Unlisted Properties: an Exploration in Solo Performance
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Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Scholars Compass Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 2008 Unlisted Properties: An Exploration in Solo Performance Jason Smith Virginia Commonwealth University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd Part of the Theatre and Performance Studies Commons © The Author Downloaded from https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/1599 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at VCU Scholars Compass. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of VCU Scholars Compass. For more information, please contact [email protected]. © Jason Edward Smith and Lauren Marinelli White, 2008 All Rights Reserved UNLISTED PROPERTIES: AN EXPLORATION IN SOLO PERFORMANCE A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University. by LAUREN MARINELLI WHITE B.A., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2002 and JASON EDWARD SMITH B.A., The College of William and Mary, 2004 Director: DR. TAWNYA PETTIFORD-WATES ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ACTING AND DIRECTING, THEATRE Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia May, 2008 ii Acknowledgement Lauren and Jase would first and foremost like to thank our mentor, Dr. Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, for her unwavering support, encouragement, friendship and tenacious loyalty. Without her guidance, neither this project nor our journeys in this program would have been as fulfilling and enriching as we will always remember them to be. In addition, we would like to thank Dr. Noreen Barnes and David McLain, MFA for their unique perspectives and valuable guidance. We would also like to thank the creative talents of those involved with the development of this project: Melissa Carroll-Jackson, Jenna Ferre, Ron Keller, Kevin McGranahan, Carol Piersol, Tommy Pruitt, Kay Stone, and Shanea N. Taylor. Lauren would like to thank her husband, Justin, for his love and support throughout the many long hours, t.v. dinners, and infinite oil changes to keep up the commute. Lauren would also like to thank Michelle Greer for being the first person to believe in her ability to contribute to the theatre. Finally, Lauren would like to thank Jase for being a true friend, creative partner, and inspirational director. Jase most importantly thanks his family – Mom, Dad, Nanny, Jessica, Jake, Frances and Sam – who have always supported his creative endeavors, no matter how frivolous they seemed at times. He also thanks his friends – Tommy, Tracey, Stef, Katie, Liz, Suzanne, Joy Marie, Jessica, Dave, Chris, Aimee, and many others – for always sharing fun systems about it. Thank you to my colleagues and friends in the TheatreVCU Graduate Class of 2008 – Katie, Paul, Shanea, and Drew – who’s constant output of iii creative excellence never ceases to inspire me. Special thanks to all of the amazingly talented TheatreVCU students that I have had the pleasure of mentoring over the past three years: both your dedication as artists and friendship has kept me constantly smiling. Finally, Lauren “thank you for being a friend, traveled down the road and back again, your heart is true, you’re a pal and a confidant!” iv Table of Contents Page Chapter 1 Piecing the Process Together.............................................................................1 Concept..........................................................................................................1 Objectives......................................................................................................3 Research Results............................................................................................4 Harriet A. Jacobs .....................................................................................7 Mary Chesnut..........................................................................................8 Elizabeth P.W. Packard ...........................................................................9 Mary Ford..............................................................................................11 Pagan Moss............................................................................................12 Bhumika Ghimire..................................................................................13 2 The Script.........................................................................................................15 The Southern Belle......................................................................................15 The Slave Girl .............................................................................................16 The “Insane” Patient....................................................................................18 The Military Bride.......................................................................................22 The Sex Worker...........................................................................................26 The Housewife ............................................................................................31 v 3 Character Analysis...........................................................................................34 The Southern Belle......................................................................................34 The Slave Girl .............................................................................................40 The “Insane” Patient....................................................................................44 The Military Bride.......................................................................................49 The Sex Worker...........................................................................................55 The Housewife ............................................................................................59 4 Directorial Analysis.........................................................................................65 The Southern Belle......................................................................................65 The Slave Girl .............................................................................................66 The “Insane” Patient....................................................................................68 The Military Bride.......................................................................................69 The Sex Worker...........................................................................................71 The Housewife ............................................................................................72 5 Putting It Together ...........................................................................................74 Rehearsals....................................................................................................74 South Eastern Theatre Conference ..............................................................76 6 The Performances............................................................................................78 The Performance Response .........................................................................78 vi 7 Reflections .......................................................................................................86 Actor’s Reflection .......................................................................................86 Director’s Reflection ...................................................................................87 Future Plans.................................................................................................89 Works Cited .......................................................................................................................90 Works Consulted................................................................................................................93 Appendices.........................................................................................................................97 A Publicity Poster for Firehouse Theatre ............................................................98 B Playbill for Firehouse Theatre .........................................................................99 C Production Photos of UNLISTED PROPERTIES.........................................101 D Crew Photos of UNLISTED PROPERTIES..................................................107 E Firehouse Website Promotion........................................................................109 F Rehearsal Schedule........................................................................................110 G SETC Acceptance Letter and Grant Approval...............................................112 H Character Analysis Format ............................................................................115 I Directorial Analysis Format...........................................................................115 J Light and Sound Cues....................................................................................116 K The Ground Plan............................................................................................117 Vita...................................................................................................................................117 Lauren Marinelli White .........................................................................................118 Jase Smith..............................................................................................................119 Abstract UNLISTED