Join the MSU Friends of Theatre in collaboration with the MSU Department of Theatre for a “BEHIND THE SCENES” class at LOCATION TBD. Learn about the creative process of theatre-making from the guest lecturers and faculty and students involved in each production.
Each Behind the Scenes class series is composed of two discussion sessions and attendance at the play. For the 2024-2025 Department of Theatre Season, we will be offering classes for THREE plays and musicals.
- Inherit the Wind: Classes: October 3 & 17, 2024; Production Dates: October 4-13, 2024
- 9 to 5, The Musical: Classes: February 6 & 27, 2025; Production Dates: February 14-23, 2025
- Decision Height: March 27 & April 10, 2025; Production Dates: April 1-6, 2025
Inherit the Wind
1st Class: The director will speak about the original 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial and the 1955 reception of the play Inherit the Wind, a fictionalized version of the story. The play was inspired by the original trial in which a teacher was arrested for teaching about evolution from the banned book Darwin’s “Origin of Species” instead of teaching creationism from “The Bible.” Discussion of current book banning around the country as well as religion seeping into public schools will showcase the relevance of the play’s themes for today’s audiences.
See the Play: Oct 4 – 13, 2024. Inherit the Wind will be performed in the MSU Auditorium’s Arena Theatre. Purchase your tickets for the time and date of your choosing
at https://www.whartoncenter.com/events/detail/inherit-the-wind
2nd Class: After the play, attendees will have the opportunity to interact with faculty and students involved in the production as they discuss their experiences in creating and performing the show.
When: Thursday, October 3, 3-5pm and Thursday, October 17, 3-5pm
Where: LOCATION TBD
Cost: The classes are FREE. Tickets for the Play: General Admission: $20; Seniors and Faculty: $15; Students: $10. Purchase your tickets at https://www.whartoncenter.com/events/detail/inherit-the-wind
Registration: LINK from AgeAlive or call (517) 337-1113 by September 26 to secure a spot. Seating is limited.
Special notes on Inherit the Wind:
Written by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee
Directed by Rob Roznowski
This lively courtroom drama is a fictionalized account of the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial, where a Tennessee teacher was convicted for teaching Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution in a high school science class. As the trial unfolds, the courtroom becomes the stage for ideological conflict and debate about the fine line between church and state.
Meet our Guest Lecturer:
ROB ROZNOWSKI (he/him) is an award-winning actor, author, director, educator, and playwright. He is a Professor at Michigan State University where he serves as the Head of Acting & Directing in the Department of Theatre. His publications include books– Roadblocks in Acting, Inner Monologue in Acting, The Introverted Actor: Practical Approaches and Collaboration in Theatre: A Practical Guide for Designers and Directors; plays– Arts or Crafts, Comfort Food, The Tail of Peter Rabbit, The Summer Circle, The Amazing America Road Trip; and articles/chapters mostly about the intersection of acting & psychology.
He worked as the National Outreach and Education Coordinator for Actors’ Equity Association and has appeared extensively through the United States as an actor and director in New York and Los Angeles and regionally at Goodspeed Musicals, Long Wharf Theatre and the Pittsburgh Public Theatre. He was part of the original cast of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and can be heard on the show’s recording. He has directed internationally in Colombia, Dubai, and Greece where he was a Fulbright Fellow.
Rob served on the faculty of Marymount Manhattan College, the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, SUNY/ Stony Brook, and Stephens College where he received the “Distinguished Teaching Award.” At MSU he was awarded the “Mid-Michigan Alumni Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching”, “Michigan Professor of the Year Award” from the President’s Council State Universities of Michigan,” “The President’s Distinguished Teaching Award” and he is a William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty recipient. He also coordinates the MFA program in acting.
9 to 5, The Musical
1st Class: The director will give an introduction to the musical and its correlation to the film. We will explore the history of women/female-identifying persons in the workplace in the late 70s and early 80s. This will tie into current trends of pay equity and women/female-identifying persons in leadership roles. We will tie all of this together with a celebration of Dolly Parton’s musical score.
See the Play: Feb 14-23, 2025. 9 to 5, The Musical will be performed in the MSU Auditorium’s Fairchild Theatre. Purchase your tickets for the time and date of your choosing
at https://www.whartoncenter.com/events/detail/9-to-5-the-musical
2nd Class: After the play, attendees will have the opportunity to interact with faculty and students involved in the production as they discuss their experiences in creating and performing the show.
When: Thursday, February 6, 3-5pm and Thursday, February 27, 3-5pm
Where: LOCATION TBD
Cost: The classes are FREE. Tickets for the Play: General Admission: $25; Seniors and Faculty: $20; Students: $10. Purchase your tickets at https://www.whartoncenter.com/events/detail/9-to-5-the-musical
Registration: LINK from AgeAlive or call (517) 337-1113 by January 30 to secure a spot. Seating is limited.
Special notes on 9 to 5, The Musical:
Music and Lyrics by Dolly Parton, Book by Patricia Resnik
Based on the 20th Century Fox Picture
Directed by Adam Yankowy and Music Directed by Dave Wendelberger
Pushed to the boiling point, three female coworkers concoct a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot they call their boss. In a hilarious turn of events, Violet, Judy and Doralee live out their wildest fantasy–giving their boss the boot! While Hart remains “otherwise engaged,” the women give their workplace a dream makeover, taking control of the company that had always kept them down.
