TROY Repertory Dance Ensemble
The Troy Dance Repertory Ensemble (TDRE) is a group of elite dancers who have helped TROY UNIVERSITY kick off its dance minor, in the Department of Theatre and Dance. During this first year, TROY has begun with the best, presenting an ensemble of dancers who represent the program we are building; therefore, we are looking for well-trained dancers who are or have the potential to be quality performers.
The performances of the TROY DANCE REPERTORY ENSEMBLE include a variety of dance genres, focusing mainly on lyrical contemporary. Whereas most university dance program performances emphasize the core offerings of ballet and modern, TROY DANCE offers new variations on this tried and true combination. While TDRE members train extensively in Ballet and Contemporary, they perform equally most dance genres and are a versatile group.
TDRE travels as often as funding allows, performing when invited. One of the first universities to participate at major dance conventions like the Pulse and NUVO, the TDRE program keeps dancers in front of the best names in the dance industry.
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Musical Theatre Ensemble & Studio
The Musical Theatre Ensemble is a select group of students who excel in and are committed to the musical theatre. The ultimate performer in this group is the triple threat, having skills in all three areas—vocals, dance, and acting and a strong desire and potential for professional casting. Priority is also given to the developing musical theatre professional and though there is no set number for this group, an average number is 16 with a maximum number of 20. Those cast in the MTE perform solos, group and ensemble pieces at various University and community events as well as play a significant role in recruiting.
The Musical Theatre Studio is a part of the ensemble’s training and development, with individual and group sessions related to repertoire, vocal-dance-acting development as well as the business of theatre and the professional world. All MTE cast members are expected to participate fully in the work of MT Studio.
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Classical Ensemble
The Classical Theatre Ensemble is cast as a part of the Fall General Auditions in August of each year. Students who are cast in this ensemble have the opportunity to work on selected monologues and scenes from the Shakespeare canon, Greek drama, and Moliere for the upper level student. Emerging professionals as well as the entering students are eligible for the one on one and group study offered in this ensemble. Text work, voice, and movement are honed for the serious performer in the CTE.
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Pied Pipers
Hello Boys and Girls! We’re the Pied Pipers from Troy (State) University and today we have some stories we’d like to share with you. But first, let’s meet the Pied Pipers starting from my right…..Have you ever noticed that sometimes people look just like animals? Look up on stage and see if you see any Pied Pipers who look like animals!
The history of the Troy University’s PIED PIPERS is legendary. A touring ensemble for thirty-five years under the direction of former Speech and Theatre chair and Dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts, Dr. David Dye, the Pied Pipers have performed for literally hundreds of thousands of elementary students across Alabama and the Southeast. When the University went to the semester system, the available time for touring was gone, so the Fall 1998 tour was the lengthy tour.
Today as part of our Freshman Year Initiative, all freshmen actors, theatre education majors, and other interested students prepare the treasured stories including Sally the Skunk, Mushroom in the Rain, Uncle Remus’ Tar Baby, and everybody’s favorite, The Three Little Pigs! Though a more extensive tour is in the making, students are now performing the stories for our Page to Stage performances and at local schools on non class days.
Enjoy the gallery of photos from days gone by and if you’re a former Pied Piper, let us hear from you!