DC University Theatre Collective: NextUS - Part Two

After months and months of meetings and rehearsals dedicated to planning, revising, and investigating issues of race, class, gender and geography, the faculty and students of DC University Theatre Collective will be teching their performance. I'm really quite proud of them and excited for all that they've learned and experience. If you're able to attend, you're in for a beautiful and transformative experience. 

On Thursday, February 28th, for the first time, theatre faculty and students from the University of the District of Columbia, American University, Howard University, Catholic University, George Washington University and Georgetown University unite to create new theatre. Share what these diverse students and their faculty mentors have discovered while working to build community and make theatre across perceived boundaries of race, class, gender and geography. What awaits this next generation as they step up to the plate? Experience a dynamic theatrical window into the future.

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What: DC University Theatre Collective: NextUS at the Atlas Intersections Festival
When: Thursday February 28, 2013 @ 7:00PM
Cost: $5 General/Student/Senior. Click here to purchase tickets.
Where: Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002.

Now, let's here from UDC students, Bakri Mohamed-Nur and Margaret Smith.

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JACQUELINE LAWTON: On Thursday, Feb 28 at 7:00pm, you will be performing in the DC University Theatre Collective’s NextUS at the Intersections Festival. What excited you about taking part in this performance?
BAKRI MOHAMED-NUR: As a graduating senior, I am about to embark on the next step of my life, which is becoming an artist of my community. Being a member of the festival is somewhat of a coming out party. It is a great honor to be a part of the Intersections Festival. I have attended performances that have been a part of the festival for the past two years. Taking part in is truly a dream come true.

JL: Can you talk a bit about the rehearsal process? What was it like to work with professors and students at other universities?
BMN: Coming from The University of the District of Columbia, I was unsure of what to expect of the other students and professors. I had a fear that I would get lost or not be able to keep up. All of those apprehensions quickly went out of the window. At the end of the day students are students and artists are artists no matter what school their attending. With that being said, we are all very different and those differences were used to build a devised theater piece. To be honest, I think we really got to cooking when the professors realized that there were too many cooks in the kitchen and we were capable to work without coddling. They reluctantly took a step back and we accomplished so much.

JL: Can you tell us about your role?
BMN: I don’t want to give away too much, so I’ll talk about my role in the process of creating the piece.  As a student, I attended monthly rehearsals, created scene work, wrote monologues and assisted in developing an outline for the show.

JL: What did you learn from this experience? Do you feel that it’s helped you in any way?
BMN: The biggest lesson I have learned is that I am way more capable and prepared as an artist than I thought I would be. I hear the names of the big illustrious universities that are also participating in the collective with me and no longer feel subpar, inadequate or under-educated. The education and training I have received at UDC is just as good, if not better! This whole experience has helped me understand that a name is just that, a name. “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

JL: Why should audiences come see DC University Theatre Collective NextUS? What do you think they will learn from this performance?
BMN: The main reason people should come see this show is because I’m in it along side a great cast of student theatre artists. This is the first production of its kind and hopefully will not be the last. The show gives great insight on our generation, how we are perceived and who we want to be. It will be a great show.

BAKRI MOHAMED-NUR

Bakri Mohamed-Nur is a senior theater arts major at the University of the District of Columbia. A native Washingtonian, Bakri is proud alumni of City at Peace Washington DC. Here he gained a profound respect and love for art for social change. Bakri is a leader to his peers and an inspiration to those younger than him who aspire to become artist and walk in his footsteps. With a great passion for acting, Bakri hopes to one day be an accomplished actor and open his own school of performing arts. He has portrayed such roles as; Walter Lee: A raisin In The Sun, DJ: Medal Of Honor Rag, Miss Roj: Colored Museum, the Wiz: The Wiz but also has a flair for backstage work such as stage craft, prop mastering, stage management and lighting. This will be Bakri’s debut in the Intersections Festival. He sees this as the next step in his quest towards artistic excellence.  

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JACQUELINE LAWTON: On Thursday, Feb 28 at 7:00pm, you will be performing in the DC University Theatre Collective’s NextUS at the Intersections Festival. What excited you about taking part in this performance?
MARGARET SMITH: What excited me about taking part in this performance was that I got the opportunity to work alongside smart, talented and determined students in the DC area. Also, I was excited to produce an original piece with some of the best theatre arts professors from various universities in the District.

