University of Arkansas, FayettevilleScholarWorks@UARK

Theses and Dissertations

5-2013

Performance of the Role of Blanche DuBois inTennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire"Shannon Leigh WebberUniversity of Arkansas, Fayetteville

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Recommended CitationWebber, Shannon Leigh, "Performance of the Role of Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire"" (2013).Theses and Dissertations. 769.http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/769

Performance of the Role of Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams' “A Streetcar Named Desire”

Performance of the role of Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams' “A Streetcar Named Desire”

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment

of the requirements for the degree of

Master of Fine Arts in Drama

By

Shannon Leigh Webber

Piedmont College

Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, 2010

May 2013

University of Arkansas

ABSTRACT

This is a compilation of my work in both “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “Down the

Road.” In this thesis you will find a portfolio of my work in both shows containing my artistry

statement, programs, resume, photos and a link to my actor’s website.

This thesis is approved for recommendation

to the Graduate Council.

Thesis Director:

_______________________________________

Amy Herzberg, M.F.A

Thesis Committee:

_______________________________________

Michael Landman, M.F.A

_______________________________________

Mavourneen Dwyer, M.F.A

THESIS DUPLICATION RELEASE

I hereby authorize the University of Arkansas Libraries to duplicate this thesis when needed for

research and/or scholarship.

Agreed __________________________________________________

Shannon Webber

Refused __________________________________________________

Shannon Webber

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank my colleagues and the faculty and staff of the University of

Arkansas’s drama department for their constant support and encouragement. I have learned so

much from you all throughout these past three years. Thank you for everything.

DEDICATION

This thesis is dedicated to my parents, Terry and Cindy Webber, without whom I would

not exist. Thank you for never giving up on me and always encouraging me to follow my

dreams, no matter how farfetched they may have seemed at the time. Your warmth and

unfaltering support have brought me to where I am today and will continue to carry me into the

future. I love you both with all my heart.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. STATEMENT OF ARTISTRY 1

II. PRODUCTION PROGRAMS 2

A. Down the Road Program 2

B. A Streetcar Named Desire Program 4

III. ACTOR’S WEBSITE 8

IV. PRODUCTION PHOTOS 9

A. A Streetcar Named Desire 9

B. Down the Road 10

V. WORKS CITED 11

VI. APPENDIX A: Program Use Permission 12

1

I. STATEMENT OF ARTISTRY

I like to believe that my duty as an actor, in words of Sanford Meisner, is to live truthfully

under imaginary circumstances. In order to achieve this goal I must find as much truth in the

characters I portray as I do living my daily life. Meryl Streep says, “Acting is not about being

someone different. It's finding the similarity in what is apparently different, then finding myself

in there.” I believe the only way to truly breathe life into a character is to allow myself the

freedom to live inside her skin while maintaining the ability to separate myself from the

character when the piece is complete.

In addition, I aspire to create theatre that evokes awareness and stimulates conversation. I

hope to jumpstart the audience’s imagination by collaborating with my peers as theatre artists. It

is important that we not only think of ourselves as actors, designers and directors, but as artists

with a common goal, to create theatre. In the future I wish to continue expressing my passions

through theatre and I will never stop creating real, honest theatre as long as I have a “stage”,

script and lights at my disposal.

2

II. PRODUCTION PROGRAMS

A. Down the Road Program:

Poster Designed by Brittany Daniels

3

4

B. A Streetcar Named Desire Program:

Poster designed by Brittany Daniels and Kelly Henry

5

6

7

8

III. ACTOR’S WEBSITE

Access to my actor’s website can be located at: shannonleighwebber.com

My website includes: Bio, headshots, production photos, a second resume and video clips.

9

IV. PRODUCTION PHOTOS

A. A Streetcar Named Desire

Blanche and Stella in Scene 4. Photo taken by the University Theater.

Blanche and Stanley in Scene 1. Photo by the University Theater.

10

B. Down the Road

Iris and Dan Henniman in Scene 10. Photo by Esteban Arevalo

Iris Henniman in Scene 3. Photo by Esteban Arevalo

11

V. WORKS CITED

Blessing, Lee. Down The Road. New York. Dramatists Play Service, Inc., 1991. Print.

Williams, Tennessee. A Streetcar Named Desire. New York. Dramatists Play Service, Inc., 1947.

Print.

Production Programs:

A Streetcar Named Desire. Fayetteville, AR: University Theater, 2013. Print.

Down The Road. Fayetteville, AR: University Theater, 2013. Print.

12

VI. Appendix A: Program Use Permission