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Dear Friends and Alumni,A great many changes, a great many challenges, and a good dealof theatre! That is one way of describing our past year–a yearmarked indelibly by the events of September 11. It has beenenormously reassuring to hear from many of our alumni andfriends in the aftermath of the unthinkable losses in New York andWashington and to learn of the resolve and commitment theseevents caused among theatre artists, educators and workersacross the country. 

We began the year by celebrating the 50th anniversary of theLawrence and Lee Theatre Research Institute and we ended it byremembering the life and career of one of our loyal and talentedalumni: Eileen Heckart. In between we produced a very fullseason, hosted an impressive symposium featuring Elizabethantheatre scholars, inaugurated our New Works Lab, and werepleased that at long last the Roy Bowen Theatre has a new, safegrid! Our international efforts continue by hosting British perform-ing poet Benjamin Zephaniah and working towards establishinga Cuban program for students. OSU Theatre received nationalrecognition in Stage Directions (January 2002) in an article thatbegan by referring to the department as “Ohio’s Glory.”

One of our challenges is the diminishing budget, the result offunding cuts we have experienced. They take their toll on Encore:a smaller issue than last year, we will publish our Faculty and StaffNews section on our newly designed web-site which will belaunched in January 2003. Ever resourceful, we are able tocontinue the range of our work because of our ability to forgepartnerships, win grants, and utilize alumni donations wisely. We received a significant gift from the Fergus-Gilmore Fund forvideo equipment that has transformed our video teaching andmaking. The Jake Jacobson Fund continues to provide invaluablesupport for our guest artists. Martha Farmer’s generous donationto theatre at the Lima campus will transform theatre productionpossibilities there. And Chrisha’s Fund, established in memory ofChrisha Siebert, MFA 1993, was instituted this year to supportstudent designers in our production season.

Much gratitude goes to our hard-working, resilient faculty, staffand students and to our alumni and friends whose continuedsupport and gifts to the department make a significant differenceto so many!

Sincerely,

Lesley Ferris

letterfrom

thechair

(On the Cover) British “Dub” PoetBenjamin Zephaniah gets up close andpersonal with Weinland Park students,following his conversation andperformance. See story on page 28.

(Top Inset) The annual Lawrence andLee Theatre Research Institute Lectureby theatre critic and writer LaurieStone was just one of the events heldin celebration of the TRI’s milestoneyear.

(Bottom Inset) Theatre scholar AndrewGurr gave the keynote address for“London Citizens On and Off the Stage:A Symposium on Thomas Dekker’sThe Shoemaker’s Holiday.”

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2002-03 Season.................................................... 3

Season Review ...................................................... 4

Regional Campus Report ..................................... 6

Critics Honor OSU Theatre .................................. 8

School Tours ........................................................... 9

Guest Artists ........................................................ 10

Degrees Awarded ................................................ 12

Scholarships ......................................................... 13

Internships & Actitivities ................................... 14

Eileen Heckhart ................................................... 15

TRI Update ............................................................ 16

Spotlight On Undergrads ................................... 19

Alumni and Friends News .................................. 20

New Works Lab ................................................... 27

Benjamin Zephaniah ........................................... 28

Thomas Dekker Symposium ............................. 28

Comparative Drama Conference ..................... .29

Video Art ............................................................... 29

Cuba Program ...................................................... 30

Alumni/Update Form .......................................... 31

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Twelfth NightTwelfth NightTwelfth NightTwelfth NightTwelfth Nightby William ShakespeareNovember 6 – 24, 2002Roy Bowen Theatre

Guest Artist Residency:Actors from the London StageMuch Ado About NothingMuch Ado About NothingMuch Ado About NothingMuch Ado About NothingMuch Ado About Nothingby William ShakespeareNovember 15 &16, 2002Thurber Theatre

The Conduct of LifeThe Conduct of LifeThe Conduct of LifeThe Conduct of LifeThe Conduct of Lifeby Maria Irene FornesNovember 19–24, 2002Studio Theatre

School TourThe Arkansaw BearThe Arkansaw BearThe Arkansaw BearThe Arkansaw BearThe Arkansaw Bearby Aurand HarrisPublic Performance: February 9, 2003Studio Theatre

Comic PotentialComic PotentialComic PotentialComic PotentialComic Potentialby Alan AyckbournFebruary 12–March 1, 2003Roy Bowen Theatre

OxygenOxygenOxygenOxygenOxygen by Carl Djerassi and Roald HoffmannFebruary 26–March 8, 2003Thurber Theatre

MFA New WorksMFA New WorksMFA New WorksMFA New WorksMFA New Worksby Kenderick Hardy and Angeles RomeroMarch 4–8, 2003Studio Theatre

Sleep Deprivation ChamberSleep Deprivation ChamberSleep Deprivation ChamberSleep Deprivation ChamberSleep Deprivation Chamberby Adam P. and Adrienne KennedyMay 7–23, 2003Roy Bowen Theatre

The Fire Still BurnsThe Fire Still BurnsThe Fire Still BurnsThe Fire Still BurnsThe Fire Still BurnsDevised and Directed by John GiffinMay 21 – 31, 2003Thurber Theatre

2002-032002-032002-032002-032002-03s e a s o ns e a s o ns e a s o ns e a s o ns e a s o n

table ofcontents

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OSU Season 1. Elektra

By Ezra Pound. Mount Hall Studio Theatre.Directed by Sue Ott Rowlands. ScenicDesign by Brad Steinmetz. Costume Designby Colin Sweet. Lighting Design by JimHutchinson. Sound Design by Ben Schurr.October 31–November 18, 2001.

2. Uncommon ClayDevised and directed by Jeanine Thompson.Thurber Theatre. Scenic Design by Dan Gray.Costume Design by Tatjana Langerot.Lighting Design by Kristopher D. Jones.Sound Design by Katie Whitlock.November 7- 18, 2001.

3. Division StreetBy Steve Tesich. Roy Bowen Theatre.Directed by Bruce Hermann. Scenic Designby Jessica Secrest. Costume Design byJulia Weiss. Lighting Design by Kristopher D.Jones. Sound Design by Sean Hennessy.February 13 - 28, 2002.

4. The Shoemaker’s HolidayBy Thomas Dekker. Thurber Theatre. Directedby Jon Farris. Scenic Design by Carla Chaffin.Costume Design by Adam M. West. LightingDesign by James Hutchinson. Sound Designby Stacey Siak. February 27 - March 9, 2002.

5. sheCreated and performed by Allyson Rosen.Mount Hall Studio Theatre. Scenic Design byTatjana Longerot. Costume Design by TatjanaLongerot. Lighting Design by MarkBernhardt. Sound Design by Katie Whitlock.March 5-9, 2002.

6. The Bridge of BodiesCreated and performed by KathleenGonzales. Mount Hall Studio Theatre. ScenicDesign by Kathleen Gonzales. CostumeDesign by Colin Sweet. Lighting Design byChrist Athanas. Sound Design by KathleenGonzales and Eric H. Mayer. March 5-9,2002.

7. PorcelainBy Chay Yew. Mount Hall Studio Theatre.Directed by Sue Ott Rowlands. ScenicDesign by Stacey Siak. Costume Design byJennifer L. Bach. Lighting Design by SeanHennessey. April 30 - May 4, 2002.

8. The Memory of WaterBy Shelagh Stephenson. Roy Bowen Theatre.Directed by Valerie Lucas. Scenic Design byWho Jeong Lee. Costume Design by JocelynR. Jurlina. Lighting Design by James RobertHutchinson. Sound Design by Katy A. Hite.May 8 - 24, 2002.

9. St. Joan of the StockyardsBy Bertolt Brecht. Thurber Theatre. Directedby Lesley Ferris. Music Direction by RichardWilliams. Movement Direction by J. BriggsCormier. Scenic Design by Brad Steinmetz.Costume Design by Melissa B. Bialko.Lighting Design by Drew Ward. SoundDesign by Christ Athanas. Video Design byMichael Holmes, Stephen Kennedy, andBrad Steinmetz. May 22 - June 1, 2002.

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A Post-Performance Discussion

Following the 2nd Thursdayevening performance, an invited

guest gives a brief response to theplay and then leads a discussion

with the audience and theproduction team. This year wewere fortunate enough to have

the following individualsparticipate in After WordsAfter WordsAfter WordsAfter WordsAfter Words:

Uncommon ClayUncommon ClayUncommon ClayUncommon ClayUncommon ClayRenate Margrit Burgyan, Sculptor

and Matthew Nelson, OSUDepartment of Women’s Studies.

ElektraElektraElektraElektraElektraDr. Bruce Heiden, Department ofGreek and Latin and Dr. Steven

Yao, Department of English.

Division StreetDivision StreetDivision StreetDivision StreetDivision StreetBob Fitrakis, Editor, Columbus

Freepress.

The Shoemaker’s HolidayThe Shoemaker’s HolidayThe Shoemaker’s HolidayThe Shoemaker’s HolidayThe Shoemaker’s HolidayChristopher Highley, OSU

Department of English.

The Memory of WaterThe Memory of WaterThe Memory of WaterThe Memory of WaterThe Memory of WaterDr. Julia Watson, OSU

Department of ComparativeStudies.

St. Joan of the StockyardsSt. Joan of the StockyardsSt. Joan of the StockyardsSt. Joan of the StockyardsSt. Joan of the StockyardsDr. Alexander Stephan, Professor

of German and Ohio EminentScholar, OSU Department of

German Languages andLiteratures.

The After Words discussionswere organized by

Dr. Alan Woods, AssociateProfessor of Theatre, OSU.

2001– 2002

in Review

after words

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Time Flies. OSU Lima. Spring 2002

OSU - LimaTheatre students were kept busy withperformance and technical responsi-bilities in three productions at OSU—Lima this past year. Dr. Joe Brandeskydirected Androcles and the Lion for theseventh annual Theatre for Young

Audiences produc-tion. 3700 childrenfrom a ten countyarea attended tenperformances on theLima campus in thefall. Dr. MariaIgnatieva directed aselection of shortplays and mono-logues entitledTravels in Americanaduring Winter 2002,the third in the seriesof Chamber Theatreperformances atDean Violet Meek’shome. Brandeskydirected the Spring

2002 evening of scenes and musicalexcerpts entitled Time Flies, by DavidIves, staged at the Veteran’s Memorial

Civic and Convention Center in down-town Lima. The Reed Hall Theatre willbe renovated in the coming year. Thebackstage area will be enlarged toaccommodate a fly system, and agreen room, scenic studio, costume

studio, and dressing rooms will beadded. During the renovation, campusperformances will continue to bescheduled at the Crouse PerformanceHall in Veteran’s Memorial. Manythanks to Martha Farmer for makingthis renovation possible.

The annual end-of-year barbecue washeld in the campus quad. Threestudents were recognized with Spring2002 awards: Laura Mawhorr receivedthe Arts Divisional Award; Departmen-tal awards went to Danielle Axton andTheresa Lunz. In September 2001 twostudents E. C. Miller and Jair Torresreceived financial awards that enabledthem to join the Lima Study Tour to theCzech Republic. They joined sixteenothers in Prague, Brno, Cesky Krumlovand Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad). The groupwas in Karlovy Vary on September 11and wound up stranded in Prague forthree days due to flight cancellations.Luckily, there were no difficulties duringthe extra days and the Czech peopleunhesitatingly expressed their supportin ways both tangible and subtle. Thetour leader was Dr. Brandesky, assistedby Dr. Beverly Bletstein, AssistantProfessor of Music Education.

Regional Campus

The wallbreaking ceremony on the stage of Reed Hall Theatre at the LimaCampus on August 8, 2002. From left to right: the architect from Champlin andHaupt; Maria Ignatieva, assistant professor of theatre at Lima; Lesley Ferris;Martha W. Farmer, project donor and former theatre professor at Lima; andViolet Meek, dean and director of Ohio State Lima.

Babels inArms. OSULima. Spring2002.

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s Report 2001– 2002

OSU - MansfieldThe theatre program at OSU Mansfieldcontinues to be very active under thedirection of Larry J. Evans. The 2001-2002 Theatre Season included threemajor productions, all of which used acombination of student and commu-nity talent. The fall production wasStephen Vincent Benet’s Stories ofAmerica, which ran for two perfor-mances for the Richland CountyChildren’s Theatre Foundation. Thewinter production was the LeonardBernstein musical On the Town (withDavid Tovey as music director/conduc-tor). And the spring production wasNeil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs.

The theatre department and thecampus drama club (Ohio Eta chapterof Theta Alpha Phi) worked together onsupporting the three theatre produc-tions and also sponsoring the springtheatre banquet at which severalawards were given, including the GerryRice Theatre Award to Mike Jacksonand the James Lewis Technical TheatreAward to Dauphne Maloney.

OSU – NewarkThe 2001-02 season at OSU-Newarkproduced three staged readings, oneper quarter: “A Celebration of Cats,”“The Poetry of Rock,” and “The Rime ofBrighton Beach Memoirs.

OSU Mansfield. Spring 2002.

On the Town. OSU Mansfield. Winter 2002.

the Ancient Mariner.” The winterquarter reading of rock lyrics fromDylan, Springsteen, the Doors, theWho, Al Stewart, Patti Smith, and otherrock bards attracted the largestaudience at any reading to date.

The Black Box productions for theseason emphasized variety with twocontemporary American plays and aclassic French comedy.

The autumn quarter show, Tina Howe’sBirth and After Birth, featured a setwith angled walls, multiple ramps, anddistorted and disproportionately largeor small features.

Molière’s The Misanthrope was thewinter production and took place on astage that was nearly empty, apartfrom a ten-foot tall blue dodecahedron!

The spring production, David Mamet’sAmerican Buffalo, was set in a realisticrepresentation of a seedy Chicagojunkshop.

Birth and After Birth.OSU Newark. Autumn 2001.

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Central OhioTheatre Critics HonorOSU TheatreThe Central Ohio Critics Circle, repre-senting the local media’s critics, madeits eighth annual awards to localindividuals or groups whose work”promotes the higher values of theater“or ”expands the possibilities of theater.“

■ To Ohio State University’s JeromeJeromeJeromeJeromeJeromeLawrence and Robert E. Lee TheatreLawrence and Robert E. Lee TheatreLawrence and Robert E. Lee TheatreLawrence and Robert E. Lee TheatreLawrence and Robert E. Lee TheatreResearch InstituteResearch InstituteResearch InstituteResearch InstituteResearch Institute, for 50 years ofservice to the theater, dance andlibrary communities. Founded byJohn McDowellJohn McDowellJohn McDowellJohn McDowellJohn McDowell in 1951 as the OSUTheatre Collection and renamed inhonor of the Ohio-born playwrights in 1986, the institute has grown to becomeone of the world’s most important performing arts archives under the leader-ship of Director Alan WoodsDirector Alan WoodsDirector Alan WoodsDirector Alan WoodsDirector Alan Woods and Curator Nena CouchCurator Nena CouchCurator Nena CouchCurator Nena CouchCurator Nena Couch.

■ To the Ohio State University theater department Ohio State University theater department Ohio State University theater department Ohio State University theater department Ohio State University theater department and the Columbus SymphonyOrchestra, for their ambitious collaboration in staging the first production inColumbus history of Peer GyntPeer GyntPeer GyntPeer GyntPeer Gynt, Ibsen and Grieg’s rarely staged epic.

■ A Roy Bowen Award for lifetime achievement to Eileen HeckartEileen HeckartEileen HeckartEileen HeckartEileen Heckart, a Columbusnative and Ohio State University Ohio State University Ohio State University Ohio State University Ohio State University graduate who died at age 82 on December 31,2001, for “six decades of Tony-, Oscar- and Emmy-winning performances.“

Dennis Thompson, theatre critic forthe Suburban News (left) presentsLesley Ferris and Dan Hart, ExecutiveDirector of the Columbus SymphonyOrchestra (right) with the Central OhioTheatre Critics Circle award for ourco-production of Peer Gynt.

Jay Weitz (left) presents theCentral Ohio Theatre CriticsCircle award to Alan Woods andNena Couch in honor of the TRI’s50th anniversary.

