By Elizabeth Lewis
Are you an aspiring actor, director or writer? Get thee to BYU”s Performing Arts Club!
Richard Salgado, who directs “Faking Reality,” serves as the president of the Performing Arts Club.
“The mission is to provide a forum on BYU”s campus to do full-length plays and projects,” Salgado said. “We try to do full-length plays and provide that forum that otherwise wouldn”t exist on campus.”
Previous performances by the Performing Arts Club include “Get Thee a Wife” during Fall 2002 and “The Liars” during Winter 2002.
After “Faking Reality,” the next production will be “White Knights,” a play by Ariel Wambaugh, at 7:30 p.m. on April 10, 11 and 12 on the Harold B. Lee Library west patio.
The Performing Arts Club originally started as a forum for actors who wanted to perform but could only find minor roles. Salgado said the club”s focus has since changed.
“The Performing Arts Club is not for actors who don”t have talent,” Salgado said. “We auditioned over 100 people for ”Faking Reality.” The talent level is there. Our goal and mission is more towards the directors and writers who otherwise wouldn”t have a venue.”
The Performing Arts Club meets at the beginning of each semester, but works differently than other clubs because it does not hold regular meetings.
“At the start of the semester we decide which projects we”re doing,” Salgado said.
The club requires no fee to join, just interest and ability in the performing arts. Salgado said the club is currently looking for writers and directors.
“We also have needs for people to do production managing and set design,” Salgado said. “But before you can have that, you have to have a director and a writer.”
Another upcoming event sponsored by the Performing Arts Club, pending approval by BYUSA, is a contest for the best original play written by a BYU student.
The prize, Salgado said, will be a $5,000 award to produce a play during fall semester 2003.
The funds for the award will come from revenue generated by Performing Arts Club productions. “Faking Reality” made its way on-stage with a $1,000 budget.
“A $5,000 budget for an on-campus production is a pretty big prize,” Salgado said. “Our goal is to take all the revenue we make and support the next production,” Salgado said.
Anyone interested in becoming part of the Performing Arts Club or entering the play contest may contact Richard Salgado via e-mail at .
