Maryville College’s chapter of Alpha Psi Omega (APO) hosts theatre workshops for students
Maryville College’s chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, the national theater honors society, is hosting four workshops this semester for students. COVID-19 restrictions have affected the way the theater department is able to continue to provide an educational experience for students. However, APO has created a workshop series for this semester to encourage those who want to participate in theatre activities to still do so.
The first workshop was hosted on Friday, Oct. 16, by Maryville College alumna, Jane Delozier. Delozier, who majored in art while at Maryville, gave a tutorial on SFX makeup. Delozier held her workshop over Zoom and showed participants how to create a burn and a cut using latex, prosthetics, color, and powder products.
“I really liked the comfort and accessibility of being able to demonstrate from home, and it was also really convenient being able to give everyone an equal view of what I was working on,” Delozier said.
Delozier answered questions about SFX makeup, making custom molds, and even applying bald caps, although she stressed that she is no expert on bald caps.
The second workshop was held on Friday, Oct. 23 by APO historian, Cooper Lawson. This workshop was in person in Macarthur Pavilion where participants could properly social distance with masks on.
Lawson wanted to hold a workshop given the changes in the curriculum for theatre students this semester.
“I have been doing prop work professionally for going on eight years now so when the quarantine hit and our freshmen were unable to get the experience that they normally would get through working on shows, I offered to host a workshop,” Lawson said. “This workshop will absolutely count for points toward joining APO and will give our new students and our upperclassmen a chance to learn how to make professional quality prop weapons.
This particular workshop will focus on how to make blades from EVA foam and will operate a bit like a demo. We will be making Sting from Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit trilogy, and I will also do some demonstrations of other useful materials and tools for foam smithing.”
On Friday, Oct. 30 from 2 to 4 p.m. theatre major Hudson Perinne will lead an acting workshop that will focus on space governing physicality and postmodern performance. This workshop will be held in person.
On Friday, Nov. 13, from 2 to 4 p.m. Dr. Heather McMahon, professor of theatre and gender and women studies, will be holding an improv workshop. The workshop will be in person and participants will play improv games in masked, socially distant groups. McMahon will start with the basics of saying “yes” in improv, and she encourages people of all experience levels to come!
“I wanted to offer an improv workshop because improvisation is fun and anyone can do it,” McMahon said. “I think this will provide a safe activity for students who want to get out of their comfort zones a little!
To sign up for Perrine or McMahon’s workshops, students can use the google sheets sign up provided in the MC Today. Since these two remaining workshops are in-person, there are only 30 places available in order to follow COVID-19 guidelines.