On Campus at GCC: ‘We Are Stardust’ scheduled to open April 28
“We Are Stardust,” an original “devised theater” piece helmed by Melissa Randel, co-chair of Glendale Community College’s theater arts department, will open in the Auditorium Studio Theatre on April 28 for eight performances.
Devised theater is an art form in which the script originates from a collaborative, using improvisation in the creative process. Randel took a year sabbatical to work on the campuswide collaborative for “We Are Stardust.”
She has been training with the renowned SITI Co. and Anne Bogart in contemporary theater methods of Suzuki, Viewpoints and Composition since 2006. Last fall, Theatre Arts 164, an experimental theater class, was offered at the college, and Randel was able to teach students about devised-theater techniques.
Faculty and staff collaborators joined students to generate the movement, visuals and scenes revolving around the studies of astrophysicist and author Neil deGrasse Tyson.
At the end of the semester, each student wrote their own version of “We Are Stardust” as their final exam. Randel put together a script based on 12 versions. Auditions were held this spring and the cast is now at 18 members.
The music department is adding to the process by offering a class in world music and jazz improvisation. There will be live, improvisational music performed at each performance.
“We Are Stardust” will be presented at 8 p.m. on April 28, 29, 30 and May 5, 6 and 7. Matinees will be at 2 p.m. on May 1 and 7. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for students and seniors. They can be purchased online at glendalearts.org or at the college box office in the auditorium.
The college is located at 1500 N. Verdugo Road.
‘Merchants of Death’ author to speak
This year, for the One Book/One GCC series, the selected book is “Merchants of Doubt” by science historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway.
Several campus presentations have been held this month, including panel discussions, faculty lectures and student projects.
On April 27, Conway will give the One Book/One GCC keynote address at 12:20 p.m. in the college’s auditorium. The presentation is free and open to the public.
One Book/One GCC is sponsored by Glendale Community College Staff Development and the Associated Students.
In conjunction with One Book/One GCC, the Humanities/Social Science Lecture Series will present “The Plain Facts About Climate Change” at 12:20 p.m. on April 28 in room 177 of the Cimmarusti Science Center. The speaker will be Carol Kravetz, chapter leader for Organizing for Action.
Latinas in STEM 101 hold conference
A “Latinas in STEM 101” conference will be held at Glendale Community College from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 30. The college is partnering with the Latinas in STEM Foundation for the second year to host the one-day workshop.
The event is part of a series of nationwide workshops developed by the Latinas in STEM Foundation and focuses on inspiring middle and high school Latinas — and their parents — to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math, known as STEM.
In addition to educating students about STEM, Latinas in STEM 101 will also educate parents on how they may be better positioned to support their daughters interested in STEM fields.
Conference activities will include workshops led by STEM professionals, hands-on student projects such as coding and robotics, parent information sessions and presentations on career pathways and earnings as well as degree programs at Glendale Community College and Cal State Northridge.
The conference is open to middle and high school students, parents, and school faculty and staff. Admission to the conference is free and will include a continental breakfast and lunch. The conference is funded by an AIMS Title III grant.
Registration information can be found at glendale.edu/aimstem.
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WENDY GROVE is the public information coordinator for Glendale Community College.
