Theses and Dissertations from UMD
Permanent URI for this communityhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/2
New submissions to the thesis/dissertation collections are added automatically as they are received from the Graduate School. Currently, the Graduate School deposits all theses and dissertations from a given semester after the official graduation date. This means that there may be up to a 4 month delay in the appearance of a give thesis/dissertation in DRUM
More information is available at Theses and Dissertations at University of Maryland Libraries.
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Item Agents and Actors Alike: On the Hidden Theatre of Espionage(2021) Stevens, Fraser Morris; Harding, James M; Theatre; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)This PhD dissertation analyzes espionage as a form of theatre and performance. Using archival documents, comparative analysis of theatre and espionage case-studies, and the application of critical theory, espionage is revealed to be a theatrical endeavor. It is a paramount example of a phenomenon which exists at the intersection of where art and life are blurred. One that gives urgency to an understanding of how theatre may be viewed outside of its traditional framing. This study of espionage is an undertaking that delves into a history of clandestine performances ranging from Mata Hari, James O’Keefe, Virginia Hall, Kim Philby, Maria Butina, and even theatre practitioner Augusto Boal. The project explores how espionage: is defined by a dialectic of success and failure, has mirrored actor training in the preparing of agents, is reliant on the archive for its execution, is governed by a desire to control, and can be viewed as a form of theatre.Item The Effects of Acting on Choral Singing: Teaching the Choral Singer to be an Actor within the Choral Rehearsal Process(2017) Marini, Ianthe Onelia; Maclary, Edward F; Music; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The purpose of this project is to determine the effects of acting on choral singing. The human voice is our innate instrument and thus, singing has the capacity to be our most communicative art form. Choral directors often ask their choral singers to tell a story, or to look like the music, but rarely are the singers given the necessary artistic tools to make that happen. A good actor does not “put on” a mask, but reveals and exposes the essence of herself in order to portray a character—and that character comes from within. This project aims to provide choral directors and their singers the techniques necessary to help them achieve powerful and honest communication of the material. I have designed a rehearsal method of teaching choral music that helps choral singers personalize and communicate the text in honest, organic, and well-informed ways. The method helps singers achieve freedom of voice, the skills of empathic listening, and encourages them to think critically and specifically about the music. It creates a learning environment that is free of judgment and that invites unapologetic risk taking that leads to artistic growth and self-actualization. This method of choral rehearsal was experienced with a group of undergraduate vocal performance majors from the University of Maryland School of Music and culminated in a performance after ten rehearsals. The paper contains the following: descriptions of the methods used, the materials, goals and procedures actualized with this ensemble, reflections from singers and audience members, modifications for choral directors of other types of ensembles, and conclusions. The recital was performed in the Ulrich Recital Hall at the University of Maryland. Recordings of the performance and talkback session can be accessed at the University of Maryland Hornbake Library.Item Sawing the Air Thus: American Sign Language Translations of Shakespeare and the Echoes of Rhetorical Gesture(2009) Snyder, Lindsey Diane; Hildy, Franklin J; Theatre; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) signed in1990 states that "no individual may be discriminated against on the basis of disability." The creation of anti-discrimination laws did not, however, legislate community understanding and equality of access. Focusing on access for the Deaf community to Shakespeare in performance, I am interested in developing both a theoretical and practical document. This document will explore the seemingly disparate fields of Performance theory, Shakespeare studies, Sign language studies, and Deaf studies in order to formalize a structure for interpreting text to create a communal experience for both Deaf and Hearing audiences. The virtuosity of Shakespeare makes his stories universal, enabling them to be translated into countless languages. Signed languages, as a part of the translation studies of Shakespeare, are often considered insignificant to the field because the interpretation into ASL is as temporal as a performance or is perceived by some to be limited to a small community of understanding. By formalizing a process of translation that uses elements of both ASL and gesture, not only does this research provide a structure for creating formal ASL translations, but reexamines the importance of rhetorical gesture in Shakespeare studies. I begin by providing an overview of my methodology and interdisciplinary approach to gesture, ASL, Shakespeare and performance theory. Next, I examine a historical and theoretical framework for gesture in both the D/deaf and performance communities. I go on to discuss the use of gesture (rhetorical, performance, and sign language) in production through an analysis of sketches, charts, and embedded video. Finally, I document my experiences as an interpreter in an original staging practices environment. This documentation illustrates the uses of the previously discussed elements converging in practice. This dissertation will serve as a first step towards practitioners, academics, and interpreters working together to fully interpret Shakespeare's texts and redefine the concept of access.