#Dr. Krysta A. Dennis

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Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate NY Teams Up with Siena College for Original Play About Albany Abolitionists World Premiere of Yours for the Oppressed, an original play produced by the Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate New York and Siena College about Albany abolitionists Harriet and Stephen Myers. 

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Join us as NorthEast Theatre Ensemble’s production of A Streetcar Named Desire takes up residence in the courtyard of Albany Distilling Company. Directed by Dr. Krysta Dennis.

Tennessee Williams’ tale of alienation and loneliness in New Orleans’ sultry, sweltering summer heat will come alive in the warmth of downtown Albany’s summer, with cocktails available from the distillery to keep audiences…

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To Have Faith is to Have Wings by Patrick White, Director, Peter and the Starcatcher at Siena College Peter Pan, I’ve come to appreciate during this rehearsal process, is probably the most fascinating character for me to look at from different points in my life. 646 more words

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Need to escape from your feuding family after Thanksgiving? Head over to the Ten Broeck Mansion and spend a few hours with the backstabbing, grasping and ambitious Hubbard family in Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes. Your family may look a whole lot saner by comparison!

If, like me, you are fully sated with Christmas carols, nutcrackers and visits to Santaland, NorthEast Theatre Ensemble has something completely different for you — a site-specific production of Hellman’s 1939 classic that captures the story of a Southern family’s selfish pursuit of the American Dream. It ends up destroying them, and those they love.

Not only is the central action of the play presented in intimate proximity, but servants listen at the doors and voices from other rooms drift in. “We really want people who come to see and be a part of this story,” NETE Artistic Director Janet Hurley Kimlicko explained. “In the Mansion the play becomes an intimate, even voyeuristic experience.”

“It wasn’t until I saw the photos taken at our first full dress rehearsal that I realized how amazing this looks,” said Tony Pallone, the actor playing Horace Giddens. “This isn’t a set. It’s a real house.”

“We were able to pull costumes from many different locations, and then Shae Fitzgerald pulled everything together to make everyone look amazing,” Kimlicko added. “And she brought in her sister Bonnie, a theatre professional from Boston, to do the hair. It really completes the look.”

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This is the fifth production for the two-year-old company. “After staging a few shows at an area theater, we wanted to branch out,” Kimlicko said. As it happened, she had crossed professional paths frequently with director Krysta Dennis, who had just joined the board of the Albany County Historical Society based at the Ten Broeck Mansion. Kimlicko had been involved with Dennis’ production of Votes for Women at the Mansion last March, and they both agreed The Little Foxes would be a perfect fit for the space.

“When the idea of staging The Little Foxes came up I thought, who do I want to direct? Wait, I know!“ Kimlicko exclaimed. “So I approached Krysta. We are very much on the same page and work very well together.”

A graduate of Colonie Central High School, Dr. Dennis holds her BA and MA in French and theatre from the University of Notre Dame; two doctorates in drama, one from the Sorbonne in Paris and one from the University of Kent in the UK; and a Diplome de Comedien in physical theatre from the Ecole Internationale de Theatre Jacques Lecoq. She is a lecturer in Creative Arts at Siena College and has been busy with many projects in the Capital Region.

Once America’s premiere — and at times only — professionally-produced female playwright, Hellman’s work is not produced as frequently nowadays.

“Lillian Hellman was way ahead of her time, writing with a sensibility that is entirely modern,” Pallone explained. “She offers a removed perspective on what was going on in her lifetime — with enough detachment to comment on it, and enough attachment to it to make it real.”

“The text is amazing, horrifying, revealing. The timeliness of the misogyny is devastating,” Kimlicko added. “There are so many layers to every character in this production; we spent hours unpeeling each person’s motivations.”

“The power dynamics in the play intrigue me as an actor,” Pallone added. “And there are still families doing the same things today. This is in no way light entertainment.”

“Krysta brought the issue of race more to the fore,” Kimlicko said. “In the script, the servants are very much in the background. Krysta didn’t give them more lines, but used the space to allow them to be seen going about their work — while keeping tabs on the family machinations through open doors.”

Following the November 19 matinee, there was a well-received panel discussion of race and servitude in the context of both the production’s turn-of-the-century setting and today. The panel featured Marisa Williamson, Matthew Kirk, Mary Liz Stewart, Paul Stewart, and Mike Lake.

