MTD March News

Varner Hall room 207 is the nexus of news. Here is just some of the Music, Theatre and Dance intelligence you may have missed.

Terry Herald, our technology coordinator, has signed a contract to compose the score for a major motion picture, Scar 23, a production of Cinepro Pictures, to be made at the new Maxsar Digital Studios in Livonia. Terry is excited to be part of the budding Michigan industry. The movie should be in production later this year and we’re hoping for a big premiere. We want to see Muriel in an elegant Valentino gown.

Still at the movies, Musical Theatre major Lauren Wainwright has snagged an exciting chance to work with George Clooney in the upcoming Ides of March, which will film in the Detroit area beginning in March. Clooney will direct and star in the movie which centers around an idealistic staffer for a presidential candidate who gets a crash course in dirty politics during his stint on the campaign trail. We heard Lauren will play a student who questions the candidate.

Also working this summer will be the Musical Theatre majors who have won summer internships or professional jobs around the country: Susanna Allen and Mallory Stehle, both at the Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre, Ferrum, Virginia;  Grant Drager at Timberlake Playhouse, Mount Carroll, Illinois; Domonique Evans at Weathervane Playhouse, Newark, Ohio; Kryssy Becker at the  Disney College Program, Orlando, Florida; Lauren Keen at Broadway Theatre Projects, Tampa, Florida; Erin Edgerton at Prairie Fire Children’s Theatre, Barrett, Minnesota; Allie McCaw and Ryan Dawley, both at Acting Manitou, Oakland, Maine; Allison Kochanski at Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Michigan; Joey Feldmann at Clinton Area Showboat Theatre, Clinton, Iowa;
Sam Rohloff at Amish Acres Round Barn Theatre, Nappanee, Indiana; David Vogel, Natalie Sparbeck, and Elyse Moon, all at Barn Theatre, Augusta, Michigan; and Nathanial Cedroni on international tour with Bare: A Pop Opera. Congratulations to all! We’ll be looking for your photos on our Facebook page.

But, of course, it’s not all about glamour and fame. The department is committed to making the performing arts a significant part of everyone’s life. Here are some updates along those lines.

Mark Stone devoted a huge chunk of his February winter break to introducing World Music to a wider audience. Each day, the Recital Hall was filled with young people dancing, playing drums, and aslatua, a shaker instrument made from gourds and used throughout West Africa. Every fifth grader from Waterford School District participated. It was loud and it was very cool.

Our fabulous Music Prep program, which makes instrumental lessons of any kind available to the community, was recently enhanced with the addition of six new talented and very enthusiastic teachers. We welcome Drew Ewing, saxophone; Megan Trewhella, clarinet; Melanie Boose, flute; Doug Engle, low brass; Dave Mety, percussion; and Stacey Jamison, bassoon; to the program.

We’re happy to announce we have a whole host of intensive camp offerings this summer: Guitar, Jazz featuring Regina Carter and the OU Jazz Quartet, Strings, Band, Musicianship and Composition, Computer Music Competition, and the fabulous Great Lakes Dance Festival. The Guitar Workshop is first up, April 23. Look for more information on the website.