultures and shape societies around the world. “Power, Theater, Politics” – taught by Douglas Jones of Theater Studies and English – explores how cultural formations have… read more about Theater Studies Course Among Fall “Transformative Ideas” Offerings »
Raucous drag shows, dazzling Broadway performances, a smorgasbord of food: Duke in New York: Arts, Culture and Performance isn’t just a study away program, it’s a feast for the senses. Falling in love with the city is a familiar American story, and New York didn’t hold back on the charm for these program alumni. “My favorite part of the city overall is how creatively rich it is with opportunities (especially in fashion) at every corner,” said Sydney Reede, a sophomore who participated last semester. Hoping to work in… read more about Experiencing New York's Arts Culture for Credit »
At the end of the semester, Theater Studies Professor of the Practice Ellen Hemphill will retire from teaching after 30 years with the department. Before then, she will premiere a collaborative, interdisciplinary new work that is unlike most of her oeuvre. “North: A Love Letter” is described as a “poetic dance-movement reflection on the loss of sentient creatures on the earth.” Produced by Hemphill’s company Archipelago Theatre/Ciné, it expands Hemphill’s career work in theater choreography, voice and gesture through… read more about Ellen Hemphill on Bewilderment, Creativity and Not Really Retiring »
It was an incredibly busy and fruitful four years for Madison Canfora (B.S. Neuroscience, minors musical theater and Chemistry ’21), who had already completed her pre-med track prior to graduating in December. Through her mentorship with Dr. Monica Lemmon at the School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics, Canfora researched physician-patient communication in the neonatal intensive care unit and created an original codebook for brain imaging that screened data for relevant descriptions of brain imaging to support further… read more about The Arts Advantage: Nurturing the Human Experience Through Theater Studies »
Alexa Bolin Santiago (B.S. Biomedical Engineering; minor musical theater ’23) is a biomedical engineering junior who is intrigued with automation, an interest that developed during her co-op work with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. With firm plans to focus on circuits, robotics and the medical application of programming, she’s also chosen to minor in musical theater and made room in her heavy course load to explore the world of theater design. Below, Alexa discusses why she’s making a conscious effort to include theater… read more about The Arts Advantage: Empathetic Engineers Thanks to Theater »
Loïe Fuller was a queer choreographer whose innovations with light, fabric and movement revolutionized the synthesis of art and technology in France during the early 1900s. But within a few decades of her death, she was nearly forgotten. Inspired by her bold experiments, Artist in Residence of Theater Studies Juliana Kleist-Méndez created Fuller, a live, hybrid exploration of Loïe’s life. Aiming to put both in-person and virtual audiences into the same space of possibility with Loïe and the performers, Kleist-… read more about The Revolutionary Art Nouveau Designer with Lessons for Theater in COVID »
Lauren Ginsberg, an associate professor of classical studies and theater studies at Duke, contributed to a new opera that debuted in November 2021 in Vienna. The opera, by composer Michael Hersch with libretto by Stephanie Fleischmann, tells the story of Roman Emperor Nero’s second wife, Poppaea, and her complicated legacy. Ginsberg was commissioned to write an accompanying essay about the history of Poppaea and about the different ways she has been depicted by historians and playwrights. She was also… read more about Classics Professor Contributes to New Opera »
The pandemic definitely had an impact on live performances, but it didn’t stop Duke University’s Department of Theater Studies from presenting its mainstage productions during lockdown. Last year the actors were masked, the audiences were virtual, and the shows went on. Fast forward to fall 2021, and the department has joined the growing list of theaters opening their doors and welcoming audiences back to the seats—masked, but in-person—to enjoy live performances. Ollie McCarthy, Ben… read more about Theater Studies Welcomes Audiences Back to Fill the Seats »
A Black Theater Flourished in New York 200 Years Ago The New York Times Doug A. Jones, Jr. is featured in The New York Times discussing the African Theater, which had its first performance on Sept. 17, 1821. Read more. read more about Faculty News: Doug A. Jones, Jr. Discusses the African Theater »