Members of the Depart-ment of Theatre on thestage of the CapitolTheatre, downtownColumbus, accept many ofthe Theatre Critics Circleawards. L to R: NenaCouch, Alan Woods, RoyBowen, Joe Scharrer, DeanKaren Bell, Mark Shanda,and Lesley Ferris.

Emeritus professors Roy Bowen(left) and Bo Brown (right) chatduring the Central Ohio TheatreCritics Circle awards in February2002.

Stage Directions:Ohio’s Glory“Already boasting a number of

solid, innovative undergraduate

and graduate programs, talented

performers and positive recogni-

tion from local theater critics, the

Ohio State University’s theater

department seems poised to rise

to greater heights in the 21st

century. Department Chair

Lesley K. FerrisLesley K. FerrisLesley K. FerrisLesley K. FerrisLesley K. Ferris proudly notes,

‘We are the first major university

to offer an MFA in acting with a

specialization in creating new

work.’ It was also among the first

universities to establish a moving

lights laboratory that trains

student designers and program-

mers in this technology. … Thanks

to a generous grant, OSU’s

theater department is turning out

the finest designers and techni-

cians of tomorrow… Although

faculty members maintain

professional interests outside the

department, they put teaching

first.”

- Helen McKnight,

Stage Directions, January 2002

Lesley Ferris shares the excitingnews about the department’sarticle in Stage Directions withPHD students Christy Stanlake(left) and Kristin Crouch (right).

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The success of the school touring program that we started in1999 continues. In fall 2001, we partnered with the MeltonCenter for Jewish Studies to produce Private Words: The Hidingof Anne Frank’s Diary, a 40-minute ensemble piece by LesleyFerris for touring to middle and high schools. Approximately 3110students saw the production at 12 schools. There were also twopublic performances at the Roth/Resler Theatre, Leo YassenoffJewish Community Center. Ann Farrelly, a PHD student, directedthe show.

In winter 2002, we revived Sobering Thoughts with a new castand director for the third year in a row. Without succumbing topreaching, Sobering Thoughts provides an unavoidable, hard-hitting message on the dangers involved in underage drinking. Xela Batchelder,a PHD student, directed this year’s version. Approximately 2720 students saw thisproduction at 15 schools. Two public performances at the New Works Lab werewell attended. We are grateful for the OSU Student Wellness Center forco-sponsoring the tour with a much appreciated grant. Tour Stops

Bexley Middle SchoolBeery Middle SchoolBuckeye Valley High SchoolDempsey Middle SchoolHilltonia Middle SchoolJones Middle SchoolOSU LimaSt. CeciliaSt. Mary MagdaleneSt.James the LessStarling Middle SchoolTrinity SchoolMary HavenWinners League FoundationFt.Hayes Metro.Ed.CenterOSU Student Wellness CenterGroveport MadisonCory-Rawson High SchoolSt. TimothyNewark Catholic HSVillage AcadamyOSU Student Wellness Center

Sobering Thoughts. Winter 2002.L to R: Aiyana Marcus, Casey Burns,Tiffany Lee Wickham, Joe Maloney.

Private Words: The Hiding of Anne Frank’s Diary. Autumn 2001. L to R: BrianPeters, Jonathan Barnes, Sue Wismar, Michael Hulvey, Lindsey Carr, KatieMiller, Amy Tzagournis.

School Tours2001-02

Awards and AccoladesWBNS-TV was one of four nominees in the Medium BusinessCategory for the Greater Columbus Arts Council’s 19th AnnualBusiness Arts Partnership Awards. They were nominated forMarcel Marceau: Maestro of Mime, a thirty-minute documentaryillustrating Marceau’s technique and training. The documentarywas filmed during Marceau’s two-week residency with thedepartment in April of 2001 and features OSU faculty andstudents.

Sobering Thoughts. Winter 2002.L to R: Tana Koos, Jocelyn Bioh, TiffanyLee Wickham, Aiyana Marcus .

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OSU Theatre hosted two guest directors for this season:  Jon FarrisJon FarrisJon FarrisJon FarrisJon Farris, professionalactor and professor of theatre at Denison University, directed The Shoemaker’sHoliday during the winter quarter and Valerie LucasValerie LucasValerie LucasValerie LucasValerie Lucas, visiting assistant professorfrom University of Surrey at Roehampton, directed The Memory of Water in thespring.

Dr. Wendell StoneDr. Wendell StoneDr. Wendell StoneDr. Wendell StoneDr. Wendell Stone spent 2001-2002 as a Post Doctoral Fellow in theLawrence and Lee Theatre Research Institute, researching the work ofplaywright Tom Eyen, whose papers are housed in the TRI. Dr. Stonereceived his doctorate from Louisiana State University, where he com-pleted a dissertation on the work of the Caffé Cino, the New York site ofEyen’s first productions. As part of his research he directed stagedreadings of two of Eyen’s important off-off Broadway plays at OSU:The White Whore and the Bit Player and Why Hanna’s Skirt Won’tStay Down. He is currently writing a paper on Eyen’s The Dirtiest Showin Town.

Audition WorkshopsAudition WorkshopsAudition WorkshopsAudition WorkshopsAudition Workshops - Through the support of the Graduate School’sProgram for the Enhancement of Graduate Studies (PEGS), the Actingand Directing Area brought in a number of nationally-known guestartists, directors and artistic directors. They included: Marsha HannaMarsha HannaMarsha HannaMarsha HannaMarsha Hanna,Artistic Director, The Human Race Theatre in Dayton, Ohio; MichaelMichaelMichaelMichaelMichaelHaneyHaneyHaneyHaneyHaney, Freelance Director and newly-appointed Associate ArtisticDirector, The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; Cathy HurstCathy HurstCathy HurstCathy HurstCathy Hurst, ArtisticDirector, St. Michael’s Playhouse, Vermont; Jason MinadakisJason MinadakisJason MinadakisJason MinadakisJason Minadakis, ArtisticDirector, Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival; Terri KentTerri KentTerri KentTerri KentTerri Kent, Artistic Director,Porthouse Theatre; John HetrickJohn HetrickJohn HetrickJohn HetrickJohn Hetrick, Sound Engineer, Magnetic Studios;Janet ParrottJanet ParrottJanet ParrottJanet ParrottJanet Parrott, Independent Video Producer; Jonathan PutnamJonathan PutnamJonathan PutnamJonathan PutnamJonathan Putnam,Freelance On-Camera Actor and CATCO resident actor; Joanne ArledgeJoanne ArledgeJoanne ArledgeJoanne ArledgeJoanne Arledge,New York-based Actress; Peter HackettPeter HackettPeter HackettPeter HackettPeter Hackett, Artistic Director, andAndrew MayAndrew MayAndrew MayAndrew MayAndrew May, Associate Artistic Director, and Rob RossRob RossRob RossRob RossRob Ross, Casting Director,Great Lakes Theatre Festival; and Joyce CaseyJoyce CaseyJoyce CaseyJoyce CaseyJoyce Casey, Artistic Director, DobamaTheatre, Cleveland, Ohio.

Internationally known solo performance artist Robert PostRobert PostRobert PostRobert PostRobert Post worked withthe MFA Independent Track students to refine their thesis performanceprojects.

Winter quarter 2002 ended with a loud stomp! Well, actually many...the SITI companySITI companySITI companySITI companySITI company was in residence again!  This was the third long-termresidency that Anne Bogart and SITI have conducted here since 1998, inaddition to their one or two day master classes and lecture/discussions.The week long residency consisted of intensive Suzuki training andalways inspiring Viewpoint training taught by company memberBarney O’HanlonBarney O’HanlonBarney O’HanlonBarney O’HanlonBarney O’Hanlon. Twenty-five undergraduate, graduate and facultymembers participated in this exhilarating training experience, includingstudents from the department of Dance.

In the fall quarter Slovenian scenographer Petra Veber Petra Veber Petra Veber Petra Veber Petra Veber spent 5 weeks inresidence with the department as a CEC ArtsLink fellow. During her stayshe visited many local arts organizations, and gave talks to the depart-ment as well as the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design.

Guest Artists

(above) Guest director JonFarris, along with NenaCouch and cast membersfrom the department’swinter quarter production ofThe Shoemaker’s Holiday,take part in the ThomasDekker Symposium onMarch 1, 2002.

SITI companymemberBarneyO’Hanlon(standing)leads a masterclass with MFAactors, under-graduates, andstudents fromother depart-ments.

ArtsLink fellowPetra Veber(left) and SonjaKalamas-Elder(right). Petrawas in resi-dence with thedepartmentfrom October27-December 2,2001. Veber, ascenic designerfrom Slovenia,presented twoseminars on herdesigns tostudents andfaculty.

Valerie Lucas

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Russian/American playwright Marina ShronMarina ShronMarina ShronMarina ShronMarina Shron, the OSU Department ofTheatre’s Thurber Playwright in Residence for winter quarter, taught aplaywriting class and witnessed a staged reading of a new play. Shronhas an MFA in Dramatic Writing from NYU. She has written Christina,Mitya’s Ordeal and King of Rats, and is the author of an award-winning short film, The Silent Love of the Fish. She is currentlyworking on a new play, Now We’re Nobody, commissioned by theAmerican Place Theatre in New York. The reading of Time and theBeast, directed by MA student Jennifer Schlueter, took place on March12 in the New Works Lab, and featured a pre-performance receptionfor Marina by the Thurber House.

Undergraduate and graduate students from both The Ohio State Universityand Ohio University attended a two day workshop in April on fabric modifi-cation organized by Dennis Parker. Janet BloorJanet BloorJanet BloorJanet BloorJanet Bloor, part owner of the EuroFabrics Costume Studio in NYC, conducted the workshop. Janet is originallyfrom the UK where her art school studies led to a degree in knitwear design.Intrigued by silicone sealer from her hardware store, Janet combined herinterest in stretch fabric and silicone rubber, thus developing a variety oftechniques for creating dramatic texture and color on rather ordinaryfabrics. Her work has been seen in Star Trek, Power Rangers, MGM’s EFXand Paul Taylor’s OZ.

In early June the Theatre Department was treated to a Master Class, givenby a Broadway lighting design legend. Jules Fisher Jules Fisher Jules Fisher Jules Fisher Jules Fisher is known for his Tony-award winning designs for Pippin’, Dancin’, Grand Hotel - The Musical, WillRogers Follies, Jelly’s Last Jam, Bring in - Da Noise Bring in - Da Funk aswell as dozens of additional shows on and off-Broadway. Fisher spoke abouthis fascinating life and work and shared his passion about lighting, discuss-ing his work for a wide range of projects, including concert tours for TheRolling Stones, collaboration with the ever-theatrical David Bowie, solvingchallenges such as the lighted scenery for Will Rogers Follies, designing aplethora of beam projectors for Dancin’, and recent lighting of the dancesequences as part of a soon-to-be released film adaptation of Chicago.He spent additional time with MFA lighting students Drew Ward, JimHutchison, and Kris Jones reviewing projects, and discussing thebusiness with undergraduate students Emily Mathews, ChristAthanas, and Sean Hennessy.

Widely published author, theatre critic and writer Laurie StoneLaurie StoneLaurie StoneLaurie StoneLaurie Stonegave the Annual Lawrence and Lee Theatre Research InstituteLecture on April 11, 2002 in the Wexner Film/Video Theater. Hertalk, Comedy and Solo Performance: What the Comic Voice CanGet Away With, was part of the OSU Lawrence and Lee TheatreResearch Institute’s 50th anniversary celebration. A longtimewriter for the Village Voice, Stone has been a theatre critic for TheNation, critic-at-large on National Public Radio’s Fresh Air, and aregular writer for Ms., New York Woman, and Viva. She is theauthor of the novel Starting with Serge, the memoir collectionClose to the Bone, and Laughing in the Dark, a collection of herwriting on comic performance. Laurie taught a journalism classduring spring and was the Thurber Journalist in Residence.

2001- 02

The design faculty and staff join Jules Fisherfor lunch during his visit to the Department ofTheatre in May 2002. Clockwise, from left:Dennis Parker, Dan Gray, Matt Hazard, MaryTarantino, Jules Fisher.

The cast and director of Thurber Playwright-in-Residence Marina Shron’s Time and the Beast.L to R: Colin Sweet, Shelley Little, RyanHeitkamp, Marina Shron, Jennifer Schlueter,and Maria Angeles Romero.

Janet Bloor shared examples of projectsfrom her portfolio with the students and thendemonstrated eighteen different texturingtechniques to which she has assigneddescriptive names such as Sploogies andSoft Studs.

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UndergraduateDegrees AwardedSummer 2001

Jonathan Chubb

Christopher Dickman

Ryan Osborn

Elizabeth Waggoner

Autumn 2001

Karen Geppert

Katy Hite

Laurel Jackson

Kristen Kidd

Connor McBride

Eleni Papaleonardos

Anthony Peeples

Jennifer Pettibone

Maura Phelan

Benjamin Shurr

Christina Sidebottom

Kate Weilnau

Winter 2002

Christina Frank

Emily Hess

Amber Jordan

Erin Mayhugh

Jennifer Workman

Spring 2002

Christopher Athanas

Mark Bernhardt

Kevin Callison

William Dillon

Brea Fitzgerald

Michelle Little

Erin Riddle

Melinda Sanders

Michael Schnell

Laura Simpson

Sarah Uetrecht

Jennifer Winkeler

Joan Wood

Graduate Degrees AwardedMaster of ArtsShannah Campbell. “Maxwell Anderson: A Re-appraisal.” (S. Constantinidis)Autumn 2001.

Master of Fine Arts ActingDamian Bowerman. “Finding the Impulsive Self: The Creation of Simon Eyre inThe Shoemaker’s Holiday.” (S. Ott Rowlands) Spring 2002.

Carie DeVito. “Speaking Pound’s Language: The Role of Elektra in Sophocles’Elektra, a Version by Ezra Pound.” (S. Ott Rowlands) Spring 2002.

Kathleen Gonzales. “The Bridge of Bodies: Creation to Performance.”(J. Thompson) Spring 2002.

Naomi Hatsfelt. “Uncommon Clay: Moving Through the Collaborative Creation ofthe Role of Camille Claudel in the Asylum.” (J. Thompson) Spring 2002.

Jennifer Manvich. “Hearing Margery Eyre: Devising Strategies to OvercomeCentral Auditory Processing Defecit in the Rehearsal and Performance of ThomasDekker’s The Shoemaker’s Holiday.” (S. Ott Rowlands) Spring 2002.

Jeremy Meier. “Discovery and Disguise: The Role of Roland Lacy inThe Shoemaker’s Holiday.” (S. Ott Rowlands) Spring 2002.

Jonathan Park. “Caught Between Two Worlds: An Analysis of John Lee fromPorcelain by Chay Yew.” (B. Hermann) Summer 2002.

Regina Rockensies. “Leading the Chorus: The Creation and Performance of theRole of the Lead Chorus Woman in Sophocles’ Elektra.” (S. Ott Rowlands)Spring 2002.

Allyson Rosen. “she.” (J. Thompson) Spring 2002.

Master of Fine Arts DesignKristopher D. Jones. “The Lighting Design Process For The Ohio State University’sPremiere Production Of Uncommon Clay a New Work Devised and Directed byJeanine Thompson.” (M. Tarantino) Spring 2002.

Tatjana Longerot. “Costume Design, Process and Production for Uncommon ClayPremiere of a Devised Work by Jeanine Thompson.” (D. Parker) Spring 2002.

Doctor of PhilosophyEileen Krajewski. “Secular Messianism And Romantic Nationalism In Polish AndIrish Drama.” (S. Constantinidis) Spring 2002.

Karin Maresh. “Struggling for Recognition: The Women Artistic Directors ofIreland’s Abbey Theatre.” (J. Reilly) Winter 2002.

Valleri Robinson. “Beyond Stanislavsky: The Influence of Russian Modernism onthe American Theatre.” (T. Postlewait) Autumn 2001.

Christy Stanlake. “Mapping the Web of Native American Dramaturgy.” (B. Sullivan)Spring 2002.

