Cal Poly SLO Theatre & Dance

It’s CLOSING NIGHT of Cal Poly Theatre and Dance’s Spring Production of Hurricane Diane by Madeleine George!! ⭐️ Happy Closing to the entire team! Don’t miss your chance to see the final performance of this astounding show! 💫🪴🌺 Hurricane Diane by Madeleine George Director: Madison Mae Williams Assistant Directors: Jessica Garcia, Niko Kaderabek Scenic Designer: Alex Campbell Asst. Scenic Designer: Josh Schneider Costume Designer: Thomas Bernard Asst. Costume Designer: Isaiah Covarrubias Costume Shop Manager: Laina Babb Lighting Designer: Benjamin Walker Asst. Lighting Designer: Aidan Spangrud Lighting Design Mentor: Krys Newbury Sound Designer: Daniel Moreno Asst. Sound Designer: Ellie Hawkins Dramaturgy: Athena Godwin Stage Manager: Andrea Casey Asst. Stage Manager: Ellie Weiner 📸 B App #calpoly #calpolytheatreanddance #theatre

Spring Awakening!! Abbi Colvin is currently Wendla at Cuesta College’s production of Spring Awakening! So proud of you Abbi! Don’t miss her in this production!⭐️ #springawakening #musicaltheatre #calpolytheatreanddance

⚡️SENIOR SPOTLIGHT💫 Next up of our graduates we have, Amani Arellano! “What do you have planned post-graduation?  I will be staying in SLO (#slocal) to enjoy more performing and teaching experience before obtaining my Theatre Arts teaching credential! This summer, I will teach and direct camps at SLO REP’s Academy of Creative Theatre and at Paso Robles’ Applause Children’s Theatre. Then, I am thrilled to begin my contract with the Great American Melodrama in Oceano. What moments inspired you most in your time here?  I am inspired every single day by the multi-talented and supportive faculty, wonderful peers, and local professionals. But Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA), in particular, has been especially inspiring for me. From devising and performing in Loose Threads my first year, earning the S.U.R.P. Staging Change Internship and facilitating TYA workshops my second year, to now co-writing, assistant directing, and touring Alder this year, TYA has inspired me to continue exploring the power of theatre with students of all ages.  Do you have a highlight experience here at Cal Poly Theatre and Dance?  It feels impossible to pick just one highlight! Every single class, club, and performance I have been a part of has changed me in its own special way. But, to highlight just one, I will never forget my experience in The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical. This show will forever hold a special place in my heart because it introduced first-year Amani to the magic of this department and provided me with lasting friendships and connections in Cal Poly Theatre and Dance and beyond. What would be your advice for an incoming freshman after your time here?  My advice would be to soak in every moment and take advantage of each opportunity that comes your way. Or, if things aren’t necessarily “coming your way”, go find them! Opportunity is out there, and even after such a busy and fulfilling time here, there are so many things I wish I had done. It is an honor to receive this education and be a part of the Cal Poly Theatre and Dance department, so make it count!”

We are kicking off our second weekend of shows of our Spring Production of Hurricane Diane by Madeleine George tonight!! Tickets are on sale now on our website or on pacslo.org! 🌺⭐️ Hurricane Diane by Madeleine George Director: Madison Mae Williams Assistant Directors: Jessica Garcia, Niko Kaderabek Scenic Designer: Alex Campbell Asst. Scenic Designer: Josh Schneider Costume Designer: Thomas Bernard Asst. Costume Designer: Isaiah Covarrubias Costume Shop Manager: Laina Babb Lighting Designer: Benjamin Walker Asst. Lighting Designer: Aidan Spangrud Lighting Design Mentor: Krys Newbury Sound Designer: Daniel Moreno Asst. Sound Designer: Ellie Hawkins Dramaturgy: Athena Godwin Stage Manager: Andrea Casey Asst. Stage Manager: Ellie Weiner 📸 B App

AUDITION WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT!! ⭐️ On Friday, June 5th, Professor Karin Hendricks-Bolen is hosting a hands-on Shakespeare workshop with text coach Peter Hadres. Join us to learn how to break down verse, make bold acting choices, and bring clarity and life to Shakespeare’s text to prep for Cal Poly Theatre and Dance’s Fall Production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream! ✨🎭 #calpolytheatreanddance #shakespeare #amidsummernightsdream

