APRIL 18-MAY 18, 2024

For the first time in its history, The Vicky Archives is opening up its doors to the outside world. An elite group of guests have been granted one-time, special access to travel through a collection of memories belonging to and maintained by the organization’s peculiar members. The Archivists recount and uncover their life stories, shaping one another’s narratives through experimental group exercises. (Is this a cult? Probably not, right?) The Vicky Archives is an immersive experience for just 30 audience members exploring memory, intimacy, collective and individual identity, and the intoxicating promise of a life of purpose. Make haste and accept your invitation to The Archives before its doors close again.

THE VICKY ARCHIVES

Co-Created by Sam Myers, Dan Kuan Peeples, Nick Auer, Max Pendergast, Allie Freed, and Sam James (BATES ALUMNI)

Written by Sam Myers and Dan Kuan Peeples
Directed by Nick Auer
Lighting Designer: Jacqueline Scalletta 
Scenic Designer: Cat Raynor
Costume Designer: Kindall Almond
Sound Designer: Max Silverman
Creative Producer: Max Pendergast
Production Stage Manager: Taylor Suffridge

Starring 
Dan Kuan Peeples
Allie Freed
Sam James
Marisela Grajeda Gonzalez
Nile Assata Harris 
Marjorie Conn

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“Speak the speech…trippingly on the tongue.” 

We can’t wait to see you!”

Portfolio Capstone – Fall Semester

My personal reflection sits at the intersection of dance and neuroscience. Throughout the essay, I examine the psychological impact of my past ballet training and how this has manifested in my physicality as a dancer in the long term. Weaving in various studies on tonic immobility, neuroplasticity, and unlearning, this project seeks to debunk the personal challenges I have struggled with in the studio via neuroscientific and psychological explanations.

Ellie Friends ’21

Independent Study/Advanced Comp equivalent project – Fall Semester

In a suddenly online and virtual world, how does video exist as a mode of creation and connection?  My 360 Project this fall is a dive into the world of dance video, and the creation of a set of works that will explore ideas of isolation, disconnect, and the potential for joy.  Through study of critical contributions to the dance video cannon, introducing myself to the skill set of videography and video editing, and exploring movement in a solo body, I am so excited to see where this research takes me.

Choreographic Thesis – Winter Semester

Working off the research of my Fall 360 Project, my Senior Thesis will be a video dance piece.  I am excited to work with a group of dancers to explore the concepts of care and collaboration within a rapidly vacillating world.  My choreographic work will be a combination of dance choreography as you might see in live performance, and the choreography of video editing of that material to play with location, space, and linear time.

Esme Goldfinger ’21

Portfolio Capstone w/ Advanced Comp Final Piece

As of right now, I’m hoping that my final piece to take the �ֲ���ý Stage will reflect how dance manifests on both an individual and communal level. I plan to take advantage of the required physical distances to explore how movement lifts spirits in an informal setting, such as your kitchen while cleaning. Despite the seriousness of the world surrounding us, I hope to create a thought-provoking but fun piece exemplifying how dance exists as a cathartic and connecting tool.

Erick Gredonia ’21

Choreographic Thesis

I want to bring hip hop dance to the concert stage. Through hip hop, I want to explore how identities are formed, and how hip hop as a culture formed my identity. I am super excited to showcase my thesis in the Spring Dance Concert, so hopefully I have that opportunity to do some of the best work to present as my culmination at �ֲ���ý. 

Brittany Seipp ’21

Independent Study/Advanced Comp equivalent project – Fall Semester

My 360 will be a duet looking at the history of hip-hop dance and how the movement quality has evolved. I will be looking at old moves from the 80s and try to put my own contemporary twist on it. This semester I will also experiment with film and how to present my choreography to a large audience during a time of social distancing. 

Choreographic Thesis – Winter Semester

My thesis is inspired by philosopher Alan Watts’s novel, The Meaning of Happiness. With a large cast of dancers, I want to explore the meaning of happiness, purpose, and my relationship with dance in this universe. I hope to make a piece that highlights various dance forms, that represents my diverse dance background. 

