8/4/2014 Theatre & Dance Department Newsletter
https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1117586014522&format=html&print=true 1/6
Monday, June 9, 2014
Spring Quarter, Week Eleven
MEETINGS OF THE WEEK
There are no administrative meetings scheduled this week.
This is Final Examination Week.
DEPARTMENT NEWS
Kim Rubenstein, Keynote Speaker, opened this year's Undergraduate GraduationCeremony last Friday afternoon in the Theatre District's Potiker Theatre. Entertainment wasprovided by the Singing Class, accompanied by Kyle Jackson, and a slideshow created by
the Class of 2014 was screened. In addition to "unofficial" diplomas handed out by Kim and
Patricia Rincon, a number of special awards were presented:
The Wagner Award is made in honor of Founding Chair and Emeritus facultymember Arthur Wagner and was presented to Rio Villa. The Wagner Award will be
made to a graduating theatre major who has distinguished him or herself in multiple
acting assignments in departmental productions over at least two years, while
maintaining high achievements academically.
The Jorge Huerta Spirit Award is given to a student who best exemplifies Dr.Huerta's excellence in artistry, scholarship and leadership in Latina/o Theatre
Studies. This year the award went toYuxdibia Farias.
The Leandra Smith Memorial Dance Scholarship is awarded to an undergraduateDance student of exceptional promise in memory of Leandra Smith, a UCSD Dance
student who passed away at a young age. The faculty selected Hannah Cook toreceive the Scholarship this year.
The Ron Ranson Award is made in honor Ron Ranson, a professional designerand a recipient of the Saltman Distinguished Teaching Award (2000) who retired
from active teaching in the Department in 2003. The Ron Ranson Award will be
awarded to a graduating theatre major who has distinguished his or herself in
multiple production design assignments over at least two years, while maintaining
high achievements academically, and who, in the faculty's judgment, most exhibits
the above-and-beyond attitude Ron showed the department for 24 years. NaraeKim is this year's Award winner.
The Eric Bowling Award goes Mimi Ngo. This Award is presented to a talentedunder-graduate playwright, in good academic standing in their senior year, who is
kind and generous, like the gifted young man this award commemorates.
The Patricia Rincon Diversity Award is given to an outstanding graduatingminority student who has demonstrated qualities of maturity, independence,
passion and leadership in promoting excellence in performance and community
service. Stephen Fung was selected to receive the Award.
The Bronowski Award, made in honor of the late Jacob Bronowski, was presentedto Mary Hill. This Award recognizes a Theatre major who has proven a double
8/4/2014 Theatre & Dance Department Newsletter
https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1117586014522&format=html&print=true 2/6
commitment to academic excellence and the creative work of the Department and
in that work sustained growth that has led to significant creative achievement. The
awardee must have demonstrated qualities of maturity, independence, and
awareness that point toward the prospect of continued growth as a theatre artist.
The Stewart Prize in Theatre went to Stephanie Marron this year. The StewartPrize honors a Theatre major or minor who has provided outstanding contributions
to one or more Departmental theatrical productions.
The Stewart Prize in Choreography is awarded to student(s) participating in theSpring Dance Concert and whose work in that production is judged to be of
outstanding merit. This year Kristianne Salcines was selected for the Prize.
The David Heikkila Scholarship was established by his partner, Clark Ritter, in1996 in memory of David, an alum (BA '91), who passed away in 1995 of AIDS.
The Scholarship is awarded to the graduating Senior Theatre major who best
embodies the qualities that made David unique: excellent scholarship, service,
collaboration, energy, and commitment. The Scholarship this year was presented to
Joseph Odom.
The Dr. Milton H. Saier, Sr., Memorial Award was presented to MirandaDainard. The Award is made to a Theatre or Dance major in good standing in theirJunior or Senior year who has demonstrated significant and professional talents in
one or more departmental productions in the year of the Award.
