Plungers And Productivity: A Student Artist's Survival Guide To Multi-tasking

Author

Amanda Wansa, University of Central Florida

Keywords

Machinal, Urinetown, Acting, Sound Design, Music Directing, Plungers, Wansa, Multi-Tasking

Abstract

To be a fully functioning theatre practitioner, the developing student artist becomes equipped with a practical skill set that is ordinarily cultivated through formal training and study. Typically, organized study leads him/her to focus on a specific facet of the business: acting, directing, design, etc. However, students often develop a vast array of talents and skills within the profession and find themselves standing at a crossroads between what "kind" of artist to be; what singular aspect of the arts on which to focus. Why not do it all? For those students who "do it all", there is an additional challenge: the artist who is a student immersed in daytime study and nighttime production obligations has to wear two caps. One is that of the learner and one is that of the employee, the producer, and perhaps even the teacher. When are these caps traded or are they both worn through all processes? This thesis will reveal my creative and practical processes from two productions at the University of Central Florida for which I played on- and offstage roles: I worked as a Sound Designer and featured actor in Sophie Treadwell's Machinal; I was the Vocal Director for Urinetown: The Musical, and also played Penelope Pennywise, a leading role. I will describe the challenges and successes of each project by examining the following evidence: my personal process with each piece, demonstrated through reflection and examples from the work; interviews with those involved in the productions as well as outside reviews and feedback; and research of each play. Research will include production history, intent of authors, and aspects that informed my work both onstage and off. Did multi-tasking sacrifice the quality of my work for any of my delegated tasks? Did I enjoy more success in my progress in time management, the ability to solve problems, and collaboration process with fellow artists, or in the actual on-stage products? What aspects of my training in my graduate program added to the quality of my work on these productions? Does being a multi-tasking artist help or hurt one's career in theatre?

Notes

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Graduation Date

2009

Advisor

Chicurel, Steven

Degree

Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)

College

College of Arts and Humanities

Department

Theatre

Degree Program

Theatre

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0002579

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0002579

Language

English

Release Date

May 2009

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

STARS Citation

Wansa, Amanda, "Plungers And Productivity: A Student Artist's Survival Guide To Multi-tasking" (2009). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 4152.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/4152