Nomadic Theatre

nomadictheatre
Formation	1982
Type	Collegiate theatre troupe
Legal status	Active
Purpose/focus	Student-run alternative
Location	Georgetown University
Region served	Washington, D.C.
Executive Producer	Amelia Powell
Website	Nomadic Theatre

Nomadic Theatre (formally written as nomadictheatre) is one of the Co-Curricular, student-led theatre groups at Georgetown University. It has dedicated itself to producing new works that have an aspect of social awareness.

History

Birth of Nomadic Theatre

Nomadic was created in 1982 by a group of members from the Mask & Bauble Dramatic Society (M&B) who were tired of the Shakespeare and traditional theatre that M&B was known for. They were "angry theatre kids who wanted to perform something new."^[1] Their first show, Harvey, was about a man who befriends an imaginary giant rabbit.

Origin of Name

They are called nomadictheatre because they have no permanent theatre to work in, unlike M&B which has a home in Poulton Hall's Black Box Theater.

The 90's

In the Mid-90's, Nomadic forayed into Dinner theater^[1] as a way to add a third show to their season. In 1999, plans were drawn up for the creation of a new building on campus dedicated solely to the performing arts. The proposed "Ryan Arts Center" would also "justify the eviction of many performing arts groups from other facilities on campus, clearing up space for new projects."^[2] Questions were raised on whether or not fledgling groups like Nomadic would be able to survive the transition.^[2]

The Rise of the Department of Performing Arts

In 2005 the proposed arts building became a reality in the form of the Davis Performing Arts Center, named after Royden B. Davis, S.J., otherwise known as DPAC. Nomadic and other theatre groups on campus were able to use the advanced scene shop and costume shop for working on their shows but many were dismayed by the restrictictions they encountered in trying to access other parts of the building. Professor Maya Roth, director of the theatre program and artistic director of the performing arts program, stated "[DPAC is] an academic building, so it’s to support the growth of the academic programs."^[3] The building's theatre spaces were to be reserved mainly for faculty directed shows, which many in the theatre community found very disappointing. However, with Dr. Korczak and The Children, directed by Nomadic's Artistic Advisor Karen Berman, Nomadic became the first student group to gain access by putting on the first show ever to be held in the Devine Black Box Theatre.^[3] In 2007, Nomadic became the first group to have a full-scale, student-run show in the Devine when undergraduate Jojo Ruf directed Translations. Since then Nomadic has regularly performed in DPAC, most recently in the Spring of 2010 when they performed The Pain and the Itch by Bruce Norris.

The Nomadic Charter

Mission

As stated in the Nomadic Theatre Charter, "Nomadic Theatre is a student-run theatre group oriented towards providing a recreational community theatre environment for the undergraduate students of Georgetown University. We provide the opportunity for students to get involved in theatre, both on and off stage, in a creative, fun and educational setting. Our goal is to use the theatre process to allow students to learn about the many aspects of theatre through doing theatre."^[4]

Board Positions

Officers of Nomadic Theatre are responsible for enforcing the rules set forth in the charter. Officers must attend all strikes, move-ins, and Nomadic events. They are ultimately responsible for the success of each show and for the overall health of those involved.

• Executive Producer (EP)

The Executive Producer is responsible for developing long-range plans for the club, planning board meeting agendas, and coordinating club activities. The EP functions as a contact with Program in Performing Arts, the Department of Performing Arts, the Theatre Program Board, and the Georgetown Theatre Alumni.

• Associate Producer (AP)

The Associate Producer must be able to step in for the Executive Producer if necessary. In addition, the AP is in charge of maintaining the membership list, the alumni list, and the organizational archives and history of the club.

• Technical Director (TD)

The Technical Director is in charge of keeping inventory of and maintaining the equipment the club, serving as a technical consultant to all shows, and acting as the TD for shows in the event that another show TD isn't hired.

• Business Manager (BM)

The Business Manager develops the budget with the EP and AP and ensures that the club stays within its limits. The BM also manages the box office for each show and arranges ticket sales.

• Publicity Director (PD)

The Publicity Director is in charge of the publicity for the club and assists in the publicity of each show. the PD also prepares the show programs, arranges for ushers, solicits ads for the program, keeps a list of advertisers and solicits alumni support.

• Faculty Advisors

Nomadic Theatre is advised by a Technical Advisor and Artistic Advisor who act as liaisons with Georgetown University's administration. They oversee club operations and meetings but do not have a vote in Board decisions.

Membership Requirements

Any Undergraduate or graduate student of Georgetown University is considered a member of Nomadic if they have fulfilled a position on a production staff of a Nomadic show either in a technical or performance capacity, or if they work for at least 4 hours on a Nomadic Theatre Production. Active members have one vote in all general membership meetings and are eligible to run for a position on the Nomadic Theatre board. Membership must be renewed annually.

Honorary Memberships can be given by the Nomadic Board to anyone who has helped the organization in a special way. Honorary Members cannot vote in general meetings but can attend all Nomadic productions for free.

