Shifting Perspectives – Digital Program

CofC Stages proudly presents

Shifting Perspectives

Artistic Director
Gretchen McLaine
Guest Choreographer
Vincent Brosseau
Costume Shop Manager
Ellen Swick
Technical Director
Evie Palmisano
Technical Director
JD Stallings
Stage Manager
Bambi Barr

October 15-16, 2022
Sottile Theatre, 44 George Street


Jump to: Production Team | Acknowledgements | Cast and Production Team Biographies


Dance Pieces and Program Notes

Zeitgeist
Choreographer: Olga Wise
Costume Designer: Ellen Swick
Lighting Designer: Alex Jones
Music: “Paint it Black” by The Rolling Stones, performed by Absolutely Grand Orchestra and “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana, performed by David Garrett; edited by Michael Wise
Projection Design: Michael Wise
Dancers: Camille Cabrera, Kaelyn Kear, Irina Moul
Understudy: Samantha Stinner

Zeitgeist means ‘time-spirit”, or the spirit of a generation. The zeitgeist of the current young generation is the confusion and uncertainty of their future and the fury that grows within. The choice of multimedia, the style of choreography, the meaning of the piece challenged me as a choreographer and allowed me to discover new ways of seeing ballet as an art form that can be thought-provoking and inspiring.

Wheels
Choreographer: Izzy Byers
Costume Designer: Mattie Davis
Costume Coordinator: Maura Peecher
Lighting Designer: Sara Whitehead
Music: Wheels Within Wheels by Penguin Cafe
Dancers: Madison Fisher, Kiley Petit, Avé-Ella Blanchette, Emily Falcone, Ava Woods, Sophie Weiss, Sophie Ketchum, Madison Vaughan, Lindsey Ferguson
Understudies: Elizabeth Vazquez

The circle of familiarity and comfort keeps us in a consistent pattern, but the ability to wander integrates the discovery of new experiences and connections to the spaces and people around us.

Excerpt from La Sylphide
Choreography: restaged by Gretchen McLaine, after August Burnonville
Costume Designer: Maura Peecher
Lighting Designer: Alex Jones
Music: La Sylphide, Act II (edited), performed by the Royal Danish Orchestra and composed by Herman Severin Løvenskjold
Dancers: Ayushi Gaur, Kailee Rafalko
Understudies: Pierson De James, Charlotte Uhlmann

Popular on the European stage throughout the 1800s, the danseuse en travesty movement afforded women the ability to assume power through playing male roles, with privileges that extended into their social spheres. Returning to this tradition allows us to better understand the gender dynamics and differences prevalent in ballet’s Romantic Era. 

No!
Choreographer: Vincent Brosseau
Rehearsal Director: Kristin Alexander
Costume Designer: Madison Roberston
Lighting Designer: Sara Whitehead
Music: 4 Romantic Pieces, Op. 75, B. 150: IV. Larghetto, composed by Antonín Dvořiyfufák
Dancers: Kaelyn Kear, Irina Moul, Claire Natiez, Alyssa Thibeault, Elizabeth Vazquez
Understudies: Leila Crane, Angela Levasseur, Kailee Rafalko

Originally choreographed as a solo 23 years ago, No! is about the struggle of a woman to be heard when she says the word “no.” 


10 MINUTE INTERMISSION


Shades of You
Choreographer: Laurel Van Beusecum
Costume Designer: Madison Robertson
Lighting Designer: Chris Warzynski
Music: “Rhapsody In Blue” (edited), composed by George Gershwin; performed by Joshua Weilerstein, London Philharmonic Orchestra & James Bartlett
Dancers: Taylor Bennett, Izzy Byers, Emily Falcone, Madison Fisher, Mary Galemmo, Angela Levasseur, Kiley Pettit, Sidney Shanahan, Cheyanne Stankiewicz, Lauren Summerville, Charlotte Uhlmann, Halle White
Understudy: Elizabeth Vazquez

As we plead for our own acceptance, and the differences in each other, what force keeps us tethered to society’s standardized exteriors? What paradigm alteration grants permission to allow the shedding of these rigid layers to reveal the vibrant beings that we are? 

In the Shadows of The Red Poppy
Choreographer: Pamela O’Briant
Costume Designer: Zachary Kobylarz
Lighting Designer: Chris Warzynski
Music: Excerpts from The Red Poppy, composed by Reinhold Glière; performed by St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra
Dancers: Avé-Ella Blanchette, Charlotte Papatheoharis
Understudy: Hailey Commodore

Premiering in 1927, The Red Poppy was the first ballet endorsed by the Soviet Union. While the ballet has been criticized for its portrayal of Chinese culture, this version focuses on a double suicide by two members of the corps de ballet that occured during a live performance.

