By Pollyanna Eyler, dramaturg LAST CHANCE TO SEE – BYU Young Company’s The Glorious Story Emporium in public: Orem Library on Monday, Nov 13th I was so impressed with last year’s BYU main stage production of Travesties, I had to see it again. … Okay, I admit I also didn’t truly appreciate and catch every reference to The Importance of Being Earnest, to James Joyce, to the birth of Dadaism, nor to Lenin and his political agenda, and of course the cost of a pair of trousers. … So after much research, I saw it once again and I’m glad I did. It was in Travesties where I first saw the performance…
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Actress Courtney Moreland … Catch Her if You Can!
– by Pollyanna Eyler, Dramaturg BYU Young Company is on tour with The Glorious Story Emporium coming to a library near you: Provo Library on Monday Nov 6th Orem Library on Monday, Nov 13th Catch them if you can!
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To Serve or Not to Serve, That Is the Question
by Pollyanna Eyler, Dramaturg BYU’s Motto, “Enter to Learn Go Forth to Serve” is a standard I try to attain in all aspects of my study at BYU, including theatre. I am proud to support Young Company as they have already begun to showcase The Glorious Story Emporium in public schools through Young Company tours. My first foray into making a conscious effort to serve came during elementary school. Our school offered free lunch, school supplies, dentistry and even a Santa Claus for those in need. We dutifully lined up with our empty lunch trays, smiling teeth, or desires to sit on Santa’s lap. I knew that my…
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Actor, Paige Fletcher: Slightly Suspicious … and Squirrelly
by Pollyanna Eyler, Dramaturg. “It’s a bird, it’s a leaf, it’s a … wait, wait, it’s a flying squirrel?!?!” Costumes play a big part in most plays, including The Glorious Story Emporium, where costumes fit hand in glove with the art of deception. Read how Paige Fletcher’s theatrical career also made a flying-squirrel-sized leap from “great singing voice” to “Les Mis” ingenue actress via the art of deception, then jumped in with both feet as a costumed “Squirrel.” Of course, as Lord Byron wrote in Don Juan, “After all, what is a lie? ‘Tis but The truth in masquerade.” (Canto XI Stanza 37, 1823)
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Join The Glorious Story Emporium … Go Green!
by Pollyanna Eyler, Dramaturg The costumes improvised during the show The Glorious Story Emporium are a mix of old, new, and recycled items. Want to make your friends “Green” with envy … or at least make your costume “Green” and planet friendly? Costumes are fun to wear and to create, especially when made out of something you already have on hand. Halloween is just around the corner, so here are my top picks for recycling items into DIY costumes:
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Traveling Time & Space with Improv & Vaudeville
by Pollyanna Eyler, dramaturg From the 1880’s to the 1930’s and beyond, Vaudeville sprawled across the vast North American continent and reached beyond to other parts of the world, such as England, Germany, and Australia. Yet entertainment through variety shows and improvisation and variety acts that showcased talent that was traveling through town began long ago.
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Stage Manager, Jake Fullmer: Bags Packed, Will Travel!
by Pollyanna Eyler, Dramaturg Jake Fullmer is not only an experienced world-wide Stage Manager, for The Glorious Story Emporium, he will also be a traveling showman for Young Company’s traveling improv, set in the Vaudeville Era. As a stage manager, Jake is quick with compliments and accommodating requests. But don’t let his easy smile and flexible nature fool you, you’ve got to act fast to keep pace with him in his travels as of late. As a typical “Traveling Showman” Jake has traveled locally with Young Company, and nationally, and internationally with International Folk Dance. So where can you spot this rare breed of labor and laughs? I caught up with him…
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A Word Sung on BYU’s Vaudeville Would Smell As Sweet …
by Pollyanna Eyler, dramaturg Can you match these “WORDS” about “WORDS” on the left, with the famous musicals (as shown at BYU) on the right? __________________________________ Then one day, I learned a word that saved my aching nose, The biggest word you ever heard and this is how it goes. ___________________________________ I’d like to say a word in her behalf, Maria makes me laugh. __________________________________ Words, Words, Words, I’m so Sick of Words, I get words all day through, first from him, now from you Is that all you blaggards can do? … Never do I ever…
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How Storytelling Got Its Start
By Pollyanna Eyler, Dramaturg. Once Upon A Time till Happily Ever After “Once Upon a Time” … is how several favorite stories begin, ending with a “Happily Ever After.” Here are some ‘happily’ and some ‘not-so-happily’ ever after favorites of the Glorious Story Emporium Crew: Wizard of Oz, Rory Scanlon, Associate Dean, College of Fine Arts and Communications. The Chronicles of Narnia, Megan Sanborn Jones, Artistic Director, BYU Theatre What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? Jennifer Reed, Production Manager Where the Wild Things Are, Julia Ashworth, Young Company Artistic Director
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Actor, Rick Curtiss: The Tall Tale of the Coonskin Cap Grad
by Pollyanna Eyler, Dramaturg “Once Upon A Time.” These four familiar words that grow into fanciful fairy tales and creative tall tales, like Paul Bunyan! Creative storytelling will drive the long-form improvisation at this year’s BYU main stage production of The Glorious Story Emporium. Of the five actors performing, the best way to distinguish Rick Curtiss is to say he’s “larger than life” in everything he says and does. In a recent Q&A exchange for 4th Wall Dramaturgy, Rick flexed his storytelling talent with humorous results. Here’s just a peek at the man, the myth, and the legend under The Coonskin Cap. Enjoy!
