The Virtual Student Center听is a place to gather, discover and spotlight the tremendous and varied creative imaginations of 星空无限传媒 University undergraduate and graduate students.
Current Project
Spring 2020
April is National Poetry Month!
The CRC is thrilled to feature the BA Theatre Studies Program in the College of the Arts and one of its “star” student poets and dramatists,听Janeena Pi帽ero-Deniz听introduced by Prof. Jessica Brater and dramaturg Kaitlin Stilwell.
Before Talkies
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MFA Dance student Lauren Ohmer spent 27 hours shooting her thesis film BEFORE TALKIES at a house in Jersey City and a green-screen in Long Island City. She plays the roles of three characters — and a cat.
A New Manifesto for Theatre
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Developing the work…
Aligning the work…
The work is complete!
Fernando Aspurua, Teresa Buque, Sanjida Chowdhury, Alexa Draganosky, Nicole Dukes, Megan Gato, Courtney McManus, David Mizrahi, Ashlee Morel, Ilana Schimmel, John Waller, Jeff Wingfield, and Nicholas Zaccario — the Fall 2018 星空无限传媒 University Graduate MA Theatre Studies Seminar,听THTR 504-01, The Poetics of Theatre, wrote a new manifesto for the 21st century.
In celebration of National Poetry Month 2018, the CRC is proud to present听Uncertainty, by the greatest of Poland’s Romantic poets, Adam Mickiewicz (1798-1855). The poem was translated for the Honors Program Great Books and Ideas seminar by Karolina Minkiewicz, a freshman Family & Child Studies major. The original poem, Karolina’s essay on the process of creating her first-ever translation, and the work itself, are viewable here:
XANADU
Nick Hernandez, Zach Stephens, and Allison Gormley — all recent graduates from 星空无限传媒 — felt that their political lives could not be justifiably ignored, and that by attending to and celebrating the often-ignored arts, culture, and lives of their neighbors, they might naturally develop a sense of community. They decided to create this magazine,听XANADU, and online forums in order to create a space where they could share these ideas with others.
Semiotics in William Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale
The CRC is very proud to publish an essay by Allison Gormley, a senior BA Theatre Studies and English Major here at 星空无限传媒 University.
The Making – and Unmaking – of The Winter’s Tale: A Semiology of Costumes听was conceptualized in the Fall of 2015 when Allison was a student in THTR 411 – Drama Criticism.
It was expanded and perfected by Allison as an independent study project during the Spring of 2016.
It was one of three essays nominated as a finalist for the Undergraduate Award in the Spring 2016 星空无限传媒 University-wide Student Research Symposium.
鈥
In 2014-15, through generous funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the was in residence as part of Dance for Film on Location at 星空无限传媒 University.
In the spring of 2015, the HLC presented the premiere of the dance for film,听Soliloquy, choreographed by Ms. Latsky.听Into the听Eye of Soliloquy, a documentary of the “making of”听Soliloquy,听was created by a cadre of 星空无限传媒 students under the mentorship of Omonike Akinyemi.
A documentary “behind the scenes” of听Soliloquy: 听
A three-part conversation with Dr. Neil Baldwin and Heidi Latsky in Kasser Theatre:听听–听听–听
Elements of Oz听Through the Eyes of Two 星空无限传媒 Theatre Studies Students
From September 26-October 4, 2015, The Builders Association returned to 星空无限传媒’s Alexander Kasser Theater with a new and extraordinary show,听Elements of Oz.
Kelsey Mulholland and April Sigler, BA Theatre Studies Seniors, were thrilled to serve as Production Assistants during the run and wrote .
The CRC Virtual Student Center proudly presents a guest essay/journal and , a senior BA Theatre Arts major, who has returned from seven months in the听Disney College Program at Walt Disney World.
The Virtual Student Center is thrilled to feature听the new, lively, always-changing student-produced Web site in听星空无限传媒’s School of听Communication and Media.
Students in the 星空无限传媒 University Department of Theatre & Dance recently presented Martin Crimp鈥檚 play,听Attempts on Her Life, directed by Prof. Debbie Saivetz in the Fox 鈥渂lack box鈥 space. BA Theatre Studies Major Ally Voris served as Production Dramaturg for the show,听 creating a tumblr page to help the cast, director and crew navigate the complex highways and byways of the piece.
