BYU Arts and BRAVO! Archives - BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications

Broadway Star Kristin Chenoweth Emphasizes Individuality and Authenticity in Masterclass with MDT Students

Alyssa Anderson — Mon, 13 Dec 2021 16:33:25 +0000

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The Westerlies Mentor Students on Music Composition and Creativity

Capri Baker — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 17:25:12 +0000

The Westerlies shared their insights and strategy on improv and music composition, inspiring students to delve into their own creative process The Westerlies, a self-described “accidental brass quartet,” paid a visit to BYU on November 11, allowing students an opportunity to learn a bit more about the brass musicians up close. The foursome creates music that is a fusion of different music styles, mixing various genres such as classical, jazz and folk. Read the full article at arts.byu.edu

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Ira Glass Shares Lessons from Radio and Storytelling Career

admin — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 18:57:06 +0000

Ira Glass, radio personality and host of the award-winning podcast “This American Life,” addressed BYU on Saturday as part of the College of Fine Arts and Communications’ BRAVO! series. His presentation of “7 Things I’ve Learned” expounded upon key lessons of his career and an analysis of the craft of storytelling. Glass began with an hour-long masterclass for select students prior to his main presentation. Delving into his narrative theory, Glass expressed his intrigue in telling the stories of everyday people. In telling these stories, he emphasized that once you have a plot and an idea, you have a story that people will be interested in. A story, Glass explained, is really about motion: that forward movement propels the story forward and captivates an audience. Glass also encouraged writers to interview children. “We’ve always done a ton of interviewing kids on the show because I love it”, Glass said. “They are constantly getting into situations where they feel the stakes are very high because it’s the first time they are doing things, and they’re right.” To read the full story by Marissa Lundeen, click here.

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From NYC to Provo – The 5 Browns Share Music and Insights for Piano Performers

Capri Baker — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 17:55:47 +0000

BYU’s piano students had the privilege of playing for The 5 Browns and hear their personalized advice People Magazine dubbed Utah’s own The 5 Browns the “Fab Five,” but they don’t just play beautifully. They also give back, like the recent masterclass they hosted with BYU School of Music. Named the “Fab Five” by People magazine, The 5 Browns piano group came and shared a bit of their expertise with BYU’s piano students. Originally from Alpine, Utah, The 5 Browns are the first set of 5 siblings to have been accepted simultaneously into New York’s Juilliard School. The piano professionals have been recognized on Oprah, PBS, The Tonight Show, Good Morning America and numerous other media sources. Their unique approach to piano has gained them a great deal of recognition, making their advice quite valuable to BYU’s piano players. Students Jacob Warnick and Tanner Jorden both had the opportunity to play and receive suggestions. Warnick was a bit anxious to play for The 5 Browns. “Typically when you’re playing for somebody you don’t have to worry about particulars,” he said, continuing, “It’s a little bit more nerve-racking, because [professionals] hear everything. It’s really important to pay more attention to the details.” Despite initial nerves, Warnick said the feedback was helpful. He received personal critiques from Melody, as she walked him through specific areas of the song that could use improvement. She noted that he seemed to become more comfortable the longer he was onstage. Melody focused on the tempo, differentiation in texture and varying dynamics. She applauded Warnick on his technique. She suggested that an element of surprise be added to the song, especially in key changes, making sure not to “show [the audience] everything at once.” Warnick said he benefited from Melody’s advice. “It’s not very common that you get to play for someone with so much talent and to get such great feedback,” he said Jorden shared his experience performing for Gregory. When Jorden first discovered he would be given a chance to play for The 5 Browns, he said he felt “super excited, because [he had] listened to their music a lot.” Prior to performing, he made sure to mentally prepare as he looked forward to playing and taking in the expert guidance that was soon to come. Gregory emphasized the importance of storytelling through music and creating imagery. He expounded on the history of the piece that Jorden played, encouraging him to better understand the song and what it was trying to say. “When you get the balance just right, the emotional effect on you and the listener is so much more impactful,” Gregory said. Jorden appreciated the advice and the way in which Gregory approached the piece. “I’ll be a little bit more thoughtful about where I’m taking time; why I’m taking time,” Jordan said. “I’ll be more thoughtful about where I put the climaxes, looking more into what the composer meant by his dynamics instead of looking right at the dynamics.” Both students walked away from the special experience looking forward to improving their piano-playing skills. ______________________________________________________________________________ To discover more about The 5 Browns, visit https://www.the5browns.com/.