Amy Taipale Canfield. “Discovering Women: Women’s Performances at the WorldColumbian Exposition, Chicago 1893.” (T. Postlewait) Winter 2002.

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Gerald R. Black Scholarship Fundfor Recognition of Excellence inTheatre$50 - $850Jonathan BarnesAmanda BerryLindsey CarrDean EvansJoshua McKinneyKatherine MillerAllyson MorganJonathan NawnJoey Schultz

Roy and Addeleen Bowen Fundfor Exceptional Talent in Theatre$170 - $850Amanda BerryLaura ButlerMegan FellersKaren-Michelle FriedmanJonathan MarballiAiyana MarcusLeah ReddyAmy TzagournisSusan Wismar

Francis Davis Fellowship Fund forRecognition for Excellence inTheatre$300John Michael Holmes

Eileen Heckart MemorialScholarship Fund$250Heather BurleyDean Evans

Robert Johnson MemorialScholarship Fund for Juniors andSeniors in Theatre$250 - $400Jillian BurgosHeather BurleyLaura ButlerLindsay RehageJoey Schultz

Kirby Kennedy Wyatt Fund forOutstanding Work in TheatreDesign and Technology$850 - $1,000Eric MayerColin Sweet

Scarlet Mask Award for Distinc-tion in Theatre and Performance$550Dean Evans

Michael Swink Fund for Talent inTheatre Technology$50 - $750Jonathan NawnChristian Pine

Undergraduate Scholarships 2002-03

Some of our 2002 Undergraduate Scholarship winners. Standing, L to R: LindseyCarr, Dean Evans, Colin Sweet, Amy Tzagournis, Jillian Burgos, Jonathan Barnes,Allyson Morgan, Leah Reddy. Kneeling, L to R: Katie Miller, Heather Burley, LauraButler, Joey Schultz, Megan Fellers.

About Elektra“OSU TheatreOSU TheatreOSU TheatreOSU TheatreOSU Theatre masterfully recreates

a translated classic. As an educa-

tional institution, OSU may be

obligated to present the classics.

That they do so with such evident

mastery is the Columbus theater

audience’s great good fortune.”

Jay Weitz, Columbus Alive,

November 8, 2001.

encoreis an annual newsletter ofThe Ohio State UniversityDepartment of Theatre1089 Drake Center1849 Cannon DriveColumbus, OH 43210-1266 (614) 292-5821fax (614) 292-3222

Editor-in-Chief:Lesley Ferris

Editor:Laura Sipe

Design/Layout:Kevin Keiser

Written and researched by theFaculty and Staff of the Departmentof Theatre.

All Alumni and Friends information iscollected from Alumni, Friends, andother readers, gathered and processedat the Department of Theatre,researched, edited and placed inEncore. If you are a graduate of theDepartment of Theatre, a formerfaculty member, or a friend of OSUTheatre, please direct your attentionto the questionnaire on the insideback cover.

encore 200214

UndergraduatesTheatre undergraduates were featuredprominently in Actors’ TheatreCompany’s 2002 summer season.Eleni Papaleonardos, Stephen Hanna,Eleni Papaleonardos, Stephen Hanna,Eleni Papaleonardos, Stephen Hanna,Eleni Papaleonardos, Stephen Hanna,Eleni Papaleonardos, Stephen Hanna,Aiyana Marcus, Aiyana Marcus, Aiyana Marcus, Aiyana Marcus, Aiyana Marcus, and Joe MaloneyJoe MaloneyJoe MaloneyJoe MaloneyJoe Maloneyappeared with PHD student ToniaToniaToniaToniaToniaKruegerKruegerKruegerKruegerKrueger in A Midsummer Night’sDream. Matt Hendricks, JonathanMatt Hendricks, JonathanMatt Hendricks, JonathanMatt Hendricks, JonathanMatt Hendricks, JonathanMarballi, Marballi, Marballi, Marballi, Marballi, and Anthony PeeplesAnthony PeeplesAnthony PeeplesAnthony PeeplesAnthony Peeplesappeared in Othello.

The Panopticon Players produced acollection of one-acts by David Ives.Sarah BrinkerSarah BrinkerSarah BrinkerSarah BrinkerSarah Brinker directed Sure Thing;Dominic LepplaDominic LepplaDominic LepplaDominic LepplaDominic Leppla directed The Philadel-phia; Jeremy KarstenJeremy KarstenJeremy KarstenJeremy KarstenJeremy Karsten directed EnglishMade Simple; David HendricksDavid HendricksDavid HendricksDavid HendricksDavid Hendricksdirected Arabian Nights; and Liz SniderLiz SniderLiz SniderLiz SniderLiz Sniderdirected Captive Audience.

Ryan HeitkampRyan HeitkampRyan HeitkampRyan HeitkampRyan Heitkamp played a leading role inRat Boy, a short independent horrorfilm produced by Grandview’s HavenerProductions.

Shelley Little, Katie Miller, AllysonShelley Little, Katie Miller, AllysonShelley Little, Katie Miller, AllysonShelley Little, Katie Miller, AllysonShelley Little, Katie Miller, AllysonMorgan,Morgan,Morgan,Morgan,Morgan, Leah Reddy, Joey SchultzLeah Reddy, Joey SchultzLeah Reddy, Joey SchultzLeah Reddy, Joey SchultzLeah Reddy, Joey Schultz,and Peter Schwartz Peter Schwartz Peter Schwartz Peter Schwartz Peter Schwartz produced a benefitperformance for Human RightsAwareness. The performance, whichtook place outside of the main library,presented testimonial monologuesabout survivors of human rightsviolations.

Joe LonardoJoe LonardoJoe LonardoJoe LonardoJoe Lonardo appeared on MTV’sDismissed and in the Ja Rule video for“Livin’ it Up.”

Jonathan MarballiJonathan MarballiJonathan MarballiJonathan MarballiJonathan Marballi worked inCincinnati on a student film calledRoommate: Wanted.

Rebekah MoserRebekah MoserRebekah MoserRebekah MoserRebekah Moser, current video labwork-study student, who is alsostudying screenwriting, won theArnold and Frances ShapiroInternational Scholarship in English.

Leah ReddyLeah ReddyLeah ReddyLeah ReddyLeah Reddy was one of twentynationwide applicants selected toparticipate in Shakespeare &Company of Lenox, MassachusettsSummer Training Institute.

Peter SchwartzPeter SchwartzPeter SchwartzPeter SchwartzPeter Schwartz and Sarah BrinkerSarah BrinkerSarah BrinkerSarah BrinkerSarah Brinkerperformed in Strollers Theatrics’production of Shakespeare’sThe Winter’s Tale.

Laura Gale SimpsonLaura Gale SimpsonLaura Gale SimpsonLaura Gale SimpsonLaura Gale Simpson created, directedand performed in The Ensemble Actors’Theatre production of Happily EverAfter, a modern version of the story ofRomeo and Juliet in which Julietawakens the instant before Romeocommits his fatal error. She createdthis play as part of an Honor ThesisProject, funded by The Ohio StateUniversity. Laura is a co-founder andpermanent company member ofEnsemble Actors’ Theatre. Other EATproductions in their ambitious seasonincluded: Flawed, by Greg MeierGreg MeierGreg MeierGreg MeierGreg Meier; TrueWest, by Sam Shepard;and…and…and, by Chris DickmanChris DickmanChris DickmanChris DickmanChris Dickman, and

The Crucible, by Arthur Miller. Otherstudents and alumni involved withthese productions included JenniferJenniferJenniferJenniferJenniferBach, Abby Crain, James Creighton,Bach, Abby Crain, James Creighton,Bach, Abby Crain, James Creighton,Bach, Abby Crain, James Creighton,Bach, Abby Crain, James Creighton,Brea Fitzgerald, Tom Greer, MattBrea Fitzgerald, Tom Greer, MattBrea Fitzgerald, Tom Greer, MattBrea Fitzgerald, Tom Greer, MattBrea Fitzgerald, Tom Greer, MattHendricks, Bean Mazak, Katie Miller,Hendricks, Bean Mazak, Katie Miller,Hendricks, Bean Mazak, Katie Miller,Hendricks, Bean Mazak, Katie Miller,Hendricks, Bean Mazak, Katie Miller,Allyson Morgan, Leah Reddy, Chris-Allyson Morgan, Leah Reddy, Chris-Allyson Morgan, Leah Reddy, Chris-Allyson Morgan, Leah Reddy, Chris-Allyson Morgan, Leah Reddy, Chris-tina Sidebottomtina Sidebottomtina Sidebottomtina Sidebottomtina Sidebottom, and BrayshawnaBrayshawnaBrayshawnaBrayshawnaBrayshawnaThomasThomasThomasThomasThomas.

Jody Stevenson Jody Stevenson Jody Stevenson Jody Stevenson Jody Stevenson has been acceptedinto the National Theatre of the Deaf.

GraduatesOhio State was well represented atnational and international conferences.Kristin CrouchKristin CrouchKristin CrouchKristin CrouchKristin Crouch and Robert LublinRobert LublinRobert LublinRobert LublinRobert Lublinpresented papers at the annual MidAmerica Theatre Conference in St.Louis. Kristin also presented at theInternational Federation of TheatreResearch, along with Christy StanlakeChristy StanlakeChristy StanlakeChristy StanlakeChristy Stanlake.Ann Farrelly Ann Farrelly Ann Farrelly Ann Farrelly Ann Farrelly and Katie WhitlockKatie WhitlockKatie WhitlockKatie WhitlockKatie Whitlockpresented the Theatre 100 website andthe Virtual Theatre at the Associationfor Theatre in Higher EducationConference in San Diego.

Carie DeVitoCarie DeVitoCarie DeVitoCarie DeVitoCarie DeVito played Casey in RedHerring Theatre Ensemble’s productionof Anton in Show Business, which wasdirected by Bruce HermannBruce HermannBruce HermannBruce HermannBruce Hermann. Alsoappearing was undergraduate LauraLauraLauraLauraLauraGale SimpsonGale SimpsonGale SimpsonGale SimpsonGale Simpson as Joby. Tara DiLorenzoTara DiLorenzoTara DiLorenzoTara DiLorenzoTara DiLorenzoserved as assistant director, and alumFereshteh Hough Fereshteh Hough Fereshteh Hough Fereshteh Hough Fereshteh Hough designed the lights.

Several of our MFA actors took thestage at Porthouse Theatre at KentState in the summer of 2002. DonaldDonaldDonaldDonaldDonaldClark, Kenderick Hardy, DamianClark, Kenderick Hardy, DamianClark, Kenderick Hardy, DamianClark, Kenderick Hardy, DamianClark, Kenderick Hardy, DamianBowerman, Bowerman, Bowerman, Bowerman, Bowerman, and Regina RockensiesRegina RockensiesRegina RockensiesRegina RockensiesRegina Rockensiesappeared in One Flew Over theCuckoo’s Nest, which was directed by

Internships and Activities

PHD student Xela Batchelder (center)accepts the Graduate Teaching Awardfrom Dean Karen Bell (left) and JoyReilly (second from left) for herteaching of Theatre 100. Xela was oneof the ten winners of this prestigiousaward. Out of OSU’s 3000 GTAs, 80 areselected for review. This year, OSUTheatre was proud to have fivecandidates out of the 80 selected forreview: in addition to Xela, JenSchlueter, Angeles Romero, EileenKrajewski, and John Harris.

EAT company members CreightonJames as Marty and Chris Dickman asJoey in Dickman’s and…and… and…,EAT’s 2001-2002 season opener.

encore 2002 15

Eileen Heckart,1919-2001:A Tribute to a LifeIn the TheatreAward-winning actress, Columbus native,OSU alumna, devoted wife and mother andgrandmother–all these are descriptions ofEileen Heckart, OSU Class of 1942, whopassed away just after Christmas, 2001.  In afinal act of celebrating its 50th year, the TRImounted an exhibit of materials from theEileen Heckart Collection in the Drake lobbies.On May 24, OSU sponsored a memorial eventto honor our celebrated alumna. More than 70people came to celebrate with us, and then towatch the Department of Theatre’s productionof Brecht’s St. Joan of the Stockyards, dedi-cated to Eileen. Mother Courage was, she oftensaid, her favorite role, which she performed intwo different productions over the years.Eileen’s son Luke Yankee joined us for theevening and used the opportunity to officiallyestablish the Eileen Heckart Memorial Scholarship Fund in Theatre.

Happiest on stage, Heckart’s career spanned six decades, from her first appear-ance (as an understudy) on Broadway in 1943, to her final stage role in 2000 inThe Waverly Gallery, for which she was awarded a panoply of awards, including aTony Award for Lifetime Achievement.  Her stage roles included landmark perfor-mances in Picnic, The Bad Seed, The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, Pal Joey, YouKnow I Can’t Hear You When the Water’s Running, and Butterflies Are Free, thefilm version of which gained her an Oscar.

Eileen Heckart’s films include The First Wives Club, Bus Stop, Heller in PinkTights, and No Way to Treat A Lady, in addition to Butterflies Are Free.   She hadmajor roles on eight television series, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show,Trauma Center, and Murder One.  She also appeared in several made-for-televi-sion films, and made dozens of guest appearances.  Nominated for several EmmyAwards, she took home the statuette for her performance in the special drama,Save Me a Place at Forest Lawn.

The Department of Theatre was proud to present Eileen Heckart as a guest artistin two productions: The Little Foxes in the Stadium Theatre in the mid 1960s, andas the star of the world premiere production Children at Play in the ThurberTheatre in the mid 1970s.  She was to have appeared in Lost in Yonkers severalyears ago in the Thurber Theatre, directed by her son, Luke Yankee, but illnessprevented her.  She managed to surprise all of us–and her son–by turning up onopening night. Last spring, the Lawrence and Lee Theatre Research Institutepresented her with the Margo Jones Medal, an annual award recognizing theatreartists who have materially supported the work of playwrights, in recognition ofher lifelong support of new plays and new writers. 

For more information about how to contribute to the Eileen Heckart MemorialScholarship Fund in Theatre, see the back page of Encore.

Eileen Heckart in OSU’s produc-tion of The Little Foxes, StadiumTheatre, 1964.

Sue Ott RowlandsSue Ott RowlandsSue Ott RowlandsSue Ott RowlandsSue Ott Rowlands. And DamianDamianDamianDamianDamianBowerman Bowerman Bowerman Bowerman Bowerman and Donald ClarkDonald ClarkDonald ClarkDonald ClarkDonald Clark appearedin Brigadoon.

John Rogers Harris John Rogers Harris John Rogers Harris John Rogers Harris John Rogers Harris served on a panelof distinguished scholars and artists forUniversity of Maryland’s colloquium,“Staging Slavery: The Collision of Factand Fiction.”

Jim Hutchison’sJim Hutchison’sJim Hutchison’sJim Hutchison’sJim Hutchison’s band, Recently,released their first mini-album.

Tatjana LongerotTatjana LongerotTatjana LongerotTatjana LongerotTatjana Longerot designed costumesfor CATCO’s Murder in Green Mead-ows.

Jeremy Meier Jeremy Meier Jeremy Meier Jeremy Meier Jeremy Meier worked on the OhioHumanities Council’s Ohio Chautauquacircuit as an artist/scholar playing therole of General George Custer. He alsoworked with Blue Lake Fine Arts Campand the Howmet Playhouse in Michigan.

Doctoral students Mark Evans Bryan,Mark Evans Bryan,Mark Evans Bryan,Mark Evans Bryan,Mark Evans Bryan,Eileen Krajewski, Karin Maresh, PeachEileen Krajewski, Karin Maresh, PeachEileen Krajewski, Karin Maresh, PeachEileen Krajewski, Karin Maresh, PeachEileen Krajewski, Karin Maresh, PeachPittengerPittengerPittengerPittengerPittenger, and Tracy TupmanTracy TupmanTracy TupmanTracy TupmanTracy Tupman pre-sented papers at the ComparativeDrama Conference.

Angeles RomeroAngeles RomeroAngeles RomeroAngeles RomeroAngeles Romero was invited by TheHispanic Awareness Month Committeeto perform El Entrecjo/The Brow, asolo movement theatre piece thatAngeles created about the life of thefamous Mexican painter, Frida Kahlo.

