Blogs
This blog post is by Emily Schweich, a sophomore Broadcast Journalism major.
Seven choreographers – showcasing many styles of dance -- will present their work this Saturday at the 31st Annual Choreographers’ Showcase in collaboration with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. The showcase features solos, duets and small ensembles.
This year, five of the seven choreographers selected are current students or alums from the University of Maryland School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies (TDPS). I spoke with one choreographer, third-year MFA Dance student Stephanie Miracle, about the inspiration for her work and how the showcase is important to her.
David Rousseve/REALITY wlil be presenting the world premiere performances of Stardust here on January 31 and February 1. Choreographed, written and directed by David Rousseve, Stardust follows a gay African American teen as he navigates a difficult adolescence. Never seen onstage, he is present only by the unanswered, emotion-laden text messages he sends to a random number.
Stardust's sound score juxtaposes the intimate romanticism of Nat King Cole standards with the rough-edged, hip-hop inflected original music of d. Sabela Grimes. Because they have such great taste in music, we've asked David, REALITY and their collaborators to put together a playlist of their current musical obsessions. (You're welcome!)
This fall the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center was filled with music, dance, theatre and important ideas in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.
Read selected highlights of the semester's press coverage from newspapers like The Washington Post, public radio stations such as WAMU-FM and student news outlets like The Diamondback. See what the critics said about the fall’s performances from the UMD School of Music, the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies and the Clarice Smith Center Visiting Artist Program – and let us know if you agree with them!
This blog post is by Emily Schweich, a sophomore Broadcast Journalism major.
As a member of the UMD Concert Choir, I had the wonderful opportunity to celebrate Benjamin Britten’s centennial with a performance of his War Requiem with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Peabody Children’s Chorus. Two and a half months of long rehearsals culminated in two performances at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and one at the Music Center at Strathmore. I knew that this would be the apex of my musical career so far, but I had no idea how valuable this experience would be.
Performing the War Requiem the week of Veterans Day made me realize the work’s universality; Britten’s message of peace is especially resonant today.
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Five emerging choreographers from the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies have been selected to participate in the 31st Annual Choreographers’ Showcase, which is presented by the Clarice Smith Center Visiting Artist Program and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. The performance will be held in the Dance Theatre of the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at 3PM and 8PM.
Due to inclement weather, the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center is closed on Tuesday, December 10.
All events in the building today are cancelled, including rehearsals and recitals. The ticket office and the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library are also closed.
Stay safe today!
Due to inclement weather, our ticket office will close at 7PM on Sunday, December 8, 2013.
We apologize for any inconvenience. Tickets may still be purchased online through this website.
Update: Maintenance has been completed and our website's back up — hooray!
Due to maintenance, our website may be inaccessible this weekend between Saturday, December 7 at 10PM and Sunday, December 8 at 4AM.
If you have any questions or concerns while our website is down, please email tickets.claricesmith@umd.edu and we will address your concern when our ticket office opens on Sunday, December 8 at 11AM.
School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies (TDPS) faculty and alumni will take part this weekend in the African Continuum Theatre Company's benefit cabaret "J's Jook Joint," a modern-day twist on the historical "jook joint" experience. TDPS professor Scot Reese will direct the production, and TDPS alumna Thembi Duncan (BA Theatre ‘09) is the Artistic Director.
This post is by Lisa Driscoll, a Junior Vocal Performance and Broadcast Journalism double major. You can read more of her writing on her blog.
It seemed for a moment as if everyone was holding their breath. Several minutes of silence passed until a woman slowly walked out onto the stage with her cane tapping next to her and a big smile on her face. “We’ve come this evening to bring you joy, happiness and positive vibrations,” she said.
Staples’ musical journey started 63 years ago, launching her career with the family group The Staple Sisters. The music of the Staple Sisters and her solo music have shaped American culture and had particular impact during the Civil Rights Movement.