Equity actors Pallone and Kimlicko are appearing in The Little Foxes under the auspices of Actors’ Equity Association’s Members’ Project Code (MPC). “This special contract is designed for AEA actors who want to do a showcase of their work,” Pallone explained. “A group of local Equity actors formed the Upstate Equity Actors Alliance (UEAA) a few years ago to explore our options as working professionals. We became an official liaison to the New York City headquarters, which allows us to use the MPC to showcase our work in productions like this. This wasn’t possible before UEAA.”

The MPC gives professional actors the option to agree to work for less money than a standard Equity contract would dictate — or even for no money at all. But “NorthEast Theatre Ensemble is committed to paying our artists,” Kimlicko said. “I don’t buy into this BS that artists should work just for the joy of being on the stage. Too many people work very, very hard for nothing. We value our artists and their time. I am proud to say that, in every show, I have been able to compensate our people at least something.”

“This is a wonderful show and a wonderful creative group working in a unique space,” added Pallone. “I am honored to be part of The Little Foxes.”

NorthEast Theatre Ensemble presents The Little Foxes by Lillian Hellman, directed by Dr. Krysta A. Dennis, at the Ten Broeck Mansion November 17-25, 2017. Assistant Director Suzanna Bornn; costume design by Shae Fitzgerald. Cast: Marquis Heath as Cal; Karen Christina Jones as Addie; Parker Cross as Oscar Hubbard; Steven O’Connor as Ben Hubbard; Patrick Quinn as Mr. Marshall, Amy L. Kerr as Regina Giddens; Molly Waters as Alexandra Giddens; Nick Muscatiello as Leo Hubbard; Janet Hurley Kimlicko as Birdie; and Tony Pallone as Horace Giddens.

Performances Fridays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 2:00 & 7:30 pm, and Sundays at 3 pm at the Ten Broeck Mansion, 9 Ten Broeck Place in Albany, NY. Performance runs approximately 2.5 hours, with one intermission. Tickets $20, Students/Seniors $12. Seating is limited; patrons without tickets or reservations are not guaranteed seating. For further information, call 518-526-9170, e-mail northeasttheatreensemble@gmail.com or visit http://sbornn.wixsite.com/nete.

Ticket link: https://www.artful.ly/store/events/13799

Dysfunction at Its Finest: NorthEast Theatre Ensemble Brings “The Little Foxes” to the Ten Broeck Mansion Need to escape from your feuding family after Thanksgiving? Head over to the Ten Broeck Mansion and spend a few hours with the backstabbing, grasping and ambitious Hubbard family in Lillian Hellman’s…

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Siena College Summer Camp Seeking Teaching Guest Artist

Siena College Summer Camp Teaching Guest Artist

Job Description:

The Siena College Creative Arts Department is seeking a Teaching Guest Artist for the theatre summer camp to be held between July 20th and 31st. The applicant must be comfortable teaching and working with middle and high school students.

Responsibilities:

– Working with camp director and other staff members to plan and coordinate…

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LOUDONVILLE, NY (February 11, 2019)-Siena Creative Arts and Stage III are proud to present the Multi-Award winning, Peter Pan prequel “Peter & The Starcatcher” adapted by Rick Elice from the beloved children’s book by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson for seven performances 3/14-3/23 in Foy Hall. The production will be directed by Patrick White and feature 11 Siena students. Tickets are $15 General Admission, $12 Alumni, Faculty, Seniors, Staff, Veterans and $5 for Students and are available through Siena’s website www.siena.edu/creativeartstickets   There will be an Open Preview to the Capital Region theater community 3/13 at 8pm.

Peter & The Starcatcher is the critically acclaimed, multi-award winning adaptation of Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson’s 2004 Young Adult imagining of the origins of Peter Pan. The play follows the book’s fanciful creations and looks to answer the burning questions: How did Peter Pan get his name? How did he meet Captain Hook and why are they enemies? Who are Tinkerbell, Wendy and the Lost Boys, and where did they come from? And most importantly, how did he come to fly and why does he never want to grow up? The play uses the techniques of Story Theatre to deliver this picaresque tale of derring-do creating capsizing galleons, below decks intrigue, romance and mutiny and finally an exotic island populated by a fearsome tribe schooled in Italian cooking, a ferocious crocodile and perhaps a chorus line of mermaids. Telling this story with only household implements and tools emphasizes the line highlighted in the play “To have faith is to have wings” by asking the audience to suspend their disbelief and make the leap with their imaginations.

