INSERT: Theatre from a to Z at Annenberg Center and How It Grew

A Supplement to Almanac The News Magazine of The University of Pennsylvania

VOLUME 2. NUMBER 2 Theatre From A to Z at Annenberg Center and How It Grew

Before 1971 the Annenberg School shared the 3600 block of Walnut Street with a car dealership. Nine years later the Annenberg Center complements the School and the University with its striking exterior and rich cultural life.

"This is a Center with a difference. It A NEW FOCUS will seek to serve the basic House". The prestigious Shaw Festival of objec- A different format was Canada joined the roster of tives of the University, to contribute programming quality produc- to considered and the Center began to look ing organizations appearing at the Center knowledge through teaching, outside for which would and presented a successful produc- research, public expression and quality productions highly service." augment the University's educational pro- tion of "Charley's Aunt" starring Paxton In 1972 The New Phoenix Whitehead to complete the 1974-75 Miss Nancy Hanks. Chairman, National grams. Reper- Endowment for the Arts, at the Dedica- tory Company opened its season at the season. tion Exercises of the Annenberg Center, Annenberg Center with an assist from local CONTINUING FINANCIAL PROBLEMS April 1971. theatre entrepreneur and Penn alumnus, While the steps were progressing, Franklin Roberts. O'Neill's "The Great God however, the financial difficulties were Miss Hanks knew what the Center Brown," directed by Harold Prince, also a keeping pace. Managing Director Richard wanted to be when it grew up. Ambassador University alumnus and the person for Kirschner, who had guided the Annenberg Annenberg's magnificent gift to the Univer- whom the Center's 200-seat theatre was Center during its difficult formative years, sity of the superbly equipped three-theatre named, and Moliere's "Don Juan," directed resigned, citing lack of University financial performing arts center was an auspicious by Stephen Porter, both received high crit- commitment, and became the Managing start. But then there were the growing pains ical acclaim. Director of the Shaw Festival of Canada. as the Center worked to evolve a profes- The following season, 1973-74, The During this time the Center had also been sional theatre program that was unique in Phoenix returned with Prince directing Dur- presenting dance attractions, including the city and an asset to the University's renmatt's "The Visit" and Porter directing Viola Farber and Twyla Tharp. Film too educational role. Feydeau's farce, "Chemin de Fer." At this made its presence felt with the "Black Film So things moved slowly. The first pre- juncture another important development Festival," the "Films by Women" Festival sentation was the Center's own production occurred: joining the Phoenix at the An- and the Annenberg Cinemateque. of Bertolt Brecht's "St. Joan of the Stock- nenberg Center was Joseph Papp's New Stephen Goff, Assistant Managing Di- yards." The sets in the Zellerbach Theatre, York Shakespeare Festival at Lincoln rector under Kirschner, assumed the re- named for Harold L. Zeilerbach, distin- Center. Papp brought such outstanding per- sponsibilities of Managing Director and guished alumnus, were lavish, the costumes formers as Julie Harris, Charles Durning, further developed and expanded the pro- and masks stunning. The National Ob- Zoe CaIdwell, Robert Shaw and Ken How- gram. His first season, 1975-76, included server praised it as the "best production of a ard, among others. The Bulletin thought the celebration of the nation's Bicentennial Brecht play in the United States this year." Papp's arrival so significant that it devoted and saw the Shaw Festival return with Two other Center-produced pro- its lead editorial to welcoming him and not- Shaw's "The Devil's Disciple", and "Caesar ductions followed: "Hough in Blazes" by ing that the "local theatre is taking on added and Cleopatra." The Western Savings Bank Jerome Max, a prize-winning playwright, luster for his coming." began its successful relationship with the started no fires. But then came Julie Bovas- Now the Annenberg Center seemed to Annenberg Center, helping present plays so's "Gloria and Esperanza," a production be moving forward confidently with its pro- from the Kennedy Center and The McCar- that Ernest Schier of The Bulletin described fessional theatre programs. The produc- ter Theatre Company. Williams' "Sweet as "the best theatre of the season." tions selected were an interesting mixture of Bird of Youth" with Irene Worth and Christ- Activity increased at the Center, but old and new plays from increasingly in- opher Walken, and Joseph Jefferson's "Rip growing national economic problems were teresting theatre companies. Prince re- Van Winkle", starring Anthony Quayle and beginning to have their effect on