UT MFA Grad Marlane Barnes Cast in 'Twilight Saga' Film

Published at the Daily Texan, November 18:

UT alum nabs role in new 'Twilight' movie

By Jody Serrano

UT alumna Marlane Barnes only had a vague idea of what the “Twilight Saga” was about before she went in to audition for an opportunity many would kill for: a part in “Breaking Dawn,” the fourth installment of the saga.

Officials gave her the scene and put her on tape ­— the audition took 30 seconds. Three days later, Barnes found out she got the job.

“Over 20 years to prep for that 30 seconds,” Barnes said. “I think the secret is I didn’t bother wanting the job. I didn’t think there was any chance in hell I would get it, so I did my prep watching the movie and reading up on the character and then went in and did it for me.”

Barnes landed the role of Maggie, a new vampire that knows when individuals lie to her in “Breaking Dawn: Part 2,” to be released next year. She graduated from UT in 2010 with a Master of Fine Arts in acting and moved to Los Angeles after graduation to join her boyfriend at the University of Southern California. Barnes said her agents got her the audition because “Twilight” officials were looking for low-profile actors to play the new characters.

Barnes said UT helped prepare her for the movie industry by teaching her to dedicate time to work on her craft and allowed her to experience a taste of the real world.

“The opportunity to make mistakes is really important,” Barnes said. “And it should be in school, on your time, not someone else’s.”

Read full text at Daily Texan on-line . . . .

Austin Shakespeare Classes Based on King Lear, October 11 - November 22

Found on-line:

Shakespeare Acting Studio, October 11 - November 22

Austin Shakespeare is currently accepting actors into the professional Shakespeare Acting Studio. The Fall semester will focus on scenes from King Lear, including cross gender casting. Focusing on interpretive tools, voice and diction, and intense physicalization, we believe that sharpening your skills in expressing Shakespeare's work, you will be a stronger actor in any endeavor.

The Shakespeare Acting Studio will run from 7 pm-9:30 pm Mondays Oct. 11- Nov. 22 in 8 sessions. $35 per session or $200 for all 8 sessions. The studio will include a final showcase performance for professional agents, directors and supporters.

To apply, contact: swan@austinshakespeare.org.

Senior Citizen Acting Opportunity: Playing Dead in Our Town, Zach Theatre

Received indirectly:

Zachary Scott Theatre is looking for volunteers!

“Dave Steakley, Artistic Director for Our Town, is requesting senior citizen aged folks (primarily men & couples) to be a part of ACT III and play dead people in the graveyard scene at the end of the play each night. What an opportunity to be on stage at ZACH Scott Theatre and star alongside Jaston Williams (star of Greater Tuna)! The volunteers wouldn’t have lines but they would have blocking to follow. Mostly they are sitting in a black folding chair and looking forward off into the distance. At one point in the play they have to stand and move their chairs to the side and be reseated, and then later in the act they put their chair back where it started and sit again and then a couple of pages later they exit with their chair. Each person will need to wear all black—something of their own for this scene. My preference would be to have 5 –10 people who might commit to do it for the whole run. They would just have to be here for the last act of each show. If no one will make a 6 week commitment then I can look at dividing it up into smaller chunks to get this accomplished. The run of Our Town starts April 15^th and runs through May 23^rd, Wednesdays through Sundays.”

If interested in participating, please contact:
Lily Williams
Interim Company Manager
ZACH Theatre
lwilliams@zachtheatre.org

[illustration: Heavenly Eclipse by Scott Wyant, from fineartamerica.com]

Upcoming: UT MFA Actors' Showcase, Lab Theatre, March 12

Received via Twitter:

The MFA Acting Class of 2010 Showcase
University of Texas Lab Theatre
Friday, March 12, 5 p.m.

Eclectic, diverse, talented, beautiful, inspired, daring, a little eccentric, just a few of the adjectives that come to mind when describing our current crop of emerging artists. Our department is now known for recruiting and training an exciting cohort in beautiful Austin, Texas. We will be introducing them soon to the theatrical/film communities in Los Angeles and New York. You won't want to miss meeting them. Please visit us often for further details on our 2010 showcases and look for “save the date” cards and invitations in the mail in 2010.

Contact: Franchelle Dorn (frandorn@mail.utexas.edu) 512-232-7097
Free, limited seating at the Lab Theatre (LTH), located between the Jackson Geological Sciences Building (JGB) and the F. Loren Winship Drama Building (WIN) near 24th and San Jacinto.
Parking available in the San Jacinto Garage on San Jacinto near Dean Keeton.