Peter & The Starcatcher has been delighting audiences since its much heralded and awarded 2012 Broadway run. Acclaimed directors Alex Timbers (Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson, Rocky) and the late, great Roger Rees (The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby) workshopped the Original production at Williamstown Theatre Festival where Rees was Artistic Director and San Diego’s La Jolla Playhouse and brought in Tony- winning playwright Rick Elice (Jersey Boys, The Cher Show) before opening the play to an extended sold-out run off-Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop 2/18/2011-4/24/2011. The play eventually transferred to Broadway’s Brooks Atkinson Theatre the next season and ran for over 300 performances, running from 3/28/2012-1/20/2013. The play is the winner of three Lucille Lortel Awards, the Broadway.com Audience Choice Award for Favorite Play, Drama Desk Award for Music in a Play, Obie Award for Best Direction and winner of 5 Tony Awards (including Best Actor for Christian Borle as Black Stache) of the 9 nominated. Ben Brantley of The New York Times raved “With grown-up theatrical savvy and a child’s wonder at what it can achieve, Peter and The Starcatcher floats right through the ceiling of the physical limits imposed by a three-dimensional stage. While there’s not a body harness in sight, like those used to hoist the title characters of Mary Poppins and Spider-Man this show never stops flying.”

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Siena College is opening its doors and reaching out to the community in a major way with this production. Under the leadership of Dr. Krysta Dennis, Siena has hosted numerous local theater groups such as Acting Class with Patrick White, Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate New York, Consortium Actors, NorthEast Theatre Ensemble, Troy Foundry Theatre, and Will Kempe’s Players. The college has made many theatrical items available for use such as set pieces, furniture, lighting & sound equipment, props and handcrafted costume pieces. To celebrate the collaborative, inclusive and supportive nature of Capital Region theater and Siena College’s place in it, the production of Peter and The Starcatcher has several events planned:

A special invitation to past members of Siena Creative Arts productions, especially the dozens still powerfully active in the Capital Region theater scene.

A free open Preview performance 3/13 at 8pm open to all members of the Capital Region theater community.

A Production Team Talkback open to the public on March 13thfrom 12.30-1.30 in the Beaudoin Theatre with director Patrick White, costume designer Karin Mason, set designer Denise Massman, and lighting designer Mike Palumbo

In addition to the events planned the production features many active members of the Capital Region theater community. Dr. Krysta Dennis has directed numerous shows in the community and will be at the helm of NorthEast Theatre Ensemble’s An Ideal Husband 4/11-4/28 at Ten Broeck Mansion. Patrick White is a veteran of over 20 years of Capital Region theater, most recently Gloria at Albany Civic Theatre named one of the years best by The Daily Gazette. Movement Coordinator Stephanie Weber-Remmert is an active member of Creative Action Playback Theatre and performs in their monthly Friday night show. Maria Riccio-Bryce is a veteran of dozens of area productions and created the original musical Hearts of Fire.

Featured in the cast are Max Adelman as Lord Aster, Liam Antonopolous as Smee, Alyssa Bergman as Ted, Claudia Cellucci as Alf, Nora Collins as Molly, Will Curley as Black Stache, Dominic DiCaprio as Peter, Fiona Hoye as Mrs. Bumbrake, Connor Rock as Slank, John Ruquet as Prentiss & Sarah Wilson as Grempkin.

Behind the scenes Dr. Krysta Dennis is the Producer, Patrick White is Director, Maria Riccio-Bryce is Musical Director, Stephanie Weber-Remmert is Movement Coordinator, Obadiah Savage is Technical Director, Denise Massman is Set Designer, Michael Palumbo is Lighting Designer, Karin Mason is Costume Designer, Heather Frederick is Stage Manager, Hunter Frederick is Assistant Director and Michael Lounello is the Theater Technology Manager.

ABOUT SIENA CREATIVE ARTS: The Siena Creative Arts Department seeks to engage students with works of the creative imagination, and develop within them an aesthetic appreciation of the arts. Creative Arts programs in Theatre, Music, and Visual Arts encourage the unlocking and development of students’ own creative potential and skill.

