Middle Ground

three stop timelapse of dancer moving to floor
 

Showdates: January 27 - 29, 2017

UAA Dance senior Katie O’Loughlin will be making her highly anticipated directorial debut with Middle Ground in late January. Exploring the connection between technology and choreography, O’Loughlin’s production seeks to visually interpret the concept of “middle” through movement, bodies, sound, space, lights, and projections.

A veteran of the UAA Dance program, O’Loughlin has choreographed for three productions, danced in five and assisted with technical design in an additional 8.

“Through the help of UAA professors Brian Jeffery and Dan Anteau, I have the amazing opportunity to get my hands on every part of a production,” explained O’Loughlin. “My ultimate goal is to combine my dance knowledge with my technical theatre and dance knowledge. I don’t want to be a dancer who slaps light onto choreography, I want to be the dancer who can choreograph the lights to my dance.”

The production also features an ensemble cast of 12 UAA Dance alumni and current students.

Performances held at the Harper Studio Theatre, 3700 Alumni Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508

  • Program

    Choreographer: Katie O'Loughlin
    Performers: Mariel Aragona, Stephanie Brenner, Olivia Brown, Marissa Citro, Taylor Hicks, Rique Hill, Haley Lake, Courtney Menenses, Banna Norenberg, Katie O'Loughlin, Rhiannon Roseman, Carmel Young

    Here
    Music: Skiss af Frad by The Library Tapes

    Corner
    Music: Our Corner of the Universe by K.S. Rhoads

    Pathways
    Music: The Wisp Sings by Winter Aid

    Yesterday
    Music: A Quiet Darkness by Houses

    Granulated
    Music: False Dawn by The Album Leaf; Reaching Out by Bassnectar

    Unexplainable
    Text: Katie O'Loughlin

    Encountered
    Music: Nuvole Bianche by Ludovico Einaudi

    Again
    Music: Broken Arrows by The Album Leaf

    Tread
    Seas of Crimson by Bethel Music

  • Production Crew

    Director/Choreographer: Katie O'Loughlin
    Stage Manager: Jordan Crenshaw
    Production Electrician: Meghan Stanford
    Assistant Stage Manager: James Kendall
    Light Board Operator: James Branstetter
    Lighting Designers: Meghan Stanford, Katie Bailey Nixon, Jordon Crenshaw, Katie O'Loughlin
    Videographer: Aj Carino and Wahtah Productions
    Projection Design: Nancy Ott
    Costumes: Diesel X
    Sound Editing/Creation: Sarz Music
    Wardrobe: Stephanie Brenner, Joshuah Rutten

  • Choreographer Biography

    Katie O'Loughlin (director/choreographer) In August 2013, I began my education as a technical theatre and dance student. Throughout my time here I have had the privilege of working on eight theatre production and being involved in seven dance productions. My long-term goal was to learn about the technicalities behind the creation of dance productions. Three and a half years later, as I begin my final semester as an undergraduate student, that goal is being achieved in this performance, where my focus has been connecting technology and choreography. I never could have anticipated the challenges, joys, dificulties, and moments of excitement this project has made me fall even more in love with the field I'm in. Each step of this process has brought fullness and depth to my experience as an artist, and I am honored to share it with you tonight.

  • Special Thanks

    There are many people who helped make this show possible. Whether you have volunteered as tech crew, offered special skills in areas needed, or believed in my abilities and encouraged me to keep moving forward, I want to thank you for supporting me throughout the process of bringing this production and my vision to life. I could not have done it without you. I want to give an extra special thanks to the faculty members of the Department of Theatre and Dance who spent extensive hours sharing their knowledge and skills, the students who are performing and working on the show and gave time from their Christmas break to do so, and the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship who granted me partial funding for this project. Lastly, I would like to thanks Dan Anteau and Brian Jeffery for being advisors, professors and mentors. They have given me full support throughout these past four years and have inspired and encouraged me as an artist. I am extremely grateful for their guidance and belief in my abilties.

This production is in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the departmental honors in Theatre and Dance.