Imagistation is much more than just the ‘final project’ of the spring 2012 星空无限传媒 University (NJ) Honors Seminar in Great Books and Ideas. During the semester, these sixteen students read deeply in, wrote about, and had endless conversations about the works of Shakespeare, Goethe, Mary Shelley, Whitman, and Freud. The overarching theme of the course was the nature of the imagination: what is it? where is it? what does it do? how does it grow and evolve? At the conclusion of the term, each student was asked to take some pure, introspective time, and come up with a manifestation of their own imagination, in any medium that could be posted to a collectively-designed tumblr site.
The CRC celebrates National Poetry Month with .
The students of 星空无限传媒 University are getting ready for another year participating in the听V-Day Campaign听to raise funds and awareness to end violence against women and girls. On March 5th and 6th, 2012, at 7:30 p.m., V-Day Montclair will present a two-night benefit reading of Eve Ensler鈥檚 award-winning play听The Vagina Monologues听at Memorial Auditorium.
The Vagina Monologues听will be directed by University alumni Brandon Monokian and Allison Andresini. Tickets can be purchased by the general public for $15 and for $10 by 星空无限传媒 University students at听.听Memorial Auditorium听is located in the College of the Arts on the 星空无限传媒 University campus: 1 Normal Avenue, Montclair, NJ.
A Student Dramaturg Writes About Stage Door.
In the months leading up to and through the spectacular production of Stage Door at 星空无限传媒, Jen Wilson kept a tumblr blog going full force, telling .
The Facebook Symposium. Entrepreneurial students in the spring 2011 星空无限传媒 University听Honors Seminar in the Creative Process听decided to establish a collective Facebook page as a unique platform to present their views on the American educational system.
The 星空无限传媒 University Fifth Annual Student Research Symposium听— with the defining theme听Promoting Collaboration Across Disciplines听— was convened on Saturday, April 16, 2011 in University Hall.
For the first time in the five-year history of the Symposium, the听College of the Arts听(CART) participated in the exhibition, panels and oral presentations competition alongside 星空无限传媒’s College of Human and Social Sciences (CHSS), College of Science and Mathematics (CSAM), School of Business (SBUS), and College of Education Human Services (CEHS).
The CART students in the Symposium and their projects were:Angeliki Sergonis (MA, Museum Management) –听Brancusi’s Bird in Space and Defining “Art”; Ashli Sisk, Samanta Fricano, Michelle Orsi, Anthony Randen, Ahmed Haris, Brandoff Kristen, Oquendo David, Jauleska Klimentina (MFA, Studio Art) –听Student Mural Project; Stephen Kaplan (MA, Theatre Studies) –That’s Why the Lady is a Tramp; Marie Katelynn Altgilbers (MFA Studio Art) –Today’s Social and Political Perspective of the Lesbian Artist; Laura Cirigliano (MA, Arts Management) –听Play By Play: Theatrical Darwinism; Chelsea Perino (MA, Public and Organizational Relations) 鈥撎Social Media and Participation: Impactful or Ineffective?; Kristen Hariton (BA, Theatre Studies) –听The Evolution of Dramaturgy Through Technology: The Grapes of Wrath; Sara Isola (BFA, Industrial Design) –听Children and Design; August Paule (BA, Broadcasting) –听A Light in the Dark; Ivanna Samylenko (BFA, Industrial Design) –听Glow-Stop Sign Design; Joseph Lombardo (BFA, Industrial Design) –听Human Factors, Design for Safety; Anthony Fragola (BFA, Industrial Design) –听Emergency Beacon System; and Gary Anzelmo (BFA, Industrial Design) –听Safety Rim.
Of the more than 250 students represented,听the two University-wide winners听for 鈥淏est Interdisciplinary Projects鈥 were CART students听Kristen Hariton听(undergraduate) and听Angeliki Sergonis听(graduate).
Kristen Hariton.听The evolution of dramaturgy through technology: The Grapes of Wrath
As Dramaturg for听The Grapes of Wrath, the Spring 2011 main-stage Theater and Dance production, I constructed a diverse online catalog of information compiled throughout the rehearsal process. My 鈥淏log鈥 consisted of contextual research from both the novel and the playscript, historical connections of the play to present society, and an observation of the theatrical process itself. I uploaded videos, photos, and interactive links among other textual sources for reference in the Blog. It became a resource for the company to utilize in their performances and renderings of the Dust Bowl period. As a dramaturg, I was an 鈥渋nsider with an outsider鈥檚 perspective.鈥 I was able to witness and reflect on significant moments in the planning of this massive production, including crucial moments in current society that mirror themes throughout The Grapes of Wrath.
