Gianna Brigantino
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Student production ensemble RSVP presents its 19th annual production, “Vox Balaena,” this week. The event’s final performance is on June 5.
The RSVP series developed as a way for performance arts and new technologies to intertwine with each other. RSVP was born from the sound design classes in the music department with a goal to create a lasting impression on the audience. The first concert was held in 1993.
“I think there is a part of all musicians that remains young,” director and music professor Antonio Barata said. “We are always finding new ways to present things and to push the envelope.”
The production was entirely created by the students in 10 weeks.
“We are doing everything from scratch and going through the entire process you really do appreciate what goes on in order to put the production together,” assistant director and music senior Alessandra Shanus said.
Shanus is responsible for helping Barata with tasks ranging from taking roll to organizing musical scenes.
Music senior Ryan Waczek is the recording director for the production and is responsible for all the music throughout the production. He works very closely with the composers.
“RSVP is by far the single class that I’ve learned the most from at Cal Poly,” Waczek said. “I think it really takes Learn By Doing to a whole new level because when you take the class, you take a dive into the deep end. You start from nothing and by the end of 10 weeks, you have to sell tickets and put on the show. The process is very straining and demanding, but you learn so much through it.”
This year’s performance is inspired by humpback whales. The production will take the audience on a tour of the humpback and its relationship with mankind.
“We try to find what will make our performances captivating,” Barata said. “We are RSVP because we want our audience to think and have a response to what we bring to the stage.”
“Vox Balaena” is separated into four different sequences. The first focuses on the historical view of the whales. The second demonstrates a view from the whales’ point of view. The third concentrates on whaling and the fourth advocates for the future relationship of mankind with the planet.
“There is no real story to this performance, but we have messages through each of the movements,” Waczek said. “I think we are just really trying to explain through these messages that they are more closely related to us than we think.”
Tickets for the event are $14. The performance will take place at 8 p.m. in the Christopher Cohan Performing Arts Center Pavilion.