JL: Can you talk a bit about the rehearsal process? What was it like to work with professors and students at other universities?
MS: The rehearsal process was exciting! When we first began this project, I could tell that the students and professors were eager to make create something new and original. We knew this opportunity was special and wanted something amazing to happen. Together, we participated in a number of theatre exercises and tried different strategies to generate materials for use in the final presentation. Interestingly, midway in our meets, our rehearsal seemed to steer away from the original goal to create a devised theatre piece. When this happened, I could see that the professors were working through different strategies. Ultimately, we all got on the same page and back on track. Not only that, but the professors entrusted and empowered the students to create our own work.

JL: Can you tell us about your role?
MS: My role in creating this devised theatre piece was to contribute my creativity and  share my perspective on certain experiences. My character’s role will show the stereotype of a student at UDC and the performance will reveal the true elements of a student at UDC with depth and honesty. It's really powerful.

JL: What did you learn from this experience? Do you feel that it’s helped you in any way?
MS: What I learned from this experience is that UDC offers a wonderful education from top of the line professors, such as Lennie Smith, who not only educate students about the fundamentals of theatre, but also creates and nurtures artists by preparing students to go out into the world and excel in the world of theatre.  I feel like this experience has helped me in the way that it made me more aware of how important it is to work together and listening to others, while showing them respect.

JL: Why should audiences come see DC University Theatre Collective NextUS? What do you think they will learn from this performance?
MS: I think audiences should come see the DC University Theatre Collective NextUs, because it’s a fabulous piece with a message to others defining our generation. Through this performance, we are able to tell you who we are, where we stand and where we are going. It’s a chance to see students and professors from universities in the DC come together for the first time. Through theatre, we are breaking cultural and class barriers. I believe that the audience will learn the true mean of “NEXTUS”.

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MARGARET SMITH

Margaret Smith was born in Washington D.C.  She is currently a rising senior at The University of the District of Columbia majoring in Theatre with a passion for creative writing and dance. She is one of the Highest Honors students achieving numerous academic awards; while being a continuing Dean List achiever and she is a chosen applicant of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship fund amongst the best of the best students from HBCU’s all over the United States. She has taken on many roles in the plays “The Wiz”, “Annie”, “Romeo and Juliet”, “A Mood for Ms. Eunice”, and the “Colored Museum” also teaming up with Juilliard providing the highest caliber of artistic education and learning for gifted young children in drama, music, and dance. She also was a featured performer in the latest Chuck Brown video. Margaret has a deep passion for live performance, whether it’s acting or dancing, she loves the art. Besides the different performing art genres, she loves to spend her time reading novels, hanging with friends and family, and learning something new.  She has big dreams of becoming an accomplished writer, somehow uniting with the entertainment business.  She conquers everything she sets out to do, making the word “cant” non-existent in her vocabulary, while believing that the only thing that can stop a person from achieving their dreams is themselves. Dream big and watch her dreams become your reality.

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The only public university in the nation’s capital and the only urban land-grant university in the United States, The University of the District of Columbia is committed to a broad mission of education, research and community service.  Established by abolitionist Myrtilla Miner in 1851, the University of DC offers Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees and a host of workplace development services designed to create opportunities for student success.  The University is comprised of a Community College, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, School of Business and Public Administration, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences, and the David A. Clarke School of Law. To learn more, follow this link: www.udc.edu

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Imagine: Art that encourages compassionate listening and provocative questioning. The best professional, emerging, community and student artists from DC and beyond. Theaters filled with diverse, dynamic audiences.  Conversations over a glass of wine in the café with a someone new who has just had the same experience as you. Chances to perform, discuss, party!   All this and more awaits you at the INTERSECTIONS Festival at the Atlas from February 22 - March 10, 2013.
 
Now in its fourth year, this unique all-arts festival brings together more than 100 performing groups over twelve days to offer music, theatre, dance, film and spoken word that captures a kaleidoscope of perspectives on our ever-evolving community and world.  All five of our performances spaces will be alive with world premieres and innovative collaborations among artists of all ages, races, cultures and art forms.  
 
From Family Saturdays featuring performances and events for children to late-night parties and jazz jam sessions, INTERSECTIONS seeks to connect the broadest possible audience with the most exciting new ways of making community-inspiring art.  We invite you to join us -- to be delighted, energized and maybe just a little transformed.
 
--Mary Hall Surface, Festival Artistic Director

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