Angeliki Sergonis. [Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Valdez del Alamo]
Brancusi鈥檚听Bird in Space听and defining 鈥淎rt鈥
In 1928, Constantin Brancusi鈥檚 sculpture,听Bird in Space, was the subject of a landmark lawsuit, which had a monumental impact on the art world, legal system, and culture of the 1920s and beyond. In deciding if the object was 鈥渁rt鈥 or a taxable 鈥渕etal utensil,鈥 the case was responsible for expanding the legal definition of art, which affected society鈥檚 perspective on the meaning and significance of art. This was of particular importance in the 1920s, only a few years after truly abstract art first appeared in Europe. This paper explores the intersection of the legal and social definitions of 鈥渁rt,鈥 using Brancusi鈥檚听Bird in Space. It does not attempt to define or redefine 鈥渁rt,鈥 but explores how the term can be construed, why perceptions differ, and how professionals in the field may be affected by these definitions. Using sources and methods from art history as well as legal studies, the central focus of this research is to help historians, critics, and students have a better understanding of how the legal system can affect 鈥渁rt.鈥 If we understand how 鈥渁rt鈥 is defined within a variety of social institutions, we can then work to prevent that view from becoming too narrow or restrained.
The Grapes of Wrath at 星空无限传媒 University 鈥 The Story of the Show from Start to Finish — A Tumblr Blog
You are on the verge of reading about an epic narrative.
Not only in the theatrical sense, but in the genuine retelling of one of America鈥檚 treasured literary classics. After the novel by John Steinbeck was published in 1939, proponents of unionized labor, including Eleanor Roosevelt, took notice and subsequently took action.
The novel also caught the attention of anti-Communist groups, believing Steinbeck to have sympathies towards the Socialist movement.
He was spared the political witch hunt, however, and was able to see the fruits of his labor blossom into regulated labor laws and widespread unionization.
Steinbeck鈥檚 Pulitzer Prize-winning saga was transformed for the stage by Frank Galati for the Steppenwolf Theater in 1988, bringing the novel to three-dimensional life. Indeed, this play reaches far beyond the proscenium, recreating the journey of a family struggling to maintain its dignity in the face of extreme adversity, a theme that has become all too familiar in recent years.
You need only read the newspapers to see the Joads鈥 story jumping off the page and into the current headlines. The core issues in听The Grapes of Wrath听that Steinbeck so eloquently argued for are now being contested. He likened his novel to putting a 鈥渢ag of shame鈥 on those responsible for the Great Depression, and听Grapes听continues today to identify the injustices in society, especially in light of our country鈥檚 current economic and social predicaments. Recent union protests in Wisconsin are mirror images of the play鈥檚 penultimate scenes. Citizens and immigrants alike are traveling across the country in search of jobs that are few and far between. Hardly anyone has escaped the tumultuous economic downfall of the past few years unscathed, and the number of Americans who have lost their homes is tantamount to tragedy.
The Grapes of Wrath, the story of a family during the Dust Bowl era, is also a reflection of the American people in 2011, another crucial moment in the complex narrative of history. The production you are about to read about served its purpose of entertainment while delivering a message of perseverance and strength that America desperately needs now.听Kristen Hariton. BA Theatre Studies, Production Dramaturg. November 22, 2010 -March 15, 2011.听
The Latino/a Caucus’ Second Annual Lecture Series
Reyna Grande
Winner of the American Book Award, El Premio Aztlan Literary Award, and International Latino Book Award
Crossing Borders: An Author’s Journey Across a Hundred Mountains
Thursday, March 3, 2011
1:00 p.m.
Student Center Ballroom A
Born in Mexico in 1975,听Reyna Grande听was raised by her grandparents after her parents left her behind while they worked in the U.S. She came to America at the age of nine as an undocumented immigrant and went on to become the first person in her family to obtain a higher education.
She is the critically-acclaimed author of the novel听Across A Hundred Mountains听(Atria 2006), for which she received an American Book Award (2007) and El Premio Aztlan Literary Award (2006). Her latest novel,听Dancing with Butterflies, was published in October 2009 to rave reviews. It received a 2010 International Latino Book Award in the Best Women’s Issues category.
