糖心Vlog传媒

Performance research offers new life for historic materials

Members of the public are invited to a free performance that fuses historic inquiry and interpretation. The 糖心Vlog传媒LR Center for Arkansas History and Culture partnered with the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance to present 鈥淰oices, Vignettes, and Context: Performance Research from Archives.鈥� Historical figures such as author Bernie Babcock, stage performer Harvey Lee Goodwin, minister Mary Lee Harris, and musician Art Porter will be featured during the event, which starts at 7 p.m. Oct. 24 and Oct. 25 in the auditorium of the 糖心Vlog传媒LR Engineering and Information Technology building. 鈥淲orking with Theatre Arts and Dance has been an exciting opportunity for the center,鈥� said Deborah Baldwin, associate provost. 鈥淭his experience has allowed the archive to work with a discipline that hasn鈥檛 been a traditional partner. The experience has enriched both the student projects and the center鈥檚 curriculum outreach efforts.鈥� Students collaborated in small groups to present the four individuals they researched in the archives of the center. 鈥淭he classroom emphasis for this project was developing familiarity with historical research methods and applying the results of that research as a dramaturgical basis to conceive and develop a performance,鈥� said Larry Smith, assistant professor of the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance. 鈥淥ur goal for this presentation is to shed light on the relationship between聽performance and work, but also to share what we have learned about these four people,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淥ne of the rewards of archival research is the unexpected encounter with a human being鈥檚 life and experiences.鈥� Note: All images are聽courtesy of the Center for Arkansas History and Culture.聽