Jennifer SchleuterJennifer SchleuterJennifer SchleuterJennifer SchleuterJennifer Schleuter dramaturged ThreeDays of Rain for CATCO in January, andserved as the assistant theatre critic forWOSU radio.

Alumni Creighton James as Romeoand OSU undergrad Joey Schultz asWill in Laura Gale’s Romeo & Juliet:Happily Ever After. Gale wrote,directed, and acted in this originalpiece, produced by EAT in February2002, as part of her honors thesisproject at OSU.

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The Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. LeeTheatre Research Institute

Update50th Anniversary CelebrationThe year 2001 marked the 50th anniversary of the Lawrence and Lee Institute,and the celebration of its founding by Professor John H. McDowell. There weremany events that paid tribute to the TRI’s golden anniversary. The first of these, anevening of readings from scripts in the International Centre for Women Play-wrights Archive, was held in early October as the inaugural reading for The NewWorks Lab (the laboratory for new and experimental work).

OSU Libraries and the TRI sponsored a symposium and reading on SundayFebruary 24, 2002. The symposium, entitled “Against All Odds: Ruby Elzy, OSUand the African American Performing Experience,” featured Mikell Pinkney, OSUalum and current professor at The University of Florida, who spoke about RubyElzy and her contribution to African Americans in theatre. Other presentersincluded David Weaver, Ruby Elzy’s biographer, and Inetta Harris, a teacher atMichigan Technological University and opera singer.

The staged reading, “Nurturing the Performer: The Charles McCracken-Ruby Elzy Correspondence,” was created from the letters between Elzy andMcCracken. Elzy was a singer studying at Rust College in Mississippi in 1927when McCracken recruited her to Ohio State, where he served as faculty. Yearslater, as a black OSU alumna, she starred in the original Porgy and Bess, and wasone of the most acclaimed soprano voices of her time. McCracken remained hertrusted friend and advisor.

Chiquita Mullins Lee, program coordinator for OSU Libraries Communications,created the script from the letters, which were collected by David Weaver. Finan-cial support for the event was graciously provided by Madge Cooper Guthery andEdward Orlett.

On April 16, Wendell Stone, post-doctoral fellow who spent 2001-02 working inthe Theatre Research Institute and researching much of Tom Eyen’s work, pre-sented a staged reading of Eyen’s Why Hanna’s Skirt Won’t Stay Down and TheWhite Whore and The Bit Player in The New Works Lab.

In May, 2002, TRI held its 50th Anniversary Reunion which began with the alumnireception on May 10. A panel discussion titled, “Nurturing the scholar/artist: theimpact of OSU on individual careers” was held on May 11. This discussion wasfollowed by a cookout on the lawn of the Drake Performance and Events Center,and a staged reading titled From Mame to Jabberwock: excerpts from the plays ofLawrence and Lee. This reading was staged by Frank Barnhart and actors whoparticipated in the reading included: Jerry Bangham (MA 1959, PHD 1965), FrankBarnhart (MFA 1993), Scott Carter (current MA candidate), Nena Couch, MichaelMauldin (PHD 2000), Joy H. Reilly (MA 1979, PHD 1984), Tiffany Soule (current

MA candidate), Marilyn Sundin (MFA1979), andAlan Woods.

Post-doctoral fellow Wendell Stone(left) and the family of Tom Eyen enjoya lunch together at the Faculty Clubbefore their guided tour of Eyen’scollection in the TRI. From left to right: Wendell Stone, Richard Eyen (Tom’sbrother), Mitchell Ammar, RandolphHarris, Juliette Eyen-Harris, SteveEyen.

L to R, Michael Schnell as the Barkerand Narrator, Lindsey Carr as Hanna,and Kenderick Hardy as Arizona, in astaged reading of Tom Eyen’s WhyHanna’s Skirt Won’t Stay Down. Thisreading was presented as part of theLawrence and Lee Theatre ResearchInstitute’s 50th Anniversary Celebra-tion.

Frank and Claudia Mohler (left), and Valerie Lucasshare recollections during the TRI’s 50th Anniver-sary celebration in May of 2002. The proceedingswere recorded as oral history for the TRI.

encore 2002 17

TRIJerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee

Theatre Research Institute1951-2001

The Following is a list of TRI milestonessince its inception in 1951:

1951: OSU Professor of Speech andTheatre John H. McDowell founded theOSU Theatre Collection to ensure thatgraduate students had primary re-search material; initial efforts were tocollect microfilmed copies of docu-ments in European libraries andmuseums. The Collection was housedin the Department of Speech in DerbyHall.

1954: Dr. McDowell created The OSUTheatre Collection Bulletin to publishresearch work accomplished in theCollection. He gained support from theDepartment of Speech and the Univer-sity Libraries.

1956: Dr. McDowell begins annualtrips to European performing artslibraries and musuems, identifyingresearch materials to be microfilmed,and building an international networkof theatre researchers.

1961: The Theatre Collection movedto the third floor of the William OxleyThompson Library, eventually occupy-ing two rooms and a classroom.

1963: The Harmount Uncle Tom’sCabin Collection was established, withrich documentation of the touringcompany (active from 1903 until 1930),including full stage drops and props.

1967: Ohio State University estab-lished the College of the Arts, and theDepartment of Theatre was formedfrom the theatre area of the Depart-ment of Speech.

1970: The OSU Theatre Collectionwas renamed the OSU Theatre Re-search Institute; Austrian scholarKonrad Zobel was named ManagingDirector.

1971: The OSU Theatre CollectionBulletin was reconstituted as TheatreStudies, with an international circula-tion of over 1000 copies annually.

1973: Dr. McDowell retired; Dr. AlfredS. Golding, a respected scholar ofEuropean acting theories, was namednew Director. The microfilm collectionsof the Institute, begun by Dr.McDowell, now numbered over400,000 frames of material, most of itunavailable elsewhere in the Americas.The Institute was moved to Oxley Hall.

1975: The Institute sponsored its firstnational symposium, on theatrehistoriography. Conferences andsymposia were and still are held onsuch diverse topics as Shakespeareanproduction, post-modernism, andAmerican theatre history in ensuingyears.

1979: Dr. Alan Woods was namedDirector, having previously served asmanaging director from1972 through1975. Theatre Studies becamedevoted to research work by graduatestudents in doctoral programs nation-wide, with a distinguished editorialboard established.

1986: The Institute was rededicatedas the Jerome Lawrence and Robert E.Lee Theatre Research Institute, tohonor the Ohio-born playwrights. NenaCouch was named Curator, andappointed to the University Librariesfaculty, as the Libraries and theDepartment of Theatre jointly assumeoversight for the TRI. The Institutemoved to the 14th floor of LincolnTower, which is remodeled for theInstitute and included a gallery, aclassroom, and a seminar room inaddition to archival storage and a largereading room.

1988: The Robert Breen Collectionwas located in the Institute, document-ing the 1952-1956 international touringproduction of Porgy and Bess; the OralHistory Collection was begun, with over25 hours of interviews with membersof the Porgy and Bess production. TheCollection now includes over 500 tapedinterviews with performance artists.

1991: The Twyla Tharp Archive wasestablished at the Institute, through thegenerosity of the noted choreographerand with the help of the Wexner Centerfor the Arts. With increased activity anddonation of materials, the gallery,classroom, and seminar room wereconverted to archival storage.

1993: The Margo Jones Award,presented annually in honor of thepioneering regional theatre producersince its founding in 1961 by JeromeLawrence and Robert E. Lee, wasmoved to the Institute and adminis-tered by the Director and Curator.

1995: The Ohio Audio Descriptionprogram, which makes over 100performances accessible for audiencemembers with visual impairment eachyear, was housed at the Institute.

1997: The Institute joins the DanceHeritage Coalition, a grouping of theten major repositories for dance historyin North America.

2000: The Mime and MovementTheatre Archive was established, andthe Institute helps coordinate the 2001workshop of famed mime MarcelMarceau. Tapes of Marceau’s residencyand motion capture sessions, createdby WBNS-TV Channel 10 and theAdvanced Center for Computing andthe Arts respectively, were deposited inthe Institute.

Details of the Institute’s activities, and its rich research holdings, are available atour website: www.lib.ohiostate.edu/OSU_profile/triweb/ .

encore 200218

A major new acquisition was theDaphne Dare Collection: a massivecollection of costume renderings fromthe noted British designer, active at theBirmingham Repertory Theatre, theBristol Old Vic (1958-1963), as acostume designer for BBC-TV(1964-1968, during which time those ofyou with popular culture tastes will bedelighted to know she designed thefirst two seasons of costumes andmonsters for Dr. Who), and theNorthcott Theatre in Exeter as Head ofDesign (1967-1968). In the early 1970s,Dare worked extensively with directorRobin Phillips on a number of West Endand Broadway productions (includingAbelard and Heloise, Miss Julie at theRSC, Catsplay, and Zorba). Shebecame Head of Design for theStratford Festival in Ontario in 1975.She worked at Theatre Calgary in theearly 1980s, and then returned toEngland, where she did extensive workat the Chichester Festival, where in1989 she designed London Assurancewith director Sam Mendes. In the1990s, she focused primarily on film,working frequently with Ken Loach,including his 1996 film Carla’s Song.Ms. Dare passed away in 2000.

The Daphne Dare Collection wasdonated to the Lawrence and LeeInstitute by Valerie Minifie, executor ofthe Dare Estate. Ms. Minifie has actedextensively on stage, television, andfilm, including notable appearances inMiller’s The American Clock (NationalTheatre), Men Behaving Badly(BBC-TV), and The Pirates of Penzance(MCA/Universal). More information aboutthe Daphne Dare Collection will soon beavailable on the Insitute’s web site.

A second addition to our costumedesign holdings also arrived in thesummer of 2001 from Toni-LeslieJames, our Tony-nominated alumna.Toni-Leslie donated the resource booksfor several of her major productions,including renderings, swatches,budgets, shopping lists and sources,receipts, etc., an incredibly rich sourceof information, including materials onsuch productions as Down By the

Riverside (Alvin Ailey Dance), theBroadway productions of Jelly’s LastJam, Twilight: Los Angeles, Footloose,and The Tempest, Lincoln Center’sHello, Again and Chronicle of a DeathForetold, the film Amistad, andnumerous New York Public Theatreproductions, including Henry VIII,Macbeth, Dancing on Her Knees andInsurrection: Holding History. Whenadded to the earlier generous dona-tions from Toni-Leslie James, this nowgives students and researchers acomprehensive look at the ongoingand continuously developing career ofone of our country’s premiere costumedesigners.

Thurber HousePlaywright-in-Residence of 2001,Caridad Svich, added several scripts toher collection. We also receivedadditional documentation of the workof the Oberon Theatre Ensemble inNew York, the Horse Cave Theatre inKentucky, and Columbus’s own CATCO.Longtime Cleveland theatre criticMarianne Evett donated a largenumber of programs and playbills,while Laura M.Mueller donated almost150 programs, and Harvey Rubin gaveover a hundred programs from theChicago-area theatre. PlaywrightBurgess Clark donated a copy of hisadaptation of Dylan Thomas’ A Child’sChristmas in Wales. Members of theInternational Centre for WomenPlaywrights continued to add to theircollection.

Associate Dean Beth Sullivan (left),Nena Couch (right) and Bebe Miller(center), Department of Dance,pictured in front of costume designsby Toni-Leslie James. These designswere part of the exhibit “75 YearsOnstage: OSU African AmericanWomen in the Performing Arts,”which featured work by Ruby Elzy(music), Adrienne Kennedy (theatre),Toni-Leslie James (theatre design),and Bebe Miller (dance). The exhibitwas held in Bricker Hall in Winter2002, and was sponsored by the OSULibraries, the Lawrence and LeeTheatre Research Institute, the FrankW. Hale, Jr., Black Cultural Center,and Women Student Services

Alan Woods and Nena Couch super-vise the hanging of the HarmountCompany’s drops for Uncle Tom’sCabin. Stephen Railton, of the Univer-sity of Virginia, visited in April 2002,and took digital photographs of thedrops, which were hung in ThurberTheatre for the occasion. Railton has awebpage devoted to the play and itshistorical, artistic, and social context;check out the images on the prelimi-nary version, atwww.jefferson.village.virginia.edu/utc/onstage/imagesosu/dropshp.html.

AboutMemory of Water“Ohio State University’sOhio State University’sOhio State University’sOhio State University’sOhio State University’s exemplaryproduction, which opened Wednesdayto much laughter and applause,resonates with a sense of discovery. . . .[ValerieValerieValerieValerieValerie] LucasLucasLucasLucasLucas has cast and staged thetwo act deftly, helping the solid actorsto look and act the age of their roleswhile speaking in plangent Britishaccents. . . .- Michael Grossberg, The Columbus Dispatch, 6/10/02

Collections UpdateTRI Update... continued

encore 2002 19

The Undergraduate program continuedto develop as enrollment increased anda new director of UndergraduateStudies, Dan Boord, took over theposition from Dr. Joy Reilly. Although itwas a year of development it was alsoa year of traditions. The traditionscontinued with such events as the

Spotlight on UndergraduatesWelcome Back Pizza Party, Take OutTheatre, Backstage Live, the WritingCompany, and the undergraduateproductions of Private Words: TheHiding of Anne Frank’s Diary, DivisionStreet, and Sobering Thoughts.

OSU theatre was well represented atthe 2002 Richard J. and Martha D.

Denman Undergraduate ResearchForum. Joe Maloney, Allyson Morgan,Leah Reddy, Laura Simpson, andColin Sweet presented projects in thearts. Laura Simpson was awarded 3rd

prize in the Arts category, while LeahReddy received the OutstandingSophomore prize.

Abby Crain, Joey Schultz, recent graduateCreighton James, Allyson Morgan, LeahReddy, and Donato Wilkinson (at bottom)celebrate at the Department of Theatre’sEnd of the Year Banquet.

Some of our graduating theatre majors at theEnd of Year celebration in June. Back row, L to R:Michael Schnell, Erin Riddle, ChristinaSidebottom, Christ Athanas, Shelley Little,Melinda Sanders. Front row: L to R: Laura GaleSimpson, Sarah Uetrecht.

Newly appointed chair of undergradu-ate studies Dan Boord (right) and hispredecessor, Joy Reilly (center) speakto the new undergraduates at adepartmental pizza party in the fall.

Jonathan Barnes as PopQuiz in The Initial Question:Pop Quiz’s Intention, yetanother of the zany master-pieces produced for theTake Out Theatre Festival inspring quarter.

Christina Sidebottom asa one-armed drummer inan all-girls rock band, inAmerican Musical, Part 2:Blind Mia, another TakeOut Theatre production.

Undergraduate actors, directors, and writers assemble on themorning of Take Out Theatre day to prepare for the madnessto come. Standing, L to R: Mark Bernhardt, Liam Dillon, DanaScurlock, Joey Schultz. Seated, L to R: Lindsey Carr, JenniferBach, Amy Fisher, Laura Butler, Karen Michelle Friedman,Aiyana Marcus, Jonathan Marballi.

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Alumni and Friends News

Alumni and Friends News

Before 1960Jerry Bangham (BA 57, MA 59,Jerry Bangham (BA 57, MA 59,Jerry Bangham (BA 57, MA 59,Jerry Bangham (BA 57, MA 59,Jerry Bangham (BA 57, MA 59,PHD 66) PHD 66) PHD 66) PHD 66) PHD 66) The Mississippi TheatreAssociation (MTA) presented Dr.Bangham with its CowboyMaloney Award on Sunday,January 20, 2002 at theorganization’s annual meeting inHattiesburg. The award, namedfor the founder of the organiza-tion, was awarded to Dr.Bangham for his outstandingcontributions to the MTA wherehe has served as secretary,newsletter editor and currentlymaintains the MTA website atwww.members.aol.com/misstheatr/mta.html. Dr.Bangham retired from AlcornState University in 2000,after 27 years of service. He alsotaught at Morehead Stateuniversity in kentucky andMississippi University for women.jbangham@kudzu.win.net,www.win.net/~kudzu/

1960sKatherine Burkman (PHD 1968)Katherine Burkman (PHD 1968)Katherine Burkman (PHD 1968)Katherine Burkman (PHD 1968)Katherine Burkman (PHD 1968)continues to direct for Women atPlay and appeared in a productionof their original play, She of theLovely Ankle.