Ode
Choreographer: Kristin Alexander
Costume Designer: Janine McCabe
Lighting Designer: Alex Jones
Music: “Blurred” and “Sparkle” by Bill Ryan; edited by Rob Alexander
Artwork: Mary Walker
Dancers: Glenna Durbin, Mary Galemmo, Destiny Humphrey, Cheyanne Stankiewicz
Understudies: Avé-Ella Blanchette, Alejandra Casco

First created in 2013, Ode is the choreographic interpretation of the visual images of Mary Walker’s artwork stemming from a theme of loss. Having experienced so much loss and unexpected isolation since 2020, the connection between the movement and the artwork has deepened in this restaging and is being performed in front of projected images of Walker’s work for the first time.

Figuratively Speaking (or not)
Choreographer: Charlie Maybee
Costume Designer: Zachary Kobylarz
Lighting Designer: Chris Warzynski
Music: “Decimation” by Charlie Maybee
Dancers: Hailey Commodore, Lindsey Ferguson, Whitney Green, Alyssa Guardino, Dani Harrell, Katie Higens, Kylee Poole

“Because a true revolution has no allies, it’s just that simple. Because true revolution – not a fast one, not a quick one, not a fashionable one – but a real f****n’ revolution is, at its core, spiritual. It is a complete decimation of one’s priorities, beliefs, and way of living…” – Colman Domingo as Ali Muhammad from Euphoria (2020)


Production Team

CofC Stages Artistic Director: Janine McCabe
Director of Dance: Gretchen McLaine
Production Supervisor: Ellen Swick
Stage Management Advisor: Susan Kattwinkel

 

Costume Design Advisor: Janine McCabe
Wardrobe Crew: Shana Lamparello, Lily Lombardi
Sewing & Alterations: Arden McNeill, Maura Peecher, Stef Amezcua Barrientos, and students of Costume 1 class
Costume Shop Staff (select students hired by the Department of Theatre & Dance with support from donor funding): Brandon Alston, Savannah Fatigante, Zachary Kobylarz

Lighting Design Advisors: Lauren Duffie, Caleb Garner
Light Board Programmer and Operator: Eddie Frye
Sound Engineers: Caleb Garner, Eli Salas
Electric Shop Staff (select students hired by the Department of Theatre & Dance with support from donor funding): Mia Bowersox, Alex Jones, Chris Warzynski

Operations Coordinator: Miles Boinest
Marketing & Communications: Nandini B. McCauley
Graphic Designer: Rob Alexander
Photography: David Mandel, Annie Morraye
Publicity: Madison Berry
Box Office: George Street Box Office
House Manager: Isabella Gardner
Office Assistant: Ngaa Magombedze


Special Thanks

Diana Brosseau; Bill Carswell College of Charleston Facilities; College of Charleston’s Office of Sustainability Anja Kelley and the Sottile Theatre staff; Carolyna Ramirez and the George Street Box Office staff


Thank you to all of our donors!

Become an Impact Sponsor
The Department of Theatre and Dance offers opportunities to become an Impact Sponsor. Impact Sponsors have a direct financial and personal impact on individual students with whom you’ll be connected. You will be honored at special events, receive recognition in the 2022-2023 season programs and other department reports and receive updates from your student. For more information, visit theatre.cofc.edu/support and contact our office at 843.953.6306 to declare your impact.

Impact Sponsor Levels:
BENEFACTOR $2,500+ (for incoming student scholarship)
Add your name here!

GUARDIAN $750 (Clarence Student Award)
Karl & Charlene Bunch
Tap & Jean Johnson
Evelynn & Bill Putnam
Mindy Seltzer & Bob Lovinger
Sam & Nancy Stafford
Charlotte Townsend
Louis & Andrea Weinstein
Chester & Arlene Williams
Anonymous (3)

Special Gifts: (Leave a lasting legacy. Learn more: 843.953.5348 or cofclegacy.org)
Anonymous – legacy gift
Charleston Academy of Music
John Covington & Robert Lukey – legacy gift
Michael & Susan Master – legacy gift

Become a Season Sponsor
As we transitions back to live in-person audiences and mask-free performances last season, we worked hard to keep our students and audiences engaged. We preserved the student experience during these last two years, but we lost essential revenue that plays a huge role in funding our season’s productions. Your donations contribute to funding the essentials needed for scenery, lighting, sound, and costumes, but more importantly, they help support student employees, student research and travel, and other student-focused experiences. We can’t do this without your generosity!