the Uni- turned for a third season directing Con- directed by Joshua Logan came from the versity and ultimately its ability to support greve's "Love for Love" with Mary Ure. Kennedy Center and the start of the Cen- expensive theatre productions. The cost of Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival inter's relationship with the McCarter Theatre mounting these productions was escalating cluded Estelle Parsons, Liv Ullmann and Company was heralded with the presenta- rapidly. Many of the research projects origi- Sam Waterston in such plays as Anthony tion of "Awake and Sing", with Morris Car- nally anticipated were unable to be realized Scully's "Little Black Sheep", Bill Gunn's novsky and Richard Gere starring in the because of lack of funding. "Black Picture Show', and Ibsen's "A Doll Clifford Odets play. Con't. Pg. 3s

A Supplement to Almanac The News Magazine of The University of Pennsylvania

they participated in a rap session with the Research & author and the entire cast, many of whom (Student) Development had been members of gangs in their own youth. From this beginning came the large Outreach Program which is now supported by foundations, corporations, the Pennsyl- vania Council on the Arts, The Public Committee on the Humanities in Pennsyl- vania and the Annenberg Center itself. The largest component of the Out- reach Program is the Ticket Subsidy Fund. Each year we raise money to help distribute substantially reduced-price tickets for par- ticipants and the individuals themselves pay whatever amount they are able to afford. Last season over 12,000 individuals from 185 organizations benefited from this program. There is a wide mixture of groups, vocational schools, senior citizen centers, The Sculpture Lobby leading to the Zellerbach Theatre provides ample rehearsal space for the trade unions and handicapped organiza- Penn Players preparing for their November production of PIPPIN." tions. A TOTAL THEATRE EXPERIENCE One of the Annenberg Center's INTERACTS achievements is the of are this stu- But the Center doesn't just bring these proudest growth Programs developed by individuals to the theatre. We to do so in student involvement and educational dent group to keep a lively interaction be- try The student arts tween the artists at the Center, a way that makes the experience under- programs. performing performing standable as well as one that organizations that rehearse and perform at both professional and student, and their enjoyable, the Center us a We audiences from the and the they would want to repeat. (In fact, one give unique vitality. campus larger measure of the success of the is learn and grow as the students' needs and community. Already this fall they have been program interests lead to the of new involved in: after-theatre discussion the repeated requests of the groups to at- development panels; tend additional Our programs which enhance the students' de- opening night lobby concerts by Penn stu- productions.) groups as the dent audience for the are supplied with Center-prepared study velopment performers, managers, groups; development to the and are, researchers, and audiences of the future. visit of the Warsaw Mime Troupe; l-larnwell guides productions THEATRE ARTS MAJOR Arts House for the whenever possible, brought to perfor- receptions Philadelphia mances which are followed the InterActs This interdisciplinary program within Company and Trinity Square Repertory by the humanities is close to the interests of This discussion sessions. In all cases our Audi- Company. spring they will present ence staff works to match many at the Center. The Major draws on their fourth annual Artsfest, the ten-day festi- Development the of the in- val of the arts with student and groups with productions which would be divergent strengths University, professional for them. The addition of the Theatre cluding Annenberg Center staff members groups offering dance, theatre, music and right and the directors, actors, and de- the visual arts. for Children Series at the Center has made visiting it with the theatre Center CHILDREN'S THEATRE TROUPES possible to extend this program to the signers productions. school level also. staff members Catherine Marshall and Penn Players, the undergraduate elementary Albin Aukerlund teach courses the drama form theatre which We have the Penn Players Children's using group, troupes Theatre which travel out to professional theatre productions and the tour Philadelphia public and parochial Troupes technical facilities of the Center. Theatre schools and local neighborhood schools and hospitals help- hospitals. Creating pro- to out the and in the Arts 251, to be introduced this spring, will ductions designed to encourage audience ing bring joy creativity and to stimulate creative activ- children themselves. We have group sub- allow students to direct and design three