Season

Mainstages

Nomadic Theatre produces three main-stage shows a year, usually performed in either the Walsh Black Box at the corner of 37th and Prospect Street or the Devine Theatre (a black box performance space) in the Davis Performing Arts Center in the center of Georgetown's campus. Mainstages are directed, produced, acted, designed largely by students. Often students in large roles such as Director, Producer, or Designer, generally have an assistant who they train to be able to perform that role on a future show.

Square Pegs

Square Pegs are opportunities for students to get involved in theatre without a large time commitment. They have a much shorter rehearsal process and have minimal technical elements. Often they are performed in the open air amphitheatre in Red Square or in Bulldog Alley in the Leavey Center.

Other Initiatives

In the Spring of 2010 members of Nomadic Theatre were instrumental in the organization of Hate-Free Georgetown, a weeklong celebration to "promote unity and respect on campus.".^[5] The week was in response to a number of bias related incidents that occurred at Georgetown throughout the Fall and Spring. Nomadic board members believed that "The biggest way to stop violence is if you know the people around you...And that’s only going to happen if we get these groups together. Otherwise we’re going to have pockets of people who aren’t intermingling.”^[6]

Past Collaborations and Community Outreach

• Mask & Bauble Dramatic Society

Nomadic Theatre has twice collaborated with M&B, meaning that the two boards come together to agree on a director, producer, and play. The last Nomadic-M&B Collaboration was the Spring 2010 production of The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard.^[1]

• Georgetown Department of Performing Arts

In March 2006, Nomadic Theatre teamed up with the Department of Performing Arts at Georgetown to produce Dr. Korczak and the Children. It was the first production staged in the Devine Theatre of the Davis Performing Arts Center, making Nomadic the first student group to perform in DPAC.^[7] It was directed by Karen Berman, a member of the Faculty and Artistic Advisor to Nomadic, and was chosen in response to the vandalism of a menorah in Red Square the previous year.^[7] The production received assistance from many other groups on campus, including STAND, UNICEF Georgetown, the Polish Club, the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies, the Program for Jewish Civilization, the BMW Center for German and European Studies and Campus Ministry with the Jewish Studies and Culture program.^[8]

• GU Pride

In February 2009, Nomadic produced a Square Pegs in collaboration with GU Pride called Still Me. Still Me was compiled from interviews and stories from Georgetown students celebrating the ups and downs of coming out and self-discovery.

Current Season

Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde by Moisés Kaufman

Directed by Danny Rivera (COL ’11) Produced by Catherine Meyendorff (SFS '11)

The House of Yes by Wendy MacLeod

Directed by Lucy Obus (COL ’11) Produced by Tenaya Campbell (COL ’13)

References to Salvador Dalí Make Me Hot by José Rivera

Directed by Amelia Powell (COL ’12) Produced by Katie Chew (COL ’12)

Past Seasons

2009-2010

• Getting Out by Marsha Norman
• The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard
• The Pain and the Itch by Bruce Norris

2008-2009

• The Clean House by Sarah Ruhl
• The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh
• Address Unknown (devised by Georgetown students)

2007-2008

• The Exonerated by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen
• House of Blue Leaves by John Guare
• Salt Water Moon by David French

2006-2007

• Zoo Story by Edward Albee
• Translations by Brian Friel

2005-2006

• Machinal by Sophie Treadwell
• The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek by Naomi Wallace
• Dr. Korczak & the Children by Erwin Sylvanus

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Austin, Claire. "Student Theatre Brings Service to the Stage". The Guide. http://guide.thehoya.com/?q=node/100. Retrieved 18 October 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Crewe, Kathryn. "When Moving the Arts, Handle With Care". The Hoya. http://thehoya.com/opinion/when-moving-the-arts-handle-with-care/. Retrieved 18 October 2010. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Cooke, Meredith. "Davis Access Limited for Some Student Actors". The Hoya. http://thehoya.com/news/davis-access-limited-for-some-student-actors/. Retrieved 18 October 2010. 
4. ^ "Nomadic Charter". http://studentorgs.georgetown.edu/nomadic/?Action=Documents. 
5. ^ Barber, Kevin. "A Year of Pain and Progress for LGBTQ Georgetown". The Hoya. http://thehoya.com/news/year-pain-and-progress-lgbtq-georgetown102/. Retrieved 16 October 2010. 
6. ^ Tate, Imani Siyyan. "Students plan "Hate Free Georgetown," a week devoted to nonviolence". Vox Populi. http://blog.georgetownvoice.com/2010/01/26/students-plan-hate-free-georgetown-a-week-devoted-to-nonviolence/. Retrieved 16 October 2010. 
7. ^ ^{a b} Curran, Allison. "Guide Coverage of Play Unsatisfactory". The Hoya. http://thehoya.com/opinion/guide-coverage-of-play-unsatisfactory/. Retrieved 16 October 2010. 
8. ^ Berman, Karen. "'Korczak' Review Insightful, Informative". The Hoya. http://thehoya.com/opinion/korczak-review-insightful-informative/. Retrieved 16 October 2010.