Sarah Wood ’21

Written Thesis –  decolonization of dance education in public schools

In this project, I am exploring how dance classes can be incorporated into public school curriculum in a decolonized format. I am using Nyama McCarthy-Brown’s Dance Pedagogy for a Diverse World which has become very popular recently as a starting point. From there I am hoping to look beyond her work creating inclusive classrooms and into how assessments and grading can be decolonized as well.

Meet the 2020-21 directors & their creative 360/Thesis/Capstone Projects

This year, we are making history as �ֲ���ý Theater holds its first-ever ZOOM Auditions with Kush Sharma ’23 & Olivia Dimond ’22.

Olivia Dimond ’22

Independent Study in Directing

Title – you’ll thank me for everything one day

Playwright – Rebecca Hodge

Lucas and Stella are assigned a duet project at their prestigious music school. Lucas doesn’t know what his next move is. Stella might just be able to see the future. I’m looking forward to exploring what happens when the anxiety of growing up collides with love, music, and what we owe each other.

Kush Sharma ’23

Independent Study in Directing

Title – Into that Good Night

Playwright – Sam Friskey

Into that Good Night is a play about two best friends, Emilia and Oliver, and how their relationship takes an unexpected turn the day before Oliver is supposed to move abroad. On their last night together, they realize that both of them have been suppressing their feelings for each other but is it too late now?

LuisDa Molina-Rueda ’21

Play Development/Documentary Theater Thesis

Title – Proyecto Machos

Playwright- LuisDa Molina-Rueda ’21

José, a 43 year old man, kills his partner Jesús, 23, to later kill himself. They are found dead in a garage carport days later. A gay theater student researcher in a nearby town comes back from abroad to conduct interviews, with the hope of shining a light on the causes of the murder.

Proyecto Machos is a documentary theater project that surveys gay masculinities in rural southern Spain. Our current research revolves around a suspected gay crime of passion that happened in Priego de Córdoba (Andalusia, Spain) two years ago. The case still remains under judicial secrecy. It is our hope that this project will ultimately illuminate a part of the gay experience in rural southern Spain, and contribute to the scarce dramatic literature on the topic. 
Follow us at and to learn more about our project.

Patrick Reilly ’21

Directing Thesis

Title – A Gaggle of Saints

Playwright –  Neil LaBute

Two attractive college-age adults, John and Sue, separately recount the violent event of an anniversary weekend in New York City.

Deon Custard ’21

Directing Thesis

Title – Twelfth Night

Playwright – William Shakespeare

Mistaken identities, love triangles, and drunken foolery abound in this rocking production of the classic romantic comedy. Using a transdisciplinary approach, this is Shakespeare that will capture the spirit and the sound of the 1960s & 70s; all while breaking down the barriers of white hegemony, maleness, and age that has historically defined Early Modern studies. This raucous celebration of youth, love, and music (opens in March of 2021) and promises to be an aural and visual treat!

Nicky Longo ’21

Directing Thesis

Title – Grand Concourse

Playwright – Heidi Schreck

Is there a limit to forgiveness, and if so where is the line drawn? A basketball playing nun, a rainbow-haired college drop out, a security guard/aspiring dentist, and a comically inclined homeless man named Frog are the four characters Schreck creates to explore infidelity, dishonesty, and betrayal. As different perspectives are voiced, this morality play has audience members consider their own perceptions of forgiveness. 

OPEN DANCE DAY – THIS SUNDAY!!! Join us!!!

FAB 15 February 8th

In the 15th annual edition of F.A.B “Franco and  �ֲ���ý,” the college and the Gendron Franco Center present dance artists from Maine and beyond.

SPRING DANCE CONCERT April 3-6

Tickets to all performances are available through the �ֲ���ý Theater and Dance EventBrite page, linked below.

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