Meet our Guest Lecturer:
ADAM YANKOWY (he/him) is a native of Louisville, KY and is currently an Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre at Michigan State University. Over the past 10 years he has taught in the theatre departments at Drake, Iowa State (Iowa State University), Grand View & Minnesota State Universities. Adam holds an MFA in Musical Theatre (Minnesota State University, Mankato), Bachelor’s in Music Education (University of Louisville), and a Musical Theatre Performance Certificate (The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, NYC). Previous direction: Kinky Boots (Des Moines Playhouse- Cloris Award Nomination for Direction), Wings: A Staged Reading, Carrie (Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival National Recognition), It Shoulda Been You, Songs for a New World, Sunday on the Rocks, Runaways (Drake), You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown (Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre). Previous music direction: The Theory of Relativity, Carrie, Cabaret (Des Moines Playhouse- Cloris Award for Music Direction), It Shoulda Been You, 9 to 5, Into the Woods, Songs for a New World, Pippin, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Runaways (Drake), Fun Home (Iowa Stage- Cloris Award for Music Direction), Oklahoma! (Iowa State University), A Christmas Story: The Musical, Disney’s Mary Poppins. Performance credits: New York: Babes in Toyland (Lincoln Center), Ruddigore, The Pirates of Penzance (New York City Center), Broadway’s Rising Stars (Town Hall), Swinging Christmas (Carnegie Hall) Other favorites: The Monster in Young Frankenstein (Des Moines Playhouse- Cloris Award), Jud in Oklahoma!, Javert in Les Misrables, Beast in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Tours: Curious George Live!, Streetmosphere (Venetian Resort in Macau, China.)
Decision Height
1st Class: This talk will cover a brief history of the WASP: Women Airforce Service Pilots, including the integral contributions they made to WW2 and their legacy since the end of the war. We will also discuss the creative processes for this production, which was built as part of the “Storefront Series” here at MSU. In this series, based on the concept of Storefront theatres in Chicago, design elements (such as scenery and costume design) are put aside to focus on the power of acting and physical storytelling. We will discuss elements of devising and overall creative problem-solving within these parameters.
See the Play: Feb 14-23, 2025. Decision Height will be performed in the MSU Auditorium’s Studio 60 Theatre. Purchase your tickets for the time and date of your choosing
at https://www.whartoncenter.com/events/detail/decision-height
2nd Class: After the play, attendees will have the opportunity to interact with faculty and students involved in the production as they discuss their experiences in creating and performing the show.
When: Thursday, March 27, 3-5pm and Thursday, April 10, 3-5pm
Where: LOCATION TBD
Cost: The classes are FREE. Tickets for the Play: General Admission: $10. Purchase your tickets at https://www.whartoncenter.com/events/detail/decision-height
Registration: LINK from AgeAlive or call (517) 337-1113 by March 20 to secure a spot. Seating is limited.
Special notes on Decision Height:
Written by Meredith Danya Levy
Directed by Alexis Black
Amidst the chaos of war, Virginia has left home to become a Woman Airforce Service Pilot during World War II. As she faces a pivotal decision that will change her life forever, Decision Height tells an unforgettable story of bravery, sacrifice, and sisterhood, shining light on a courageous group of unrecognized American Heroes.
Meet our Guest Lecturer:
ALEXIS BLACK (she/her) received her MFA in Theatre Performance Pedagogy with an emphasis in Movement from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is an educator, fight, movement and intimacy director, performer, and director.
As a movement specialist, Alexis is a certified Intimacy Director with Intimacy Directors and Coordinators, is a certified teacher in the Michael Chekhov Physical Acting Technique, and has a level one certification in the Margolis Method. She has trained with PUSH Physical Theatre and Anne Bogart’s SITI Company, and is a member of the Society of American Fight Directors, The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, and the Association of Theatre Movement Educators.
As a fight and movement director she has choreographed in NYC, Europe, South Korea, and regionally in the US. In NYC she has choreographed for the NY Fringe, Off-Off Broadway, and Off Broadway. Broadway credits include Fool for Love on Broadway, starring Sam Rockwell and Nina Arianda, and Macbeth, starring Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga. Regional credits include Rattlesnake Kate at the Denver Center and Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC. In Michigan she has served as resident fight and intimacy director for 5 seasons at Hope Repertory Theatre, and has worked with The Purple Rose Theatre, Detroit Repertory Theatre, Tipping Point Theatre, Flint Repertory Theatre and Williamston Theatre.
As a professional actor and member of the Actors’ Equity Association, she has worked with regional theaters, on international tours and in numerous shows in NYC. Favorite credits include productions with The Dorset Theater Festival, The Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company and touring Europe in several shows with American Globe Theatre and TNT-Britain.
Alexis has led intimacy for the stage and staged violence workshops at universities across the U.S., and co-authored Supporting Staged Intimacy: A Practical Guide for Theatre Creatives, Managers and Crew for Routledge Publications (2022). She has explored the powerful combination of Meisner and Chekhov for years in the acting classroom, and wrote about it in the Routledge publication, Michael Chekhov and Sanford Meisner: Collisions and Convergence in Actor Training, and has studied ways to support neurodiversity in the classroom through ongoing research and a publication titled “Acting without Imagery: Aphantasia in the Theatre Classroom” included in the Routledge 2021 Publication Inclusivity and Equality in Performance Training.
More information can be found at www.alexisblack.net.