Season Sponsor Levels:
PRODUCER $1000+
Karl & Charlene Bunch
Tap & Jean Johnson
Sam & Nancy Stafford
Chester & Arlene Williams

ADVOCATE $750-999
Janine McCabe
Matt & Gretchen McLaine
Evelynn & Bill Putnam
Mindy Seltzer & Bob Lovinger
Nancy & Sam Stafford
Louis & Andrea Weinstein
Jonathan & Janine Wentz

STAR $500-749
Michael & Susan Master
James McKenna
Valerie B. Morris & Boris Bohun-Chudyniv

DIRECTOR $250-499
Janice and Jay Messeroff

FAN $100-249
Justin Van Beusecum

PATRON up to $99
Laura C. Bayless, Stephen & Allegra Litvin


Cast and Production Team Biographies

Vincent Brosseau (guest artist) was born and raised in France. He has appeared with various professional companies in the United States, South America, and France: Ballet Theatre de Tours, Opera de Nantes, Ballet Theatre d’Avignon, National Ballet of Colombia, Susan Van Pelt Dance and Repertory West. He has performed a multitude of roles and works by such renowned choreographers as José Limón, David Parson, Paul Taylor, Kurt Joss, Remy Charlip and Anna Sokolow, among others. For six years, Brosseau directed his own dance company Brosseau DanceWorks based in Charlotte, NC. The North Carolina Dance Theatre, Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company, Robert Ivey Ballet and many universities have performed his work. Brosseau’s theatre credits include choreographing Evita, She Loves Me, A Christmas Festival, My Fair Lady, Guys & Dolls, and Carousel. Brosseau was awarded a Savannah College of Art and Design Presidential Fellowship to conceive and direct the film The Photographer and Silence: Dancing Through Fear. Brosseau has held faculty positions at the University of California, Santa Barbara; Kent State University; the University of North Carolina, Charlotte; DeSales University; the University of Nevada, Reno; the University of Wyoming; and Savannah College of Art and Design. He is a graduate of the Julliard School and earned his M.F.A in choreography from The Ohio State University. 

Kristin Alexander is an Associate Professor of Dance at the College of Charleston.  She is the Artistic Director of Annex Dance Company and serves on the City of Charleston’s Commission on the Arts. Kristin most recently choreographed the department’s production of Violet and will be the Artistic Director of the student dance concert Becoming We in the spring.

Bambi Barr is a senior from Beaufort, SC majoring in Biology and Theatre performance. This is her first time stage managing a Mainstage production; most recently she served as house manager and stage manager for the 2022 Piccolo Spoleto Stelle di Domani series.

Taylor Bennett is a senior from Aiken, SC majoring in Early Childhood Education and Dance. This is her seventh dance concert with the Department of Theatre and Dance. She was the Assistant Choreographer for Cabaret and her choreography was last seen in Spring 2022’s Wanderlust

Avé-Ella Blanchette is a sophomore from Nashua, NH majoring in Dance and Special Education. This is her second dance concert with the Department of Theatre and Dance. She last performed in the Spring 2022 concert Wanderlust.

Izzy Byers is a senior from Greenville, SC majoring in Accounting and Dance. This is her seventh dance concert with the Department of Theatre and Dance. She was last seen choreographing and performing in the Spring 2022 concert Wanderlust. 

Camille Cabrera is a junior from Blythewood, SC majoring in Dance and Exercise Science. This is her fourth dance concert with the Department of Theatre and Dance. She last performed and choreographed in the Spring 2022 concert Wanderlust.

Alejandra Casco is a junior from Summerville, SC majoring in Dance and minoring in Arts Management. This is her fifth dance concert with the Department of Theatre and Dance. Her choreography was last seen in the Spring 2022 concert Wanderlust.

Hailey Commodore is a transfer student from Joffrey Ballet School originally from New Jersey, majoring in Dance. This is her very first concert with the Department of Theatre and Dance. 

Leila Crane is a sophomore from Habersham, GA majoring in English and minoring in Dance. This is her second dance concert with the Department of Theatre and Dance. She was previously seen in the Fall 2021 concert Once More.  