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Broadway Baritone Brian Stokes Mitchell Shares Invaluable Advice to BYU Theatre Hopefuls

Capri Baker — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 16:31:57 +0000

Performing arts guru Brian Stokes Mitchell shares his view from the stage and how his many roles have shaped his own role in life During his visit at BYU, Brian Stokes Mitchell led a masterclass for students in between his evening shows. The Tony Award winner has been recognized for talents in the performing arts ranging from singing to acting to dancing. Stokes’ theatrical endeavours include involvement in productions such as Kiss Me, Kate, Sweeny Todd, The Prince of Egypt and Glee. His impressive resume has led him to a great deal of personal success. The American baritone “started singing before [he] remember[s] talking. “I was fascinated by the keyboard, because it had these patterns and notes, but also, I realized putting notes together in a certain way made me feel,” he said during the masterclass. While his passion for music began at an early age, Stokes has continued his career in the performing arts throughout his life. He taught students that it is not enough to simply have one end goal in mind, but rather work to constantly develop themselves. “What I do best is I’m a really good student,” Stokes said. He explained that he loves to read and study in order to expand his mind and theatrical abilities. Doing so has granted him unceasing growth throughout his life. Stokes suggested various tips to help flourish personal and professional potential. For him, a main aspect of this lies within “the spaces.” “Great art is in the spaces. It’s not in the brushstrokes that you see. It’s in the brushstrokes that aren’t there, in the negative spaces. It’s not in the lines that are said, it’s in the pauses.” He continued, “Anybody can play the notes; it takes an artist to play the spaces.” He expounded on this idea of spaces in relation to acting. When performing in a play, Stokes would alter his performance each show, whether it was in the way he moved his body, or in the way he spoke his lines. He realized what a large impact this may have on one’s performance. Stokes advised that for an individual desiring a career in the arts, one must have an extreme love for it; a need for it. If one is to choose this path, he shared “five T’s” to ensure the best possible outcome when seeking success. These include talent, technique, timing, tenacity and ‘tude (attitude). Music Dance Theater student Bronwyn Reed appreciated Stokes’ thoughts on being ready for opportunities that may arise. She said, “I really liked that he talked about being prepared, and that you can really never be prepared.” She also admired his suggestion of “following your heart,” finding balance between both heart and mind. While pursuing his occupational endeavours, Stokes has gained an immense appreciation for being conceptually minded. He expressed the value of focusing on positively influencing others through his work and encouraged others to do the same. Reed stated, “Something I resonated with is that being a performer, you’re a lifelong student constantly learning … and becoming a different person. [You’re] learning these new things and getting to work with so many amazing new people … [and] allowing yourself to learn in that space.” When growing oneself and becoming more spiritually conscious, “there’s an art to it all,” Stokes explained. “For me, art is everything in the world that is not nature,” he said. While Stokes provided students with an abundance of information regarding logistical aspects in the theatrical world, he also inspired students to raise others through their talents. He stated, “You’re here to accomplish something. … You can do this through your art [by] understanding the spaces, understanding energy [and] the ability to lift people up.”

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Air Play Experts Enlighten Students in Theatre Workshop

Capri Baker — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 17:13:25 +0000

Professional clowns Seth Bloom and Christina Gelsone taught students the ins and outs of theatre performance in their workshop Air artists Seth Bloom and Christina Gelsone, the dynamic duo that make up Air Play, paid a visit to BYU as part of the BRAVO! Professional Performing Arts Series and led a workshop for theatre students. Bloom and Gelsone shared some helpful tips and tricks when pursuing a path in the dramatic arts and even displayed a bit of their airplay talent with the class. The masterclass helped students gain a better understanding of the kind of life an artist pursuing this path might have, as well as how to reach this level of success. Student Jaycelin Eyre attended the workshop and said that she was able to get a better feel for all the little details that go into perfecting their abilities and performing to the audiences’ needs. Bloom and Gelsone are unique in their specific approach to theatre, as they both define themselves as clowns. However, they have found their particular passion through different air-styled techniques, expressing their creativity within their work. Eyre shared more of her experience. “I have never really considered any side of acting aside from just scripted, or, regular acting, so for me it was cool to see,” she said. “It is a whole other genre. It was fascinating to learn about all the different aspects that go into it.” Gelsone and Bloom advised students to make certain their performances pertain to the specific audience. They emphasized the importance of adapting to viewers, depending on the country and culture. Bloom explained, “It wasn’t about ‘are we good or not.’ It’s about ‘is the work working?’” One of the key factors that the couple taught was the importance of awareness; of sense of humor and the pace of the show. In their view the small details matter and other times larger movements are needed. Eyre wants to personally incorporate her newly learned skills. “I think with the physical acting, [I need to be] more aware of my body on the stage and the impact that’s having. … [For instance,] how my breathing is saying something about who my character is. That’s gonna be a big deal for me,” said Eyre. Bloom and Gelsone have experimented with a plethora of props for their sky-high endeavors. From cocktail umbrellas to cellophane strips to plastic bags, they have tried just about everything. “We like taking ordinary objects and making them extraordinary,” Gelsone said. They explained that rehearsals may be a frustrating process, trying an idea out only to reach a dead end. However, they understand the importance of hard work. The clown couple have created their own spinoff from a more traditional acting career, even for clowns. Their pursuits in airplay have proven to be quite worth the effort in their eyes. They have performed together in 28 different countries with this being their 279th show. “Although I may not go this route with my career, being aware [that] you can just put something together for yourself, even though there’s a lot that goes into it, you can still start something,” said Eyre. Gelsone and Bloom have created a distinctive performance with their individualistic artistry. They love the aspect of personal interpretation within their work, allowing the audience to feel and view the production in their own way. “We think of this whole show more as a poem, rather than a book,” Bloom said. The Air Play couple’s workshop offered a new way of looking at theatre. It reminded students, perhaps figuratively and quite literally, that the sky’s the limit.