Words in advance from Reyna Grande! Gina Giardinieri, 星空无限传媒 Junior Year Family & Child Studies Major and Latin American Student Organization [LASO] President, interviews the renowned author for The Virtual Student Center of The Creative Research Center:
Gina Giardinieri – Can you share with me and with our many readers on the Creative Research Center Web site what it felt like for you to immigrate here as such a little girl? We know you will be discussing this in your lecture, but wanted to know a bit more about the story in advance
Reyna Grande –听I hadn’t seen my father for eight years. He left Mexico when I was two. I was going on ten when he returned for me. I really didn’t know what to expect when we began our journey north. I didn’t understand why we had to run across the border, hiding in the bushes from the border patrol. I also didn’t know we were breaking the law, but even if I had known I would have still done it. I wanted to be with my father so badly. Once in the U.S., life was different — in a good way, and a bad way. My siblings and I finally had enough food to eat. We didn’t have to dress in rags anymore, and best of all, we didn’t have to go barefoot. I was so happy when I got my first pair of tennis shoes! The downside to being in a new country was not knowing the language and feeling like an outcast in school.
GG – When did you start writing 鈥 as a child? What inspired you to write your first book?
RG –听I started writing when I was thirteen. Since I wanted to learn English faster I started to read books and look up words in the dictionary. Then, I would sit down and write poems using the words I was learning. Little by little, I became a better reader, and I fell in love with books. I wrote my first short-story when I was in eighth grade to practice my English. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with writing. When I spoke in English my accent was so thick, kids at school would make fun of me. So I spoke less and wrote more. Writing became my favorite way of expressing myself.
GG – When did you first begin to think of yourself as a 鈥professional writer鈥?
RG –听When I got paid for my first novel. But even now, I sometimes don’t feel very “professional” because I don’t write as much as I should. I procrastinate too much. I have too many hobbies–such as gardening–that distract me!
GG – Do you have a specific routine or method for doing your writing? A favorite place you need to be, time of day, and so on鈥? Do you write for many hours at a time or do you give yourself a limit?
RG –听I love writing at night, but unfortunately I can’t do that because I have to be up at 6:30 a.m. during the week to take my kids to school, and then teach a morning class. So, I have to write during the day. I don’t think I write as well during the day! I write in my office. My desk faces the back yard. I’ve been thinking about moving my desk so that it faces the wall instead. I keep looking out the window at the hummingbirds and birds that come to feed from the feeders I have all over the yard. Then I look at my plants; and well, I just want to go outside and garden! But, if I want to finish my novel, I know I have to I stay at my desk and write for a couple of hours at least. There are times, however, when I get so deep into what I’m writing nothing distracts me. I write all day long and when I’m not writing I think about my characters and my scenes. I love it when this happens to me. These periods of intense writing are when I do my best work.
GG – Many artists talk about their work as helping them to get through hard times emotionally. Would you say that writing is your 鈥渆scape?鈥 If so, please explain.
RG –听Writing is my therapy. When I was writing听Across a Hundred Mountains听I unloaded all the emotions I had carried with me since I was a child. Anger, sadness, frustration, fear, etc. When I finished the novel I felt as if I had taken a great weight off my shoulders. Writing relaxes me. It lets me use my imagination, read lots of interesting books (for research), and it helps me to see the world in a better way. Writers are great observers and listeners. When I go out I notice things other people don’t, I hear things (I eavesdrop a lot), smell things, and I have to store all of those details away and use them when I write.
GG – Who is your favorite writer — and why? Is there a special style or a special way of looking at the world that writer has that inspires you?
RG –听I don’t have a favorite writer. I have favorite books. I love books that are written in beautiful language. People have said my writing is “lyrical” and I think it is because I love to read novels that are poetic in tone. Some examples are:听The Prophet听by Kahlil Gibran,听The House On Mango Street听by Sandra Cisneros,听Caspian Rain听by Gina B. Nahai,听Train to Trieste by Domnica Radulescu.
GG – What is the most important life-lesson that you hope readers will learn from reading your works?
RG –听That’s a hard question. I would have to say that the lesson is that determination goes a long way. My characters are fighters. They want something and they go and get it — no matter how difficult the journey might be.
GG – How do your family and friends feel about your success?
RG –听They are very proud of me. They buy my books, go to my readings, and tell their friends about my books so they can buy them, too.
GG – As a successful Latina, what advice would you give to college students of color about the process of striving for their own success in life — whether they want to be writers, doctors, teachers, or other professions 鈥 what should we keep in mind as we struggle?