Linda DorffLinda DorffLinda DorffLinda DorffLinda Dorff (BFA 1961)(BFA 1961)(BFA 1961)(BFA 1961)(BFA 1961) Througha topsy-turvy sequence of events,character actor and ContemporaryActors Theatre Company (CATCO)performer Linda Dorff appearedas The Duchess of Krackentorp,Marie’s ostentatious, long-lostaunt, in an Opera ColumbusPresentation of the CompanyPremiere of Gaetano Donizetti’sThe Daughter of the Regiment.She also appeared as Rev. CanonChasuble in CATCO’s 2002production of The Importance ofBeing Earnest.

Lynn MorrowLynn MorrowLynn MorrowLynn MorrowLynn Morrow (BS 1966, MA(BS 1966, MA(BS 1966, MA(BS 1966, MA(BS 1966, MA1968, PHD 1974) 1968, PHD 1974) 1968, PHD 1974) 1968, PHD 1974) 1968, PHD 1974) directed NealLabute’s Bash at Albright College,which played the week of the TRIreunion. Lynn has now officiallyretired after 27 years as Director

of Theatre, and more than 100productions at Albright. She’ll beback in the fall, however, to directThe Vagina Monologues.

1970sGail Cooperman (BA 1971)Gail Cooperman (BA 1971)Gail Cooperman (BA 1971)Gail Cooperman (BA 1971)Gail Cooperman (BA 1971) is stillpracticing law in New Jerseybefore the New Jersey Bank-ruptcy Court and had planned toattend the TRI reunion–but akitchen remodeling got in theway. Alan Woods, whose kitchenwas in construction for two years,empathizes.

Danny Gerstein (MFA 1976)Danny Gerstein (MFA 1976)Danny Gerstein (MFA 1976)Danny Gerstein (MFA 1976)Danny Gerstein (MFA 1976) is anactor and acting teacher forSeacoast Repertory Theatre andthe Edwin Booth Theatre inPortsmouth, NH. At Seacoast, heplayed Felix in The Odd Couple,Bottom in Midsummer Night’sDream, and performed in Cabaretand American Buffalo.

Roger Hall’sRoger Hall’sRoger Hall’sRoger Hall’sRoger Hall’s (MA 1972, PHD(MA 1972, PHD(MA 1972, PHD(MA 1972, PHD(MA 1972, PHD1974)1974)1974)1974)1974) Performing the AmericanFrontier, 1870-1906 waspublished by CambridgeUniversity Press. From the jacketcopy: “The book demonstrates theextraordinary variety of subjectmatter and theatrical styles usedto dramatize the frontier, andplaces frontier drama within thecontext of its society by framingthe productions with thecontemporary debates on nationalpolicies.” Congratulations, Roger!For further information, seewww.cup.org/f2001/drama.html

Floyd Hughes (MA 1970) Floyd Hughes (MA 1970) Floyd Hughes (MA 1970) Floyd Hughes (MA 1970) Floyd Hughes (MA 1970) issemi-retired from a sales career.He currently teaches theatre part-time at Northeast Texas Commu-nity College. Floyd says, “ I walkedinto the theatre there for the firsttime ever at what you would callthe right time: during their dressrehearsal for The Night ThoreauSpent in Jail. Having been in thepremiere cast for that play, I wasaccorded a rather nice welcome. It

was completely coincidental, bythe way.” Recently Floyd marriedhis high-school sweetheart aftermore than forty years of being outof contact. Her name is LynneAnne Hughes. Piksy98@txk.net

Brenda Laurel (MFA 1975, PHDBrenda Laurel (MFA 1975, PHDBrenda Laurel (MFA 1975, PHDBrenda Laurel (MFA 1975, PHDBrenda Laurel (MFA 1975, PHD1986)1986)1986)1986)1986) has just published UtopianEntrepreneur through MIT Press. The book is described as “A mixof critical theory, millennialfeminism and business narrativecovering Laurels’ experiences inthe land of startups, IPOs and thebottom line.  A heady hybrid ofcritical thinking, personalnarrative, and economic analysis,Utopian Entrepreneur is a fieldmanual for those who want to dosocially positive work in thecontext business. . . .   BrendaLaurel is known for injectinghumanistic values into computerbased media.” For furtherinformation, see www.mitpress.mit.edu/mediaworkBrenda delivered a major addressat Ohio State’s Wexner Center forthe Arts during TRI’s reunionweek, sponsored by the CulturalStudies in Education/Technologygroup in the School of Educa-tional Policy and Leadership, andhad time for a short visit.Unhappily, her visit was at thebeginning of the week, so shemissed the actual reunion and thechance to schmooze.

Toni-Leslie JamesToni-Leslie JamesToni-Leslie JamesToni-Leslie JamesToni-Leslie James (BC 1979)(BC 1979)(BC 1979)(BC 1979)(BC 1979)reports that Baptiste was awonderful show to design. It wasa visual triumph, if not a criticalsuccess for the wonderful Mr.Luce. She won the ConnecticutCritics Circle award for thecostumes. Her current designwork includes the Oedipus Cyclefor the Shakespeare Theatre inDC directed by Michael Kahn, ThePhiladelphia Story at HartfordStage directed by David Warren(they invited the director andentire design team for Baptisteback) and Raisin in the Sun atCenter Stage in Baltimore,directed by Marion McClinton.She also designed a revival ofVernel Bagneris’ One Mo’ Time atthe Williamstown Theatre Festivalin the summer of 2001. Then shedesigned the Broadway revival ofthe piece in spring 2002, atransfer from the WilliamstownFestival. She designed Talk, anexperimental play by the spoken

word poet, Carl Hancock Rux,produced by the Foundry Theatreat the Public (NYSF) in March,while Twelfth Night startedrehearsal at the Long WharfTheatre at the end of March. Shedesigned a new play, The Very OldMan with Enormous Wings, forthe Children’s Theatre of Minne-apolis, directed by GracielaDaniele for the summer of 2002.

Dan Gray (second from left)with Cuban Carnival artists inCleveland at the Parade theCircle event. The artists visitedthe department for a daypresenting slides and videos oftheir design work to studentsand faculty.

AboutUncommonClay“From the thunderstormthat opens the play to thescenes in the asylum thatend it, the production isfull of visually impressivemoments. There are alsoinnovations galore,including the use ofactors to representstatues, and the use ofpuppets attached toactors’ legs to representchildren.”- Richard Ades, The Other Paper

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Alumni and Friends News

Adele Recklies (PHD 1979)Adele Recklies (PHD 1979)Adele Recklies (PHD 1979)Adele Recklies (PHD 1979)Adele Recklies (PHD 1979)finished some knitted costumesfor Thoroughly Modern Millie andLaw and Order: Criminal Intent.Her husband Don is busy doingelectronic work for various gameshows, industrials, and artistinstallations. In between thetheatre work, they renovate theircentury-old, 3-family row houseand work on a booklet of Adele’sbeadwork designs.

Jane (Pepper) RidleyJane (Pepper) RidleyJane (Pepper) RidleyJane (Pepper) RidleyJane (Pepper) Ridley (MFA 1974)(MFA 1974)(MFA 1974)(MFA 1974)(MFA 1974)played Linda Loman in Death of aSalesman at Mill MountainTheatre and did some new playwork at Shenanarts, Fulton OperaHouse. She is a professor for thePenn State University School ofTheatre.

Janet RubinJanet RubinJanet RubinJanet RubinJanet Rubin (PHD 1978) (PHD 1978) (PHD 1978) (PHD 1978) (PHD 1978) waselected President-Elect of AATEand spent part of the earlysummer of 2001 in Norway at theIDEA conference.

Tony SchmittTony SchmittTony SchmittTony SchmittTony Schmitt (PHD 1970) (PHD 1970) (PHD 1970) (PHD 1970) (PHD 1970) justretired as the head of the graduateacting program of HilberryTheatre at Wayne State Universityin Detroit, Michigan. He directedmany productions there andtaught acting to graduates andundergraduates. Jane, his wife,also retired from Marketing in theWayne State Theatre Department.Tony received Emeritus, DetroitNews and Free Press Awards.tandu@mich.com

Dudley Swetland (PHD 1976)Dudley Swetland (PHD 1976)Dudley Swetland (PHD 1976)Dudley Swetland (PHD 1976)Dudley Swetland (PHD 1976)performed in CATCO’s well-received production of SpinningInto Butter.

1980sKelly Hunt BlakeKelly Hunt BlakeKelly Hunt BlakeKelly Hunt BlakeKelly Hunt Blake (BC 1989) (BC 1989) (BC 1989) (BC 1989) (BC 1989) hasremarried and has a beautiful oneyear-old named Nathan GreyBlake. She’s working in Columbuswith CAM and CATCO, doingmainly voice-overs. Kelly notes,“Oh, but it’s fun not to be in thecorporate world anymore!”

Mardia Bishop (MA 1988, PHDMardia Bishop (MA 1988, PHDMardia Bishop (MA 1988, PHDMardia Bishop (MA 1988, PHDMardia Bishop (MA 1988, PHD1993)1993)1993)1993)1993) is now teaching at ShorterCollege, a small, Baptist-related,liberal arts college in Rome,Georgia.

Elizabeth Cloutier Elliot (BAElizabeth Cloutier Elliot (BAElizabeth Cloutier Elliot (BAElizabeth Cloutier Elliot (BAElizabeth Cloutier Elliot (BA1987)1987)1987)1987)1987) just completed a few yearsof teaching and directing atNorwell High School, including aFestival Award-winning produc-tion of Dracula. She has alsotaught acting at the Boston BalletCompany and Young DancersSummer Workshop, and contin-ues to be active in communitytheatre. She is mom to Tristan (8)Fiona (5) and Sophie (2).trifioso@prodigy.net

Annette Reid Crump (BA 1985)Annette Reid Crump (BA 1985)Annette Reid Crump (BA 1985)Annette Reid Crump (BA 1985)Annette Reid Crump (BA 1985)is back in California after severalyears’ sojourn in Japan for Disney;she appeared in She Stoops toConquer for the PasadenaShakespeare Company.

Patricia Heaton (BA 1981)Patricia Heaton (BA 1981)Patricia Heaton (BA 1981)Patricia Heaton (BA 1981)Patricia Heaton (BA 1981) wasfeatured in a March 2002 LadiesHome Journal article, “Marriedwith (lots of) Children: EverybodyLove’s Raymond’s two-timeEmmy-winner is a busy mom onand off the screen.”

Mary Illes (BC 1984)Mary Illes (BC 1984)Mary Illes (BC 1984)Mary Illes (BC 1984)Mary Illes (BC 1984) joined thecast of The Music Man onBroadway; that makes two RiverCity folks with OSU connections.Leslie Hendrix, playing Alma Hix,is Spike McClure’s (MFA 1985)Spike McClure’s (MFA 1985)Spike McClure’s (MFA 1985)Spike McClure’s (MFA 1985)Spike McClure’s (MFA 1985)life partner.

Cynthia LammelCynthia LammelCynthia LammelCynthia LammelCynthia Lammel (MFA 1987)(MFA 1987)(MFA 1987)(MFA 1987)(MFA 1987) isteaching full time at Cal StateChico, where she directedSpinning Into Butter. She directedArt last year, and played L’il Bit inHow I Learned to Drive the yearbefore and Mrs. Peachum in TheThree Penny Opera before that.

Cynthia and Bill Johnson gotmarried on Shakespeare’sBirthday in 1988, and have twodaughters, Abigail (Abby), 11, andMadeleine (Maddie), 9.

Todd Neal (MFA 1987)Todd Neal (MFA 1987)Todd Neal (MFA 1987)Todd Neal (MFA 1987)Todd Neal (MFA 1987) missedthe TRI reunion; he was in NYCdirecting/producing the MusicTheatre Performance Showcasefor the graduating BFA seniors inMusic Theatre Performance fromWestern Michigan University inKalamazoo. It’s the third annualshowcase that Todd’s directed/produced since being named theDirector of the program. Herecollects singing for JeromeLawrence and assisting EileenHeckert during the TRI’sdedication in 1986 as one of themany highlights and fondmemories that he has of his timeat OSU.

Geoffrey Nelson (MA 1981)Geoffrey Nelson (MA 1981)Geoffrey Nelson (MA 1981)Geoffrey Nelson (MA 1981)Geoffrey Nelson (MA 1981)directed CATCO’s Murder inGreen Meadows and TheImportance of Being Earnest. Heis the founding artistic director ofCATCO, where his recentdirecting credits include TheGrapes of Wrath, The ShortsFestival 2000 and The Anger inEarnest and Ernestine. This is thesecond time he has directed TheImportance of Being Earnest, thefirst being at WeathervanePlayhouse in 1980, a productionthat featured Jon Putnam asAlgernon.

Jonathan Putnam (BA 1981, MAJonathan Putnam (BA 1981, MAJonathan Putnam (BA 1981, MAJonathan Putnam (BA 1981, MAJonathan Putnam (BA 1981, MA1990) 1990) 1990) 1990) 1990) played John Worthing inCATCO’s 2001 production of TheImportance of Being Earnest. Heis a resident actor at CATCO, butmost of his classical work hasoccurred elsewhere: Hogchkiss inShaw’s Getting Married at theHillside Rep in Los Angeles(Dramalogue nomination), Surfacein School for Scandal, Lovborg inHedda Gabler and Chebutykin inThree Sisters all at OSU, plusnumerous Shakespearean roles.

Rob Roznowski (MFA 1989Rob Roznowski (MFA 1989Rob Roznowski (MFA 1989Rob Roznowski (MFA 1989Rob Roznowski (MFA 1989)received great reviews of hisproduction of Cyrano de Bergeracfor Gryphon Productions/SmokyMountain Shakespeare Festival inKnoxville, Tennessee. The reviewerfor the Oak Ridger said “Goodcomedy often stems from interiorpain, so once more, with feeling,let me say that Roznowski’sCyrano is a poignant love storyfilled with sadness, but somehowit never loses its comic footing.Great show!” Former OSUerBarry DelaneyBarry DelaneyBarry DelaneyBarry DelaneyBarry Delaney was in the show;Rob was off to Spain next to shoota movie.  Now he’s back in NewYork, teaching at AMDA. In the fallhe’ll be teaching Chekhov/Stanislavsky at SUNY/StonyBrook. “Where,” he noted, ”is RexMcGraw when you need him?“RRoznowski@aol.com

Undergraduate students helpbuild the costumes for ourspring quarter production ofSt. Joan of the Stockyards.

Alumnus Frank Mohler and hiswife Claudia in Cesky Krumlovin June.  Frank presented “TheVariety of Stage MachineryUsed in the Productions ofBaroque Theatres”  at  TheWorld of Baroque Theatreconference, held in June at theCastle of Cesky Krumlov,Czech Republic. Frank was theonly American to presentamong a prestigious group ofEuropean Baroque theatreexperts.

Workers move pieces of thenew grid for the Roy BowenTheatre from the ground tothe theatre level of thebuilding.

Rob ShermanRob ShermanRob ShermanRob ShermanRob Sherman (MA 1986) (MA 1986) (MA 1986) (MA 1986) (MA 1986) is stilltesting software, while teachingpart-time at NortheasternUniversity and developing leadsfor full time teaching work. He andDan celebrated their twelfthanniversary this year.

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Alumni and Friends News

Madeleine Sobota (MFA 1988)Madeleine Sobota (MFA 1988)Madeleine Sobota (MFA 1988)Madeleine Sobota (MFA 1988)Madeleine Sobota (MFA 1988)Madeleine is currently on thefaculty at Butler University inIndianapolis, although she andJim kept their home in UpperArlington. Madeleine writes, “Myhusband Jim died Friday, March 1here in Indy at MethodistHospital. He had been battling ahost of health problems this pastyear.” A Memorial Mass at St.Agatha’s Catholic Church inUpper Arlington took place forJim on Saturday, March 16.msobota@butler.edu, 488-5795.

