Directing II Devised Scenes: Spark! (Group B)
Publication Date
2025
Presentation Length
60 minutes
College
College of Music & Performing Arts
Department
Theatre and Dance, Department of
Student Level
Undergraduate
SPARK Category
Performance
Faculty Advisor
Traci Ledford (Directing) and Amber Whatley (Lighting)
SPARK Session
2:00 pm
Presentation Type
Performance
Summary
Using Anne Bogart and Tina Landau's criteria outlined in The Viewpoints Book, each student from Directing II creates an approximately fifteen-minute original stage composition in collaboration with student actors, focusing on the theme: Spark! These performances must utilize the nine physical Viewpoints of tempo, duration, repetition, kinesthetic response, spatial relationship, gesture (behavioral and expressive), shape, architecture, and topography to compose a story inspired by visual, aural, and literary inspirations. Additionally, these original works are supported by the students of the Luminous Motion lighting class, whose moving-light designs elevate this distinctive form of storytelling. It is the director’s job to unify and guide all collaborators as they develop a unique vision that clearly communicates the story they want to tell.
Rehearsals begin with a series of Viewpoint introductory exercises, where compositions are discovered through the exploration of both individual Viewpoints and open Viewpoints (an exercise which lets actors freely choose and create from any of the physical Viewpoints at a given time). After the story is set, the lighting designers are invited to develop their ideas for illuminating and elevating the work. Through several weeks of rehearsals, culminating in technical and dress rehearsals, performances are refined for public performance.
Directors in the 2:00 pm session include:
Claire Shipman: The Spark of Resistance
Clay Jackson: The Spark of Hope
Zoe Snell: The Spark of Bravery
Ellie Anderson: The Spark of Individuality
Lighting Designers in the 2:00 pm session include:
Em Mills
Amy Syverson
Sydney Tripp
Zoe Brandt
Caroline Morris
Recommended Citation
Shipman, Claire; Jackson, Clay; Snell, Zoe; and Anderson, Ellie, "Directing II Devised Scenes: Spark! (Group B)" (2025). SPARK Symposium Presentations. 223.
https://repository.belmont.edu/spark_presentations/223