Glenna Durbin is a senior from Raleigh, NC majoring in Theatre (Performance) and History with a minor in Dance.  This is her fourth dance concert and sixth Mainstage show with the Department of Theatre and Dance.  She will appear later this season in Miss  Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley.

Pierson DeJames is a sophomore from Columbia, SC majoring in dance. This is her third dance concert with the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Emily Falcone is a sophomore from Smithfield, RI majoring in Dance and Psychology. This is her second mainstage production with the Department of Theatre and Dance. She was last seen in the Spring 2022 dance concert Wanderlust.

Lindsey Ferguson is a freshman from Greenville, SC majoring in Psychology. This is her first dance concert with the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Madison Fisher is a sophomore from Ocean Township, NJ majoring in Dance and minoring in Finance.  This is her third Mainstage Dance Concert with the Department of Theater and Dance.  She was last seen in the Spring 2022 concert Wanderlust.

Eddie Frye is from Lexington, SC and is based in Charleston, SC. He is a recent CofC alum, having received a BA in Theatre. He recently served as lighting designer for the CofC Department of Theatre and Dance season opener Violet.

Mary Galemmo is a senior from Florence, SC majoring in Exercise Science and Dance. This is her fourth dance concert with the Department of Theatre and Dance. She was last seen in the Spring 2022 concert Wanderlust. 

Ayushi Gaur is a freshman from Memphis, TN majoring in Marine Biology and Dance. This is her first dance concert with the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Whitney Green is a junior from Annapolis, MD majoring in Arts Management and minoring in Marketing and Psychology. This is her second dance concert with the Department of Theatre and Dance. She last performed as a dancer in The Magic Flute.

Alyssa Guardino is a junior from Newburgh NY majoring in Dance and Elementary Education. This is her third dance concert with the Department of Theatre and Dance. She last performed in the Fall 2021 concert Once More.

Dani Harrell is a senior from Columbia, SC majoring in Dance and Public Health with a minor in Theatre. This is her second performance with the Department of Theatre and Dance. She was last seen in the Fall 2019 dance concert Legacy

Katie Higens is a Junior from Kiowa, CO majoring in Biology and Dance and double minoring in Neuroscience and Crime, Law, and Society. This is her third dance concert in the Department of Theatre and Dance. She last performed and choreographed in the Spring 2022 concert Wanderlust.

Destiny Humphrey is a junior from Anderson, SC majoring in Marketing and Arts Management with a minor in Entrepreneurship. This is her fourth dance concert in the Department of Theatre and Dance. She last performed in the Spring 2022 dance concert Wanderlust

Alex Jones is a sophomore from Spartanburg, SC majoring in Theatre and minoring in film studies. Recent technical credits include The Swing of the Sea (co-lighting design) and The Cake (properties designer) with Center Stage. They are currently working as the stage manager for PURE Theatre’s production of Clyde’s opening October 27th. 

Kaelyn Kear is a sophomore from Hilton Head Island, SC majoring in Dance and Biology. This is her third main stage production with the Department of Theatre and Dance. She was last seen in the spring 2022 dance concert Wanderlust. 

Sophie Ketchum is a freshman from Nashville, TN majoring in Dance and minoring in Studio Art. This is her first Mainstage production with the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Zachary Kobylarz is a Junior from Pawleys Island, SC majoring in Theatre. This is their third time designing for a mainstage dance concert with their work last being seen in the Spring 2022 dance concert Wanderlust. 

Angela Levasseur is a Freshman from Spartanburg, SC majoring in Chemistry. This is her first performance with the Department of Theatre and Dance. 

Charlie Maybee is an Adjunct Lecturer at the College of Charleston where he teaches courses in tap and modern dance technique. He also currently presents choreography with his collective, Polymath Performance Project, writes for the digital music publication Alchemical Records, and plays rhythm guitar for the local punk band Anergy.

Gretchen McLaine is an Associate Professor and Dance Program Director at the College of Charleston, where she also researches Labanotation and dance reconstruction. Dr. McLaine also serves as an Assistant Editor for the Journal of Dance Education and is the Southeast Regional Director for the American College Dance Association.  

Irina Moul is a senior from Asheville, NC majoring in Dance and minoring in Russian Studies. This is her fourth dance concert with the Department of Theatre and Dance. She was last seen performing in the fall 2021 concert Once More.

Claire Natiez is a senior from Greenville, SC majoring in Dance and Arts Management. Her choreography was presented at ACDA in March 2022. Claire last performed in the Spring 2022 concert Wanderlust. 

