megan sanborn jones

Few people can claim that a 3 a.m. prank phone call changed their life, but for La Donna Pratt Forsgren (MA ’05), heaven had the last laugh. La Donna and her sister, Monica, had seen a late-night ad for a free copy of the Book of Mormon.

Jones’ remarks address how physical actions and rituals bring individuals closer to Christ

Theatre and Media Arts professor Megan Sanborn Jones will discuss the importance of the physical body in theatre and religion at the December Faith and Works Lecture

The BYU Young Company will present William Shakespeare’s comic masterpiece Twelfth Night with a western twist in the Nelke Theatre of the Harris Fine Arts Center at 7 p.m. on Feb. 3-5, 10-12, with matinees on Feb. 6 and 13, at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets are $7, with discounts available for alumni, students, employees, senior citizens and groups. Tickets can be purchased in person at the BYU Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center, by phone at 801-422-2981 or online at byuarts.com. Shakespeare’s poetry meets rip-roaring action and high-faultin song and dance in this cowboy version of Twelfth Night. Directed by Megan Sanborn Jones and adapted by Rick Curtiss, this production encourages audience members of all ages to look beneath outward appearances and value people for the qualities they have on the inside. “In our production, we decided to foreground this imagined world by presenting our 2016 Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night via a 1950’s vision of the nineteenth century west,” said Jones. “We take you back to this time that never existed–a fitting tribute, we believe– with Shakespeare’s topsy-turvy homage to a world where anything can happen.” Other production members include Amanda Welch as choreographer, Julia Ashworth as Young Company producer, Becky Wallin as Young Company managing director, Dayne Joyner as production stage manager, Rory Scanlon as scenic designer, Alyssa Bybee as costume designer, Sarah Stewart as makeup designer, Scott Jackson as props designer, Christian Riboldi as dramaturge, and Franny Gleave and Karlee Savage as assistant stage managers. Cast members include Sherry Kopischke as Viola/Cesario, Andrew Smith as Sebastian, Cameron Bridston as Feste, Savanah Smith as Olivia, Scott Jackson as Duke Orsino, Costner Henson as Malvolio, Olivia Ockey as Maria and Jacob Baird as Sir Toby Belch. PHOTO: Oliva (Savanah Smith, left) and Duke Orsino (Scott Jackson, right) fight over Cesario (Sherry Kopischke, center). BYU Young Company production of Twelfth Night. Photo by Jaren Wilkey/BYU. © BYU PHOTO 2016. All Rights Reserved. Performance Dates and Times: Feb. 3-5, 10-12, at 7 p.m. Matinees at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Feb. 6 and 13. Location: Nelke Theatre, Harris Fine Arts Center, BYU Price: $7 (discounts for senior citizens, BYU students, groups and alumni) Tickets: Available in person at the BYU Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center, by phone at 801-422-2981 or online at byuarts.com

On Monday, August 24th, Megan Jones and Wade Hollingshaus of the Theatre and Media Arts Department, and Ronald Staheli and Rosalind Hall from the School of Music, received awards at the opening ceremonies of the recent University Conference at the Marriott Center. Megan Jones received the Alcuin Fellowship Award, recognizing teachers and scholars that work above and beyond disciplines to contribute to general education and honors curriculums. Jones has a PhD in Theatre Historiography from the University of Minnesota. She is the Associate Professor of Theatre as the Theatre Arts Studies BA Program coordinator and Women’s Studies affiliate faculty member. She received her PhD in Theatre Historiography from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Megan is also a director/choreographer whose credits at BYU include Crazy For You, Holes, Romeo and Juliet, Arabian Nights, Henry 5, and the upcoming Twelfth Night. Wade Hollingshaus also received the Alcuin Fellowship Award. Hollingshaus has a PhD in Theatre/History/Theory/Criticism from the University of Minnesota. He is the department chair of the Theatre and Media Arts Department and the head of the Dramaturgy Studies. He is also an affiliate faculty with BYU’s Scandinavian Studies program and serves as the liaison between the American Society for Theatre Research (ASTR) and the Theatre Library Association (TLA). He is also a member of the Performance Philosophy research network. Currently, Hollingshaus is working on a new book project on Peter Gabriel and theatricality. Rosalind Hall, third from left, and Ronald Staheli, fourth from left, front standing row. UAC University Annual Conference in Marriott Center. August 24, 2015. Photography by: Mark A. Philbrick/BYU. Copyright BYU Photo 2015. All Rights Reserved. Rosalind Hall also received the Creative Works Award. Hall, a native of Wales, came to Utah in 1989 to pursue post-graduate studies in choral conducting at Brigham Young University. Her British training was at London’s Royal Academy of Music and Edinburgh and London Universities. Before returning to teach at BYU in 1999, she spent seven years at the Waterford School where she chaired the music department, directed the choral program and played a key role in developing the Waterford Fine Arts Academy. She is renowned for her innovative and vivacious approach to vocal and rehearsal technique. Hall is the Choral and Conducting Division Coordinator for the School of Music. Ronald Staheli received the Creative Works Award recognizing outstanding achievement in developing creative works that have wide acceptance, and national or international distribution. Staheli recently retired as a conductor in performances involving the combined choirs and orchestra of BYU. He has traveled widely as a clinician and guest conductor and also has become known for what a colleague calls a profound sense of phrasing and articulation, which informs all his work. Travels have taken him and the choir to the Middle East, Russia, Western and Eastern Europe, the South Pacific, West Africa, and most recently, China.

