The University of MassachusettsSTAGES Amherst Department of Theater Alumni Newsletter Spring 2009 After 25 years, Julian Olf takes his leave by GIL MCCAULEY
It can be difficult to say goodbye to a colleague who has selflessly given an amazing amount of his time, expertise and resources to the place and people around him. It is even more difficult when that colleague has also been a mentor and a friend. Such is the case for me in bidding farewell to Julian Olf. Julian has been a caretaker, orchestrator and motivator in the Department since coming to it in 1983. The students, the faculty and Gil's piece continues on page 6. You will find more about Julian and his time in the Katie Lynch and Evan Fuller in The Chairs, the last piece Julian directed here. (photo by Jon Crispin) department on pages 6-8 of this issue. Megan Cannon's Santaland Diaries by MEGAN CANNON for FoodPlay, a national touring theater dunnnn…. company that teaches kids about healthy So I did what all people do when I’ve had a lot of interesting jobs living through theater and juggling. So looking for digs. Or anything really. I in the last few years. I got to drive the when I saw an ad for Santaland Manager went on Craigslist. Several trips to the Batmobile and blow things up, make at Macy’s on Backstagejobs.com, who city and lots of scary shared apartment monsters, dance back-up for a well- was I to say no? situations later and I had secured a known rock band (ok, ok, it was Dorothy What qualifies a person to be beautiful room in large apartment on the Dinosaur for the Wiggles, but to the Santa’s boss? Apparently everything on a charming street in Harlem! With a 5-year-olds, they are like Metallica!) and my resume. I was called in for an two month partial leave of absence generally make a fool of myself at Six interview almost immediately, and it from FoodPlay, the help of my excellent Flags New England. Currently I work didn’t seem to take a lot of convincing Assistant Production Manager, and my to get a job offer. In fact, my assortment suitcases packed, I was ready to go. This spring, we were saddened to of strange jobs convinced them that I My first impression of Santaland learn of the passing of Van Farrier, a could manage Santa during the week was, "This place is going to burn beloved member of the local theater and then manage the puppet theatre on down!" I’ll explain: The singing tree was community who often graced our the weekends. (Did I mention that I also creepy, and the snowglobe looked like stages. We were devastated anew puppeteered and helped to direct and something out of a Harry Potter movie. several weeks later to learn that one manage the puppet theater at Six Flags?) I was disappointed that there was no big of our talented alumni, Greg Egan, It seemed an ideal match. Now came the staircase and slide to kick the kids down, had also passed. Tributes to both tough part – to pick myself up and find but the mice running around were rather men begin on page 4. a place to live in … The City… duh duh continued on page 5
1 Alumni, students, faculty, and staff updates Do you know what never gets old? is living in the Providence, RI area and to-Male Transgender Conference in Receiving updates from alumni and working as a puppeteer and storyteller, 1997. She ran the costume department friends, that's what. Send us your news performing for day care centers, schools for Boston Lyric Opera, then ran the (at [email protected]). and festivals. He is getting back into costume shop and taught costume at acting and recently took an acting class Emerson College before moving to her Alumni at Trinity Repertory. He's taken some current position. voice-over classes and is pursuing that as n Ari Jacobsen came to campus in the n Naomi Bennett '01 attended the well. "I have great memories of UMass fall as part of the American Shakespeare Professional Track Circus program at having done Playboy of the Western World Center's production of Rosencrantz and the New England Center for Circus Arts with Ed Golden and Jeffrey Donovan Guildenstern Are Dead. He continues in Brattleboro, VT. This past December, (among many talented others). I also to tour with the group, then will be in she left her job at the Performance lost several roles to Rob Corddry. (Not residence at the Blackfriars Playhouse in Project to become the Theater and to drop names, but whatever!)" he Staunton VA until June 14. He invites Movement Specialist at the Community writes. everyone to check out his Facebook Art Center, an arts-based after school n Sharon Hart is currently performing page, where he has posted his music. program that serves high risk youth in with the Gold Dust Orphans in Boston. n Rafael Jordan received a positive Cambridge. "I love it!" she writes. The group's newest show of Mice and mention in a New York Times review of n A Rob Corddry '93 update for those Mink, ran in February and March. This the Resonance Ensemble production of who like their