Don’t think the devil—we mean Diane— is a fan of curbs. We got another week of shows coming up! It’s a divine order from the Gods that you see this show at least once 🌩️🌳🏡🪏 Hurricane Diane by Madeleine George Director: Madison Mae Williams Assistant Directors: Jessica Garcia, Niko Kaderabek Scenic Designer: Alex Campbell Asst. Scenic Designer: Josh Schneider Costume Designer: Thomas Bernard Asst. Costume Designer: Isaiah Covarrubias Costume Shop Manager: Laina Babb Lighting Designer: Benjamin Walker Asst. Lighting Designer: Aidan Spangrud Lighting Design Mentor: Krys Newbury Sound Designer: Daniel Moreno Asst. Sound Designer: Ellie Hawkins Dramaturgy: Athena Godwin Stage Manager: Andrea Casey Asst. Stage Manager: Ellie Weiner Featuring: April Clark and Perris Campbell #calpoly #calpolytheatreanddance #theatre

✨SENIOR SPOTLIGHT💫 Our next graduating senior is Claire Lawson! Let’s hear more from her: What do you have planned post-graduation? “Post-graduation I will be working as a Deck Hand for PCPA’s production of Luchadora! I will also be working at the Alex and Faye Spanos Theatre over the summer. After the summer, the future is still unknown but hoping to know very soon! What moments inspired you most in your time here? So much! In particular, watching my fellow seniors present their senior projects at the end of Senior Project Seminar. I love getting to see what everyone is passionate about in theatre, and it was such a lovely way to start the beginning of our last year together. Do you have a highlight experience here at Cal Poly Theatre and Dance? For me, having the opportunity to stage manage the Cal Poly Mainstage Production of Clue: The Musical was definitely a highlight. Everyone involved was so wonderful, and it allowed me a great first large-scale show experience for stage managing. It really defined my time here and my love for stage management, so definitely a top ten experience. What would be your advice for an incoming freshman after your time here? Put yourself out there! Whether you are in tech or performance, audition and apply to as many things as possible. Even if you do not get the role or position, something else might be around the corner for you. Try different things, because you never know what you might love. Talk to the professors! They are your mentors and they have so much experience and advice to draw from. Lastly, try to enjoy every moment as much as possible. Not everything is going to be all sunshine and rainbows, but know that every experience is valuable, and take as much as you can from everything you do at Cal Poly!”

💫NEW FACULTY SPOTLIGHT 🎭 Meet Professor Katy Dore! One of our new faculty members here at Cal Poly Theatre and Dance! We are thrilled to have Professor Dore teaching our brand new, Screen Acting (TH-275) Course this quarter! Here’s more from her: “Hey, Cal Poly! I’m so excited to be part of the Theatre and Dance Department, teaching Acting For Camera. Because it’s the only course offered that addresses on-camera acting, we’re cramming technique, skill enhancement, technical parameters, set savvy and a cursory overview of the business into ten weeks. Whew! It’s like an appetizer—just a small taste—that will let students know if this is a meal they want to dig into more voraciously!   I was raised in a small logging town with a single, one-screen movie theatre and two TV channels. The lack of media stimulation meant we focused on creative play, as storytellers, actors, and audience. As I got older, I started acting in local productions, high school productions and community college productions. The closeness to castmates, the rush of stepping out in front of a packed house, the applause—I loved it all.   I left my little mountain town and attended Stanford University where I got a degree in American Studies with an emphasis in American Thought and Imagination—(Our final exam? We had to learn to say, “would you like fries with that?” in three languages. Just kidding, but it wasn’t exactly a sure-fire major for a future of wealth and stability.)   After stepping away from acting for a time, the things I came back to: writing & performing. Once I healed enough, I started taking workshops and classes, including every improv class available at Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB). I auditioned for student films, found an agent, got roles in bigger projects, joined SAG-Aftra, actually started to earn some money, wrote a bad screenplay, wrote a better one, and finally wrote some really good ones.   My shift into the entertainment industry has been a rejuvenating journey. Since I got a late start, I’ve had to shorten the learning curve and just jump in with both feet. I’m having a blast and tasted enough success to keep me hungry for more.”

