Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Company: Welcome back event at the Mongolian Embassy

This month, The Ambassador hosted my dance company and those who traveled to Mongolia in March a welcome back event at the Mongolian Embassy here in Washington, DC.

Left to right: GW dance teacher Kelly Southall,  GW dance alumna Sarah Halzack, His Excellency Khasbazary Bekhbat the Ambassador of Mongolia to the US, GW dance teacher Connie Lin Fink and myself.  -Dana Tai Soon Burgess

Former undergraduate dance student at GW celebrates his 60th birthday

Jeffrey Strum, dancer in Washington, DC and former undergraduate dance student at The George Washington University, celebrated his 60^th birthday on Saturday, May 14, 2011.

Michelle Ava, Michael Kasper, Maida Withers, and other GW associates traveled to DC to celebrate this important occasion by attending a party in his honor in Silver Spring, Maryland.

2011 C.A.S.T. AWARD NOMINEES!

THE PAUL PARADY MEMORIAL THEATRE AND DANCE AWARD

Eleanor Aubrey, Daniel Bandong, Amanda Demczuk, Corinne Haynes, Sharon Strich, Adalia Tonneyck

Presented to a student who made an outstanding contribution to the Department of Theatre and Dance and its various production activities. The award includes a permanent plaque to be displayed in the Department, a cash prize, and a plaque presented to the recipient.

KEVIN PETER HALL MEMORIAL THEATRE AND DANCE AWARD

Lorna Mulvaney, Madeline Ruskin

An annual acting award for a current student who plans to enter the acting profession, presented to a graduating senior whose commitment to excellence and whose perseverance as an actor is representative of the legacy of inspiration that Kevin remains to all of us. The award includes a permanent plaque to be displayed in the Department, and a cash prize, an acting book, and a plaque to be presented to the recipient.

THE TODD ANDREW MUSSER THEATRE AND DANCE AWARD

Rachel Johnson, Lizzy Marmon, Elyse Steingold

For excellence in theatre. Presented to the undergraduate student who has done the most in the current season to bring joy to the community through sheer determination and dedication, particularly in his or her contribution as a performer in a musical. The award includes a permanent plaque to be displayed in the Department, and a cash prize, and a plaque to be presented to the recipient.

THE HERBERT M. PRICE MEMORIAL THEATRE AND DANCE AWARD

Daniel Bandong, Lizzy Marmon, Alexandra Pinel

This award is given to the student who shows the same love Herb had for the Performing Arts. It includes a permanent plaque to be displayed in the Department, a cash prize, and a plaque presented to the recipient.

NANCY DIERS JOHNSON THEATRE AND DANCE AWARD

Elizabeth Barnett, Jamie Garcia, Jessica Mann, Annika Moller, Alexandra Pinel

Given to a senior dance major or minor who has demonstrated outstanding capabilities as a choreographer through two or more dance works created for the Mainstage concerts. The recipient must exhibit a complete understanding of the elements of choreography as well as sets, costumes, and lighting, and be particularly active in their senior year. The award includes a permanent plaque to be displayed in the Department, a cash prize, a book about dance, and a plaque to be presented to the recipient.

THE AL KINCAID THEATRE AND DANCE AWARD

Ashley Chen, Mackenzie Garrity, Michael McManus, Aaron Pollon

Presented to the freshman or sophomore who has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in design and/or technical production.

The award includes a permanent plaque to be displayed in the Department, a gift certificate for art supplies, and a plaque to be presented to the recipient.

THE ELIZABETH BURTNER THEATRE AND DANCE AWARD

Justin Balsamo, Carolina Leon, Lydia Mokdessi, Annika Moller

Presented to a student for excellence as a performer in dance as a creative art.

The award includes a permanent plaque to be displayed in the Department, a cash prize, and a plaque to be presented to the recipient.

THE TIM EVANS MEMORIAL THEATRE AND DANCE AWARD

Jenny Bernson (Costume Design – Anyone Can Whistle) Paula Wang (Set Design – Oleanna)

Derek Jones (Lighting Design – The Tempest) Jessika Watson-Tetting (Set Design – The Tempest)

Adalia Tonneyck (Costume Design – The Tempest)

Presented to a student for design excellence on a Subscription Season production.

The award includes a permanent plaque to be displayed in the Department, a cash prize, and a plaque to be presented to the recipient.

THE MAIDA WITHERS DANCE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY INNOVATION AWARD

Alexandra Pinel

Presented to a dance student daring to walk the tightrope between originality and risk in performance art and the formality of the theater stage - initiatives recognized as unique and not easily categorized. Leadership qualities may also be given consideration.

