Reserve your tickets!

The trouble is, you think you have time. Sure, we don’t open until next year... but opening night is only 14 days away! 

Time to start reserving your tickets. Email ufvromeoinitiative@gmail.com with your name, number of and type of ticket, and performance dates. This is a reservation for tickets, tickets will then be available at the door for purchase, where our box office is cash only. 

Reserved tickets will be held until 5 minutes before the show starts. 

Not sure what day you can make it? That’s okay too, tickets are only being sold at the door for this production. Make sure to come early, as we have limited seating. 

Tickets are 12$ for adults, and 10$ for students and seniors, cash only. 

To remind you, the performance dates are as follows. 

Thursday Jan. 14th @7:30pm. 

Friday Jan. 15th @7:30pm. 

Saturday Jan. 16th @7:30pm. 

Sunday Jan. 17th @2:00pm. 

Can’t wait to see you and share our production with you. 

Meet Our Team: Management, Production and Stage

Coordinating a production is no easy task. Just scratching the top of the list there is scheduling, budget management, meetings, rehearsal reports, show reports, paper work like you wouldn’t believe, stage blocking, and knowing and understanding each area of a theatrical production. 

It takes a team of highly organized and dedicated individuals to effectively manage a show.

For the Ensemble Project, we call them Team Eli. Eli Funk has untaken the enormous task of Production Manager, and Eli Moores is rocking the script as Stage Manager.

Production Manager, Eli Funk, and Stage Manager, Eli Moores. Photograph by Kirstin Shale. 

Eli Funk and his schedule. Photograph by Kirstin Shale 

A Production Manager is responsible for realizing the visions of the producer and director (and in our case, the class) within the constrains of technical possibility and budget.

Funk is an English major drama concentration, with an extended minor in theatre and, as of last week, has finished his final course and is set for graduation. He’s been on stage, off stage, and around the stage, but this is his first time as Production Manager. His biggest challenge? Everything.

“The whole job, none if it is easy…my process is to throw dates at a wall and hope something sticks.”

Funk is our master scheduler, communicator, and keeper of the funds.

Eli Moores spikes the stage floor. Photograph by Kirstin Shale. 

Everything that goes on in a rehearsal, this man knows. His job is to make sure that the show they are creating in rehearsal, is the same show the designers are designing for. 

Moores is working on a sociology major with a minor in theatre and this his is first time Stage Managing a production, which is a new challenge on its own. He also finds challenge in working in a space away from the main theatre, away from the comforts of home. 


His words of advice:

"Theatre will teach you many useful skills, if not it will teach you how to tie knots or fold paper origami."

-JI Milliken

BTS: Publicity Photo Shoot

BTS Photos from our Publicity Photo Shoot!

We had our Publicity Photo Shoot this week, and while the official photos will not be released until a later date... we were able to sneak some behind the scenes photos! Okay, maybe not sneak, it's what we are here for!

Assistant Director, Phay, helps with actor Emily Eggert-Botkin's hair as Costume and Hair&Makeup Designers Desiree Hale and Trudy-Bridgette Smith watch their designs come to life. Photograph by Kirstin Shale. 

Costume/Hair/Makeup Team Desiree Hale and Trudy-Bridgette Smith. Photograph by Kirstin Shale. 

Actor, Reilly Ellis, preps for the camera. Design by Desiree Hale and Trudy-Bridgette Smith. Photograph by Kirstin Shale. 

Photographer Tony Funk works with the actors, Emily Eggert-Botkin, Delaney Bergstrom, and Reilly Ellis. Costumes/Hair/Makeup: Desiree Hale and Trudy-Bridgette Smith. Set Design: Nicole Janisch. Photograph by Jessica Milliken

Photographer, Tony Funk works with the actors, Emily Eggert-Botkin, Delaney Bergstrom, and Reilly Ellis. Costumes/Hair/Makeup: Desiree Hale and Trudy-Bridgette Smith. Set Design: Nicole Janisch. Photograph by Jessica Milliken

The costumes were hung with care, in hopes that opening night soon would be there.
Photograph by Jessica Milliken. Costume Design by Desiree Hale and Trudy-Bridgette Smith. 