1990sFrank Barnhart (MFA 1993)Frank Barnhart (MFA 1993)Frank Barnhart (MFA 1993)Frank Barnhart (MFA 1993)Frank Barnhart (MFA 1993),who contributed greatly to theTRI reunion, planned the NationalGay and Lesbian Theatre Festival,hosted by Act Out Productions inColumbus in September.Frank produced TerenceMcNally’s Corpus Christi (theColumbus premiere), andperformed as Joe Kennedy in OhJackie in March. He alsoportrayed the son in SeniorRepertory Theatre’s production ofDriving Miss Daisy.

Evan Bridenstine (PHD 1997)Evan Bridenstine (PHD 1997)Evan Bridenstine (PHD 1997)Evan Bridenstine (PHD 1997)Evan Bridenstine (PHD 1997)has accepted a fulltime, tenure-track position at MethodistCollege in Fayetteville, NorthCarolina. Evan had a hurriedmove from Kent, Ohio, where hewas appearing in Big River at thePorthouse Theatre until just threedays from his first faculty meetingin Fayetteville. This summer, heperformed with HeritageRepertory as Moonface Martin in

Anything Goes and as UncleLester/Hotel Desk Clerk/Waiter#1 in Ayckbourn’s ComicPotential.

Anita Buhman-Wiggs (MFAAnita Buhman-Wiggs (MFAAnita Buhman-Wiggs (MFAAnita Buhman-Wiggs (MFAAnita Buhman-Wiggs (MFA1992)1992)1992)1992)1992) resigned from CentralMissouri State University thisspring and has begun her newcareer as an at-home-mom. Herclass enrollment of one doubledOct. 1, 2001 with the arrival ofEmma Rose. Ian is already being abig brother. Adam will be leavinghis current job at Healing GraceCounseling Center and in Augustwill begin a one year clinical psychinternship at Southern IllinoisUniversity— the last step to hisPh.D. (other than that peskydissertation defense.) Anita andAdam, Ian and Emma are now inMurphysboro, Illinois.

Ryan Bundy (MFA 1997)Ryan Bundy (MFA 1997)Ryan Bundy (MFA 1997)Ryan Bundy (MFA 1997)Ryan Bundy (MFA 1997) wasnamed Shop Manager byIntelligent Lighting Creations. Ryanbegan his career as the supervisorof Ohio State University’s MovingLights Laboratory before interningfor Vari-Lite Chicago. After hisinternship, Ryan stayed with VLPSfor 5 years as Event Technician,Field Service Technician, ShopSupervisor, and finally OperationsManager for VLPS Chicago prior toits closing.

Giles DavisGiles DavisGiles DavisGiles DavisGiles Davis (MFA 1999) (MFA 1999) (MFA 1999) (MFA 1999) (MFA 1999) is aveteran member of the 2001-2002 Cincinnati ShakespeareFestival Acting Company, of whichThe Cincinnati Enquirer says, “Theacting ensemble’s emotions arenever less than alive and in the

moment.” Their season included:Fuddy Meers, Twelfth Night,Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol,Arcadia, Othello, As You Like It,The Beard of Avon, and acommissioned play.

Kathleen E. DeVault (BA 1991)Kathleen E. DeVault (BA 1991)Kathleen E. DeVault (BA 1991)Kathleen E. DeVault (BA 1991)Kathleen E. DeVault (BA 1991)taught lighting design at SmithCollege last year and this year is atOhio Northern University as theResident Lighting Designer andLighting and Sound Director. Shesays, “it is a bit strange to be backin Ohio after so many years inMassachusetts especially to be soclose to home.” She’s actuallyabout 35 minutes from where shegrew up. k-devault@onu.edu

Anne Diehl (Hannon) (MFAAnne Diehl (Hannon) (MFAAnne Diehl (Hannon) (MFAAnne Diehl (Hannon) (MFAAnne Diehl (Hannon) (MFA1997)1997)1997)1997)1997) appeared as Nan/Lina inCATCO’s production of ThreeDays of Rain in February/March2002. She made her debut therein Three Tall Women last season.She spent 10 years in New York,acting and producing in theatressuch as The Irish Arts Center,Vineyard Theatre and Theatre OffPark. Presently Anne teaches atOhio Dominican University.

Jeremy Dubin (MFA 1999)Jeremy Dubin (MFA 1999)Jeremy Dubin (MFA 1999)Jeremy Dubin (MFA 1999)Jeremy Dubin (MFA 1999), likeGiles Davies, is a veteran memberof the 2001-2002 CincinnatiShakespeare Festival ActingCompany. Next season Jeremy isexcited to be performing with theMilwaukee Rep.

Anastasia Koumidou HathawayAnastasia Koumidou HathawayAnastasia Koumidou HathawayAnastasia Koumidou HathawayAnastasia Koumidou Hathaway(MFA 1997), (MFA 1997), (MFA 1997), (MFA 1997), (MFA 1997), the TRI contactperson in Greece, donates regularshipments of programs and othertheatrical material, and continuesto teach. She’d planned to attend

the reunion, but a virus stoppedall travel plans. She notes, “My lifeat OSU was like well cookedChinese food, equal tastyamounts of sweet and sour bites.Thank God I have digested thewhole menu with virtually minorproblems!”

Cherie Gallinati (MFA 1999) Cherie Gallinati (MFA 1999) Cherie Gallinati (MFA 1999) Cherie Gallinati (MFA 1999) Cherie Gallinati (MFA 1999) hasmoved over to SECOA, doingalmost the same job (projectestimation and management), butshe is part of the “contracts”department instead of “catalog”.She will likely still be doing somesite visits and, in the future, somemore recommendations/specwriting for the end users...but fornow, just doing a bunch oflearning the ropes and settling in.rhubygirl@yahoo.com

Scott Gardner (BA 1993) Scott Gardner (BA 1993) Scott Gardner (BA 1993) Scott Gardner (BA 1993) Scott Gardner (BA 1993) lives inNYC, and recently appeared in aNew York production of EleanorRigby is Waiting costarringalumni Andrea BiggsAndrea BiggsAndrea BiggsAndrea BiggsAndrea Biggs (BA 1993)(BA 1993)(BA 1993)(BA 1993)(BA 1993)and written by David Parnell. For aday job, Scott works at ColumbiaUniversity Business School.robertsgardner@hotmail.com

Jennifer (Hutzler) HolmanJennifer (Hutzler) HolmanJennifer (Hutzler) HolmanJennifer (Hutzler) HolmanJennifer (Hutzler) Holman(BA 1993) (BA 1993) (BA 1993) (BA 1993) (BA 1993) works with ScottGardner at the ColumbiaUniversity Business School, andrecently had a baby namedPhoebe.

Vince Landro (PHD 1997)Vince Landro (PHD 1997)Vince Landro (PHD 1997)Vince Landro (PHD 1997)Vince Landro (PHD 1997)published “Media Mania: TheDemonizing of the TheatricalSyndicate,” in The Journal ofAmerican Drama and Theatreissue for Spring, 2001.

Emily Lawson (BA 1998)Emily Lawson (BA 1998)Emily Lawson (BA 1998)Emily Lawson (BA 1998)Emily Lawson (BA 1998) is goingto freelance produce the build ofthe puppets for Little Shop ofHorrors which will be onBroadway in July 2003. The LACreature Shop will employ her forthe Jim Henson Company. Shedesigned and built a coat for theJim Henson Company (her design,her patterns, she built the thingfrom scratch) that was auctionedat the DIFFA (Design IndustryFoundation Fighting AIDS) Dallascollection event. The coat sold forover $2,000. Emily is in gradschool at NYU for her MBA inentrepreneurship/innovation withan emphasis in entertainment,media and technology.

Nena Couch, Curator of the Lawrence and Lee Theatre ResearchInstitute, works on one of their many new collections.

Alumna Brenda Laurel (right)meets current PHD studentKatie Whitlock. Brendareturned to OSU to give apresentation to the College ofEducation in the Spring of2002

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Alumni and Friends News

Kim LenzKim LenzKim LenzKim LenzKim Lenz (MA 1992) (MA 1992) (MA 1992) (MA 1992) (MA 1992) had a shortarticle published in JALT (JapanAssociation of LanguageTeachers) last year, and had apresentation proposal approvedfor the TESOL conference in SaltLake City.

Christina Markham (MFA 1996)Christina Markham (MFA 1996)Christina Markham (MFA 1996)Christina Markham (MFA 1996)Christina Markham (MFA 1996)and Mark Landis were married onJuly 1, 2001 on the island ofKauai.  Now it’s back to theworkaday world of South Carolinafor both.

Heather OlmsteadHeather OlmsteadHeather OlmsteadHeather OlmsteadHeather Olmstead (BA 1999)(BA 1999)(BA 1999)(BA 1999)(BA 1999)stage managed CATCO’sproduction of Hedwig and theAngry Inch. She is an Equitystage manager, who has workedfor several local theatre compa-nies, as well as Opera Columbusand Columbus Light Opera.

Lisa Propes (MA 1999) Lisa Propes (MA 1999) Lisa Propes (MA 1999) Lisa Propes (MA 1999) Lisa Propes (MA 1999) com-pleted her student teaching atColumbus West High School inthe Spring of 2002 and earned aK-12 drama teaching licensurefrom Ohio Weslyan University.

She began teaching drama at amiddle school arts impactprogram in Newport News,Virginia in August 2002 .

Zeke Rettman (BA 1996)Zeke Rettman (BA 1996)Zeke Rettman (BA 1996)Zeke Rettman (BA 1996)Zeke Rettman (BA 1996) is livingin L.A. doing Japanese-Americancommercials including newMcDonalds’ west coast TV andradio spots, playing the recurringcharacter, Eddie the Echo. He alsodid voice overs for The HistoryChannel’s The Color of War seriesand a docudrama on theMenendez Brothers for BBC TV

and The Discovery Channel. He iscurrently the manager of CafeBacio and The Hudson StreetTheatres on Santa Monica Blvd.Zeke is engaged to make-upartist/actress Sabra Miller.

Jayme Rhoades (MFA 1994)Jayme Rhoades (MFA 1994)Jayme Rhoades (MFA 1994)Jayme Rhoades (MFA 1994)Jayme Rhoades (MFA 1994)visited the department in May of2002 . She has been working as afreelance designer in central Ohioand recently started her ownbusiness of designing andmarketing custom madehandbags. Look for Jayme’sunique handbags in local

Two of our successful alumnireturned to the department thisyear to share insights on theprofessional world with our faculty,staff and students. This is atradition we look forward tobuilding: next year Brenda LaurelBrenda LaurelBrenda LaurelBrenda LaurelBrenda Laurelwill present the Annual Lawrenceand Lee Theatre ResearchInstitute lecture. If you haveexpertise that you’d like to share,please don’t be shy! Contact LauraSipe, Alumni Liaison, atsipe.9@osu.edu or (614) 292-5821.

Brian RussmanBrian RussmanBrian RussmanBrian RussmanBrian Russman (MFA in CostumeDesign 1994), returned to thedepartment in May to shareinformation about his currentcareer as an assistant costumedesigner in New York City withcurrent design students. Brian laidthe groundwork for moving toNYC by developing his costumecraft skills and meeting NYC designers at such theatre venues

as the Utah ShakespeareanFestival, Santa Fe Opera, theCarolina Players, and theShakespeare Theatre in Washing-ton, DC. Brian has just become amember of The United ScenicArtists of America. Brian’sexperience also includes filmwork. He frequently assists worldclass costume designer DonaGranata. Look for Brian’s name inthe credits for the film Doctor Tand the Women, , , , , featuringRichard Gere. Brian is also theowner of an Emmy Award forbeing Dona’s assistant costumedesigner on the film Me and MyShadows, based on the life of

Michael graduated from Juilliardlast May and was awarded theprestigious John Houseman Prize,given to one member of thegraduating class. He has per-formed Shakespeare at festivalsaround the country including theIllinois, Colorado, and UtahShakespeare festivals,Shakespeare Sedona, andShakespeare Festival of St. Louis.He has played Hamlet, Romeo,Mercutio, Dromio, Benedict,Sebastian, and the Duke of York.Since graduating from Juilliard heplayed Edgar in the CincinnatiPlayhouse and St. Louis Rep’sco-production of King Lear. Mostrecently he performed OffBroadway in The Golem with TonyAward winner Robert Prosky atthe Manhattan Ensemble Theatre.He finished his first feature film inApril and performed oppositeTony Award winner Penny Fullerin The Glass Menagerie inSeptember 2002. Michael is alsoa playwright. Two of his children’splays have been produced by theCircle in the Square TheatreSchool in New York, and his playHeroine was recently read in NewYork at the Flea Theatre. Also anavid martial artist and movementperson, Michael has had theprivilege of being mentored byFelix Ivanov, master movementteacher from the Moscow ArtTheatre and the Juilliard School.After meeting at Juilliard, the twostruck up a rapport which has ledto intensive training. Mr. Ivanov isa graduate of the world famousVaghtangov School and is a directinheritor of the Stanislavskylineage through Vaghtangov.

ReturnOf the Alumni!

Judy Garland. Brian broughtexamples of the paperwork andthe show resource book for themusical Aida, so that the studentscould see examples of the kinds ofprojects for which assistantdesigners are responsible.

Michael Milligan Michael Milligan Michael Milligan Michael Milligan Michael Milligan (BA 1996), NewYork-based actor, conducted aworkshop in spring 2002 thatfocused on methods for cultivatingthe actor’s intrinsic voice andmovement abilities. In theworkshop Michael presentedpractical exercises for cultivatingthe actor’s presence withtechniques borrowed from martialarts training, Russian movementpractices, and Tai Chi.

(above) Alumnus MichaelMilligan visited the departmentin the spring to present amovement workshop forfaculty and students.

(left) Michael Milligan on thereceiving end of a stage punchby Angeles Romero during hismovement workshop forstudents spring quarter.

MFA Costume Design alumniJayme Rhoades and BrianRussman return to thedepartment to talk withcurrent students about theprofession. Brian holds theEmmy he won for assistingDona Granata on the TV filmMe and My Shadows.

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Alumni and Friends News

boutiques and department storesunder the label Dougal-RhoadesHandbags.

Monique Sacay-BagwellMonique Sacay-BagwellMonique Sacay-BagwellMonique Sacay-BagwellMonique Sacay-Bagwell (MFA(MFA(MFA(MFA(MFA1990)1990)1990)1990)1990) “Just a short note to sayhow much I enjoyed receiving thecurrent Encore and reflecting backon fond memories.msacay@lander.edu

Roy Sexton (MA 1997)Roy Sexton (MA 1997)Roy Sexton (MA 1997)Roy Sexton (MA 1997)Roy Sexton (MA 1997) is thecorporate planner for DetroitOakwood Healthcare, Inc. Herecently appeared as Perchik inFiddler on the Roof for NancyGurwin Productions andperformed as part of the TreetownTheatre Festival in Ann Arbor. Inthe summer of 2002 he playedHortensio in the WaterworksTheatre Company’s production ofThe Taming of the Shrew. He alsowas selected to perform thenational anthem for the DetroitTigers game against the WhiteSox at Tiger Stadium.sextonr@oakwood.org

Kerry Shanklin (PHD 1991)Kerry Shanklin (PHD 1991)Kerry Shanklin (PHD 1991)Kerry Shanklin (PHD 1991)Kerry Shanklin (PHD 1991)performed in CATCO’s SpinningInto Butter by Rebecca Gilman infall 2001.....

