Mandell Professionals in Residence Project (MPIRP)
Philadelphia is fast becoming one of the most important places in the country for innovativeand exciting theater and dance. MPiRP provides valuable space for some of these up and coming performing arts organizations and artists. Residencies vary from a single artist (actor,playwright, director, choreographer, designer) to a full company in residence. Each unique collaboration is designed to benefit both Drexel and the professionals with the goal of giving students a unique educational experience and offering the professionals in residence the resources and diverse talents that Drexel has to offer. Professional residencies have full use of the Mandell Theater complex including rehearsal space, along with limited use of scene and costume shops and a 400+ seat proscenium stage with a fly system.
For more information about the 2011-12 Residency featuring The Riot Group, visit the current residency page
Previous Residency Events:
Three time Barrymore Award winning 11th Hour Theatre Company which is committed to expanding one of the truly great American art forms...musical theatre, will present the musical RENT with book, music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson in residence. The show will be directed by founding member Megan O'Brien and feature the other two founding company members Artistic Director Michael Phillip O'Brien and Steve Pacek, who will choreograph the show.
As one of only two companies in the city dedicated to producing musical theatre, 11th Hour focuses on the intimate relationship that forms between artist and audience when music, theatre and dance come together to entertain, educate and inspire.
In the five years that 11th Hour Theatre Company has been eligible for Barrymore Award consideration; they have garnered 22 nominations and brought home 6 awards.
RENT, Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize winning "landmark rock opera," changed musicals forever. Bohemian friends struggle with love, loss and mortality amid the AIDS epidemic as they discover the importance of making the most of every moment by proving that there is "No Day But Today."
The cast includes ten professional actors from Philadelphia, New York and New Jersey and eight talented Drexel students.
In addition to the musical RENT, 11th Hour will present a concert reading of the musical Tick, Tick...Boom! The show, which was Jonathan Larson's first musical, will be presented on October 25th at 7:00 pm as a fundraiser for the Mazzoni Center for LGBT Health and Well-being.
Students will be involved in all areas of RENT. Although auditions were already held, students can still be involved in the backstage and marketing work on the show. This is an opportunity to work with a professional theater company and gain a professional credit on your resume. Any interested students should contact Nick Anselmo at nick.anselmo@drexel.edu for more information.
Cast of RENT featured on NBC10
Current Residency: 11th Hour Theatre Company
Barrymore Award Winning Residency Program
MPiRP has been nominated for four Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theater over the past three years and in 2009 Christopher Colucci has been chosen for Outstanding Sound Design for the production of The Long Christmas Ride Home with Azuka Theatre in residence.
2009 MPiRP Resident Show Bluebird with EgoPo Productions and Orchestra 2001. Photo by Kara Khan.
The Mandell Professionals in Residence Project, which is supported in part by a grant from the Samuel P. Mandell Foundation is an ongoing collaboration with the professional theatre and dance communities of Philadelphia and Drexel University. Members of the Drexel University community will be enriched by the high quality of dance and theatrical productions being offered through MPiRP in the Mandell Theater. In addition to receiving discounted tickets for MPiRP performance events, students will benefit from workshops and opportunities to gain hands on experience with established professionals.
"It's great to be able to get a professional credit to our name at such a young age, and the fact that they (the professional artists) are so willing and so happy to share this with us. It's been a really great experience." Rachel Semigran, Junior - English
"Its completely changed the way I work seeing how they carry themselves in a rehearsal atmosphere and how they carry themselves in performance and I think that it has brought all of us to the next level." Jeremy Toll, Freshman - Music Industry
Future Residencies:
Current and past MPiRP participants
For more information or to apply to be considered for a residency please email Nick Anselmo