participation rates for schools and classes: 68 original one-act plays being written this fall ity following the visit, the 15 troupes last scription in season reached 10,000 stu- different colleges and 145 high schools visiting playwright Tad Mosel's playwrit- approximately have utilized Center when ing courses. Cont. Pg. 3s productions they have related to classwork involving diverse subject areas. We have special programs to involve industrial workers. Another pro- Ticket to the Arts gram is specifically for the hearing Everyone'sWe have what may seem a radical con- impaired. cept of what our audiences should be, but THE NEED FOR OUTREACH it's hardly a new one. Our idea is as old as "Access to the Arts is both a need and the performing arts themselves which had a right of every individual." This is a state- their origins in the wandering troubadors, ment by the National Governor's Associa- the passion plays and the Shakespearean tion Subcommittee on the Arts-the era when productions were written and per- Annenberg Center believes it is more than a formed for everyman. Our Outreach Pro- philosophical belief. The reaching and in- gram at the Annenberg Center tries to re- volving of new audiences is both crucial for vive this notion of audience by reachng out arts organizations to grow and thrive and to those people who might not otherwise essential for the full development of each discover professional theatre productions Each year Penn Players Children's Theatre individual. Extensive research has linked on their own. Troupes reach over 10,000 children, surprising exposure to the arts with gains in basic and with creative OUR THIRD AUDIENCE delighting them their academic skills plus an ability to cope with (Photo: Michael L¬Ibowftz) We count on the "general theatre- presentations. life at its fullest. As a part of a major univer- going public" as a major part of our audi- reasons, does not ordinarily attend profes- sity, the Annenberg Center feels it is both ence. They are the people who, given the sional theatre productions. For this audi- an obligation and an opportunity to find right amounts of interest in the chosen ence the Annenberg Center has developed ways to involve our "third audience." productions, sufficient publicity and a large and many-faceted Outreach Pro- So when you attend a performance at reasonable ticket prices, will attend theatre. gram, directed by Marcella Beresin. the Annenberg Center you'll see a lot of the The second segment of our play-goers are THE GROWTH OF OUTREACH AT ANNENBERG faculty, staff and students from Penn and the students from our campus and others. In existence since 1974, the Outreach other colleges and schools in the area. We speak of their extensive involvement Program started by bringing 200 members You'll have an opportunity to chat at inter- elsewhere on this page. of local gang to a production of "What the mission, perhaps, with one of our many But there is a third audience that we Winesellers Buy," a play which highlighted senior citizens using our special discount seek out-that part of the population who, the problems of ghetto youth in relation to rate. Perhaps you'll be fortunate enough to because of financial, physical or cultural gang life and drugs. After the performance attend when the performance is being

A Supplement to Almanac The News Magazine of The University of Pennsylvania Ticket to the Arts (cont'd) signed for the hearing impaired. You'll always be welcome at an InterActs after- from the Center of Looking Ahead theatre discussion panel where so many Steve Goff, managing director of the our new and ex- theatre-goers gain insight Annenberg Center, knows there's a lot of posure to the ideas of theatre. work to be done just to the pro- our new audiences receive, solidity Watching grams already at the Center. But he also enjoy and become devotees of the arts has feels there's a lot more we would like to be become as exciting as watching the fine per- of the now at the the artists themselves.. doing. Many programs formances of Center are part of what we would like to see Research (cont'd) happen in a fuller way in the future. Our Series A and Z, some dents. In addition several containing troupes prepare of the nation's finest regional theatres, is excerpts from Annenberg Center pro- some ductions for and senior school part of our growth toward presenting junior high more distant at the and actress classes to build interest in the of the larger, companies Managing Director Steve Goff reading plays Guthrie Ruth share in conversa- and the Each let- Center, such as Minneapolis' Maynard post-theatre seeing productions. year Theatre, the Milwaukee Los tion after the opening night performance of ters flood in from teachers and students Repertory, Angeles' Mark Taper Forum and San Fran- "The Shadow Box." who have enjoyed the visits: each year can filled. cisco's