John Taylor (MA 1990, PHDJohn Taylor (MA 1990, PHDJohn Taylor (MA 1990, PHDJohn Taylor (MA 1990, PHDJohn Taylor (MA 1990, PHD1994)1994)1994)1994)1994) spent the first week of thesummer break at a one-weekretreat in Taos, NM as part of theCELT (Center for Excellence inLearning and Teaching) program.It was the beginning of a one-yearstint as a CELT Scholar oncampus. Also, he spent 2 1/2

weeks in Helena, MT at theGrandstreet Theatre and Schoolwhere he taught in the conserva-tory program. Back at AdamsState, he taught a workshop forteachers dealing with incorporat-ing theatre/performance intoclassroom teaching. Next spring,he’ll be directing The LaramieProject, and is now working withthe Vice-President of AcademicAffairs to develop a series ofevents dealing with diversity andanti-hate issues that will culmi-nate with the production of theplay.

2000sDamian Bowerman (MFA 2002)Damian Bowerman (MFA 2002)Damian Bowerman (MFA 2002)Damian Bowerman (MFA 2002)Damian Bowerman (MFA 2002)worked for the Porthouse Theatrein the summer of 2002 playing Dr.Spivey in One Flew Over theCuckoo’s Nest and StuartDarlrymple in Brigadoon. For the2002-2003 season, he is one ofthe acting fellows at CATCOwhere he’s cast in four majorproductions plus the tour. Damianand his wife, Marlene, are ex-pecting a son in late September2002 . 

Carrie BradacCarrie BradacCarrie BradacCarrie BradacCarrie Bradac (MFA 2000)(MFA 2000)(MFA 2000)(MFA 2000)(MFA 2000)wrapped a feature called Curse ofthe 49er, your typical “ScoobyDoo” type horror flick. She playedthe leading character, Claire. Theyshot the entire film in 2 weeks.The film was directed by JohnBeuchler, (director of Halloween,Friday the 13th part 7, etc.)Producer: Peter Lupus; Cameosplayed by: Karen Black, JohnPhillip Law, Jeff Conaway(Kenickie from Grease) and a fewother “names.” The first screeningtook place in December of 2001.

Mark Bryan (PHD 2002)Mark Bryan (PHD 2002)Mark Bryan (PHD 2002)Mark Bryan (PHD 2002)Mark Bryan (PHD 2002)accepted an adjunct professorposition in theatre at DenisonUniversity, his alma mater.

Lindsay CasellaLindsay CasellaLindsay CasellaLindsay CasellaLindsay Casella (BA 2000)(BA 2000)(BA 2000)(BA 2000)(BA 2000)is currently living in Atlanta andworking as a Program Coordinatorfor young audiences of Atlanta.She has most recently appearedin Soul-stice Repertory’s Draculaand The Case of the CrushedPetunias with The Push PushTheatre.lindsaycasella@yahoo.com

James Creighton (BA 2000)James Creighton (BA 2000)James Creighton (BA 2000)James Creighton (BA 2000)James Creighton (BA 2000) wasactive in Ensemble Actors’Theatre’s 2001-2002 season,performing in Flawed, True West,and The Crucible, which he alsodirected.

Chris Dickman (BA 2001) Chris Dickman (BA 2001) Chris Dickman (BA 2001) Chris Dickman (BA 2001) Chris Dickman (BA 2001) wrote,directed and played Joey in theworld premiere of EnsembleActors’ Theatre production of and .. . and . . . and . . . . He also playedHaephestas in EAT’s production ofFlawed. Chris is a co-foundingmember of Ensemble Actors’

Theatre. His play The Broke UpBoy was produced duringMadLab Theatre’s TheatreRoulette 2002 festival.

Tom Greer (BA 2001)Tom Greer (BA 2001)Tom Greer (BA 2001)Tom Greer (BA 2001)Tom Greer (BA 2001) performedin Ensemble Actors’ Theatre’sproduction of True West.

Chester Harding (BA 2001)Chester Harding (BA 2001)Chester Harding (BA 2001)Chester Harding (BA 2001)Chester Harding (BA 2001)worked at the Royal Court Theatrein London in the fall of 2001, andreturned to Columbus to directChris Dickman’s The Broke UpBoy for MadLab Theatre.

Naomi Hatsfelt (MFA 2002)Naomi Hatsfelt (MFA 2002)Naomi Hatsfelt (MFA 2002)Naomi Hatsfelt (MFA 2002)Naomi Hatsfelt (MFA 2002)accepted a full-timeteaching position in acting atSouthern State CommunityCollege in southwestern Ohio.Naomi begins work in September.

First year MFA Design studentWho Jeong Lee touches up aportion of her Memory ofWater set.

Matt Hendricks (BA 2001)Matt Hendricks (BA 2001)Matt Hendricks (BA 2001)Matt Hendricks (BA 2001)Matt Hendricks (BA 2001)appeared in Ensemble Actors’Theatre’s production ofThe Crucible.

Gordon Holey (BA 2001) Gordon Holey (BA 2001) Gordon Holey (BA 2001) Gordon Holey (BA 2001) Gordon Holey (BA 2001) andErin Mayhugh (BA 2002)Erin Mayhugh (BA 2002)Erin Mayhugh (BA 2002)Erin Mayhugh (BA 2002)Erin Mayhugh (BA 2002)performed in The Phoenix TheaterCircle’s production of Mrs. PiggleWiggle.

Kris Jones (MFA 2002) Kris Jones (MFA 2002) Kris Jones (MFA 2002) Kris Jones (MFA 2002) Kris Jones (MFA 2002) worked atSix Flags Great America forsummer and fall 2002 doing eightof their shows, including RadioActive, Magic Quest, SnowshoeSaloon Review, Dancin’ in theStreets, Love at First Fright,Zombiee Jambore, and others.JonesKris@aol.com

Laura Farkas (MA 2001)Laura Farkas (MA 2001)Laura Farkas (MA 2001)Laura Farkas (MA 2001)Laura Farkas (MA 2001) saysmarried life is wonderful, thoughthey work opposite schedules.He’s a supervisor at UPS and she’sworking at CAPA as the advance-ment (development) associate.farkasld@hotmail.com

MFA designstudent KrisJones patchesthe ThurberTheatre soundsystem.

Christy Stanlake greets proudmother Jennifer Schlueter andher son, Henry LouisSteinmetz.

Lighting studio supervisorMatt Hazard (right) focuses afixture from above the newgrid in the Roy Bowen Theatre.

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Alumni and Friends News

Matthew Kari (MFA 2000)Matthew Kari (MFA 2000)Matthew Kari (MFA 2000)Matthew Kari (MFA 2000)Matthew Kari (MFA 2000)served as the assistant setdesigner for CATCO’s productionof Hedwig and the Angry Inch.Matt also accepted a one-yeardesign faculty position with theDepartment of Theatre at OSU-Lima, which began in the fall of2002.

Kristen Kidd (BA 2001) Kristen Kidd (BA 2001) Kristen Kidd (BA 2001) Kristen Kidd (BA 2001) Kristen Kidd (BA 2001) stage-managed the OSU Department ofMusic’s production of Carmen inFebruary 2002 . She was aProduction Assistant at Actors’Theatre of Louisville in thesummer of 2002.

Wesley L. Ko (BA 2000) Wesley L. Ko (BA 2000) Wesley L. Ko (BA 2000) Wesley L. Ko (BA 2000) Wesley L. Ko (BA 2000) is theProduction Manager and Directorof International Tour Affairs withThe Contemporary LegendTheatre in Taipei, Taiwan. He isalso a guest lecturer, teachingacting workshops at the EnglishDepartment and GermanDepartment of Fiu-Jen University.He considers himself lucky to havebeen the Executive Producer ofLear, Alone with ContemporaryLegend Theatre, working with Mr.Tim Yip, the Academy AwardWinning Art Director of Crouch-ing Tiger, Hidden Dragon. He wasalso the Executive Producer forCLT’s new production,

Concubine’s Black DragonResidence and worked with theNobel Prize Winner Gao Xinjianon his world premiere of AugustSnow in Taiwan.wesleyko@ms54.hinet.net

Greg Maier (BA 2001)Greg Maier (BA 2001)Greg Maier (BA 2001)Greg Maier (BA 2001)Greg Maier (BA 2001), a co-founding member of EnsembleActors’ Theatre, wrote anddirected their world premiere ofFlawed. Greg began writing afterworking with Dr. Joy Reilly inOSU’s The Writing Company.EATTheatre@hotmail.com

Karin Maresh (PHD 2002)Karin Maresh (PHD 2002)Karin Maresh (PHD 2002)Karin Maresh (PHD 2002)Karin Maresh (PHD 2002)successfully defended herdissertation, Struggles forRecognition: The Women ArtisticDirectors of Ireland’s NationalTheatre, in winter quarter. Shepresented “Breaking Free of thePast: Relations Between Feminismand Irish Nationalism in MarinaCarr’s By the Bog of Cats“ at theComparative Drama Conference,and her book review of MaryTrotter’s Ireland’s NationalTheatre: Political Performanceand the Origins of the IrishDramatic Movement wasrecently published in TheatreJournal. During the 2001-2002school year, Maresh worked as anadjunct professor teaching theatrehistory sequences at OSU andOtterbein, a section of ScriptAnalysis at OSU, and Introductionto Theatre at OSU’s Lima campus.This summer Dr. Maresh marriedMike Silva.

Bean (Eileen) MazakBean (Eileen) MazakBean (Eileen) MazakBean (Eileen) MazakBean (Eileen) Mazak (BA 2002)(BA 2002)(BA 2002)(BA 2002)(BA 2002)was selected for an MFA programin tech/design at the University ofNevada Las Vegas.

Jessica Morgan (MFA 2000)Jessica Morgan (MFA 2000)Jessica Morgan (MFA 2000)Jessica Morgan (MFA 2000)Jessica Morgan (MFA 2000)returned to the department inspring quarter to participate in theSITI residency. She also per-formed the role of Constance in

Goodnight, Desdemona(Goodmorning, Juliet) with TheUnseam’d Shakespeare Companyin Pittsburgh in July of 2002 .

Jacqueline Shelley (MFA 2001)Jacqueline Shelley (MFA 2001)Jacqueline Shelley (MFA 2001)Jacqueline Shelley (MFA 2001)Jacqueline Shelley (MFA 2001)accepted a position as theCostume Studio Manager at OhioWesleyan University, where shewill also be designing starting inthe summer of 2002.

Laura Simpson (BA 2002) Laura Simpson (BA 2002) Laura Simpson (BA 2002) Laura Simpson (BA 2002) Laura Simpson (BA 2002) beganan internship with the CastingDepartment of the ManhattanTheatre Club in New York in fall2002 .

Christy Stanlake (PHD 2002)Christy Stanlake (PHD 2002)Christy Stanlake (PHD 2002)Christy Stanlake (PHD 2002)Christy Stanlake (PHD 2002)accepted a tenure-track AssociateProfessor position at the UnitedStates Naval Academy inAnnapolis, Maryland, where shewill teach dramatic literaturecourses and direct academyproductions.

Friends NewsHoward BurnsHoward BurnsHoward BurnsHoward BurnsHoward Burns passed away onNovember 12, 2001. Howard andhis partner, Fred Holdridge, wereknown informally as the Mayors ofGerman Village, and wereinstrumental in the restoration andprotection of that area ofColumbus. They donated severaldecades’ worth of programs andplaybills to the TRI, and alsodonated the Grant MitchellCollection of original cast albumsand other theatre music, whichform the core of the TRI’s holdingsof musical comedies. Howard wasthe first board president forCATCO, and he and Fred wereenthusiastic and longtimesupporters of performance incentral Ohio and supported OSUTheatre with commitment andenthusiasm.

Jim Knappassists LauraSipe withposterprinting inthedepartment’scomputer lab.

Emeritus professor Roy Bowen and his family visit the RoyBowen Theatre in the summer of 2001. L to R: Daniel Kallman,Sarah Sanders, Roy Bowen, his grandson Bowen, and behind, isRoy’s daughter Anne Paulle.

Alan Woods, Director of theLawrence and Lee TheatreResearch Institute, examinesone of their new collections.

Eleni PapaleonardosEleni PapaleonardosEleni PapaleonardosEleni PapaleonardosEleni Papaleonardos (BA 2002)(BA 2002)(BA 2002)(BA 2002)(BA 2002)was offered an acting internshipat Actors’ Theatre of Louisville.Their season runs August 27 -June 8. The interns have theopportunity to perform in theHumana Festival.

Anthony Peeples (BA 2001)Anthony Peeples (BA 2001)Anthony Peeples (BA 2001)Anthony Peeples (BA 2001)Anthony Peeples (BA 2001) tookpart in the intensive SITI summerprogram with Anne Bogart andSITI company members, and plansto continue training with them.

Allyson Rosen (MFA 2002)Allyson Rosen (MFA 2002)Allyson Rosen (MFA 2002)Allyson Rosen (MFA 2002)Allyson Rosen (MFA 2002)joined the Ohio Arts Council’s Artsin Education Artist in Residenceprogram, where she will leadtheatre workshops with statewideschools and community centers.

MFA design student BradSteinmetz welds sections ofThe Memory of Water set intoplace in the Roy BowenTheatre.

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Robert CaisleyRobert CaisleyRobert CaisleyRobert CaisleyRobert Caisley recently departedhis post as Director of MediaRelations & Outreach for TVIStudios in Los Angeles, and hasaccepted an academic appoint-ment as Assistant Professor ofTheatre at the University of Idahowhere he will be teaching actingand playwriting and working in anartistic capacity with the IdahoRepertory Theatre. He willcontinue to serve as ManagingEditor for Audition Todaymagazine, so he may contactsome of you in that capacity. Forthe rest of you, Robert says,“come out and work for us at TheRep! You see, Anton, eventuallysome of us do get to Moscow!!!

(albeit via Hollywood).”rcaisley@uidaho.edu

“Irma CooperIrma CooperIrma CooperIrma CooperIrma Cooper, the grande dame ofcentral Ohio opera, died . . . ofheart failure. She was 89. Her lifewas filled with accomplishments:a European singing career; ateaching position in the OhioState University School of Music;and the co-founding of a singingschool, and opera company and avocal competition. Her influencein her field was widespread”(Barbara Zuck, The ColumbusDispatch, April 30, 2002, F7.)

Tom and Anne HeckTom and Anne HeckTom and Anne HeckTom and Anne HeckTom and Anne Heck, in collabora-tion with recent Post DoctoralFellow Francesco Cotticelli, have

Theatre faculty, staff and students keep the White Elephant holiday tradition alive. Standing,L to R: Julia Weiss, Joy Reilly, Nena Couch, Mark Shanda, Chad Mahan, Matt Hazard, Joe Scharrer,Sonja Kalamas-Elder, Kristen Kidd, Liz Langford. Seated, L to R: Laura Sipe, Kathleen Gonzales,Briggs Cormier, Christ Athanas, Sarah Reese.

Benjamin Zephaniah (left), with Bettye Stull and Zoraba Ross,during his tour of the King Arts Complex in April.

edited and translated TheCommedia dell’Arte in Naples:A Bilingual Edition of the 176Casamarciano Scenarios,published in October 2001 byScarecrow Press (seewww.scarecrowpress.com/SCP/WhatsNew/). Tom is the emeritushead of the Music Library; he andAnne relocated to Santa Barbara,CA, during the summer of 2001.

Robert PostRobert PostRobert PostRobert PostRobert Post worked with KathleenGonzales and Allyson Rosen ontheir MFA independent trackthesis performances duringWinter 2002. He was featured inthe May 2002 issue of The OhioState University Alumni Magazinein an article by Rich Warrenentitled, “Funny Man MeetsEveryman.” Warren notes theNew York Times review of Post’sshow, The Post Man Delivers:“Post merits a place in anybody’sall-star team of the goofily gifted.”Warren also says, “Stars includingSigourney Weaver and Kevin Klinedropped by to catch Post’s act inNew York, and there even was talkof developing a TV sitcom forhim.”

Caridad SvichCaridad SvichCaridad SvichCaridad SvichCaridad Svich worked withDenison University’s Departmentof Theatre to present The BoothVariations, a solo/multimediaperformance piece, on May 10and 11 in Ace Morgan Theatre. Itis the collaborative work of threeguest artists: writer Caridad Svich,actor/writer Todd Cerveris, and

Christina Sidebottom, a recentgraduate of the department,became the Interim Box OfficeManager in Winter quarter andheld the position through theremainder of the 2002 season.

