St. Thomas University Directing Seminar Presents Propel Festival
St. Thomas University Directing Seminar Presents: PROPEL FESTIVAL
10 Student Directors, 10 Atlantic Playwrights, 4 Fantastic Nights
Four nights of theatre featuring 10 STUdent directors, 10 plays written by New Brunswick playwrights, and 30 actors. Over the four nights, audiences will be treated to dry comedy, bracing drama, slow motion fights, and an amazing cardboard car. Filmed and edited by STU aluma Patty Saad; with original music composition by Devin Rockwell; technical direction from Chris Saad; and general finessing from Professor Lisa Anne Ross, PROPEL FESTIVAL hopes to offer audiences a glimpse into the incredible talents of New Brunswick artists.
The PROPEL FESTIVAL marks not only the opportunity for Fine Arts directing students to share their emerging artistic talents with the world, but also provides space for the work of talented New Brunswick playwrights to be brought to the stage. Students this year were adamant that the course put out a call to Atlantic Playwrights with the goal of nurturing local voices. A call in December 2020 generated over 40 amazing submissions (thanks to the support of ) and the biggest challenge was not being able to produce them all.
The STU Directing course is a capstone experience for STUdents who have made theatre arts their prime focus. The course focuses on building a sense of personal pedagogy and prepares students for professional work—functioning as an artistic collective more so than a class.
STUdents spent the semester taking a deep dive into directing technique, production elements, publicity strategies, and discussed how theatre can confront systemic racism in classrooms and on stages.
(by donation)
Performances will be streamed through Youtube Live
PROPEL FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Wednesday April 14 - 7:00 PM - 8:20 PM ADT
Cat Girl by Alex Rioux Directed by Brenna Gauthier (Approx 8 Min)
Wrack & Ruin (An Excerpt) by Meg Edwards Directed by Peter Boyce (Approx 30 Min)
Life Goes On by Muriel Falkenstein Directed by Michaela Macaulay (Approx 40 Min)
Thursday April 15 - 7:00 PM - 8:05 PM ADT
Ghosted by Rebecca Tremblay Directed by Hailey Watson (Approx 10 Min)
A Man Like Buzz Lightyear by Noah Directed by Raine O-Connor (Approx 25 Min)
Actaeon Line by Ryan Griffith Directed by Carter Scott (Approx 30 Min)
Friday April 16 - 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ADT
(Content Warning: The Job contains scenes of violence. A Canyon Contained discusses sexual assault.)
The Job by Sandra Bell Directed by Christen Curran-Wall (Approx 30 Min)
A Canyon Contained by Jena McLean Neomi Iancu Haliva (Approx 1 Hour)
Saturday April 17 - 7:00 PM - 7:45 PM ADT
Fort Faith by Jean Michel Cliche Directed by Jason McIntyre (Approx 15 Min)
Knock by Jeff Lloyd Directed by Wilson Kennedy (Approx 30 Min)