Radford University - Beehive Yearbook (Radford, VA)

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Read-throughs with the director givt odors a feel for the entire play. It's also a lime for cast members to familiarize themselves with their characters. Janice Moore, student director of Betrayal, gives notes to her cast. Campus Life 17

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Studio theatre Behind ‘Betrayal’ Cyndi Price Silence, dim lights, the curtain rose and the play unfolded. The audience viewed it and enjoyed it. But what went on behind the scenes to create the performance? This year three plays were performed in the studio theater. These plays allowed students to exhibit their talents from acting to directing to technical aspects. There was no budget involved. Students had to create everything or else find the pieces. Janice Moore, a senior theater major, directed the first production of the 84-85 school year in the studio theater. The play, “Betrayal” was a story about many betrayals. The cast included James Hazel, Ray Hayden, Laura Quinn and Sean Layne. To get a play onto the stage required several steps. Moore read many plays and studied the atmosphere of the theater to help choose her play. She pointed out “the studio theater is very intimate.” Another step before actually choosing the play was to determine whether or not the talent was available for the cast. Moore finally decided on the play “Betrayal by Harold Pinter. The next step was to do several readings of the play and do research on the playwright. Moore said, “You have to know the characters and plotline completely to the point that you know it in your sleep.” Auditions were then held and were open to any RU student. After that there were call backs and then the play was cast. Casting did not always depend on ability. Sometimes it depended on looks or chemistry, the way actors “fit together.” Moore described auditions as “a big traffic jam.” The rehearsal period was next. It began with a reading of the play and an orientation to the play. Each rehearsal after that was a blocking process. Blocking involved setting the stage movements for each scene. This took several weeks to complete. The director had the aid of a stage manager and a crew which provided the technical aspects. Pam Ladd was stage manager for “Betrayal.” The stage manager was like a right arm to the director. Ultimately, though, all problems went back to the director. Two weeks before the opening performance technical rehearsals began, and the other elements — lights, props, costumes, etc. — were added. A few days before opening night there was a final dress rehearsal which occurred under complete house conditions. With the opening of the play the director was no longer important. From then on it was the stage manager’s show. The entire production, from auditions to opening night, took about eight weeks. 16 Campus Life

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Quest ’84 tiohn Gossner leads a group of incoming freshmen and their parents through the library on a tour of the campus. President Donald Dedmon laughs with Ada Arnold, Kay Wilson, John Gossner, Tony Osborne and Jenny Friend during a luncheon for Quest assistants at his home. 18 Campus Life