Strindberg, and the GreylockChildren Cos Playmaking Project.He also designed TheatreRoulette, The Grand Guignol, andA Comrade’s Christmas Carol,with MadLab.

Cheri Walters Cheri Walters Cheri Walters Cheri Walters Cheri Walters was accepted for asecond year at the mime schoolin Paris with Marcel Marceau, andshe also just received an invitationto work with Cirque Du Soliel.

director Nick Philippou. The playis based on the 19th centuryAmerican actors Junius BrutusBooth and sons Edwin and JohnWilkes. Centering on the Lincolnassassination, the piece com-prises original text, sourcematerial, various works of fictionand non-fiction, letters, andtheatrical texts. Svich, whosework is archived in The Ohio StateUniversity Theatre ResearchInstitute, was last year’s ThurberHouse Playwright in Residence.Her Alchemy of Desire/Dead-Man’s Blues was produced in theOSU Studio Theatre last year. Sheadded a significant number ofscripts to her collection at TRI in2002 .

David M. Wallingford David M. Wallingford David M. Wallingford David M. Wallingford David M. Wallingford designedsound for The Importance ofBeing Earnest at CATCO. He wasa supervisor in the WilliamtownTheatre Festival Sound Depart-ment. His designs there includeThe Blue Bird, W.A.S.P., Play

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The New Works Lab, the Department ofTheatre’s laboratory space for new andexperimental works, had its inauguralyear this season. Its purpose is to be anincubator for the creation of new andexperimental theatre in traditional andnon-traditional forms. In the fall of2001, renovations to Drake Union room2066, the home of the lab, began.Curtains were set in the space andplans for continuing the renovations tothe New Works Lab by installing acontrol booth, teleconferencing andbroadcasting equipment, as well aslighting and sound equipment weredrafted.

During the year, the New Works Labhosted several readings. The first ofwhich, held in conjunction with TRI,was titled Sisters and consisted ofreadings from the plays of members ofThe International Centre for WomenPlaywrights. The primary mission ofICWP is to support women playwrightsaround the world by bringing interna-tional attention to their achievement.The New Works Lab was proud touphold this mission.

The second reading held in the lab wasa new play, Mercury Seven with SignsFollowing, written by recent graduate

Mark Evans Bryan and commissionedand performed by Sue Ott Rowlands.Since the reading Mercury Sevendeveloped into two monologues(Middle True and Mud Nostalgia),which will premiere in January 2003 atThe Red Herring Theatre Ensemble inColumbus.

Our season continued with a reading ofTime and the Beast, a play written bythe 2002 Thurber House Playwright-in-Residence Marina Shron and based onthe Bible story of Jacob, Rachel andLeah. This work was directed by MAstudent Jennifer Schlueter. In April of2002, we hosted the reading of TomEyen’s Why Hanna’s Skirt Won’t StayDown and The White Whore and theBit Player directed by post-doctoralfellow Wendell Stone. Some twentymembers of the Eyen family attendedthis reading, and shared memories ofTom Eyen and his love for the theatreafterwards.

Our season ended with the reading ofFrom Mame to Jabberwock: Lawrenceand Lee Excerpts in May 2002, and theperformance of a one-act, one-womancalled show Shadows written andperformed by second year MFA studentTarashai Lee in June.

The director, Xela Batchelder (left) stands with the cast of Sisters: New Workfrom the International Centre for Women Playwrights, the inaugural event for ourNew Works Lab and the TRI 50th Anniversary Celebration in October 2001.

The New Works Lab

To Retire or Not toRetire, That is theQuestionOn January 1, 2002, after 40 yearsof service as Box Office Manager,and Director of Publicity andPromotion for the Ohio StateUniversity Department of Theatre,Joe Scharrer announced hisretirement. He handed over the reinsto Christina Sidebottom, a trans-planted Brit, and a recent graduatefrom OSU with a BA in Theatre. Christina said that following in Joe’sfootsteps wasn’t an easy task. Joecontinues to be well-known andrespected in the Columbus theatrecommunity and is a great theatreresource. Don’t be surprised, though,if you still see Joe roaming thecorridors of Drake Union. Despitebeing officially retired, Joe still hasan office here and will be workingwith the Alumni Association,helping them in their fund-raisingefforts. He is also planning to write ahistory of the past forty years ofDepartment of Theatreproductions. Joe graduated from theOhio State University with a BA andwent on to receive his MastersDegree. We send our best wishes toJoe in his retirement and lookforward to working with him formany years to come.

Emeritus professors GeorgeCrepeau (left), Bo Brown (right,standing), and David Ayers (right)join Joe Scharrer (center) for hisDecember retirement bash.

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In conjunction with thedepartment’s productionof Thomas Dekker’s TheShoemaker’s Holiday, asymposium on the playand London theatre of1599 was presented onMarch 1, 2002 in DrakeCenter. The symposiumwas funded by theDepartment of Theatre,the Center for Medievaland Renaissance Studies,

the Department of English, the Hu-manities Institute, and the Office ofInternational Affairs. ThomasPostlewait was the coordinator andmaster of ceremonies. Three talks werepresented, and then the afternoonconcluded with a free-flowing discus-sion offered by the director Jon Farris(Dept. of Theatre, Denison University)and the choreographer Nena Couch(Curator of the Theatre ResearchInstitute, OSU), who talked about the

Laugh, Cry andGet Angry withBenjamin ZephaniahCelebrated British “Dub” Poetcomes to Ohio State

Performance poet Benjamin Zephaniah— revered in Great Britain for hispolitical messages with a Jamaicanbeat – came to The Ohio State Univer-sity Department of Theatre in April fora residency and performances.Zephaniah makes an unforgettableimpression with his political brand of“dub” poetry —revolutionary musingsthat embrace a reggae rhythm andtouch on topics from guns, war andracism to nature, love and animals.Zephaniah presented performances at8 pm Friday, April 19 and Saturday,April 20, and at 2 pm Sunday, April 21(children’s performance), in ThurberTheatre, Drake Performance and EventCenter. In addition to his performances,Zephaniah spoke about his work with

various classes at OSU, Fort HayesHigh School, and Weinland ParkElementary School. He also partici-pated in a motion capture session atthe ACCAD Motion Capture Studio.

Performances were co-sponsored byEthnic Student Services, the College ofthe Arts, the Ohio Union, the Institutefor Collaborative Research and PublicHumanities, the Office of MinorityAffairs and the Council of GraduateStudents.

Anthony Hill(second from left),3rd year PhDstudent JohnHarris (fourth fromleft), and BenjaminZephaniah chatwith Theatre367.01 studentsfollowing theirclass sessiontogether.

Symposium on Thomas Dekker’s The Shoemaker’s Holiday

Theatre faculty members TomPostlewait (center), Valerie Lucas(second from left), and Nena Couch(second from right), host ChristopherHighley, from OSU’s English Depart-ment (right), and renowned scholarAndrew Gurr (left), following oursymposium on Thomas Dekker.

challenges of producing Dekker’s playtoday. Joining them in this discussionwere the actors, the design team, andthe dramaturg.

The afternoon symposium began witha slide lecture on “Dekker’s London” byProfessor Christopher Highley (Dept. ofEnglish, OSU). Then visiting professorValerie Lucas took up the topic ofwomen in Dekker’s play in a talk on“Mad Mespotamians and LanguishingLadies: Staging Gender in TheShoemaker’s Holiday.” And thekeynote address was presented by therenowned Shakespearean scholarProfessor Andrew Gurr (Dept. ofEnglish, University of Reading), theauthor of The Shakespeare Stage,Playgoing in Shakespeare’s London,and Shakespearian Playing Compa-nies, among several books. Hepresented a talk on the London theatreworld and its citizen spectators.His title was “An Audience of Shoe-makers?”

At the new ACCAD MoCap lab, SubaVaradarajan (left) and Maria Palazzi(right) help Benjamin into the motioncapture suit. Each reflective markerrepresents a point that the computerwill track.

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Virtual Theatre -Phase IIIThis year has seen several newdevelopments in the reorganizationand evolution of the Theatre 100course. With the continued support ofan Instructional Innovation Grant andthe additional funding from aCourseware Development Grant, OSUTheatre has maintained its researchand development in digital media. Theprocess of creating a website, improv-ing the Roy Bowen Virtual Theatre, andintegrating Theatre100 with technol-ogy kept our research team quite busy.With the completed website up andrunning, students taking Theatre 100experience theatre from the virtualperspective, discovering additionalinformation and communicatingoutside the formal classroom viabulletin boards and live chats. Inaddition, the virtual theatre interfacehas been redesigned after a year of useby faculty, staff, and students.

The new addition to the project allowsstudents to select a short scene, castthe piece from a stable of virtualperformers, and then block the actionon a scenic design of their choice. Thescripts are a medley of standard ‘open’scenes, original 2 minute plays writtenby the New Works class, and some

The 26th Comparative Drama Confer-ence took place at The Ohio StateUniversity April 25-27, 2002. Orga-nized by Conference Director StratosConstantinidis, the three-day interdis-ciplinary event was attended by 236program participants who discussed189 research papers divided into 63sessions. The conference participantsalso attended a keynote address“Greek Tragedy for the New Millen-nium: A Case Study,” delivered byProfessor Helene P. Foley (ColumbiaUniversity). Mark Fullerton, Chair ofthe Department of History of Art gavethe welcome speech. The keynotespeaker was introduced by DavidHahm, Chair of the Department of

short scenes from Shakespeare. Thevirtual performers, designed fromrenderings by Dennis Parker and JuliaWeiss, were created by combiningmotion capture data with threedimensional bodies.

Collaboration between the Departmentof Theatre and the Advanced Center forComputer Art and Design (ACCAD),continues and promises to lead thedepartment in new directions. If youwould like to visit the virtual theatre tosee our progress, please go to:www.accad.ohio-state.edu/VT.

Lesley Ferris demonstrates the VirtualTheatre interface, which is modeled onour own Roy Bowen Theatre, toemeritus professor Roy Bowen and hisgrandson, Bowen.

Greek & Latin. Professors Bruce Heidenand Victoria Wohl served as respon-dents. The doctoral students from thedepartment who presented paperswere Mark Evans Bryan, EileenKrajewski, Karin Maresh, PeachPittenger, and Tracy Tupman.This year the conference participantsfrom abroad came from Australia,England, Germany, India, Japan, Korea,Taiwan, and Canada. Stratos wasassisted at the registration desk by sixgraduate students (Ipek Celik, JohnRoger Harris, Eileen Krajewski, RobertLublin, Karin Ann Maresh, TracyTupman) and one undergraduatestudent (Aiyana Marcus) who gener-ously volunteered their time.

The 26th Comparative Drama Conference

During the fall quarter video students inour department and from OberlinCollege collaborated on a special videoproject. Film and video artist RianBrown, from Oberlin, and Dan Boordworked out a method whereby theirstudents could share in the experienceof creating a video art project by usingthe Internet. The project ended with avideoconference where the studentswere able to discuss both the technicaland aesthetic aspects of their videowork.

OSU Students MeetOberlin Students inCyberspace to MakeVideo Art

Students created a visual and auralresponse to their choice of poems fromEdgar Lee Master’s Spoon RiverAnthology. They used the internet tosend QuickTime movie files to eachother.

The video clips were then posted onthe  OSU Video Stirfry website. Bothclasses held a videoconference usingthe Internet 2 system at the end of thequarter. The meeting gave the studentsa chance to exchange ideas and askquestions directly to each other. Duringthis meeting the students viewed theirvideo work and discussed it.

Undergraduate student Josh Pattonworks on a live video conferencingsession between students at OSU andstudents at Oberlin College.

(continued next page...)

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Las Terraces. Details for OSU’s firstinternational studies program to Cubawere also cemented with hosts HelmoHernandez, Director of the LudwigFoundation, and Performing ArtsSpecialist, Fernando Saez. The course,

Dan Boord is working on developingmore classes that work in this collabo-rative way. During the summer heexperimented with OSU and UCSDstudents. Thanks to OSU’s Steve Ackerand Bob Dixon (of TELR) for theirsupport of this approach to teaching.

An additional video project this yearinvolved a different kind of outreach.

Video Art...continued

Cuba Program Update

Strategies Against Violence Every-where (SAVE) is a Columbus basednon-profit organization emphasizingnon- violent conflict resolution forchildren. Video students worked withColumbus students on dramatic videoswhich depicted the consequences ofviolent actions. SAVE donated $3,000worth of video equipment to our videoarea.

The Ohio Arts Council’s International Program isdesigned to foster long term involvement ininternational cultural exchange. The programencourages Ohio artists and arts organizations to

form partnerships with arts professionals abroad. The International Programprovides grants to assist nonprofit educational, cultural and arts organiza-tions, as well as individual artists, performers, educators, arts managers andadministrators, to develop exemplary international arts projects and innova-tive partnerships that increase Ohioans’ access to international arts activities.OSU Theatre is delighted and proud to be included in this important work bythe ever innovative OAC.

Fergus-Gilmore Fund AwardProfessor Dan Boord received asignificant gift from the College ofthe Arts Fergus-Gilmore Fund forvideo equipment that has trans-formed our video teaching andmaking. The intent of the grant is topromote video art instruction byupgrading our technology andproviding a collection of significantvideo art works that span a 25 yearperiod.

The Department of Theatre’s uniqueinternational collaboration with theLudwig Foundation of Havana, Cuba,with support from the Ohio ArtsCouncil and the Office of InternationalEducation, made major strides during2001-02. The first of these was aFebruary visit to Cuba by Chair LesleyFerris and Resident Scenic Designer,Dan Gray. While in Havana, Lesley andDan gave a series of workshops on U.S.stage design, stage management anddirectorial practices for a group ofinterested Cuban theatre students andprominent professionals. They alsoexperienced a broad range of theatreperformances and toured majorcultural institutions such as theNational Theatre of Cuba, the SanAllejandro School of Arts, the NationalMuseum of Cuban Art and an artist’scolony at a nature preserve known as

Standing in front ofthe Teatro Nacionalde Cuba are (L to R):Fernando Saez fromthe Ludwig Founda-tion; Repilado,lighting designer;Jesus Riuz,scenographer;Dan Gray and LesleyFerris. Dan andLesley visitedHavana to give talksand set up the CubanCulture and Perfor-mance program inFebruary.

Cuban Performance and Culture (co-taught by Jill Lane, Cuban theatre andperformance specialist from Compara-tive Studies and Dan Gray) was offeredin Autumn 2002 and will culminate ina 10 day visit to Cuba in December.

The Department also welcomedvisiting Cuban Carnival artists (aka“Parrandas”) for a presentation of theirdesign work for this impressive annualcelebration. They amazed students andfaculty alike with a range of costume,scenic and lighting effects created withextremely limited resources for thisone-day event! These artists were inOhio thanks to an initiative sponsoredby the Cleveland Museum of Art andthe Ohio Arts Council to bring interna-tional carnival artists to Cleveland toassist local groups in the creation ofcostumes, floats and large scaledpuppets for the 12th annual Parade theCircle celebration. Truly, a must seeevent!

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We want to hear from you!Please fill out the form below and return it to us byJune 1, 2003. Information received by that datewill be included in the 2003 issue of encore!

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I would like to make a contribution to theDepartment of Theatre.Enclosed find my contribution to the:

❐ Friends of OSU Theatre ❐ Roy Bowen Theatre Fund ❐ Eileen Heckart Memorial Scholarship Fund ❐ ___________________ Scholarship Fund (see listing page 13)

Please make checks payable to:The Ohio State University

Alumni Relations, Department of Theatre1089 Drake Center,1849 Cannon Dr.Columbus OH 43210-1266 (614) 292-5821FAX: (614) 292-3222E-mail: theatre-alumni@osu.edu

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encoreThe Ohio State UniversityDepartment of Theatre1089 Drake Center1849 Cannon DriveColumbus, OH 43210-1266

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Valerie Lucas(bottom, right) andthe 3rd year MFAactors flaunt themasks they producedas part of Valerie’smask course. Eachstudent researchedtheir own version ofa character arche-type, which theythen created andused in soloperformance.