{"165711":{"#nid":"165711","#data":{"type":"news","title":"GT\u2019s Creative Laboratory: DramaTech Celebrates 20 Years of Innovation in the Dean Dull Theatre","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhat happens when nascent engineers, computer types, and other Techies come together on stage?\u0026nbsp; It is performance magic known as DramaTech.\u0026nbsp; Georgia Tech\u2019s student-run theater is Atlanta\u2019s longest continuously running theater troupe and, on November 3rd,\u0026nbsp;it\u2019s celebrating 20 years of innovation in the Dean James E. Dull Theatre in the Ferst Center of the Arts.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen the previous DramaTech space was condemned, Dean of Students James E. Dull (now Emeritus) mounted a campaign for a new theater to be built as part of the Ferst Center.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cDean Dull was a tremendous advocate for DramaTech,\u201d says DramaTech Director Melissa Foulger. \u201cHe ensured that our space in Ferst worked, not only for performances, but also as a laboratory where students whose lives revolve around equations and methodology also have opportunity to push themselves creatively.\u201d \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Dull Theatre space allows students to experiment in acting and performance, as well as in directing, lighting, sound, costumes, and scenery, and production management.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETy Autry, an electrical engineering major, believes that the value of the experience extends beyond theater knowledge.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022Body\u0022\u003E\u201cDramaTech is an outlet for creative experimentation and expression. It also provides me with a wonderful opportunity to learn to work with deadlines, to collaborate with different majors and a multitude of different personalities.\u0026nbsp; In a way, DramaTech helps me to understand how to operate in the business world.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBegun in 1929, this year\u0027s performances in Dull will be attended by more than 2000 people. Shows run in the fall, spring, and summer semesters and feature scripts from the theatrical canon, innovative contemporary pieces, musicals, and improvisation. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cNo organization does so much for the students of Georgia Tech as DramaTech,\u201d says physics major, Sam Whited. \u201cThere is almost never a time, day or night, where there aren\u2019t students busily working in the Dull Theater.\u0026nbsp; For many of us it becomes our home, a place we can return to when our lives are lacking in art.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe draw is strong enough that some remain involved long after leaving Georgia Tech.\u0026nbsp; Stephanie Daigle is a computational media alumna who heads the Friends of DramaTech alumni group.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cDramaTech gave me a new family and support system while at Tech, a place to escape the craziness of Georgia Tech,\u201d she said. \u201cI gave a lot of time and dedication to DramaTech and it gave a ton back - a husband and lifelong friends!\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll are invited to the celebration of \u003Cstrong\u003EDramaTech\u2019s 20 years in the Dull Theater on November 3\u003Csup\u003Erd\u003C\/sup\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E.\u0026nbsp; Events will begin at 4 pm with performances by DramaTech troupes, Let\u2019s Try This! and VarietyTech.\u0026nbsp; The event will also feature guest speakers and a reception before the 8pm performance of Neil Simon\u2019s Laughter on the 23\u003Csup\u003Erd\u003C\/sup\u003E Floor. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe DramaTech Season\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBegun in 1929 as the Marionettes, DramaTech, today, is in production almost year-round.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFall Semester\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBlack Box Comedy Festival featuring nationally known comedians and improvisers\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVarietyTech, an annual variety show\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELarge-cast theatre production that runs for 3 weeks\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELet\u2019s Try This! bi-weekly comedy improv shows\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESpring Semester\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA musical production and small cast play\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELet\u2019s Try This! bi-weekly comedy improv shows\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESummer Semester\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESmaller scale productions\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to scripted shows, DramaTech classes and workshops with professionals are offered through the School of Literature, Media, and Communication, Ivan Allen College, which houses the program.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhat happens when nascent engineers, computer types, and other Techies come together on stage?\u0026nbsp; It is performance magic known as DramaTech.\u0026nbsp; Georgia Tech\u2019s student-run theater is Atlanta\u2019s longest continuously running theater troupe.\u0026nbsp; On November 3\u003Csup\u003Erd\u003C\/sup\u003E, it\u2019s celebrating 20 years of innovation in the Dean James E. Dull Theatre in the Ferst Center of the Arts.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":"","uid":"27167","created_gmt":"2012-10-26 16:52:02","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:13:02","author":"Rebecca Keane","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2012-10-26T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2012-10-26T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"165571":{"id":"165571","type":"image","title":"DramaTech","body":null,"created":"1449178936","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 21:42:16","changed":"1539024643","gmt_changed":"2018-10-08 18:50:43","alt":"Female student on one knee on stage","file":{"fid":"195543","name":"1actor.comedy.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/1actor.comedy_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/1actor.comedy_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":125727,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/1actor.comedy_0.jpg?itok=ie7kMdc3"}},"39701":{"id":"39701","type":"image","title":"Jim Dull in front of the DramaTech theater","body":null,"created":"1449174110","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 20:21:50","changed":"1475894258","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:37:38","alt":"Jim Dull in front of the DramaTech theater","file":{"fid":"189658","name":"tzr97966.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/tzr97966.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/tzr97966.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":971998,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/tzr97966.jpg?itok=BSQw3kob"}},"165581":{"id":"165581","type":"image","title":"DramaTech","body":null,"created":"1449178936","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 21:42:16","changed":"1539024695","gmt_changed":"2018-10-08 18:51:35","alt":"Students in various costumes grouped on risers with dramatic red light in background","file":{"fid":"195544","name":"musical.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/musical_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/musical_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":215459,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/musical_0.jpg?itok=8uIm_T6Q"}}},"media_ids":["165571","39701","165581"],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.iac.gatech.edu\/news-and-events\/event?id=165501","title":"November 3rd Event Information"},{"url":"http:\/\/dramatech.org\/","title":"DramaTech"}],"groups":[{"id":"1281","name":"Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts"}],"categories":[{"id":"42931","name":"Performances"}],"keywords":[{"id":"1062","name":"dramatech"},{"id":"47931","name":"Dull Theater"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMelissa Foulger or \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:Rebecca.Keane@iac.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ERebecca.Keane@iac.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["melissa.foulger@lmc.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}