HANDBOOK EXTRAS
WORKSHOPS AND MASTERCLASSES
A variety of special workshops will be presented each year for the students. These workshops will vary each semester depending upon the needs of the student body. The department tries to offer workshops each year in dance and theater, as well as in music. Workshops or master classes are lead by respected industry professionals from Chicago and beyond, and topics include but are not limited to performance, diction, auditioning, stage etiquette and Actor’s Equity Association. Attendance and participation of all students is expected and should be given great priority in your schedule.
PERFORMING ARTS TRIPS
All Performing Arts students are enrolled in the class Performing Arts-Field Experience (PFMA 100) each semester. This class gives students the opportunity to experience the best the arts communities of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin have to offer. At least three times each semester, we take students to a variety of dance, music and theatre events.
Past events include: Steppenwolf Theatre productions with Gary Sinse and John Malkovich, Damnation of Faust and Sweeney Todd at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Dracula at the Milwaukee Ballet, Chicago Symphony Orchestra performing Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, the pre-Broadway productions of the Death of a Salesman and Mary’s Zimmerman’s The Odyssey, Aida and The Producers, August: Osage County and The Addams Family with Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth.
REGENT PLAYERS
Regent Players is a representative student organization whose highest purpose is to support and expose the performing arts (through theatre, music and dance) to the Rockford University campus and nearby communities. We as a club focus on the importance of providing an additional learning environment for interested students to explore the performing arts outside of a classroom setting. Membership is open to any and all students at Rockford University who show interest. All one needs to do to become a member of Regent Players’ is attend 75% of scheduled Regent Players meetings and participate in most of the events (such as fundraisers, service projects and club activities that are planned throughout the year). Regent Players officers are elected at the end of each school year for the upcoming year. Regent Players works closely with the Rockford University Performing Arts Department and is able to exist because of the support and guidance from every member of the Performing Arts faculty. Some past/planned events include our annual Cabaret, semi-annual New York trip, themed dance shows, a participatory viewing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, volunteering at Rockford’s “On the Waterfront” and a complete makeover of our theatre’s greenroom.
For more information about Regent Players, contact the current club president.
