Last Friday, May 2, the SUNY Oswego Theatre Department hosted a vibrant and immersive day of theatre activities for nearly 300 high school students and their chaperones from 13 local and regional high schools during the annual Dramafest.
The day-long event celebrated creativity, performance and professional development, offering young theatre artists a unique opportunity to engage with university faculty, students and industry professionals.
Seven visiting schools presented scenes from their current theatre seasons, with three schools proudly featuring original works by student playwrights. Bella Poynton, the department’s newest faculty member and nationally recognized, award-winning playwright, provided thoughtful and encouraging responses to each performance.
In the afternoon, participants attended a master class highlighting the talents of three musical theatre students. The class featured a special conversation with Broadway actor Robert Lenzi, who offered invaluable insights into building a successful career in the theatre industry. This portion of the day was made possible through the generous support of SUNY Oswego’s Career Services and The Impact Fund.
Continuing afternoon activities, faculty and staff led a wide range of hands-on workshops covering improvisation, scenic painting, stage makeup, audition techniques and the use of projections in live theatre.
Guest presenters included Josh Kazer, the professional marketing manager from The Rev Theatre Company; Ariel Marcus-Hollenbeck, a theatre alum who is artistic director of IlluminArt Productions; and Carey Barnette, assistant director of Campus Recreation, who led a dynamic musical theatre dance workshop.
Through a collaboration with the Penfield Library Archives, the department hosted a Dramafest retrospective and honored the late Professor Emeritus Mark Cole, former chair of the Theatre Department and beloved friend and mentor of many alumni and campus community members.
The day concluded with an exclusive performance of the department’s spring musical, "Tuck Everlasting," offering guests a final taste of the talent and passion that defines the SUNY Oswego theatre program.
As this spring semester winds down, the Theatre Department is already actively at work on next year’s production season. The fall productions include Lauren Gunderson’s "Silent Sky" and the student-directed production of "The Grown Ups" by Skylar Fox and Simon Henriques. Next year, Dramafest coincides with the department’s spring presentation of an Elvis Presley jukebox musical, "All Shook Up," with book by Joe DiPietro.
For more information about upcoming events or to learn more about the Theatre Department, please contact Krystal Kennel, department chair, or visit www.oswego.edu/theatre.
-- Submitted by the Theatre Department