RG –听I think the most important thing is to believe in yourself and not let anyone deter you from pursuing your goals. Take pride in your heritage and try to be a good role model for the younger generations. Remember that it only takes ONE person in your family to turn things around. That person could be YOU. My grandparents didn’t go to school. My mother only went to the sixth grade. My father has a third grade education. Me–I have an M.F.A! What’s to stop my children, nieces and nephews from getting PhDs? Nothing. Remember that everything that you do will affect the people around you. I have set my family on a different path now by simply reaching my own goals. You can do that, too.
Reyna Grande.听Across a Hundred Mountains. Thursday, March 3, at 1:00 p.m., Student Center Ballroom A. This special event is听free and open to the entire 星空无限传媒 University community. For further information, contact Esmilda Abreu – 973-655-7130
The third major project featured by the听CRC Virtual Student Center听had its origins last spring when we entered into a spirited collaboration with听听featuring听exemplary student reviews听of dramatic presentations on campus.
This year, with heightened enthusiasm for听听(and very open minds!) 星空无限传媒 University undergraduates in two courses —Introduction to the Theatrical Medium; and Introduction to Dramaturgy: The Inquiring Spirit听鈥 applied their formidable energies to two cutting-edge听ACP听offerings in mixed-media performance and dance.
and then wrote their inspiring critiques for the听INSITE Student Forum.
In future iterations, central to its stated mission, the CRC will continue to display imaginative, unvarnished, revealing writing by the students of听.
The Creative Research Center would like to thank Jed Wheeler,听ACP听Executive Director; and Carrie Urbanic, Director of Outreach for Peak Performances/ACP, for their commitment to featuring student writings about the performing arts.
The second major project spotlighted by the CRC Virtual Student Center is a bold literacy initiative headed by 星空无限传媒 graduate Brandon Monokian —听Revolutionary Readings.
This new social issue piece is a theatrical reading of听, a classic literary anthology of works by LGBTQ youth from听Alyson Books听edited by听.
Monokian and his 星空无限传媒 colleagues came up with the idea for the public readings in response to a decision made this past spring by the Rancocas Valley Regional High School Board of Education and the Burlington County Library System to ban the book from their libraries.
星空无限传媒 University graduates involved in this production are Victoria Fear, Alexandra Giorgio, Sarah Grodsky, Emily Tully, Katie McGhee, Simone Serra, and Whitney Shields.
星空无限传媒 University undergraduate participants are Dana Balsamo, Ashley Biel, Kelsey Burke, Daria Feneis, Katie Frazer, Gillian Holmes, Phil Corso, Kaitlin Overton, Jose Paz, Alissa Razzano, Kelly Rice, and Melanie Yan.
Visit听Revolutionary Readings听to learn more about the group鈥檚 mission, history and outreach; and forthcoming performances heading into听Banned Books Week, October 25-November 2, 2010.
The inaugural project of the Virtual Student Center is the听First Annual Physics and Art Student Photo Exhibition, an interdisciplinary collaboration launched by听, assistant professor of Mathematics in the 星空无限传媒鈥檚 College of Science and Mathematics (CSAM).
Professor Vaidya’s field of interest includes the theoretical and experimental investigation of problems in fluid mechanics, concerning fluid structure interactions and non-Newtonian fluid flow and their implications in fields as diverse as geophysics, environmental fluid mechanics and biofluid mechanics. He is听also听very interested in photography.
Any physics-related topic — including mechanics, waves, electricity and magnetism, fluids, optics, and/or astronomy — was eligible for entry by CSAM students.
Professor Vaidya sent this illuminating introductory for the Photo Exhibition:
“In his famous and controversial lecture in 1959 titled听, the British mathematician, writer and philosopher, C.P. Snow pointed to a rift between the sciences and arts. He saw this lack of communication between the two intellectual traditions of our society as having serious consequences in our education system and our ultimate development as human beings. This discussion is as relevant today as it was then.
As scientists, I am sure most of us are conscious and appreciative of the creative elements inherent in the scientific process. We can easily recognize beauty and artistic features to varying degrees in our own work.
I am sure there is much to be said for what the arts share in common with sciences in terms of rigor, a sense of enthrallment with the task at hand, and the scientific temper in general. I doubt, however, that enough has been done by either group to bring this fact to the attention of students, the general public, or those at the opposite end of the intellectual spectrum from our own.
We hope that this exhibition will serve in some way in bridging this gap.”
鈥 Dr. Ashwin Vaidya