Denny's Blog

Youth Theatre at the University of Utah

admin — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 01:09:32 +0000

So last summer I had the privilege to costume a show for Youth Theatre at the University of Utah that went to the Fringe Festival. Is was in the UR Review.

I am really proud of these kids.

http://the-u-review.co.uk/The_U-Review/Reviews/Entries/2011/8/10_Viral__The_Musical.html

Here is a review of the show

The University of Utah’s Youth Theatre is one of many youth groups and schools participating in this year’s American High School Theatre Festival. Their contribution to the Festival’s varied programme is this original cyberspace musical by Nicholas Dunn and Penelope Caywood.

All credit due to the cast of seventeen youngsters, whose enthusiasm shone through and helped carry the show. There were some impressive group harmonies in the ensemble numbers and the execution of Caywood and Olivia Vessel’s choreography was highly polished.

The show warns of the dangers of Internet culture but the story is admittedly rather daft. After a classmate is humiliated in an online video, socially average teenager Harmony Faust is inspired to set up a video blog and get noticed by her peers but descends into journalistic exploitation. The key problem is that we never have a consistent allegiance to any character. There are also some side plots that are set up but not paid off, particularly a potential romance between Harmony and Matt ‘Star Wars Kid’ Stopheles, although this pair (Katryna Williams and Jacob Houser) did share a duet and they were both in very good voice.

Stephanie Jones’ punk-influenced costume design worked to good effect and demonstrated the urge of the youth to be individual, with some additions that distinguished the social groups and tiers of the high school pecking order.

I think Viral either is or isn’t one’s cup of tea, but the company clearly worked their socks off and they are a talented young bunch.

Nutcracker

admin — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 23:53:44 +0000

the nutcracker has started up Here are a few pictures of the Ornaments. There are ten 2 in five different colors. I will have to paint some of them but there are so cute it will be worth it!

ornament costume

Nutcracker ornaments

admin — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 23:51:42 +0000

ornament

It’s been awhile!

admin — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 15:02:55 +0000

Ok So I was going to post everyday HA! Well I had stopped in May mostly because life changed. My father went into the hospital with Alzheimer’s he spent two months in a long term care facility. He is home now but I would guess he will be back in long term care in 6-8 months.So life has changed alot here. My niece and her husband moved in to help take care of my parents. My Mother hasn’t been doing anything to take care of herself. She is looked awful yesterday. She has memory issues too which she won’t do anything about, she has dealt with what is going on with my Dad at all.

So I hope she will take the help she needs soon.
I am trying to move on with everything I am doing .

Will post some pictures later next week.

I’m so glad that I was able to direct this show!

admin — Tue, 11 May 2010 05:03:34 +0000

So much to do

admin — Tue, 11 May 2010 04:58:22 +0000

Wow I have so much to do it is crazy. I have 50+ tutu’s and about 100 costumes to finish in the next 4 weeks. I had a great plan and then life screws it up. So I just have to dig in and get busy! What does this mean, The house will slowly become a bigger mess then it already is. Like always I will try not to be crabby but I’m sure I will. Rob will be home about 5-8 days out of the rest of the month. That should make it interesting.

I am going to post pictures throughout this process.

Got Scripts

admin — Tue, 04 May 2010 05:09:30 +0000

We finally got our scripts and music for the show. We have been blocking off a perusal script. It has been crazy. I have been doing choreography using the movie Cd,hoping that it is correct. Most of it is pretty close. I hope we will be able to get enough kids to do the ballet. I need at least 4 more to make it work. Wish me luck!

Ragtime

admin — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 04:27:52 +0000

How I want to be when I’m older

admin — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 04:25:34 +0000

So today I was measuring dancers at Clytie’s Studio. Before class started I noticed Clytie warming up at barre before she taught class. All I could think of is that is how I want to be in my 70’s she just keeps going and teaching class every week. What is so funny is that she wasn’t really teaching any classes when we moved to Kaysville in the 90’s. Then she started teaching more and more. The dancers don’t know how lucky they are to have her.

Ruth’s Movement Final

admin — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 05:29:42 +0000

Today I went and saw Ruth’s movement final. It was great. I loved the different styles they used. Sometimes I think Actors think movement is just about the big number in a musical it is so much more then that. To be able to tell the story with your body and shadows. Remembering the what one small turn of the head or a picking up a hat with your foot. To do without facial expressions is hard and I love to watch and learn and see these actors progress. I wish I could have seen the past years and see the difference in them. I see so much growth in the few months we have been back in the states. I’m glad we are back so I can share these moments of Ruth growing into such a wonderful actress.