Virtual Theatricality News

HFCC’s Virtual Theatricality lab was a finalist for the Bellwether Award. The Bellwether Award is one of the most prestigious national awards to be bestowed upon a community college. The Bellwether Awards annually recognize outstanding and innovative programs and practices that are successfully leading community colleges of America into the future. The Award is sponsored by the University of Florida. This was the first time an HFCC program was considered for a Bellwether Award.

HFCC’S Virtual Theatricality Lab was selected as a finalist from over 400 nominated community colleges across the nation. The Title of The Virtual Theatricality Lab’s entry was: “Theater For The 21st Century and Beyond.”

Founded in 1994, the VTL combines advanced computer and digital arts with live performance techniques and interactive systems for dance, musical and theatrical performance. The VTL also employs shows using virtual and physical bodies, motion capture and sensor technology, telematic and non-linear performance, web-based performance, interactive installation performance, virtual performance spaces, realtime music control, and virtual scenery and properties.

The VTL was selected because it represents the "new stagecraft" of the 21st century, a totally impressive learning experience, where students are exposed to a new form of multi-technical impressive teaching as well as a new form of stagecraft. It is a blending of TV, Film, Computer Animation, Dance, Music, Video. and Theater and is being used to redesign and revitalize the HFCC Performing Arts curriculum.

In January, 2008, delegates from HFCC attended the Community College Futures Assembly in Orlando, Florida to accept the Bellwether Finalist Award. Representatives from HFCC were Sharon Dulmage, President, Board of Trustees; Dr. Reginald Gerlica, Vice President of Academic affairs; Dr. George Popovich, Director of Theater and Director of The Virtual Theatricality Lab; Gerry Dzuiblinski, HFCC Theater Technical Director; E. Alan Contino, Virtual Theatricality Lab Chief Research engineer; Brian Johnson, Virtual Theatricality lab animator; and Lori Przyblo, Motion Capture Performance Model.

The VTL has also won the Kennedy Center’s American College Theater Festival, regional award, January, 2004; Critics Picks, December 2006, Detroit Free Press; Best Innovation Team Award for LAND (Liberal Arts Network for Development. a network to promote the Liberal Arts at Michigan community colleges), February, 2007; and The League For Innovation In The Community College Award, April, 2007. The VTL has been invited to make an encore presentation for LAND in February, 2008. In January, 2007 the VTL presented a Motion Capture Workshop by invitation for The Kennedy Center’s American College Theater Festival. The Virtual Theatricality Lab was visited by Dr. Guangyao Bai, Vice President, The National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts Beijing, China. October, 2007.