Theatre

KAHANI

Department of Theatre Arts Spring Performance

Directed by Irfana Majumdar, visiting fellow, ACSJL

This will be a devised performance, which means that there is no script, and the ensemble will collaboratively create the final show. We will use stories by Indian authors as a starting place, on the theme of hierarchies and power within the family, particularly with regard to gender.

The ensemble will consist of 8 to 10 members, which will include 6 to 8 main performers, a stage manager, dramaturgs, and designers. These roles will be more fluid that when putting on a play in a more 'traditional' style.

 To join the ensemble, please come for "auditions" on Tuesday and Wednesday of 1st week, Spring term (time and place TBA).

 The audition will be for all roles, not only 'acting' roles. No experience is needed for any role, including acting or designing. Students with experience or an interest in social justice are encouraged to apply.

 For more information, or if you are curious and would like to talk to Irfana, her office hours are Tuesdays from 3 to 5 pm (LFA #74, basement). She will also have lunch in the dining hall on Wednesdays from 1 to 2 and Thursdays from 12.40 to 1.30. Feel free to join her! Or email her for another appointment at irfana.majumdar@kzoo.edu.

HOW THE CLASS WILL WORK:

            1. Since the show goes up in Week 7, and also devising a script usually requires a longer rehearsal period, all students in the production must take THEA 195 INTERCULTURAL SPACES which will be MW 10-11:40am, F 10-10:40am. There will also still be the usual evening rehearsals. All students in the class will be part of the production. This includes the ensemble of  actors and student stage manager and student designer (it may not include smaller production positions such as board ops). Production positions such as dramaturg or assistant director will most likely be performed by the members of the acting ensemble. Everyone in the class is in the show, everyone in the show is in the class – there can be no exceptions to this – sorry!

            2. Because auditions will be held Week One Tuesday and Wednesday, with callbacks on Thursday; students are strongly encouraged to register for a full load of classes as usual (and attend them all during Week One).

            3. If you are cast in the production, you will then have the option of dropping a class or overloading (if you are eligible to do so). You might also underload – again , if you are eligible. But, in order to be in the play, IF YOU ARE CAST, YOU MUST REGISTER for THEA 195 @ MWF 10am on Week One Friday (Incidentally, we certainly wouldn't encourage overloading as the whole point of setting it up this way is to provide some academic relief and time management assistance – you will actually get full credit for being in the play!)

REHEARSAL DETAILS

Rehearsal time: 6.30 to 10 pm, Sunday through Thursday. Starting from April 26, Thursday of week 5, rehearsals may run till 11 pm if needed.

Other dates and times: Saturday and Sunday of week 6, May 5 and 6, will be tech weekend and the ensemble will be expected to be present from noon till 11 pm with a break from 5 to 7.

Performances here will be from Thursday to Sunday of 7^th week.

Weeks 9 and 10 we will have rehearsals on Tuesday and Thursday 6.30-10 pm in preparation for the trip to and performances in INDIA. Class will continue till 10^th week.

INDIA TRIP INFORMATION

 The trip to India will be from July 7 (departure from US) to 17th (departure from India) and is required for all ensemble members.

Students will be responsible for

·      $400 as student fee;

·       domestic travel to the international point of departure on  7th July,

·      visa and passport fees,

·      insurance,

·      immunizations, and

·       personal spending money.

Graduating seniors may have additional costs.

There will also be two mandatory orientation sessions for students in preparation for travel to Varanasi (dates: TBD).

Students must have a passport valid for at least one year at the time of auditions. Students will be required to pay a deposit of $200 on March 30^th, the day that the final cast list is posted.

Students may be expected to participate in some additional fundraising during the Spring term.

India Trip Fees and Payment Schedule                                   

$200.00 due on March 30^th  (required)

$200.00 due April 6^th  (required)

Fee includes: Room and board (three local Indian meals per day at NIRMAN) in Varanasi, international group round-trip transportation from a designated point of departure (to be determined at time of booking), and transportation from airport to hotel/NIRMAN.

Fee does not include: tourist visa for US passport holders, domestic travel to international point of departure, passport application and passport photos (required for visa application), required medical insurance, recommended vaccinations/immunizations, personal local transportation, tips, and spending money. Students may incur additional costs for meals if they wish to eat outside of NIRMAN.

Total costs for students:

Student Fee                                            $400.00

Visa Fee                                                  $76.00

Immunizations/vaccinations                    $250.00

Passport application                                $125.00

Passport photos                                       $25.00

Medical insurance                                    $46.00 (if student does not have insurance valid outside U.S.)

Additional food costs                                $100.00

Spending money                                      $250.00 (estimated)

TOTAL                                                      $1,272.00

Students who will not graduate in June 2012 are eligible to apply for a Student Project Abroad (SPA) grant from the CIP to defray some of the costs.

Student acknowledgement of information (you will be required to sign the following at the audition):

I have read the above information regarding the India Theater Trip for Summer 2012 and understand the schedule of payments, total costs for student participants, and requirement to attend mandatory orientation sessions. I understand if I do not pay the fees as indicated in the payment schedule, I will be withdrawn from the summer trip.

SIGNATURE:

NAME (print):                                                                                                 Date:

FINALLY,  NEW AUDITION INFO FOR KAHANI & BACK OF THE THROAT (please read carefully):
a. We always expect students to audition for both productions if we are doing two plays
in a term. There are several reasons for that, not the least of which is we just don’t think
it’s a very smart idea for student actors in training to choose which plays they’d rather be
in a small company like ours. If students are sure that they will not be able to commit to
Kahani, because of the student fee, summer travel (or lack of active passport!), then reply
To ed.menta@kzoo.edu <mailto:ed.menta@kzoo.edu> . Otherwise, we expect students to audition for both plays.             

b.  Here is how auditions will work:
                i. We will have students in groups of six every 30 minutes. Please sign up on theaudition sign-up sheet that will go up on the main callboard in Week 10.  

                ii. Students should report to the Rehearsal Room (basement of FAB) at least 15 minutes prior to their audition time to fill out the audition form.                 

                iii. Students must also bring their passports to KAHANI auditions – we need to make a copy of the photo page and passport # so we can purchase the airline tix first thing on Week One Friday. YOU MUSTBRING THE PASSPORT, NOT A COPY OF THE INFO. IF YOU DON’T BRING YOUR PASSPORT, YOU CAN”T AUDITION FOR KAHANI – NO EXCEPTIONS.  

                iv. Students should dress comfortably and be prepared to read, move, and/or improvise.  

                v. After 30 minutes, students will be sent down the hall to the Dungeon Theatre to audition for BACK OF THE THROAT. The auditions will consist mostly of readings from the script (the play is available to read on library Closed Reserve under Reeves THEA 200).                 

                vi. The callback list will be posted for both shows on Thursday morning, with the cast lists being posted Friday AM (KAHANI cast will probably get an email telling them to come to class Friday morning at 10am!) Each KAHANI cast member has a $200 deposit (check made out to Kalamazoo College) due at that first class period.