The award includes a permanent plaque to be displayed in the Department, a cash prize, and a plaque to be presented to the recipient.

BRADLEY WILLIAM SABELLI DESIGN AWARD

Jonathan Rushbrook, Adalia Tonneyck, Paula Wang

Presented to a junior, senior, or graduate student who has consistently demonstrated in studio or stage assignments originality, ingenuity, creativity, productivity in achieving the Design Concept. The award includes a plaque to be displayed in the Department, a cash prize, and a plaque to be presented to the recipient.

Visit:
http://theatredance.gwu.edu/Cast/castawards.html

GW DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND DANCE PRESENTS FOURTH ANNUAL NEW PLAYS FESTIVAL

NEW PLAYS FESTIVAL

Directed by Jodi Kanter. The department's fourth annual showing of student written one-act plays.

This year’s plays include Voices on the Edge by Nathan Wilson, Spumoni by Conor McCaffrey and Luvolution by Julie Braunschweiger.

March 25, 26 and April 1, 2 at 7:30 pm and March 27 and April 3 at 2:00 pm General admission is $15 for the general public. Admission for students and senior citizens is $10. Tickets are available online at theatredance.gwu.edu, by calling (202) 994-0995 or by visiting the box office on the night of the performance. The box office is located next to the Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre, on the first floor of the Marvin Center.

The Mongolia Dance Diary: Day 1

George Washington University’s Dana Tai Soon Burgess, chair of the department of theater and dance and founder of Washington’s premiere Asian-American contemporary dance company, Dana Tai Soon Burgess and Co., travels this week to the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar, to lead master classes in contemporary American dance. Go to the blog

GW Department of Theatre & Dance presents the fourth annual NEW PLAYS FESTIVAL

The Department’s fourth annual New Plays Festival of student-written one-acts will be directed this year by Jodi Kanter, GW professor of theater. This year’s plays include “Voices on the Edge” by Nathan Wolfson, “Spumoni” by Conor McCaffrey and “Luvolution” by Julie Braunschweiger.

In addition, the festival will feature two evenings of staged readings of student written plays directed by Allyson Currin Stokes: “Holding Penelope’s Hand” by Marielle Mondon; “Postcards from Vienna” by Tay Tufenkjian; “Running from the Border” by Micah Lubens; “Rain” by Elizabeth Lothian. Readings will take place March 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m. in Betts Theatre (two plays per night, order to be announced).

March 25, 26 and April 1, 2 at 7:30 pm
and March 27 and April 3 at 2:00 pm

General admission is $15 for the general public. Admission for students and senior citizens is $10. Ticket reservations are available online at theatredance.gwu.edu, by calling (202) 994-0995 or by visiting the box office on the night of the performance. The box office is located next to the Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre, on the first floor of the Marvin Center.

The George Washington University

Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre, Marvin Center 1^st floor

800 21^st Street, NW

Washington, D.C. 20052

(Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro Station, Blue and Orange lines)

Buy tickets online: http://theatredance.gwu.edu/Season/mainstage.html

GW DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND DANCE PRESENTS STEPHEN SONDHEIM’S MUSICAL ANYONE CAN WHISTLE

GW’S DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND DANCE PRESENTS

STEPHEN SONDHEIM’S MUSICAL

‘ANYONE CAN WHISTLE’

EVENT: The George Washington University Department of Theatre and Dance (TRDA) and the Department of Music present ‘Anyone Can Whistle,’ the fourth theatre production of the 2010-2011 TRDA MainStage Season.

WHEN: Feb. 24, 25, 26, 2011 7:30 p.m.;
Feb. 27, 2011; 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: The George Washington University

Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre, Marvin Center 1^st floor

800 21^st Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20052

(Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro Station, Blue and Orange lines)

COST: General admission is $15 for the general public. Admission for students and senior citizens is $10. Ticket reservations are available online here, by calling (202) 994-0995 or by visiting the box office on the night of the performance. The box office is located next to the Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre, on the first floor of the Marvin Center.

BACKGROUND:

Stephen Sondheim’s musical, "Anyone Can Whistle" is directed by Leslie Jacobson, GW’s own director of the academy of classical acting and professor of theatre. Music direction by Patrick O’Donnell (Department of Music). Choreography by Jan Taylor.

"Anyone Can Whistle" is presented through special arrangement with Music

Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also

supplied by MTI, 421 West 54th Street, New york, NY 10019 Tel.: (212)

541-4684 Fax: (212) 397-4684 www.MTIShows.com

BUY TICKETS ONLINE HERE