Page 2 - VPA.indd

(from Page 1.) from oppressive
boredom while they wait for a
mysterious figure who never
arrives, the play became the
ur-text for theatrical innovation
and existential thought in the
latter half of 20th century.” Seeking to honor the innovative nature of the play, our production sets Beckett’s text on a collision course with thoughts, ideas, and imagery from Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality. Like Vladimir and Estragon who wait on Godot, the families of Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, Terence Crutcher, and countless others wait on justice for their loved ones. With this production we ask, what if Godot is justice?
En Attendant Justice
CSU Division of Music
student honored for
composition
CSU Division of Music student Justin
Shuffler was recently named a winner in the
collegiate division of the music composition contest sponsored by the Georgia Music Educators Association. This juried competition is open to students of all ages with winners named at the elementary, middle school, high school and collegiate levels. Winning compositions are performed in a recital during the GMEA annual In-Service Conference. Justin’s winning composition, Conveyance,
is written for flute and piano. CSU Division of Music student Erron White played the flute part accompanied by pianist Jared Register on the winner’s recital. The performance was enthusiastically received by the audience. Congratulations to Justin on this honor!
While they wait, Vladimir and Estragon perform vaudeville routines. These routines take on new meaning when black actors embody the roles. It is difficult to miss the reality that black performers were rare on vaudeville stages. At the time, presentations of black characters were almost uniformly degrading racial stereotypes played by white performers in blackface. The comedy duo of Bert Williams and George Walker defied expectations and rose to great acclaim as vaudeville performers. Williams and Walker, both black, performed in blackface and subtly undercut the white minstrel performers.Their audacity led to success despite the odds being against them. Similarly, Vladimir and Estragon have the audacity to wait and hope for the arrival of Mr. Godot. The juxtaposition of a play that ponders if life is worth living with a movement that proclaims “I have the right to exist” prompts much discussion. Last semester, on Friday November 11 and Thursday November 17, CSU Theatre Department conducted post-show
discussions with members of the Clayton State campus community to reflect on the issues and ideas raised in the production. Through these conversations, audience members discussed ways to improve our justice system and society.
The production also received positive reviews from outside respondents. Actors Whitney Hood, Don Jackson, and Trueasia Magnetic were recognized with Irene Ryan Award Nominations, student Lighting Designer Joy Diaz was recognized with a National Lighting Design Award Nomination, and student Dramaturg Amber Leacock was recognized with a National Dramaturgy Award Nomination. Additionally, the production was recommended for inclusion in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Region IV Festival.
From Clayton to Korea, and back
Film production faculty members Harris and Shandra McDonald guided the visitors to a variety of broadcasting and film-related sites. They toured Pinewood Studios, visited the Clayton State film studio, the CW, CNN, and toured the filming sites for The Walking Dead in Senoia. A group of CSU, HIT students, and Dr. Lee were the studio audience for the local CW program, Focus Atlanta, hosted by Keisha Lancelin, and were able to explore the behind the scenes aspects
of promotions and marketing at the station. Harris and McDonald also took the faculty and students on trips to Stone Mountain, Ponce City market, and explored the Beltline trail. They ate a traditional southern meal at a restaurant near Stone Mountain Park where
they learned that South Korean students loved the collard greens with plenty of hot sauce, but were unable to finish the sweet potato soufflé! “Too sweet,” one student said. They loved the spicy Mexican food at Plaza Fiesta. (Continued, P.4)
By Jonathan Harris
Korean hospitality is both legendary and immediate. On
a cold Sunday night this past January, Dr. Heejung Lee arrived at the Golden Buddha restaurant in Morrow, Georgia, after a 14- hour flight from Seoul, South
Korea. The first thing he did, after jumping out of the van with eight broadcasting students in tow and hugging faculty member Jonathan Harris, was to present Harris with two, ten pound bags of a special Korean herbal tea. “For energy” Professor Lee said, smiling. The tea was instantly brewed and enjoyed, gifts were given, and the exchange program was up and running full steam for a second straight year.
Each January since 2016, the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at Clayton State has hosted faculty and students from HIT University’s broadcasting program for a ten-day classroom and site- visit experience. In return, HIT hosts a group of students and faculty from VPA on a regular basis during the Maymester term. The exchange allows the students to experience class time at each university, to sample local cuisine, explore the geography and touristic sites, and gives faculty time with colleagues from another continent.
VPA ESPRESSO | p. 2 Newsletter of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at Clayton State University