A new addition to Western's theater department

"We are bursting at the seams in the performing arts," said David Janoviak, associate professor of theater. Janoviak was referring to the growing theater program, and the fact that Western is growing as a whole, yet the theater department, and performing arts in general, have not properly expanded. The theater, dance and music departments all share rehearsal and performance locations. The acting studio that the theater department had been using was "simply lacking," according to Janoviak. The theater department now has a new acting studio in the renovated Math and Science Building. The location was a logical choice--the funds or general renovations of the building were used, although few changes were needed. The old, open gym with high ceilings was an ideal location. With some black paint and the addition of a storage closet, some other minor changes and needed props, the area was completed. The new studio is used for advanced acting and directing classes, as well as voice and movement classes. It is particularly useful for the movement classes, compared to the old studio (Rice 113). The class usually has 20 students, and they are taught acting movements--which is hard to do in a space as small as the old studio. The Rice studio is still "over-utilized," as Janoviak put it. Due to the limited spaces in the theater department, the old studio still is used a significant amount of the time for classes and rehearsals. Janoviak said that the performing arts department simply cannot expand too much, without more performance and rehearsal spaces. It is not known at this time whether any new locations will be added for the performing arts programs in the future. One group of students who significantly benefit from the new studio is the students in the advanced directing class, taught by Michael Phillips. The students in the class now have a larger, more open space to work in. Bobby Nove, a junior who is a theater student, said, "It's a very nice addition to the theater department."