American Conservatory Theatre. Our offerings in film and dance should there are more requests than be Our recent from the Pew Memorial be and we're also in- STUDENT PERFORMING GROUPS grant cautiously expanded Trust moves us one step closer to this goal. terested in exploring the idea of a musical We have a roster of student groups per- feel that we at the Annen- We also want to become more in- theatre series. In general we forming and/or rehearsing volved in on a small scale, the have the best facilities in the and that Center as full of talent and as producing, city berg variety works of new and local playwrights, proba- they should be in use by as many groups as any to be found in the city. The Center is bly in the Prince Theatre. With the help of possible. proud to be involved with: now, There should be a to foster closer The Balalaika the Philadelphia Foundation we are way with our Community Arts Assistance Pro- connection between the technical courses Orchestra Penn Dance Group in theTheatre Arts and the BloomersPenn Choir gram, able to be supportive of some local Major productions Gospel working with new plays offered by our student groups. We Cont.Pg.4s Glee ClubPenn Players producing groups Jazz EnsemblePenn Singers Mask and Quadramics as assisting the public relations, box office financial reasons. It was feared the same Wig and Music DepartmentUniversity Bands development departments. Annenberg would happen to the professional theatre November 15-17 will see the Penn Players Center Technical Director and Research series at the Annenberg Center, but a stu- presenting their first musical on the Zeller- Electrician Albin Aukerlund hopes to con- dent sit-in at College Hall brought forth a duct research on bach stage-PIPPIN, directed by Lisa the psychology of stage large supporting voice from the student Hemphill, musical direction by Bruce lighting in relationship to audience reactions. body and the press, giving the University Montgomery, choreography by Susan The Annenberg Center feels there are encouragement to try and preserve the Glazer of the Philadelphia Dance Alliance. many avenues that have just begun to be program. Penn Players chairman Brian Dunbar en- explored in using the full resources of the Last season saw two distinguished Center for educational thusiastically speaks about the new chal- purposes.. series reaching large audiences: The West- lenges for Penn Players: ern Savings Bank Series had an average of "In an effort to get more people in the Uni- How It Grew (cont'd) 93% audience capacity while the newer Off versity community involved in a student The 1976-77 season had five plays Broadway's Best at Annenberg sold to 89% production the Penn Players will present from the McCarter Theatre Company in- of capacity audiences. Rex Harrison, PIPPIN in the Zellerbach Theatre. This cluding Sam Shepard's "Angel City", a Claudette Colbert and George Rose gives us a chance to build the most elabo- production of "Medal of Honor Rag" with opened the Western Savings Bank season rate set since our Irvine days and gives our Clifton Davis and Jose Ferrer. In addition, with "The Kingfisher", followed by Tammy actors a chance to work with a profes- the Irish Government assisted in sending Grimes and Paul Hecht in "A Month in the sional artistic staff in the best theatre on the famed Abbey Players to the United Country", from the McCarter Theatre campus." States and the Annenberg Center was for- Company. Productions came from the John Student, the new technical advisor to tunate to have O'Casey's "The Plough and Goodman Theatre, Trinity Square Reper- student performing arts, will be offering the Stars" with Siobhan McKenna and Cyril tory Company, LaMama Experimental several workshops in technical theatre dur- Cusack. The French Government sent the Theatre Club and there was an exciting ing November. He hopes to include a work- Contemporary Arts Festival which included week of Edward Albee directing his own shop on running the fly system as well as a a performance of "The 1k" by Peter Brook's plays. Our Theatre for Children series de- workshop in scenic painting. Right now he's International Center for Theatre Research. buted with two sold-out productions. busy designing the set for PIPPIN. Growth and vigor were in full evidence The current season at the Annenberg UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY AND THE as the Western Savings Bank Series con- Center finds the direction of programming ANNENBERG CENTER tinued in 1977-78 with such brilliant stars as clearly set-to offer to the University, and Faculty in drama, comparative litera- Jean Marsh, Jason Robards, Geraldine the Delaware Valley, productions from the ture, history and other related theatre fields Fitzgerald and Herschel Bernardi. The finest regional theatre companies in the often require attendance at appropriate Center