STAGE TUBE: Columbia University MFA Students Talk JOAN OF ARC: VOICES IN THE FIRE Thesis Production

Columbia Stages presents JOAN OF ARC: VOICES IN THE FIRE, the 2012/13 MFA Actors' Thesis Production conceived and directed by Kristin Linklater and Rebecca Wright. JOAN OF ARC: VOICES IN THE FIRE will open at The Riverside Theatre this Thursday, November 8, 2012 and run through November 17. Students from Columbia University's 2013 MFA Actors program talk about the production in the video below!

Columbia's MFA Actors have spent the past two years in rigorous training, immersed in classical texts and engaged in the process of building an ensemble. JOAN OF ARC: VOICES IN THE FIRE showcases their versatility and dynamism. Esteemed voice teacher and MFA Faculty member Kristin Linklater, together with Rebecca Wright, leads this production, which is based on the phenomenal and mysterious story of Joan of Arc. Shakespeare, Schiller, Anouilh, Bernard Shaw, Maxwell Anderson and Brecht all wrote plays based on the story of Joan, at least thirty Joan of Arc films have been produced and retrospective psychoanalysis of her behavior abounds. What do we make of her today?

Drawing on the actors' personal creativity and rich dramatic sources, JOAN OF ARC: VOICES IN THE FIRE is an ardent examination of an Idea that has survived for six centuries: the Idea of a saint who can save us. Here are ten Joans reflecting some of the facets of that Idea. The urgent questing energy of this community of actors explores the Saint within the context of the drastic issues that face our world today.

CREATIVE TEAM: Concept and Direction Kristin Linklater and Rebecca Wright; Writer at Large Stacy Davidowitz; Set Designer Kris Stone; Costume Designer Oana Ban; Lighting Designer Dante Smith; Sound Designer Jay Spriggs; Props Samara Weiss; Assistant Costume Designer Karen Boyer; Stage Manager Tom Taylor; Assistant Stage Managers Colleen Lacy, Caroline Watters; General Manager Mia Lujun Shen; Company Manager Natalie Gershtein.

JOAN: VOICES IN THE FIRE features the Columbia University Graduate Theatre Acting Class of 2013: Kassianni Austin, Lena Bull, Lauren Cipoletti, Zach C. Clark, Neil D'Astolfo, Nika Ezell Pappas, Tom Giordano, John Garrett Greer, Laura Lassy, Simone Leanora Mack, Allison Minick, Michael Mullen, Anita Petry, Paige Patterson, Hardy Pinnell, Vincent Torres and Liba Vaynberg.

Watch the video below, and for photos of JOAN OF ARC in rehearsal, click HERE!