Manifest
Columbia College Chicago celebrates the end of the 2014-2015 school year on Friday, May 15, with Manifest, its annual urban arts festival of student work. Manifest, free and open to the general public, is a South Loop showcase of cutting-edge art: live performances, thought-provoking gallery exhibitions, fashion shows, original game design, literary readings, and more. In addition to the work of students and organizations, three outdoor stages will host musical performances by student bands and DJs throughout the day, culminating with a national headliner.
Among the day’s events are showcases of work by students in the Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department‘s BA and BFA programs in Acting, Musical Theatre, Comedy Writing and Performance, Playwriting, Stage Combat, Directing, and Design and Technical Theatre. The Columbia College Chicago Theatre Center‘s four performance venues at 72 E. 11th St. will host back-to-back presentations of sketch comedy, musical theatre, solo performance, scenework, and thrilling stage combat along with an afternoon-long display of theatrical design work.
Highlights of the Manifest schedule include:
The Great Convergence
The Great Convergence, Noon to 1 PM: Manifest begins with a march of graduating students, starting at 623 S. Wabash and proceeding south to 1001 S. Wabash, half a block from the Columbia College Chicago Theatre Center. The celebratory event is organized by Theatre alumna Tonika Todorova, co-founder and artistic director of the Silent Theatre Company.
Senior Showcase
Senior Showcase, 1-2:20 PM, Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department, Getz Theatre, 72 E. 11th: Encore performance of the Theatre Department’s Industry Showcase of Actors, featuring Senior Acting and Musical Theatre Performance majors.
Sketch Club’s Sketch Revue
Sketch Club’s Sketch Revue, 1-2 PM, Columbia College Chicago Theatre Center, Classic Studio Theatre, 72 E. 11th: Columbia College Chicago’s first and only student-run Sketch Club will present original sketches written and performed by students in Columbia’s Comedy Writing and Performance major–the only college-based program of its kind in the country.
Theatrical Technology and Design Showcase
Theatrical Technology and Design Showcase, 1-5:30 PM, Columbia College Chicago Theatre Center, Studio 404, 72 E. 11th: An afternoon-long display of work by students in the Columbia College Theatre Department’s Scenic Design, Costume Design, Lighting Design, and Theatre Technology programs (including Technical Theatre and Stage Management).
Two Chairs and a Light Bulb
Two Chairs and a Light Bulb, 1:30-3:15 PM, Columbia College Chicago Theatre Center, New Studio Theatre, 72 E. 11th: World premiere of a group of tight, spare, short plays developed by 11 student playwrights over the course of the term in collaboration with an ensemble cast of 20 student actors. Each play is under ten minutes, has no more than three characters, and is performed on a set of NO MORE THAN TWO CHAIRS. Chairs only. NO couches. NO tables. NO beds. NO dinette sets. NO swimming pools. NO helicopters. And NO THIRD CHAIR.
Flying Solo
Flying Solo, 2-3:15 PM, Columbia College Chicago Theatre Center, Classic Studio Theatre, 72 E. 11th: A program of one-person performances. Always raw, always real, always unexpected: all new, all true–stories from the front lines of student life.
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma! (highlights), 2:30-3:30 PM, Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department, Getz Theatre, 72 E. 11th: Musical and dance highlights from the Columbia College Theatre Department’s spring mainstage production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic musical Oklahoma!
Writing for Musical Theatre–New Musicals!
Writing for Musical Theatre–New Musicals!, 3:15-4:15 PM, Columbia College Chicago Theatre Center, Classic Studio Theatre, 72 E. 11th: Excerpts from five original musicals from the Writing for Musical Theatre class. The program includes selections from:
Anja: Book by Amber Treadway, lyrics by Jeremy Catledge, music by Cameron Evesque Davis;
Amish You: Book by Cassie Scaman, lyrics by Benjamin Nichols, music by Jeremy Gentry;
Long Live: Book by James Jeffries III, lyrics by Aaron Lockman, music by Kari Betton;
J + M: Book by Montana Dick and Brendan O’Shea, lyrics by Montana Dick, music by Brendan O’Shea;
The Brothers Austyn in Coughin’ Canniberries and Blazin’ Bootlace Brown: Book by Adrian Azevedo, lyrics by Ross Krakow, music by Brian Riemer
Into the Woods
Into the Woods (highlights), 3:30-4:20 PM, Columbia College Chicago Theatre Center, New Studio Theatre, 72 E. 11th: Musical highlights from the Theatre Department’s fall mainstage musical Into the Woods, by Stephen Sondheim.
Stage Combat Showcase
Stage Combat Showcase, 3:30-4:30 PM, Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department, Getz Theatre, 72 E. 11th: Action scenes from the Stage Combat 1, 2, and 3 classes–Broadsword, Small Sword, Single Sword, Quarterstaff, Rapier and Dagger and Unarmed fights. Go to! Go to! They are too saucy!
Taxidermists in Love
Taxidermists in Love, 4:15-5:15 PM, Columbia College Chicago Theatre Center, Classic Studio Theatre, 72 E. 11th: An overly but lovingly stuffed sketch revue written and performed by Acting III: Comedy Workshop.
Musical Theatre Dance, Tap, and Choreography Lab
Musical Theatre Dance, Tap, and Choreography Lab, 4:30-5:30 PM, Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department, Getz Theatre, 72 E. 11th: Showcase of student performing and choreography talent. Come celebrate those dancing feet on the avenue I’m taking you to–11th Street!
Spring Awakening the Musical
Spring Awakening the Musical (highlights), 4:30-5:20 PM, Columbia College Chicago Theatre Center, New Studio Theatre, 72 E. 11th. Directed by Theatre Directing major Adrian Abel Azevedo, this is a concert highlighting the senior level directing project Spring Awakening the Musical. Spring Awakening is a rock musical with music by Duncan Sheik and book/lyrics by Steven Sater. It is based on the German play Spring Awakening (1891) by Frank Wedekind. Set in late-19th-century Germany with a score of contemporary rock music, the show depicts a dozen teenagers making their way through the thrilling, yet confusing time of the inner and outer tumult of sexuality.
For a full schedule of Manifest events, click here.