Cal Poly Theatre and Dance’s Production of Hurricane Diane is playing through this weekend and next! 🪴✨🌎 Don’t miss this show! Tickets are on sale NOW on our website or on pacslo.org. 💫 Hurricane Diane by Madeleine George Director: Madison Mae Williams Assistant Directors: Jessica Garcia, Niko Kaderabek Scenic Designer: Alex Campbell Asst. Scenic Designer: Josh Schneider Costume Designer: Thomas Bernard Asst. Costume Designer: Isaiah Covarrubias Costume Shop Manager: Laina Babb Lighting Designer: Benjamin Walker Asst. Lighting Designer: Aidan Spangrud Lighting Design Mentor: Krys Newbury Sound Designer: Daniel Moreno Asst. Sound Designer: Ellie Hawkins Dramaturgy: Athena Godwin Stage Manager: Andrea Casey Asst. Stage Manager: Ellie Weiner 📸 B App #calpoly #calpolytheatreanddance #theatre

💫SENIOR SPOTLIGHT⭐️ Next up of our graduating seniors is Liam Armistead! Let’s hear from him: After graduation, I plan to pursue my PhD in Human Development and Family Studies at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro! I will be combining my passions for Theatre Arts and Child Development, studying children’s development through Drama and dramatic play! What’s inspired me most during my time here has been the people I’ve gotten to work with. As I’ve discovered my path through theatre, it has been the professors I’ve worked with that have pushed and inspired me to continue with each of my passions in theatre. I am so lucky to have found so many interests in theatre in acting, children’s theatre, and more, and I couldn’t have done it without the support and guidance of this department! I have so many highlights from my time as a Theatre Arts major, from acting in main stage shows, to stagecraft, TYA, TA’ing, and even making it through Costume Design ;) I’ve had the honor of performing in 3 main stage shows, as Antonio in 12th night, directed by Peter Hadres, Dwight in A Dead Man’s Cell Phone, directed by Karin Hendricks-Bolen, and as Matt/Homer in Mr. Burns, A Post Electric Play, directed by Josh Machamer. I’ve also had the opportunity to act, direct, build, teach, and create in so many ways across my time here. Truly, however, I think my favorite highlights from my time as a Theatre Arts major have been the students and faculty I’ve gotten to work with. As a student, actor, TA, and more I’ve loved getting to know and collaborate with so many wonderful artists! Be passionate! My favorite thing about this department is how connected and supportive the faculty and students are, and each one of them wants to help you succeed. If there is something that you want, that you feel passionate about, this department will help you make it happen. I encourage everyone to reach out, connect with your professors and fellow students, and pursue your passions!

It’s Night 2 of Cal Poly Theatre and Dance’s Spring Production of Hurricane Diane!! Come see the Bacchic Magic come to life in this show! Tickets are on sale now on our website or on pacslo.org, don’t miss this phenomenal show. ✨🪴🌱 Hurricane Diane by Madeleine George Director: Madison Mae Williams Assistant Directors: Jessica Garcia, Niko Kaderabek Scenic Designer: Alex Campbell Asst. Scenic Designer: Josh Schneider Costume Designer: Thomas Bernard Asst. Costume Designer: Isaiah Covarrubias Costume Shop Manager: Laina Babb Lighting Designer: Benjamin Walker Asst. Lighting Designer: Aidan Spangrud Lighting Design Mentor: Krys Newbury Sound Designer: Daniel Moreno Asst. Sound Designer: Ellie Hawkins Dramaturgy: Athena Godwin Stage Manager: Andrea Casey Asst. Stage Manager: Ellie Weiner 📸 B App #calpoly #calpolytheatreanddance #theatre

Student Shoutout!! Chiara La Mark is doing incredible work in her position as a local arts reviewer and we are so thrilled for her and proud of the work she’s doing! Go Chiara! #sloreview #calpolytheatreanddance #studentspotlight