Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Wilmington, N.C. - With a new director, new independent program, new building, new costume and scene designers, and a new summer theatre camp - it's looking to be an innovative year for the theatre program at University of North Carolina Wilmington.

In July 2005, the department announced a new director, Paul Castagno, and established its own identity, splitting from the Department of Art and Theatre to form the theatre program. As a professor of theatre with impressive vitae of accomplishments, Castagno brings a multitude of talents to the newly independent program. He came to UNCW from Ohio University, where he served as director of the School of Theater and head of the M.A. programs in theater. Prior to that, he was director of the New Playwrights Program at the University of Alabama and head of the M.F.A. Playwriting/Dramaturgy Program.

The newly independent program offers an innovative curriculum, unique location, increased enrollment, better regional and national visibility. This summer's move into a spectacular new state-of-the-art $32 million Cultural Arts Building will realize many of theatre's goals. This extraordinary facility will house two fully-equipped theatres, excellent shops, and first-rate studio spaces. To complement the high level of expertise offered by the existing theatre faculty, a top-rate scene and lighting designer and professionally qualified costume designer will soon join the crew.

The program has adopted the slogan "wave of the future," to illustrate the events swirling around it. A Scene Stealers Summer Theatre Camp will run June 19-23 and June 26-30. For rising 5th through 8th graders, this exciting new camp introduces on and off-stage performance enhancing skills. The camp sessions will include acting techniques, costume and mask creation, scenery construction, publicity and performance and are being led by professor Kindra Steenerson. A talented actress, accomplished playwright, and progressive director, Steenerson has worked with children throughout 26 year her career.

A February production of the family musical A Year With Frog and Toad was the most successful show in the theatre program's history. Said Castagno, "Frog and Toad drew in more spectators than all the theatre program productions of the past two seasons combined." It was presented in collaboration with the UNCW Department of Music. Lysistrata, an anti-war sex comedy, wrapped up the program's 2005-2006 season and was also the final production in the Kenan Hall SRO Theatre before the program moves to the new Cultural Arts Building.

More information is available at www.uncw.edu/thr or by calling 910.962.3195.

###