became the presenter of almost Y3 country, as well as some exciting pre- plays in our two theatre series. In addition of all professional theatre seen in Philadel- Broadway attractions. The 1979-80 line-up many university residence halls purchase phia each year as it introduced a second brings these companies to the Center in the subscriptions to the series for their residents series of plays in the more intimate Annen- new Z Series in the Zellerbach Theatre, and and sponsor discussions on the plays they berg School Theatre-Off Broadway's Best to the A Series-formerly Off Broadway's see. The Harnwell Arts House invites visit- at the Annenberg. Project director Sidney Best at the Annenberg Series-in the ing theatre companies to their residence for Bloom lined up a roster of distinguished Annenberg School Theatre. Also, Theatre workshops and social interaction. The Arts playwrights, directors and actors, including for Children has expanded to three House also has an apartment this year for Tom O'Horgan, David Mamet, Gregory productions. the use of artists and faculty who visit the Mosher, Jules Feiffer and many more. Crit- That's how we grew to Theatre from A campus on a short-term basis. ical and audience acclaim were highly to Z. The rest of this special publication will RESEARCH AT THE CENTER favorable. Ernest Schier of The Bulletin was let you know all the other ways this "Center Annenberg Center staff members are prompted to say: "...a dazzling program with a difference" has been growing, ways eager to work with students from various for theatre-goers has shifted to Annenberg related to the professional theatre series but departments and schools in research pro- Center." with important directions of their own. So jects. Wharton School students have been A TURNING POINT we believe Miss Hanks would be pleased involved in marketing studies on children's Financial constraints were also in evi- that her prophecy has been largely fulfilled. theatre, evaluation of direct mail cam- dence that season of 1977-78 when the Much remains to be done and will be done. paigns, design of audience surveys, as well University eliminated varsity ice hockey for Keep your eye on the Annenberg Center!.

A Supplement to Almanac The News Magazine of The University of Pennsylvania

ward cooperative efforts among Philadel- phia's arts organizations that we'd like to encourage. Steve Goff chairs a committee for the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance which is developing programs of this nature. The Annenberg Center feels it has a role in the cultural life of the city as well as the campus. As a part of all these thoughts about the future, we will always want to keep ex- panding the ways, if not the actual num- bers, we serve the wider community through our Outreach Program. We're working with the University to install new ramps at the Center allowing us to ac- comodate more wheelchairs at each performance. Perhaps there is a way to amplify performances for the hearing impaired. Bruce Montgomery and the renowned U. of P. Glee Club in rehearsal at the Annenberg Center. We're eager to explore programs to involve This sell-out group is already making plans for its 118th annual production, "Hit High Sea". our "third audience." The staff at the Center Ahead (cont'd) Annenberg Looking adult theatre presentations. We've been want to work to the Center in want to even more and direc- develop ways give support thinking about a small program which that will allow it to serve the world of per- tion to our student groups as well as find would involve that age group in some of forming arts, both student and for and students to professional, ways directing design our student productions in addition to in a manner which would be of importance use their skills on actual productions, perhaps one, carefully selected professional for the campus, the city, and the Delaware perhaps as independent study projects. theatre performance. Valley.. Summer has found our theatres dark Our interest in, and work with, the re- and we'd like to find a to this. theatre has us FRONT AND CENTER is the official newsletter of way change gional companies impressed the Annenberg Center for Communication Arts One idea might be to develop a program with their scope and importance to the and Science.. University of Pennsylvania. which could use area college students as theatre world in general. It would be excit- Stephen GoB. Managing Director apprentices. ing for the campus and the city to have a Robert Hau.Iohner, Chairman, Board of So far we haven't found many ways to conference of these regional theatre com- Advisor. involve junior high school age students in panies right here at Penn. It would be a big Mrs. Charles T. Kline, Jr., Chairperson, Assoc. our programs. We're not alone in this as it's project but certainly one which we would Editor... Judith