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BRAVO! and Theatre Performances Announced for 2021-2022 Season

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 17:23:06 +0000

As BYU returns to a traditional semester this fall on campus, BYU BRAVO! and Theatre events will also be returning to in-person performances. The upcoming season boasts a spectacular lineup from both departments that are sure to sweep audiences off their feet. For both the Theatre and BRAVO! departments, this year promises both masterful performances from guest artists and stunning stage renditions of favorite plays and musicals. “After a season successfully and creatively navigating productions during COVID-19, we are especially excited to return to performances where we can share the innovative work of our students and faculty with the surrounding community,” said BYU Theatre Artistic Director Stephanie Breinholt. From the talented students in the Theatre department will come eight excellent stage productions this year, including “Luna,” “Escape From Planet Death!” “Julius Caesar,” “Fiddler on the Roof” and “As You Like It.” The department will also host an evening of “Contemporary Voices,” where students will perform readings of such modern masterpieces as “The Christians,” “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” and “The Thanksgiving Play.” The full list of performances can be found at arts.byu.edu. To read the full announcement, head to Arts.BYU.edu.

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Iranian-born Artist Shares How Failure and a Beginner’s Mindset Shaped Her Career

Noelle Barrus — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 14:45:04 +0000

On March 18, Shirin Neshat shared her life experiences and the background of her latest exhibit, ‘Land of Dreams’ Internationally renowned artist Shirin Neshat visited students from the College of Fine Arts and Communications during a virtual Listen Up! Series event on March 18. The Department of Art and the BRAVO! Series hosted the event while professor Collin Bradford and visiting instructor Tianna Birrell acted as moderators. Neshat is a contemporary artist known for her photography, video and film work. She was born in Iran and moved to the United States to finish high school. She was encouraged to stay in the US because of the Iranian Revolution, so she enrolled at the University of California at Berkely. She now lives and works in New York, and has been featured at art exhibitions in Chicago, London, Seoul, Mexico City and numerous other cities across the world. Her work has received recognition and awards including the Silver Lion Award from the Venice Film Festival, the Golden Lion Award at the Venice Biennial, The Davos World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award and the Praemium Imperiale award from the Japan Art Association. Neshat’s artistic endeavors started with photography before she expanded on her work to include film installations. She has directed two feature-length films and one opera, and she is currently in the post-production stage of a third feature film. “I am a nomadic artist. I am not loyal to one specific form,” said Neshat. “Regardless of what subject I’m embracing, whether it’s photography or film or video, my art is always about things I’m facing as a human being. I became an artist as a way of creating a visual vocabulary to face existential issues in life, anxiety and separation from my country.” During the lecture, Neshat explained how her life and experiences have impacted the themes of her art. “I’ve come to understand that the way my thinking process works is always some form of opposites. Partially because I feel like I’m always conflicted between the different characteristics I have within myself,” she said. “I’m in the U.S., but not quite feeling at home here or in my home in Iran. Duality is central to the core of my work, and that continues to this day.” History, poetry and politics have also all played a major role in influencing Neshat’s artistic endeavors. “My life is defined by political reality. The revolution separated me and my family for good. Currently, I’m in exile. I cannot and do not have the luxury to distance myself from the political reality,” said Neshat. “In our society, being involved in political issues is not a choice.” Neshat shared with students the background and meaning of her most recent exhibit, “Land of Dreams” which is her first exhibit to incorporate all the mediums she uses — photography, film and video. The exhibit shares photographed portraits of over 100 people living in New Mexico, a land that closely resembles Iran but is also the site of US nuclear war development. The exhibit also features a 20-minute film featuring an Iranian woman who interviews people about their dreams. “This exhibit is what America looks like with all its diversity in culture, background, religion, races, gender, ages and colors,” said Neshat. “I’d never dared to make a project about America before this. But I felt it was time for immigrant artists to take responsibility and share how they feel about America and what they cherish about this country as well as what they are critical of.” During the discussion with Tiana Birrell and Collin Bradford, Neshat expressed her belief in art not giving the answers to moral challenges but asking the questions. “There is no way I can control what people take away from my work — a lot of people take away what they want from it according to who they are. But I can leave it where everyone can enter.” When Birrell asked Neshat what advice she would give to young artists, Neshat invited students to embrace failure. “I’m not afraid to fail,” said Neshat. “When I was in school, I barely got accepted to graduate because I was one of the weakest students. For 10 years I didn’t make any art. But I came back to art and came 100%. Going after things you’ve never done is scary. But the reason I am successful is because I’m not afraid of failure. I have made some bad and mediocre work, but it has kept me on the edge to continue to challenge myself and be a beginner and learn new languages of artistic nature. Failure is something to embrace and not be ashamed of.” As her final departing message, Neshat invited students and artists to pick themselves up when they feel they’ve fallen. “Being an artist takes a lot of character. I’ve fallen many times, and I’ve learned to pick myself back up. My skin is tough. My philosophy is that if you fall, pick yourself back up.”

