Hip-hop theater performance “What It Iz!” is like a modern-day version of Shakespeare for Ayanna McKnight. “Spoken word and poetry, in and of itself, go together,” said the third-year theater student. Read more...

Photo: Student actors explored themes of racial injustice and the incarceration system when preparing for the spokenwordical “What It Iz!” (Frank To/Daily Bruin)

Marguerite French is 5 feet 5 inches tall and of slender build. Yet she played a large, intimidating man and murderer in a gender-reversed production of the “The Revenger’s Tragedy.” French changed the way she walked so that she would appear bigger, and she spoke in a deeper, more confident voice to create the persona of a man. Read more...

Photo: UCLA alumna Marguerite French plays Mother God in a modern rendition of “Paradise Lost.” She tries to convey the celestial nature of the female God in her body movements during the silent play. (Austin Yu/Daily Bruin senior staff)

Ashley Cleveland stepped slowly onto a dark stage. Her veil swirled around her as she walked, and a recording of Richard Burton saying, “Was this the face that launched a thousand ships?” played in the background. Read more...

Photo: Theater graduate student Ashley Cleveland is double casted to play Helen of Troy in UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television’s production of “Helen,” along with graduate student Beth Lane. They were inspired by the strong and confident female character. (Chengcheng Zhang/Daily Bruin)