Jean Isaacs Performance Award is given to a student whose performance ineither the Faculty Concert or the Spring Concert is judged to be outstanding. There
were two recipients this year: Mariah Pershadsingh and Knevyr Kathawa.
The Allan Havis Playwriting Awardis a writing award for an undergraduatestudent that shows promise in dramatic writing. Jesse Negron was selected for thisyear's Havis Award.
The Dr. Floyd Gaffney Award was presented to Haya-Yasmeen Nasser. Thequalifications for the award are that the recipient is an outstanding graduating
senior with a dance or theatre major, a GPA above 3.5, and a demonstrated
commitment and dedication in promoting excellence to professional performance
and/or community service using the performing arts.
The Margaret C. Marshall Leadership Award is given to a student who bestexemplifies Professor Marshall's enthusiasm, dedication and leadership in Dance.
Crystal Tong was this year's recipient.
The Chair's Award for Distinguished Service was created so that Faculty couldofficially recognize students who have distinguished themselves repeatedly in
service to the Department. The Department Chair makes nominations for this award
to the faculty. The 2014 Award was presented to Yamil Jaiman.
Congratulations go out to these and all our graduating seniors! "You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So... get on your way!" - Dr. Seuss, Oh, The
Places You'll Go!
Photos of the graduation gala are available online.
NEWSFLASH - We have a Tony winner! The Award for Best Direction of a Musical went
to Darko Tresnjak, for A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. More here.
NEWS FOR FACULTY, STAFF, & STUDENTS
8/4/2014 Theatre & Dance Department Newsletter
https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1117586014522&format=html&print=true 3/6
The Geisel Overnight Study Commons is now open through the end of Finals. Current UC
students, faculty, and staff (with a valid UCSD ID) may use the study commons on the
main/2nd floor of Geisel's East Wing only after midnight. Eligible users may enter through
main entrance and proceed to East Wing.Basic safety & security is provided overnight, but
other library services are not available. Security staff will report equipment problems, but
cannot provide computer, printing, reserves, or research assistance. More here.
Commencement -Reminder, the all-campus Commencement Ceremonies are this coming
weekend. Seniors, you are invited to join more than 2,000 attendees at ACGC, UC San
Diego's only all-campus commencement event! ACGC kicks off the UCSD Commencement
Weekend by bringing together graduates from all six colleges with their families and friends
to celebrate this amazing moment in their lives! This informal event (no caps and gowns)
takes place on Friday, June 13, and is free for graduating seniors. Doors open at 5:00pm and
the program begins at 5:30pm. Student and guest tickets can be purchased at the UC Box
office. More here. The schedule for the formal Commencement Ceremonies can be found
here.
Faculty, Staff, & Student Employees - The Benefits Office reminds you to be sure that your
mailing address is current in the UC Systems. To check or update your home address, login
to the UCNet website. Click on "AYS ONLINE" and then enter your Username and
Password. Then click on "My Contact Information." Make necessary changes and click on
"Submit" at the bottom of the page. (Important last steps follow!) Then click the small box
next to "I understand that by confirming..." and then, click "Confirm". Changes will be
reflected in campus systems within twenty-four hours.
Use the shuttles during the summer? Don't forget that the shuttle
services go on their summer schedule after this week. The CityShuttle
(Arriba/Nobel) should be running every half hour. The Loop shuttle also
typically has reduced service in the summertime. You can find more
information on the campus transportation system and schedule here.
(Transportation Services has not released the new schedule as of press
time.)
Summer Dining Options - All campus dining halls are open during finals week, but many of
the campus eateries restrict their serving hours starting the following week. Many are now
posting their summer hours. You can find a comprehensive list on Blink.
ADMINISTRIVIA
June 13 - Deadline to clear an "I" from Winter Quarter
June 16 - Deadline to file for a Request to receive a grade of "Incomplete"
June 19 - Grades available on TritonLink
June 30 - Summer Session begins
Sept. 29 - Fall Quarter Begins
Oct. 2 - First Day of Classes, Fall Quarter
You can find future years' Academic/Administrative Calendars here.
