Festival ’98 encourages students to act up all over campus

Thursday, June 11, 1998

Festival ’98 encourages students to act up all over campus

THEATER: Annual event designed to unite public with arts
features film screenings, theatrical drama

By Emi Kojima

Daily Bruin Staff

This weekend, students will be shouting, laughing, crying and
screaming in the Sculpture Garden, but it won’t be for midnight
yell.

A group of about 30 student actors will perform various dramatic
productions during the first annual TheaterFest, a part of this
year’s School of Theater, Film and Television’s Festival ’98.

The purpose of the event is to "strengthen ties between the
theater department and the Los Angeles community," according to
Tyler Moore, the organizer of the event.

"The community hasn’t had a chance to experience our work," said
Moore, a fourth-year theater student.

Undergraduate students are directing and performing in 13
different productions, ranging from Shakespeare to contemporary
pieces. Some shows – which last between 20 and 75 minutes – are
also written by students.

They will perform over 25 times during the weekend, free to the
public, in and around Macgowan Hall. Moore originally came up with
the idea of TheaterFest for a class project, and it eventually
became part of this year’s School of Theater, Film and Television’s
festival.

"It’s high quality entertainment," Moore said, adding that a
number of this year’s participating actors also work
professionally.

Jenn Wong, a first-year theater student and participant in
TheaterFest, explains that it creates strong bonds between
students.

"When you work together to create a finished product, you
inevitably create a community," Wong said.

Now in its eighth year, Festival ’98 focuses on celebrating
student talent at UCLA.

The festival began with a group of students screening films, and
has since grown to attract approximately 5,000 people a year.

Festival ’98 will feature 14 events in nine days, including film
screenings, theatrical performances, and even a gallery of CD-ROM
and web site exhibits of various student art.

"Slowly but surely (the festival) has increased to include each
section of theater, film and television – all of which are
interdisciplinary," said Joyce Thompson, events coordinator for the
School of Theater, Film and Television.

Moore said he hopes to see the TheaterFest become a regular part
of the annual event. He also said he’d like to see student
performances spread to areas on campus beyond the Sculpture
Garden.

Even though finals week follows the TheaterFest this weekend,
Moore said that he still expects high turnout.

"It’s a cool idea to blow off steam (before) finals," Moore
said.

"A student could come onto campus during the day, go to the
library and catch a show to chill out," he said.

Festival ’98 will take place between June 12 and June 20. For
more information, please contact the School of Theater, Film and
Television at (310) 825-5761.