The drama club at Conn has always been a very fluid and frenzied entity, changing to suit the diversity of students and theatrical interests on campus. What was once known as Group Art Attack has been renamed Theater Foundation, yet the passion for supporting student productions and unique theater projects continues.
Back are popular events such as the One-Act Festival, Dinner Theater, and 24-Hour Theater (in which a play is conceived, written, directed and performed all in the space of a day). There will also be a winter theater night in Coffee Ground as well as numerous other theater productions sprinkled throughout the year.
Theater Foundation is headed this year by Bianca Bloomfield and Matt Gentile who, though both sophomore English and film majors, respectively, have together both established a strong theatric presence on campus. Both had roles in numerous high school productions, yet, when it was only when they arrived at Conn did their yearning to direct plays emerge.
Last semester, Matt directed Eric Bogosian’s black comedy Talk Radio while Bianca served as a co-director, providing him directing advice and general assistance.
This year, the roles have reversed, as Bianca directs Jack Heifner’s all-female-cast coming-of-age story Vanities, opening October 16, with Matt as her co-director.
When asked why they wanted to lead an organization like Theater Foundation, they stressed their aspiration to encourage student productions on campus and how important it was to have a student group that is, for better or for worse, separate from the formal theater department at Conn.
The name change, which was Matt’s idea, stems a desire to present a more serious organization that will not be misinterpret by would-be directors or incoming students.
Bianca recalls being initially confused her freshmen as to what Group Art Attack was and what purpose it served on campus.
Matt also emphasizes that the group will provide a “foundation” upon which student productions can build on in their early stages and utilize as a constant resource. Theater Foundation will be a means to promote and sustain regular theatrical events around Conn that are free for the public and extremely enjoyable for the audience and everyone involved.