Pamela O’Briant is in her 11th year as an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Dance.  In addition to teaching Ballet technique and Dance Appreciation, Pamela is a certified Pilates and Gyrotonic instructor. 

Charlotte Papatheoharis is a freshman from Philadelphia, PA majoring in Dance and Economics. This is her first Mainstage production with the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Kiley Pettit is a junior from Ocean City, NJ majoring in Communication and minoring in Marketing & Dance. This is her fourth dance concert with the Department of Theatre and Dance. She last performed in the Spring 2022 concert Wanderlust.

Kylee Poole is a sophomore from Knoxville, TN majoring in Dance and Communication. This is her third mainstage production with the Department of Theatre and Dance. She was last seen in the spring 2022 production of Cabaret. 

Kailee Rafalko is a sophomore from Hackettstown, NJ majoring in Dance and Communication. This is her third concert with the Department of Theatre and Dance. She was last seen in the spring 2022 concert Wanderlust. 

Madison Robertson is a senior from Charleston, SC majoring in Dance with a minor in Theatre. This is her first time designing costumes for a College of Charleston production.

Sidney Shanahan is a junior from Shelton, CT majoring in Business Administration and Dance, as well as minoring in Spanish. This is her fifth dance concert with the Department of Theatre and Dance. She last performed and choreographed in the spring 2022 concert Wanderlust.

Cheyanne Stankiewicz is a sophomore from Greenville, SC majoring in Business Administration and minoring in Arts Management. She last performed in the spring 2022 concert Wanderlust. 

Lauren Summerville is a freshman from Raleigh, NC majoring in English and minoring in Hospitality & Tourism and Dance. This is her first dance concert at the College of Charleston.

Alyssa Thibeault is a freshman from Annapolis, MD majoring in Biology and minoring in Dance. This is her first dance concert at College of Charleston.

Charlotte Uhlmann is a senior from Middletown, DE majoring in Psychology and minoring in Dance. This is her third show she has appeared in for the Department of Theatre and Dance. She last performed in the Fall 2021 dance concert Once More and the Mainstage production of The Magic Flute.

Laurel Van Beusecum has enjoyed nine years of dance instruction for five universities and is currently in her second year at the College of Charleston as an Adjunct Lecturer. While working with both dance majors and non-majors, she seeks to challenge and inspire all students to explore the impact and influence of the arts through studio and lecture courses. 

Elizabeth Vazquez is a freshman from Blythewood, SC majoring in Marine Biology. This is her first dance concert with the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Sophie Weiss is a senior from Charleston, SC majoring in Theatre and minoring in Dance. This is her first dance concert with the Department of Theatre and Dance; she was last seen serving on the technical crew for Everybody.

Chris Warzynski is an actor and designer from Charleston, SC. Chris has been in the Charleston theatre scene since high school and is always looking for ways to challenge audiences. Chris was seen last week in Violet.

Halle White is a sophomore from Greenville, SC majoring in Dance and Arts Management. She last performed in the Fall 2021 dance concert Once More and the Mainstage production of The Magic Flute

Sara Whitehead is a senior from Rock Hill, SC majoring in Theatre. This is her second lighting design for a MainStage production at the college. You can look forward to seeing her lighting design on the final show this semester, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley. 

Olga Wise is a graduate of the Bolshoi Choreographic Institute in Moscow, Russia. This is her 5th year being an Adjunct Lecturer at the College of Charleston where she teaches ballet and pointe technique courses. In addition to teaching at the college, Olga, along with her husband, is a Co-Artistic Director of the Robert Ivey Ballet.

Ava Woods is a sophomore from Parkville, MD majoring in Dance. This is her third performance with the Department of Theatre and Dance. She was last seen in spring of 2022’s Wanderlust dance concert.


Land Acknowledgement: We would like to acknowledge that we are located on the traditional lands of the first people of Charleston: The Etiwan, Kiawah, Edisto Natchez Kusso, Santee, and Wassamassaw people (also known as Varner Town Indians). 

We acknowledge and honor all the indigenous people who lived, labored and were faithful stewards of the land. We express our deep gratitude for the land and continued faithful stewardship to the next seven generations. 

We also acknowledge the lives and labor of the Africans who were enslaved to build Charleston, South Carolina. 

On this campus and in this space, African and African-descended people used skilled labor in ornamental ironwork, historic architecture, and low country agriculture and food production. On behalf of the College of Charleston, we acknowledge the Black lives and labor that built our city and our campus.

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