Stage craft

From flats of plywood and lumber to assembled back porch takes about half an hour.

The Bloomsburg University Players were invited to perform “Proof” at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region II Festival this January — the fourth Bloomsburg University production to be invited to the festival since 2006 and the second year in a row Bloomsburg was invited to present a main-stage show.

In addition to judging the performance, the festival also looks at the entire production. Load-in, set-up, load-out, are all timed. The lesson ... a theatre production is a team effort and everything counts. This year, the team won the Golden Hand Truck for a great setup.

While the top photo shows the rehearsal before the show was packed up for the festival in Indiana, Pa., the photos to the side show the stage and set being constructed. Director Kaitlyn Ide, a senior Kaitlyn from Nescopeck, as well as the actors, role up their sleeves to help the construction. Ide is shown in the set in the bottom photo.


This production was designed by theatre faculty members Ethan Krupp and Karen Anselm. BU Players’ participation in the festival is sponsored by the BU Foundation, the College of Liberal Arts, Community Government Association and BU’s Division of Theatre and Dance.


Students involved in the production and their hometowns are: Courtney Costello and Adam Wilson, both of Pittston; Megan Combs, Nescopeck; Philip Czekner, Harleysville; Destiny Deater, Berwick; Rachel DelVecchio, Bethlehem; Rebecca Kestel, Abington; Donovan Krebs, Coal Township; Deanna Kremer, Northumberland; Emily Miller, Mercer; Grace Nugent, Blue Bell; Robert Pellechio, East Norriton; Anthony Roslevich, Hazleton; and Lauren Shover; Camp Hill.

Technical notes: All photos with the Canon 7D and Tokina 11-16 f/2.8. Apertures and shutter speeds vary. ISO is at 1250. I typically shoot up the ISO 800 without giving it any thought unless it's a very particular photo that requires the absolute best rendering of fine detail. I'll go above 800 knowing that some detail and texture will be lost ... but that's not important for every photo in any event.


Click on any photo to see it larger.

Sharing research

Catching up a little from the end of last semester. This shot was taken at the College of Science and Technology's student research symposium.  Kathleen Paiva, majoring in both education and geography, is discussing a project she did with faculty mentor Cynthia Venn to make a tactile map to teach visually impaired students about geology. Yarn, glue, pipe cleaners were all pressed into service. Biology major Taylor Ball took a real interest in the project and stuck around, paying no attention to me while I took photos.

In all, there were more than a dozen student research posters at the event and another 19 research talks.

Technical notes: Nothing remarkable. Canon 7, ISO 800 1/64th. Tokina 11mm at f/4.5. Though you'll see distortion at the edges, the lens is really useful. Click on any photo to make it larger.