Drama Duo
Drama Duo is a children's theatre touring company comprised of two troupes of six undergraduate actors. The company performs in more than forty elementary and middle schools in three counties each year. Drama Duo has been an integral part of the School of Theatre's community outreach efforts for many years. Scripts focus on the joy of live performances and provide young students with an opportunity to discuss the theatre process with company members.
Drama Duo partners with GALAXY, the Arts in Education Program of CIU 10. This partnership provides the students involved with a modest stipend and the opportunity to network with a community arts outreach organization.
For further information contact:
Karen Durst
The Pennsylvania State University
School of Theatre
201 Arts Building
University Park, PA 16802
(814) 863-1456
kdurst1@psu.edu
UniversityPark ENSEMBLE
UniversityPark ENSEMBLE is a theatre company of talented undergraduates in the School of Theatre. The company addresses social, health, and academic issues important to the campus community. Using theatre, rather than conventional learning modes, the ensemble helps raise students' awareness of issues significant to their health and welfare.
Throughout the University Park campus, in classrooms, auditoriums, and residence hall lounges, the company performs improvisational, interactive, and scripted material. It also performs at other Penn State locations, and its works have been presented at regional and national conferences.
The UniversityPark ENSEMBLE is sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and the Division of Undergraduate Studies in consultation with University Health Services and Residence Life. Barry Kur, professor of theatre, is the artistic director.
UniversityPark ENSEMBLE Performance Programs
(A minimum audience size of thirty is preferred for all performances)
- HIV Prevention: CONDOMonium
- Academic Issues: Advising Scenes
- Sexual Assult: The Date
- Eating Disorders: Body Loathing/Body Love
- Alcohol Awareness: DRINK, DRANK, DRUNK
- Academic Integrity: The Academic Dishonesty Project
HIV prevention
CONDOMonium*
This theatrical performance creates AIDS awareness and promotes HIV prevention. It includes a combination of comic sketches and serious monologues. The comic sketches attempt to educate the audience about safe condom use and sexually transmitted diseases. Most of the serious material, written by the actors, is about their life experiences and HIV/AIDS.
Approximate performance time: thirty minutes.
*Adapted from a script by the Not Ready for Bedtime Players, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and Kaleidoscope Theatre, University of California, Los Angeles, Student Health Services.
academic issues
Advising Scenes
Scene 1: Survival tactics for the University Park campus
Scene 2: Student/Adviser relationship
Scene 3: Family involvement in choosing a major
In these scenes the audience is presented with a problem that remains unresolved. At the conclusion of each scene, the actors stay in character and respond to audience questions and solutions. Academic advisers participate in the interactive portion of this program and are available for post-production consultation.
Approximate performance time: thirty minutes, including interaction.
sexual assault
The Date
by Robert Ferguson
Interactive readers' theatre is utilized to address rape prevention. "David" and "Elaine," with the help of their friends "Scott" and "Tanya," try to sort out their perceptions of their last "date." Following this moving dramatization, the actors remain in character and respond to audience questions
Approximate performance time: forty minutes, including discussion.
Body Loathing/Body Love Excerpts Video (High-Speed: 13.5 MB Quicktime Movie)
Body Loathing/Body Love Excerpts Video (Dial-up: 1.7 MB Quicktime Movie) Need Quicktime? Download it free.
eating disorders
Body Loathing/Body Love
Dramatic scenes, poetry, mime, and visual images provide insight into the causes of eating disorders. Originally conceived and written by founding ensemble member Jessica Weiner, this program continues to evolve with the addition of original works and excepts of material from established writers. The audience will be engaged in a post-performance discussion.
Approximate performance time: forty-five minutes, including discussion.
alcohol awareness
DRINK, DRANK, DRUNK
This performance addresses issues related to alcohol consumption within the University community. Short vignettes cover issues of responsibility, relationships, social pressures, and assumptions. The audience will be engaged in a discussion of the above issues at the end of the performance.
Approximate performance time: forty-five minutes, including discussion.
academic integrity
The Academic Dishonesty Project
A staged-reading performance addressing academic integrity issues. Three students are accused of cheating on a lab report. They present their case to a college level academic integrity committee. After witnessing each student's testimony and the committees' deliberations, the audience will be asked to decide on sanctions. This project was written by Scott Fredd, graduate of the Schreyer Honors College 2002, as his senior thesis. It is based on the academic integrity procedures of the Eberly College of Science.
For further information contact:
Barry Kur, professor
The Pennsylvania State University
School of Theatre
116 Arts Building
University Park, PA 16802
(814) 863-1453
bxk1@psu.edu