Spencer Rosen is majoring in Computer Science, with minors in Theater Studies and Creative Writing, and hopes to focus on data science and computer security after graduation. While at Duke, he’s been part of a data science team and has worked as a data-driven pricing consultant outside of school. We sat down with the senior to learn why he’s making a conscious effort to include theater in his studies. How did you get involved in Theater Studies at Duke? In high school, I didn’t take… read more about The Arts Advantage: A Balance Between Theater Studies and Computer Science »
What Will It Take for Broadway to Embrace Size-Inclusivity? In this TeenVogue op-ed, Gianluca Russo speaks to Broadway and theater performers about body standards in the industry and their dreams for a more inclusive future. Ryan Donovan discusses the lack of body diversity in musical theater. Read more. read more about Faculty News: Ryan Donovan discusses appearance-based biases on Broadway »
This spooky season of Halloween, Neal Bell is happy to bring some frights into our lives. The Theater Studies professor doesn’t just like scary stories – he writes them as well. His play based on the “Golem” legend about a mythical clay creature will be performed as the Fall mainstage offering of the Theater Studies Department beginning Nov. 4 in Sheafer Theater. The play transports the creature from the Jewish ghettos of Prague in the 16th century to Post 9/11 New York. But Bell, author of “How to Write a Horror Movie,”… read more about Neal Bell Selects Five Overlooked or Underrated Horror Films to Haunt Your Sleep »
Duke University’s Department of Theater Studies has joined the growing list of theaters opening their doors and welcoming audiences back to the seats for live performances. While the department was able to present its three mainstage productions during the pandemic, which was no small task, the actors performed to virtual audiences. But come November 4, theater enthusiasts return to Sheafer Theater to experience the fall mainstage Golem, masked but in-person. The play takes place in New York City… read more about Why Does a Play Set in New York After 9/11 Feature a Mythical Creature of Clay? »
From left: Thom Quintas, Director of Theater; Rich Kless, Director of Theater Operations; Harold Brody, donor; and Darren Gobert, Chair of Theater Studies. All jewels need polishing from time to time to restore their sparkle, and Theater Studies’ gem, the Brody Theater, is no exception. When it was renamed in 2006 to honor Duke alumnus Harold J. Brody (B.A. Chemistry ’70), the East Campus theater had been the department’s main venue for 34 years. Today, it’s where Duke Players presents… read more about Brody Theater Renovations Shine a Light on Theater Studies »
In 1987, Jeff Storer and Ed Hunt opened Manbites Dog Theater in Durham, NC. They wanted to use the theater to bring awareness to the Durham community about the different forms of theater and prove that live theater can be a powerful tool in opening people’s minds, eyes and hearts. They hoped they would survive for a couple of years. Thirty-four years later, they are still going strong. In this episode of Creativity In Motion, Jeff Storer shares with us some of the ways they have been able to stay true to their mission,… read more about Faculty News: Jeff Storer Shares How Manbites Dog Theater Has Stayed True to Its Mission »
Jared Harris Is (and Isn't) His Father's Son The New York Times Jared Harris has emerged from the shadow of this father, Richard Harris, with memorable performances in series like Mad Men and Chernobyl. Next up is the sci-fi epic Foundations. Read more. read more about Alumni News: Jared Harris Featured in The New York Times »
Alex Ferrone's new book, Stage Business and the Neoliberal Theatre of London, was recently published and is available for purchase here. About the book: This book examines contemporary English drama and its relation to the neoliberal consensus that has dominated British policy since 1979. The London stage has emerged as a key site in Britain’s reckoning with neoliberalism. On one hand, many playwrights have denounced the acquisitive values of unfettered global… read more about Faculty News: Alex Ferrone's New Book Examines Contemporary English Drama »
Theater Studies faculty member Esther Kim Lee was the faculty sponsor for actor Ken Jeong during Commencement 2020, and hooded him for his justly deserved honorary degree. He shared so many memories of his college career, including, "My second year, second semester, I took an Intro to Acting class, and it just changed my life. I never did theater in high school. I just was overcome with this passion and emotion to perform that has not been extinguished since." Listen to his entire speech. read more about Esther Kim Lee Faculty Sponsor for Ken Jeong During Commencement 2020 »