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Journalism Professional DeWayne Wickham Calls on Students to ‘Tear Down Barriers’

Noelle Barrus — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 15:51:38 +0000

Wickham spoke during his Listen Up! Series lecture on the ongoing struggle for journalism to present truth In an effort to better address diversity, inclusion and accessibility, the College of Fine Arts and Communications has been hosting professional guest speakers in an inspirational lecture series. The Listen Up! Series started last semester, and each lecture within the series is sponsored by a different department within the college. On February 4, students from the college participated in the third event of the series with journalism professional DeWayne Wickham. This lecture was hosted by the School of Communications and the BRAVO! series. During the webinar, the School of Communications associate chair Dale Cressman introduced Wickham to the listeners. Wickham is the founding dean of the School of Global Journalism and Communication. He is the author of three books and several articles and is also the founding member and former president of the National Association of Black Journalists. To begin his lecture, Wickham discussed the history of journalism. He dove into historical stories of journalism media that spread both helpful and harmful news. “Media can play a supportive and helpful role, or it can play a role that injures not only people but the notion that this is a fair and equitable society,” Wickham said. Wickham expressed the need for current journalism students to learn the right questions to ask and to distinguish between commentary and news. “It is a journalist’s responsibility to report the fact truthfully and represent the truth about the fact,” said Wickham. “There is a place for commentary, but it ought to be identified and distinguished from news and ought not to overshadow the presentation of news.” As he continued discussing the challenges of journalism, Wickham described one way that he learns truths about current events. “I wake up every day mad about something, and then I challenge myself to find information on that thing that has irritated me,” he said. “I am my best news source.” Wickham invited listeners to be their own best news source and expressed the need for our country to bridge the gaps people create from their differences. “We have to find a way in this country to tear down the barriers that separate us. We have to tear down the barriers that make us Blacks and whites and divide us by religion and ideology,” he said. “We have to stop connecting to people simply because they are fellow travelers in some ideological way, and we have to ask the tough questions.”

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Author Ta-Nehisi Coates Delivers Powerful Message about Race for Virtual Listen Up! Event

Chris Hayes — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 19:36:33 +0000

Coates addressed the role of the arts in furthering the cause of racial justice Over the years, the BYU BRAVO! Series has booked an impressive lineup of renowned artists and performers. That stellar reputation extends to its Listen Up! Series, introduced this fall as the College of Fine Arts and Communications seeks to magnify the campus conversation about Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility. The December 3 lecture, co-produced by the BYU Department of Theatre and Media Arts (TMA), featured a live Zoom event with National Book Award winner Ta-Nehisi Coates. The event was exclusive to students within the college, and was moderated by TMA Department Chair Wade Hollingshaus. Coates has become a powerful voice for examining what it means to be Black in America. His bestselling books include “The Beautiful Struggle,” “We Were Eight Years in Power,” and “Between the World and Me.” He has received a MacArthur Fellowship and is the current author of the Marvel comics The Black Panther and Captain America. During the event, Coates spoke passionately about the importance of the arts in building a loving, egalitarian world. He asserted that arts and culture can shape not only the social issues of the day, but also the attitudes and policies surrounding those issues. Read the full article at BYU Arts.

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