-JI Milliken

Meet Our Team: Costumes/Hair/Makeup Designers

What to wear, what to wear, what to wear? It's a question some people ask everyday, and a question some people never ask. Your outfit can be a representation of who you are, or who you'd like to be; a statement, your way of communicating to the world without saying a word. Or sometimes its just the clothes you pull from the bottom of your closet.

But to a Costume Designer? Clothes are everything. A Costume Designer must work to create the illusion that the actors, are not the actors, but the real living people of the play. They sprinkle a little magic.

Meet the Costume/Hair&Makeup Team: Desiree Hale and Trudy-Bridgette Smith.

Desiree Hale and Trudy-Bridgette Smith. Photograph by Kirstin Shale. 

Design Meetings. Trudy-Bridgette and Desiree
present their designs. Calvin's hat makes an appearance.
Photograph by yours truly. 

Desiree is working through the Theatre Diploma program, with her passion and dream job in costume design. This is Desiree's first taste of costume designing and the most exciting thing for her is getting to analyze and deduce characters through what clothes they wear. 

"There is a lot less of "Does this look good?" and a lot more of "Is this something the character would actually dress themselves in?" and I've had a bunch of fun answering that question."

There seems to be a trend in everyone's biggest challenges in Ensemble. Schedules and timing. As well, Desiree says her challenge is keeping on top of paperwork, and research, and learning the process. You'd think we were all new to this or something?

Her advice to you?

"Following your dreams it's 110% worth it...Hone your skills and find ways to incorporate the things you love most into a career path, and you will find happiness within your work."

Desiree and Trudy-Bridgette go over final details
at the Publicity Photo Shoot. Photograph by Kirstin Shale. 

Trudy-Bridgette is studying Theatre and Psychology with plans to graduate in 2018. Also a first-time designer, Trudy-Bridgette is excited about the opportunity the students have been given for the Ensemble Project. 

Time, time, and time. Trudy-Bridgette finds the challenge in using the limited time the team has both off-stage and on-stage, and finding costumes that were quick to build, and quick to change between scenes. 

Her words of wisdom:

"Plan things well in advance. Stick to your schedule and remember to have fun while getting the job done!"

These lovely ladies got the first chance to see their designs realized at the Publicity Photo Shoot this week. It really was magic. 


-JI Milliken

Meet Our Team: Artistic and Technical Coordinators

Costume design, lighting design, sound design, hair and make-up design, projections design, set design, props design. Designers, assistant designers, directors, producers.

For this project, we have our ATC Team. Artistic and Technical Coordinators, Calvin Baker and Nial Harrison-Morry.

Photograph by Kirstin Shale

Calvin, works the tech side.

Photograph by Kirstin Shale

As Technical Coordinator, he works with the Sound & Lighting and Projections designers to realize their designs.

"It's a job somewhere between a Scenographer and a Technical Director, where I work with the directors and designers to create a unified, and collaborative, design concept."  

Calvin needs to know what plugs into what and where. He has spent his time learning the studio at CEP, all its quirks, layout and design. He is our go-to man. Working in this new space has been his most exciting aspect, and yet his biggest challenge.

“Working in a new space, and within the structure of this class, there has been an incredible learning curve in how to navigate the difficulties and challenges in acting in a sort of dual artistic and technical role.”

Calvin is finishing his Theatre Diploma this spring, and offers this advice to you:

Whenever you start a new project, have a clear image in your head about what you are trying to achieve. Visualize it as clear as you can, and then work towards actualizing it. Knowing what you want is the greatest tool you can empower yourself with in achieving success.

Photograph by Kirstin Shale

On the Artistic side of our ATC team, we have Nial.

He works with set, props, costumes, and hair and makeup to help maintain the other side of a cohesive design. The most exciting thing for Nial has been working on a production where the students make the designs. “Artistic freedom!” he says.

Of course, within budget, and the space, and the resources, and that 10 hour a week cap.

Nial also graduates this spring with a Bachelor of General Studies. His advice is simple:

“It is impossible to take care of anything else if you are falling apart, so you do you. Then take over the world...”

