Numerous opportunities for production are offered by a wide variety of performance groups at MIT. Most groups stage both full scale and smaller scale productions throughout the year and most of these groups are independent student organizations, run and operated by the students themselves. Two exceptions are the MIT Dramashop, a cocurricular student theater group, and Dance Theater Ensemble, a cocurricular dance group. Each of these groups is sponsored by the Department of Theater Arts, and participation in their productions can be applied toward course credit.
MIT Dramashop is a cocurricular student theater group open to all members of the MIT community. Dramashop offers opportunities for people interested in acting, directing, stage managing, writing, and designing or building sets, lights, sound, and costumes. The Theater Arts faculty is fully involved in the productions, directing, designing and, on occasion, acting in them. Dramashop presents two main stage productions each year, one during the Independent Activities Period (IAP) and one during the spring. In the fall term, Dramashop produces a set of student-written, student-directed and student-designed one-act plays. They also run and organize a small Pickup Theater, as well as the One Week Wonder, where students mount a production of a full-length play in just one week!
In '05-'06, Michael Ouellette directed a major production of Leocadia by Jean Anouilh, and guest artist in residence Max Hafler directed The Old Law by Rowley and Middleton during Independent Activities Period (January-early February). As always, the student written and directed one-Acts were presented in November. In spring of '06, Dramashop students pioneered ACTS, Americans Coming to Soliloquize, a major three-week performing tour of the UK, during which they interacted with students at four of that country's leading universities and shared with them, through workshops, experiences of contemporary American theatre.
This year, Professor Thomas DeFrantz will direct a musical play during IAP, and Professor Jay Scheib will take the helm for the spring major production. For more information, contact ds_officers.
Founded in 2002, DTE, like Dramashop, is a cocurricular performance group that usually performs a fall concert and a spring showing of new material during the academic year (December and May). The ensemble is based on no single dance technique but embraces a range of movement idioms from modern and postmodern forms, and includes jazz, tap, and popular social dance styles. The challenging repertory for the ensemble is created largely by visiting artists and the Faculty Advisor, Thomas DeFrantz, but students sometimes choreograph for the group. Rehearsals are twice weekly, and weekly design and technical sessions will be arranged. Membership is by audition only. May be taken for credit by registering for 21M.880 or 21M.281.
The first performance by the DTE was an original work made on members of the group by distinguished MIT alum Gus Solomons, Jr. '61, an internationally-respected choreographer and dance critic. Other guest artists include dancer/choreographer Alexandra Beller, Baroque choreographer Ken Pierce, tap dance master Dianne Walker, and downtown dance diva Edisa Weeks. In academic year '06-'07, DTE intends to sponsor master classes and performances with visiting artists. Note: There will not be a student performance of DTE work in '06-'07.
For more information about future DTE activities, please contact defrantz.
Each spring, former Associate Provost for the Arts and Professor of Theater Arts Alan Brody selects a small number of student-written one-act plays to develop in a workshop setting. Priority goes to students who are or who have been members of the Playwrights’ Workshop 21M.785, but anyone can submit scripts. Requests for submission go out at the beginning of the spring semester. Announcement of the plays selected and auditions occur just before spring break. Rehearsals begin immediately after spring break, and the performance occurs in early May.
Playwrights in Performance gives young playwrights the opportunity to follow their scripts through the production process and work closely with actors and directors on revisions. It gives actors the opportunity to work on the creation of new roles and technicians the chance to work as part of an ensemble. Playwrights in Performance gives audiences the opportunity to discover and support new talent.