H. Kidd an age that is too old for our Theatre for be interested in taking on. Assistant Ed Deborah Addle, Judith Weiss Children and too young for the majority of There has been a steady growth to- Photographer. Julie Jen.on Anthony Huh From Arts Major to Zellerbach OUTREACH-INTERACTS-THEATRE So perhaps that's one answer to "Why Center it means that we bring to Philadel- ARTS MAJOR-ARTSFEST-HEARING do we do it?" Professional theatre costs a lot phia, from cities around the country, theatre THEATRE FOR THE DEAF-PENN of money, especially operating as a non- companies who have consistently been theatre. There are no work in their own loca- PLAYERS-TICKET SUBSIDY profit professional doing outstanding private backers investing money in the tions in developing new plays, playwrights FUND-QUADRAMICS-PENN GLEE hopes of getting a return. There are only and acting ensembles. The companies are CLUB-GOSPEL CHOIR-TOURING audiences, foundations, corporations and regional in the sense that they have their CHILDREN'S THEATRE TROUPES- individual donors who are committed to origins in a specific location, but their pro- ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL PERFORM- professional theatre to fill that inevitable in- ductions are responsive to the theatre world come between and the as a whole. ING ARTS gap expenses GROUPS.. You're probably earned income from ticket sales and rental It is at these regional theatre com- reading about many of these Annenberg revenues. panies that the new works of the theatre are Center programs for the first time. Maybe We've been asked why we don't go being developed and the classics lovingly you thought we only presented two series into the commercial theatre world where preserved. The tables are reversed in the of professional theatre. Maybe you've even there is the (remote) possibility of making a theatre world now because these theatres wondered what such a large building can be big financial hit There are many answers to have become the source of many of doing all the rest of the time. The answer is that question but probably the most impor- Broadway's productions. The New York a lot", and you have read about all we're tant answer is another question: Is that limes article stated: "...many of the most doing in this special supplement to the what a theatre connected with a major edu- significant new American plays of recent Almanac. cational institution should be doing? It years have originated at these (regional) In one way, however, the play is really doesn't seem so to us. The Annenberg theatres-David Rabe's 'Streamers' (pre- the thing at the Annenberg Center. Not be- Center feels it has a unique opportunity and sented by the Philadelphia Company in our cause it's the most visible. But because pro- obligation to the campus and the city to Harold Prince Theatre this October), David fessional productions of worthy plays by bring to Philadelphia outstanding plays, Mamet's 'American Buffalo' (Fall 1978 in outstanding theatre companies are what a playwrights and theatre companies that our Off-Broadway's Best at the Annenberg theatre is about. It's not that the rest of the would not otherwise be seen here. And Series), Michael Weller's 'Loose Ends', programs mentioned above aren't impor- then to make these productions available to Michael Cristofer's 'The Shadow Box' tant but rather that most of them wouldn't as wide a segment of the population as (Zellerbach Theatre, Series Z, October, even exist without this central core of pro- possible. 1979), to name just a few." fessional theatre productions. You've been hearing our motto Our goal is to make certain that what is Of course, student performing arts or- "Theatre from A to Z", referring to our two happening in theatre in the country is also ganizations existed long before there was series of professional theatre productions happening in Philadelphia and on campus. an Annenberg Center. In many ways their from some of the country's finest regional Series A and Series Z, Theatre from A to Z. productions enhance us, rather than the re- theatre companies. You're not alone if you With the addition of our three productions verse. But we believe that our superb wonder just what a "regional" theatre com- in the Theatre for Children series we can facilities, and the opportunity to work with pany is. The New York limes on October say Theatre for All Ages. When you add our our staff and meet the professionals in the 14th had a major article on just that marvellous student productions and visiting visiting productions-let alone seeing the topic-even the theatre companies them- local theatre, dance and music groups, it performances-are valuable components selves don't agree on the term or the defini- becomes, "Theatre from A to Z for All Ages to what the students do and how they grow. tion. As we use the term at the Annenberg and All Stages.".