-JI Milliken

Two Sides

We hear it all the time. 

There are two sides to every story.

You never really know the truth, you just know a truth. 

One of the most unique things about Trina Davies script, is the perspective. The story is told from the point of view of both lovers.

Each perspective is their own, what really happened, their own truth. 

But can we still find a real truth? 

Only way to find out it to come see the show. January 14th-16th at 7:30pm. and January 17th at 2:00pm. Canada Education Park, UFV Performance Studio, Building A. 45190 Caen Avenue, Chilliwack BC.

-JI Milliken

Meet our Team: Shawna Lawson and Phay Gagnon, Directing Team

Director:

         -a person or thing that directs;

         -responsible for the interpretive aspects of a theatrical production;
         -supervises the integration of all the elements (acting, lights, sound, staging, props, puppets) to realize the playwright’s conception;

Common phrases of a director include: I promise, just one more time; I like it, keep it; make it bigger; STOP ACTING; I don’t know, ask the stage manager; that thing you just did, do that again; I need you to be way more sad. Like, can you even maybe cry a bit?; 20 seconds is enough time to do a complete costume and hair change, right?; we’ll figure it out in tech.

 Meet the directing team of the Ensemble Project! Assistant Director, Phay Gagnon, on the left, and Director Shawna Lawson, on the right. 

Photograph by Kirstin Shale

These two minds are responsible for (among other things) coaching our actors, communicating with our design team and artistic coordinators, and attending every meeting possible. And answering questions from the Project’s pesky writer.

What makes a good director? Shawna Lawson says: 

“I personally think it comes down to a few key things:  Flexibility, patience, thinking outside the box, communicating effectively with others, and it really helps if you’re insane.”

Also sunglasses. and wicked sweet hair.

Shawna graduated last June with a double extended minor in English and Theatre (with Outstanding Achievement in Theatre, might I add) and is back to complete a full English major. No stranger to life in the hot seat, (including writing and directing her one-act play, Driver’s Anonymous, in last years Director’s Festival here at UFV) Shawna is grateful to have been voted by the class as director for this “crazy and exciting project.” Not only is this an entire new project for the university, for the faculty, and for the students, this is the first time she has directed a show of this scale. And her biggest challenge is staying within the 10 hour weekly limit.

Design Meetings

What’s that, you ask? In order to attempt to keep students from becoming too overwhelmed, the department placed a 10 hour restriction on time spent on the project outside of class time.  

And Shawna says she’s never gone over the 10 hour limit. Nope. Not once. By much.

In short, Shawna says

 “It’s exciting, crazy, wonderful, and challenging all at the same time!”

I’ll raise my coffee to that.

As assistant director, Phay is an extra pair of eyes, ears, and voice in rehearsals and meetings, as she and Shawna work closely together to direct this ensemble of people. New to directing, as she also works through THEA 450 and 451 (Our Directing courses), Phay is a fourth year English and Theatre student, with her heart on the stage. Her main job, as with every student in the class, is to learn, and Phay is learning to trust her instincts, the most amazing thing a theatre student can do.

           

            “With Shawna, I am able to bounce ideas off her, hear her own ideas, and make decisions that wouldn’t have been possible without being strong enough to voice them. It is always a challenge to be willing to try new things, and I am getting more confident with each day.”

Photographer, Kirstin Shale makes an appearance. 

And their wonderful words of wisdom, 

Shawna

Whatever you choose to do in your life, make sure you enjoy it, and have fun! Theatre is a TON of work, and if it wasn’t fun it wouldn’t be worth the effort. So even when things get tough, even when you’re so busy you barely have time to breathe, even when it feels like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders, take a moment, take a breath, and remember why you love what you’re doing.

Phay

Have ideas, fall in love with them, find the passion within yourself to see your ideas flourish. But if someone has a better idea for the situation or your idea doesn’t fit in with what you’re doing, you must be willing to let it go. To collaborate with others, be it your friends or strangers, always bring your ideas to the table with strength. Defend them, to a point. But when it’s time to let it go, let it go. Relax. Be open to process. Have fun.

-JI Milliken