Professional actors speak to London theatre students

Gavin Creel poses with theatre students

Forrest McClendon, who is starring in “The Scottsboro Boys,” and Gavin Creel, who is one of the two leads in “The Book of Mormon,” came to talk with the London theatre students.  Both shared their background, discussed working on Broadway and West End, and gave some great advice on life and life in the theatre.

To see pictures and read more about the SMU theatre study abroad group’s semester in London, go to smumn-london.blogspot.com.

SMU London theatre students making news

Saint Mary’s theatre majors staged the romantic comedy “Almost, Maine,” written by John Cariani, Oct. 23-27 at Tara Theatre in London.

Qualified theatre majors at Saint Mary’s are studying theatre in London, England, this semester through the Stefannié Valéncia Kierlin Theatre in London Program. Under the guidance of Saint Mary’s faculty, the program will include a variety of classes in theatre, as well as courses focusing on broader enrichment. Students  have the unique opportunity to attend numerous performances at London’s West End, Off-West End, and Fringe theatres.

The show was directed by Dr. Gary Diomandes. Others involved included:

Stage manager, Jon Goblirsch; set design, Elyssa Mattson; lighting design, Matthew Schneider; costumes, Tasha Nelson; sound design, Charlotte Deranek; props, Julie Frederickson; cast, Alexander Akers, Alexander Green, Brian Pipal, Julie Frederickson, Lydia Monroe, Taylor Marshall-Miernicki, Ali Kriz and Katie Sapper.

Diomandes said the play has received great responses from audiences. They were also the subject of an article in Time and Leisure magazine (www.timeandleisure.co.uk/whats-on/previews/2054-play-almost-maine.html), and the show was also twittered about on the U.S. Embassy Twitter site as the cultural minister told embassy employees about the show.

Many parents and some staff joined the cast for their London performance.