The 2014/15 enrollment calendar is here.
ALUM NEWS
Alums - On Facebook? Come visit the Department's Facebook Alumni page! This group isset up for UC San Diego Department of Theatre and Dance Alumni to correspond with each
8/4/2014 Theatre & Dance Department Newsletter
https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1117586014522&format=html&print=true 4/6
other regarding their current or upcoming productions, projects, or events. Please use it as a
place to update each other on your past, current or future projects. If you have a show
coming up let the group know. If you are performing, directing, designing, writing, stage
managing or in any way involved in a creative project please let us know. Note that the
Department will use some of the postings from this site for alumni updates in the newsletter.
The Department will also use this group to alert you on Department information or Alumni
events.
Reed Martin (MFA Acting '86) and his cohorts at the Reduced Shakespeare Company
unleashed their latest comic outrage on an unsuspecting public in November with the world
premiere of The Complete History of Comedy (abridged) at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the
Park. The show just completed a month-long run at Merrimack Rep in Lowell, MA and the
RSC will perform it later this year at San Jose Rep, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Marin
Theatre Company.
Reed & Co in action.
The Drama Desk Awards are in and congratulations are due! Jefferson Mays (MFA '91)
won the "Best Actor in a Musical" category for his work in A Gentleman's Guide to Love &
Murder, Danny Burstein (MFA '90) won "Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical" for
Cabaret, and Darko Tresnjak won in the "Outstanding Director of a Musical" category for A
Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder. More here.
Michael Kantor (MFA Directing '87) was recently named Executive
Producer of the American Masters series for PBS. Upcoming productions
include profiles of Bing Crosby, August Wilson, and Maya Angelou
8/4/2014 Theatre & Dance Department Newsletter
https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1117586014522&format=html&print=true 5/6
among others. He is a former Tony nominator and producer of theEmmy-winning "Broadway: The American Musical" (hosted by JulieAndrews) and the Peabody Award-winning "Broadway Musicals: AJewish Legacy" hosted by Joel Grey.
Welcome to the newest alums, the Undergraduate Class of 2014: Danica Baily, Theatre;;Bethany Baderdeen, Theatre;; Nathaniel Bell, Theatre;; Katharine J. Burlington, Theatre &Sociology;; Clifford Cisneros, Theatre;; Hannah Cook, Dance;; Miranda Dainard, Theatre;;Stephen Fung, Dance, & Human Biology;; Rebecca Hicks, Theatre;; Mary Patrena Hill,Theatre;; Leslie Minjung Ji, Theatre & Dance;; Avi Habani, Theatre;; Knevyr Marie Kathawa,Dance;; Narae Kim, Theatre;; Sheila Mariezcurrena, Theatre;; Haya Yasmeen Yousef Nasser,Theatre;; Jesse Alexander Negrón, Theatre;; Tyler John Oakley, Theatre;; Joseph David Odom,Theatre & Sociology;; Kristianne Rey Salcines, Dance & Cognitive Science;; Zoe Semler,Theatre & Sociology;; Susannah Snowden-Ifft, Theatre;; Marguerite Sugden, Theatre;; WilliamScott Thomas, Theatre;; Crystal W. Tong, Dance & Psychology;; Rio Jacinta Starr Villa,Theatre;; and Maile Young, Theatre.
Have a great Summer Break!
8/4/2014 Theatre & Dance Department Newsletter
https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1117586014522&format=html&print=true 6/6
Have news to share? Send it to us at [email protected] and we'll pass it along for you
when we start back up in the fall. Photos are encouraged. Please be sure to let us know what
year you graduated, if you're an alum. If you've changed your name, be sure to tell us what it
was when you attended UC. Miss a back edition? Visit the Newsletter Archives
.
Forward this email
This email was sent to [email protected] by [email protected] |
Update Profile/Email Address | Rapid removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy.
UCSD Arts & Humanities | 9500 Gilman Drive | La Jolla, CA | CA | 92092-0406