News from Yale School of Drama
Strange Love in Outer Space It is hardly routine that a Dwight/Edgewood (D/EP) presentation in New Haven goes on to a run in New York, but try telling that to Janyia Antrum. Last summer when she was a sixth-grader at Wexler/Grant Community School, Janyia began imagining the world of Strange Love during her participation in the D/ EP weekend camping retreat. She had never written a play but that was no stumbling block. All weekend long, with the apparent confidence of an old pro, Janyia sketched out the action for her one-act musical: the alien princess Splontusia is the nicest girl on her home planet, Contasia, until the evil Dr. Roswald Tuscanunin, a mad scientist (and four-mile-long worm) injects her with his experimental “mean serum.” Revenge is sworn, differences are overcome and in the end, love conquers all. In response to the overwhelmingly positive reception, Janyia took it upon herself to pen a sequel: Strange Divorce in Outer Space, a tragicomic glimpse into the lives of Splontusia and Dr. T. seven years later. Impressed by the young playwright’s promise—and charmed by her wacky but intensely lovable alien creations —Yale Cabaret commissioned Janyia to write a third and final act of the Strange Love saga, and the full trilogy was produced in a sold-out run as part of the Cabaret’s 42nd season.
With the help of producers Elizabeth Elliott ’11 and Jorge Rodriguez ’10 and director Christopher Mirto ’10, the Strange Love trilogy made its New York City premiere at the Cherry Pit Theatre as part of the 2010 New York International Fringe Festival. And as for the critics, Ryan Emmons had this to say at nytheatre.com: “Strange Love in Outer Space: A Musical Traumedy is an excellent reminder that it is okay to have fun in the theatre and an imagination is a beautiful thing. It also stressed for me that encouraging young minds to create is vital and fruitful and should be done whenever possible. There are silly, wonderful and fun ideas in the minds of 12-year-olds that tell us something about who we are today. I’m looking forward to Antrum’s next one!” Brian Valencia ’10
David Chambers (Faculty) holding the honorary Doctorate certificate he received in Romania.
Honors for David Chambers When David Chambers (Faculty) was invited to the 10th anniversary of theatre pedagogy at the University of the Lower Danube in Galati, Romania, he thought he was there only to deliver a workshop to an international conference of theatre students and educators. What he didn’t know was that he would also be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts by the Rector of the University. In awarding the Doctorate, the Director of the Theater Department of the Faculty of Arts, Professor Mihaela Dumitriu, delivered the Laudatio, ”In the 23 years [at Yale University] … he has made a tremendous difference in the training of several generations of directors and actors who have graduated from this prestigious school of drama. His work has left significant and valuable traces in the many places of the world he has been to, his prestigious work being unanimously recognized as such for its exquisite professional qualities.”
Save the Date! Yale School of Drama 2010–11 Alumni Events
West Coast Alumni Party Sunday, March 6, 2011 At the home of Asaad Kelada ’64
Christopher Mirto ’10 and Alexandra Hendrickson ’11 in Strange Love in Outer Space at Yale Cabaret. Photo by Steven Schmidt ’11.
YSD 2010–11
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