UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Centre Stage Virtual will present “The Living Room Project,” the first of a series of online episodes to benefit for the School of Theatre Future Fund, at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 8. The fund offers financial assistance to help offset the needs of students in the School of Theatre who are adversely impacted and in need of emergency assistance. The live performance can be viewed for free at sites.psu.edu/pscsvirtual.
"The Living Room Project " is part of a collaboration between Master of Fine Arts directors Wes Drummond and Rob Schneider, and the School of Theatre Affiliate Program Group.
"This event is important because it is creating an opportunity for alumni to connect with current School of Theatre students to provide assistance for those who may be struggling financially because of the pandemic and recession," said Drummond.
Rick Lombardo, director of the School of Theatre and artistic director of Penn State Centre Stage, will host the event. He is an award-winning stage director, artistic director, and playwright.
"With almost all live entertainment in America still in shutdown, so many of our alumni are currently at home and waiting to be able to resume their careers. We want to create a way we can tell some of their stories and connect our alumni and our current students in meaningful ways," said Lombardo.
The first episode will feature performances and interviews by Penn State theater students and alumni, including Terry Withers (Baltimore Improv Group), Stephen Brotebeck (director/choreographer Okoboji Summer Theatre), Kat West (stage manager/life coach); television actors Sam Freed ("Kate & Allie") and Jonathan Frakes ("Star Trek: The Next Generation"); and Bachelor of Fine Arts Musical Theatre alumni Addi McDaniel (singer/songwriter), Tommy Lock, Murphy Taylor Smith, and PSCS "Spamalot" cast members Timmy Lewis, Noah Silverman, Daniel Teixeira, Nick Davis, Will Jewett, Noah Ruebeck, Mathew Fedorek, Jimin Moon, Darron Hayes, Jack Maloney, John El-Jor and Marshall Joun.
Penn State Centre Stage Virtual is offered free to the public and was created to support Penn State students during this difficult time.
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