The CotoBuzz Journal, Community Journalism

May 2009

We do not make jokes, we simply watch the LA Times, the Orange County Register and CID/HOA board of directors and report the factsDAnge

The Free Living Newspaper at Saddleback College

Saddleback Students Present A Collage of History and Theatre

Posted by CotoBlogzz 04/23/2009 3:00 PM

Mission Viejo, CA – The Department of Theatre Arts at Saddleback College is scheduled to present The Federal Theatre Project: The Living Newspaper on Friday, May 15^th and Saturday, May 16^th at 8:00 p.m. in the Studio Theatre. A panel discussion will follow Friday’s show.

Admission is free and seats are available on a first-come; first-served basis. Directed by Maria Mayenzet, this compilation of scenes depicts the era (1935) in which The Federal Theatre project was established after a legislative and administrative prologue. Hallie Flanagan, a theatre professor at Vassar, was chosen to lead the FTP. She was given the daunting task of building a national theatre program to employ thousands of unemployed artists in as little time as possible.

Living Newspapers were plays written by teams of researchers-turned-playwrights. These men and women clipped articles from newspapers about current events, often hot button issues like farm policy, syphilis testing, the Tennessee Valley Authority and housing inequity. These newspaper clippings were adapted into plays intended to inform audiences, often with progressive or liberal themes. This production is homage to The Living Newspaper comprising scenes from Triple-A Plowed Under, One Third a Nation, Power, Spirochete and scenes from Haiti, The Revolt of the Beavers and Pinocchio.

Saddleback College Theatre Arts program produces several fully-staged shows in which students are encouraged to participate. Theatre Arts students are given the opportunity to audition for every production and Theatre Arts students are given priority in the casting process. In addition there are numerous opportunities for students to contribute in backstage activities of all college productions.

Saddleback College is located at 28000 Marguerite Pkwy in Mission Viejo , just east of Interstate 5 at the Avery Parkway exit. Parking is available in Lot 12. Take Avery Parkway to Marguerite Parkway turn left to the third traffic light, which is Saddleback’s Marguerite entrance. Turn right into the campus and take the third left to “ Theatre Circle ,” turning right into Lot 12.

Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community. Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers more than 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals. For more information, please visit www.saddleback.edu. For Fine Arts events, visit www.saddleback.edu/arts.