ABOUT PATRICK WHITE: Patrick White is a Capital Region actor/director/teacher whose directing credits include: ACT-“The Pope & The Witch,” “Suddenly, Last Summer,” “Grand Concourse” (10 Best-The Daily Gazette), “Appropriate,” “Gloria” (10 Best-The Daily Gazette),  CCT-“Clever Little Lies,” “Living On Love,” “The Importance of Being Earnest,” GPH-“True West,” HMT-“The Foreigner,” NSCP-“The Glass Menagerie” (TANYS Award), SCP-Rapture, Blister, Burn” (10 Best-The Daily Gazette), “An Inspector Calls” with a cast of all actors of color. SLCA-“John Ball’s In The Heat Of The Night” (10 Best-Berkshire On Stage, TANYS Award), “MEN ON BOATS” (10 Best-Berkshire On Stage). He writes a column on theater for The Collaborative, teaches a Saturday morning acting class for all levels and attends plays religiously, over 250 last year. info@actingclasswithpatrickwhite.com

ABOUT DR. KRYSTA DENNIS: Krysta is producer of Creative Arts at Siena, and works as a theatre-maker and director in the US and internationally. Krysta holds a dual PhD from the University of Kent in the UK and the Sorbonne in Paris, and trained as a performer at L’Ecole Jacques Lecoq. She is the author of three plays, Votes for Women, The Burden of the Ballot, and Dutch, which have been produced at Siena College, Arts Letters & Numbers, the New York State Attorney General’s Office, the Arkell Museum, Historic Cherry Hill, Ten Broeck Mansion, and the New York State Museum. She has received several Humanities NY Grants for her work. Krysta enjoys experimenting with theatre technology including video mapping, augmented reality and virtual reality. In summer of 2018, Krysta headed up a group of student playwrights working with the Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity and the Underground Railroad History Project on an original play entitled Yours for the Oppressed, which will be produced in the spring at the Harriet and Stephen Myers Residence. Recent directing credits include: Marjorie Prime (Theatre Voices), Aleda (chamber opera premiere, Musicians of Ma’alwyck), Arcadia (Siena College), The Little Foxes (Ten Broeck Mansion and Northeast Theatre Ensemble), Blithe Spirit (Theatre Voices), Design for Living (Village of Colonie Summer Theatre in the Park and Siena College), and Through the Grapevine, A Performed Wine Tasting (Lumley Theatre and Canterbury Festival).  Krysta also works with AT&T and the Siena College Research Institute training Siena students in forum theatre techniques to be used in middle and high schools as part of an anti-cyberbullying initiative. She has published with Contemporary Theatre Review, Interdisciplinary Network, Routledge, and the Pirandello Society of America. www.krystadennis.com

Siena Creative Arts and Stage III Present “Peter and The Starcatcher” LOUDONVILLE, NY (February 11, 2019)-Siena Creative Arts and Stage III are proud to present the Multi-Award winning, Peter Pan prequel "Peter & The Starcatcher" adapted by Rick Elice from the beloved children's book by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson for seven performances 3/14-3/23 in Foy Hall.

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Theater Voices Present Staged Reading of "Marjorie Prime"

Theater Voices Present Staged Reading of “Marjorie Prime”

Theater Voices will present a staged reading of Marjorie Prime by Jordan Harrison, directed by Krysta Dennis, on Friday, Oct. 12 at 8pm; Saturday, Oct. 13 at 3pm and 8pm; and Sunday, Oct. 14 at 3pm at Steamer No. 10 Theatre, 500 Western Avenue, Albany.  House opens one half-hour before performance. Admission is free.

With help from an intriguingly innovative technology in a future not far from…

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Urgently Seeking African-American Woman for "Votes for Women"

Urgently Seeking African-American Woman for “Votes for Women”

Urgent Casting for October 12, 13, 14 performances of Votes for Women at Arts Letters & Numbers for an African-American woman, any age, singing ability preferred. Votes is an immersive piece celebrating the centennial of women’s right to vote in New York. The show consists of 6 separate scenes of about 5-10 minutes each, each showing a different aspect of the women’s suffrage movement. One of…

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Auditions for Chamber Opera at Siena College

Auditions for Chamber Opera at Siena College

Aleda or The Flight of the Suff Birdwomen A one-act chamber opera in three scenes Music and libretto by Max Caplan; commissioned and produced by Musicians of Ma’alwyck, Ann-Marie Barker Schwartz, Director Auditions will be held in 107 Foy Hall at Siena College on September 11th and 18th from 7 PM to 9 PM. Music Direction by Dr. Timothy Reno and Stage Direction by Dr. Krysta Dennis. Audition…