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 in- ter'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 pro- gram. 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.