University of Arkansas, Fayetteville ScholarWorks@UARK Theses and Dissertations 5-2016 Love Letters to Illyria: An Actor's Voyage Stephanie Faatz Murry University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd Part of the Acting Commons, and the Performance Studies Commons Recommended Citation Murry, Stephanie Faatz, "Love Letters to Illyria: An Actor's Voyage" (2016). Theses and Dissertations. 1497. http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/1497 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UARK. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UARK. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Love Letters to Illyria: An Actor’s Voyage A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts in Drama By Stephanie Faatz Murry State University of New York at Fredonia Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre, 2008 May 2016 University of Arkansas This thesis is approved for recommendation to the Graduate Council. _____________________________ Professor Amy Herzberg Thesis Director ______________________________ ______________________________ Professor Mavourneen Dwyer Professor Jennifer McKnight Committee Member Committee Member Abstract This thesis outlines the development of the characters of Olivia in William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and Melissa in A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters. It also contains a headshot, resume and link to a website designed to help further my career as a professional theatre artist. Acknowledgements Special thanks go to: My husband Matthew for his love and for enduring years of long distance in the pursuit of our higher education dreams. My professors for their endless patience and guidance. My family for their support and encouragement. My beloved classmates Bill, Britney, Chris, Damian and Lupe. These three years would mean nothing without the five of you. My fellow theatre comrades, both graduate and undergraduate, for creating beautiful art together. Dedication Love Letters to Illyria: An Actor’s Voyage is dedicated to all those brave enough to embark on their own theatrical voyage. Table of Contents I. Personal Statement of Artistry…………………………………………………………….1 II. Headshot…………………………………………………………………………………..2 III. Resume…………………………………………………………………………………….3 IV. Link to Website……………………………………………………………………………4 V. Photos and Programs for Thesis Related Performances…………………………………..5 VI. Works Cited……………………………………………………………………………...18 VII. Permissions Documents…………………………….……………………………………19 Personal Statement of Artistry As an actor, I believe I have a responsibility to craft the most truthful, three dimensional character possible for any given production. It is my job is research, analyze and, ultimately, embody that character. Each performance is a new opportunity to impact an audience- to change their hearts and minds- and that is not a responsibility I take lightly. With each show, I hope to leave audiences with the most positive opinion of their theatrical experience. I think the importance of a strong performance goes beyond the stage. We, as actors, are the face of the theatre and our performances can positively or negatively reflect on the theatre profession as a whole. I aim to be the kind of theatre artist that makes other artists look good and represents a theatre community of the highest standard. 1 Headshot Photo Credit: Jessica Gallegos/Artefact Image Co. 2 Resume Voice Type: Soprano w/Belt (F3-C6) Professional Theatre Credits Hairspray Penny Lou Pingleton Charleston Stage Company Marybeth Clark She Loves Me Ilona Ritter Black Hills Playhouse Jennie Mae Donnell The 25th…Spelling Bee Rona Lisa Peretti Charleston Stage Company Kyle Barnett My Fair Lady Eliza Doolittle Murry’s Dinner Playhouse Glen Gilbert 1776 Abigail Adams Playhouse on the Square Bob Hetherington Seussical Mayzie La Bird Playhouse on the Square Courtney Oliver A Christmas Carol Mrs. Cratchit Nebraska Theatre Caravan Susie Baer Collins Into the Woods Rapunzel Playhouse on the Square Dave Landis Peter Pan Tiger Lily/Nana Charleston Stage Company Julian Wiles/M Clark Moonlight and Magnolias Ms. Poppenguhl Black Hills Playhouse Charlie Leader To Kill a Mockingbird Stephanie Crawford Black Hills Playhouse Matt Nesmith Spamalot Ensemble/Dance Captain Black Hills Playhouse Charlie Leader The Light in the Piazza Ensemble (u/s Franca) Playhouse on the Square Gary John La Rosa Rent Alexi Darling/Ensemble Playhouse on the Square Courtney Oliver Shakespeare for Kids Hamlet/Narrator Hampstead Stage Company Daniel Matmor Alice in Wonderland The Queen of Hearts Gyeonggi English Village Marc de la Concha Educational Theatre Credits Twelfth Night Olivia The University of Arkansas Jenny McKnight As You Like It Audrey/Choreographer The University of Arkansas Morgan Hicks American Idiot Ensemble/Dance Captain The University of Arkansas Gary John La Rosa Godspell Stephanie/Dance Captain The University of Arkansas Brandyn Smith The Foreigner Betty Meeks The University of Arkansas Michael Landman She Stoops to Conquer Mrs. Hardcastle The University of Arkansas Michael Landman Education/Training MFA Acting Candidate 2016 (University of Arkansas)/B.F.A. Musical Theatre/Dance Minor (SUNY Fredonia) Certificate in Classical Acting (LAMDA) Vocal: David Malis & Dr. Eddie Jones (U of Arkansas)----Julie Newell and Joe Dan Harper (SUNY Fredonia) Acting: Meisner Technique (Wendy Ward, Amy Herzberg, Bob Ford) Rodenburg and Linklater Voicework (Ted Sharon, Mavourneen Dwyer) Improv: Upright Citizens Brigade Improv 101; 5 Months Pregnant Long-Form Troupe (2yrs); Random Acts Short-Form (3 yrs) Special Skills: 200 Hour Certified Yoga Teacher, NYS Drivers License, Extensive Sewing Experience, Armed/Unarmed Combat, Teaching Experience, Theatre Management Experience, Musical Theatre Composition, Choreographer, Dialects Performed: Standard British, Cockney, Yorkshire, German, Southern; Laughing on Cue 3 Link to Website www.stephaniefaatzmurry.com 4 Photos and Programs Love Letters by A.R. Gurney Character: Melissa Photo Credit: University Theatre, University of Arkansas 5 6 7 Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare Character: Olivia Photo credit: University Theatre, University of Arkansas 8 Photo credit: University Theatre, University of Arkansas 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Works Cited Gallegos, Jessica. Artefact Image Co. Headshot: Stephanie Faatz Murry. 2015. Private Collection. Gurney, A.R. Love Letters. Dramatists Play Service, 1989. Print. Shakespeare, William. Twelfth Night. The Arden Shakespeare Complete Works, Revised Edition, 2001. Print. 18 Permissions Documents 19 20 .