The Brigham Young University Department of Theatre and Media Arts presents the world premiere of Princess Academy, a new play adapted from The New York Times bestseller Shannon Hale. Princess Academy tells the story of a young girl taken from her home to attend royal finishing school and faces a harsh schoolmistress, fierce storms and bandits. She soon discovers the power of friendship and a loving heart. The performance runs on select dates from May 30 to June 13, at 7 p.m., in the Pardoe Theatre. Matinee performances will occur on May 30, June 4, 6, 12 and 13, starting at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12, with $3 off for students and $2 off for alumni and seniors, and can be purchased in person at the BYU Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center, by phone 801.422.2981 or online at byuarts.com. Children ages 4 and older are eligible for student ticket prices. Director Megan Sanborn Jones teamed up with playwright Lisa Hall Hagen and dramaturg Janine Sobeck more than a year ago to begin the process of adapting Shannon Hale’s story for the stage. This group effort was in part inspired by the story in Princess Academy where the academy girls must work together and answer questions as a group to complete their final exam. “In the process of creating this new adaption of the novel for the BYU stage, we found inspiration and truth in this lesson,” said Jones. “This is the true magic of collaboration – the work each person does to fully understand, respect and nurture the vision of the other creators. This inspired us to be better individually, to learn from one another and to love our work.” More Ways to Enjoy Princess Academy arts.byu.edu for a free 'Lunch and Learn' workshop offered at 12:30 p.m. in the north lobby of the Pardoe Theatre prior to the June 4, 6, 12 and 13, matinee performances of Princess Academy. The activity will be an opportunity for all playgoers ages 8 and older to participate in learning activities inspired by the production. BYU student “teaching artists” will lead 60-minute workshops and then provide a space for participants to enjoy lunch before the performance begins. One free meal will be provided by BYU for each registered participant. Parents/guardians are not to leave children unattended during the workshop and are encouraged to register and participate along with their children. Donate a Book, Support Provo Schools: As part of a community outreach drive for the Provo School district, audience members who bring a new or gently used children’s book to the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center ticket office will receive an additional $2 off one child’s ticket. This offer is valid for Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday evening performances only. Excluding previous purchases. The Princess Academy cast features Aubrey Bench as Miri, Claire Eyestone as Britta, Meagan Flinders as Katar, Sherry Henry as Liana, Leah Hodson as Frid, Tearza Foyston as Gerti, Rachel Heath as Esa, Heather Jones as Olana, Abram Yarbro as Peder, Rachel Pullan as Doter, Jennifer Bozeman as Marda, Jared Cahoon as Pa, Clayton Cranford as Seffan, Logan Ruesch as Dan, Robert Fuller as Chief Delegate and Ryan Moss as Dogface. The production crew includes hair and makeup co-designer Valeri Day, assistant director and composer Haley Flanders, props designer Scott Jackson, dramaturg Heather Oberlander, lighting designer Marianne Ohran, makeup co-designer Celena Kurogi Peterson, scenic designer Rory Scanlon, dramaturg Janine Sobeck, assistant lighting designer Sarah Beth Stewart and costume designer Mary Jane Wadley. Tickets and Show Details Dates: May 29-30, June 4-6, 10-13 Times: 7 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees on May 30, June 4, 6, 12 and 13 Location: Pardoe Theatre, Harris Fine Arts Center, BYU Price: $12 (discounts available for students, alumni and seniors) Tickets: Available at the BYU Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center, by phone 801.422.2981 or visit byuarts.com

The Brigham Young University Department of Theatre and Media Arts presents the world premiere of “Princess Academy,” a new play adapted from New York Times bestseller Shannon Hale on select dates from May 30 to June 13 at 7 p.m. in the Pardoe Theatre.

The BYU Department of Theatre and Media Arts presents Travesties, a dramatic comedy, beginning Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. and playing through Dec. 3. In Stoppard’s award-winning classic, important historical figures such as Lenin, Tristan Tzara and James Joyce cross wits on the nature and function of politics and art in a farcical tale of misunderstandings, mistaken identity and a misplaced handbag borrowed directly from Wilde’s masterpiece The Importance of Being Earnest. “We’re doing Travesties in conjunction with our production of The Importance of Being Earnest, which Oscar Wilde called a trivial comedy for serious people,” said Megan Sanborn Jones, director of Travesties. “Travesties, on the other hand, is a serious comedy for trivial people. It deals with art, revolution, and responsibility of the people to change the world for the better. These are very serious topics but it’s done in a trivial manner, through singing vaudeville songs, through limericks and through slapstick comedy.” TMA is pleased to present both The Importance of Being Earnest and Travesties simultaneously. Travesties, which begins Nov. 11, is heavily inspired by Earnest and though able to stand alone, the scripts for the two plays share a comparable relationship. “I can’t think of a better play that teaches the time period 1875 -1915,” said Jones. “It’s a delight, but for me it’s hard to access if you don’t know Earnest, and so it always made sense to me that you should do the two together.” TMA will also host a post-performance discussion on Nov. 17 and Dec. 1. An ASL interpreted performance will be held on Nov. 17. Dates and Times: Nov. 11–12, 16–19, 29–30, Dec. 1-3, 7:30 p.m Nov. 12, 19 2:00 p.m. (additional Saturday matinee performance) Location: Margetts Theatre, Harris Fine Arts Center, BYU Price: $8-14 Tickets: Available in person at the BYU Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center, by phone at 801-422-2981 or online at byuarts.com