Dynamic Patterns Theatre, an independent production company, is bringing a unique educational and entertainment experience to Central Illinois with upcoming performances of QED: A Play by Peter Parnell. Featuring a day in the life of Nobel Laureate Richard Feynman, the show interweaves strands from his professional biography, including the Manhattan project and the Challenger inquiry, and provides a window into many of his personal emotions and challenges, all the while offering several great discussions of physics ideas presented for a general audience. As the first production of a new "Science at the Theatre Series", QED (which stands for quantum electrodynamics, the physics model for which Feynman was awarded the Nobel Prize) will be incorporated with a unique informal educational opportunity along with the traditional theatrical experience for patrons to enjoy. Dynamic Patterns Theatre is collaborating with local physicists and teachers to host an informal forum highlighting aspects of Feynman's life and career and feature science topics discussed in the play. With an interactive format of "Ask a Physicist", patrons will be free to ask the panel any questions they might have about science for a unique opportunity to increase their appreciation for science and how the Universe works, if only just a bit. "My academic background is in physics, so I am personally excited to merge my theatre and science interests into a new cultural event that has not be attempted before in Central Illinois", said Matthew T. Dearing, co-producer of dynamic patterns theatre and director for QED. Richard Feynman is portrayed by Al Scheider, a long-time regional actor from Decatur who has performed in over sixty community theatre productions in thirty-seven years, and has directed theater for twelve years. The supporting role of Miriam Field, a young Caltech student, is played by Lynexia Dawn Chigges, who is an LPN with Memorial Physician Services, and has performed on stages from San Diego to Springfield, Illinois. QED: A Play performs for three weekends in three communities, with the opening on September 13, 14 at 8:00 pm in Springfield at the Hoogland Center for the Arts, September 20, 21 at 7:30 pm in Jacksonville at the Playhouse on the Square, and October 4, 5 at 8:00 pm in Decatur and the Madden Arts Center.
This tracking and timing study was carried out by Serrell and Associates in April of 2013 as a second phase of the Museum's visitor research program for its new facility and exhibition experiences (see Whole-Museum Stay-Time Study of April 2012 for the first phase of this work). The Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU) at the Rio Tinto Center opened in November 2011, with a total of 51,270 square feet of public interpretive space. In 2012, NHMU began a multiphase evaluation process to help staff members understand the experiences that visitors have during their visits to the new building. The
A report on a visitor study about three digital "talk-back stations" located in exhibitions at the Natural History Museum of Utah (NMHU). In multiple locations in the Museum, non-digital visitor participation/visitor content contribution opportunities are offered with great success using sticky notes and guest-book formatted writing opportunities. However, it quickly became apparent that the Canyon Kiosks, Life Talkback and Land Talkback experiences were not meeting their original objectives. The aim of this research was to identify the issues impacting their success and subsequently develop
DATE:
TEAM MEMBERS:
Natural History Museum of UtahBecky MenloveLindsey GreenAlyson Webb