Let’s say you’re a broke, non-theater major without
an original script or directing experience, but you’re
overcome with determination to produce a theatrical
performance.
The student group Theater Underground may be the answer to all
your prayers. A student group funded by grants and the Campus
Programs Committee, Theater Underground provides students with the
resources to produce independent theater.
When some ideas stray far from the academic departments, the
organization thrives to amplify the voice of these offbeat plays.
All the nuts and bolts involved, from finding a space to showcase
your play, getting money for lights, sound, printing programs and
nearly anything else your imagination demands ““ within the
budget ““ can be taken care of without sacrificing complete
creative freedom.
Theater Underground was responsible for the last year’s
successful, politically incorrect play, “Nigger, Wetback,
Chink,” and an unusually experimental rendition of
“Swan Lake” danced in a mix of ballet, salsa and
hip-hop to both classical and modern music. Most of the plays
produced by the group are original works by theater majors, but
unlike any of the classes offered by the theater department,
Theater Underground is open and available to interested students
from any major.
Maryam Griffin, a second-year political science student and
member of the group’s executive board, came to Theater
Underground with an itch to direct a play. The piece she directed,
“Lysistrata,” based on a Greek play by Aristophanes,
was part of a nationwide movement unified in a call for peace when
the United States was on the brink of war with Iraq.
Aside from the plays put on during the school year, the
group’s signature event is Theaterfest, a festival that runs
for three days the weekend before spring quarter finals. This
year’s festival showcased a total of 28 plays.
“It’s an opportunity for anyone to put up a
show,” said Griffin. “(All the plays) get to go up
simultaneously in four rooms, which helps to get an audience for
each performance. Someone will come to see one show and will stay
to see three or four others that same day.”
Jeff Chanley, a fourth-year English student, wrote the script,
“Forget Me Not,” and was one of the many writers
gratified to see his words come to life at Theaterfest.
“I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but I had no
aspirations to be a playwright,” he said. “Now that
I’ve seen something I’ve written performed, I’ve
got a new interest here, I admit.”
Writing is oftentimes a solo project, so Chanley welcomed the
production process.
“The interaction I had with my director (Kim Goei) really
made the experience for me. I listened to what my actors Jonathan
Hiller and Liz Holm had to say about their lines and I let them
change things accordingly when they were right about something not
sounding right or a word being out of place. I wrote the thing, but
I feel that my actors and director really put it up.”
Joy Vanides, graduating theater student and president of Theater
Underground, couldn’t be happier about this year’s
successful Theaterfest turnout.
“The most gratifying thing is being able to see students
who are putting up their work not because it is required of them
for a grade or to please a professor, but simply because they have
passion driving them,” she said. “When artistic pieces
come out of creative energy like that, it’s
exciting.”