hospital drama with a was her 7th show with this theatrical Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra. healthy dose of satire: check out the troupe and very often she is the only n Lucas Maloney ’04 has kept busy in WB's web series Children's Hospital, (actual) female in the cast! The group's Washington, DC since the fall edition written, directed, starring AND website is www.golddustorphans.com of Stages. In November, he directed executive produced by Rob. n Jeannette Esther (Trombley) Hawley the psychological thriller Closet Land n Jane Cox is among those featured '81 filled us in on what she's been doing with his company Molotov Theatre in an extensive article on the John for the past 28 years — welcome back! Group (www.molotovtheatre.org). The Weidman-Stephen Sondheim musical, Jeannette is currently costume shop company hopes to take the show to Road Show, in Lighting & Sound manager at American Repertory Theatre Brazil in 2010 as a featured performance America's January issue. and is married, no kids, with "one in an international Grand Guignol n Alumnus Roy Drew, who attended lovely doggie named Willie." Before festival. Lucas directed a new musical UMass Amherst as a theater major from that, from 1983- 1990, she ran her called Dream Date for the Madcap 88-91, wrote in to let us know that he own business doing custom clothing Winter Carnival of New Works and design in a studio in Northampton, and assistant directed The Cherry Orchard If you have an update for us, please from 1985-1990, she was a member of with Washington Shakespeare Company. e-mail us at umasstheater@theater. Syllepsis Performance Ensemble with Lucas and the other co-founders of umass.edu or [email protected]. director Katherine Sanderson. After a Molotov are looking forward to teaching You can also call 413.545.3490 or brief stint running the shop at Stagewest their first Grand Guignol workshop 413.545.6808. in Springfield, from 1991-1996, she for actors in March and will attempt lived in Spokane, WA where she worked to defend their 2008 Best Overall If that doesn’t work for you, send your at Spokane Civic Theater. Jeannette Production award in the 2009 Capital carrier pigeon to: was politically active during her time in Fringe Festival this summer. Stages Spokane, becoming involved in starting n Toks Olagundoye had a small role Fine Arts Center 112 and/or running: Pride March, Papillon on Ugly Betty during the fall. 151 Presidents Drive Transgender Support Group, Rainbow n Gary Trahan '82 has co-written two UMass Amherst Alano Club, Hands Off Washington, screenplays since he was last in touch. Amherst, MA 01003 2BWUTUR GLBT conference and One of these, Divine Intervention, was retreat, Dyke-O-Rama, Women's filmed in Ware Massachusetts and Please include contact information and Words, Women's Cultural Exchange, the surrounding areas. For the past the year you graduated. Spokane Gay and Lesbian Community two years, "Gare" has been working at For Dignity and Human Rights, and Thirteen/WNET (Public Television) in We'll post your news online at www. Lavender Rag newspaper, to name a few. New York City. umass.edu/theater/ or run it in the next Moving to Boston, she chaired the family n Michael Walker's new play, issue of Stages. and friends section of the first Female- continued on page 3
2 More theater updates continued from page 2 as actors and backstage, including September. His seminar topic will be Aftershock, had a staged reading at Adrienne Paquin, Dan McNamara, “Surviving Trauma, Becoming Human: Boston Playwrights' Theatre. The cast Anna Dynarski and Eric Rehm. The Hero and Victim Roles in Libation included Peter Haydu, Dee Nelson, group has been invited to restage the Bearers of Aeschylus.” Frank Aronson and Elise Manning. production at an international arts festival in Serbia in the fall. Students Faculty n Rob Kaplowitz designed Fela! for Bill T. Jones at 37 Arts (Off B'way) n Dora Arreola, directing MFA n Technical director Michael Cottom to wide-spread acclaim. Student Jack candidate, will travel to Poland this was the Technical Director for O'Brien was an intern on the show. summer to teach a Practical seminar, NYC's Classical Theater of Harlem's Rob designed Tarrel Alvin McCraney's "Meetings with Remarkable Women," production of Three Sisters this winter Wig Out for director Tina Landau at for The Grotowski Institute in Wroclaw. (UMass Amherst alumnus Troy the Vineyard (off B'way), Time Flies The seminar is part of a laboratory Hourie '97G designed the scenery). for director Roger Danforth at Mt. of creative research and explores the He involved several theater students Holyoke with student co-designer artistic journeys of women who share in this professional production. He is Alyse Knox, and designed and wrote a connection to Grotowski’s legacy scheduled to perform the same role in the music for Lemon Anderson's County through their participation in the various next CTH production this spring with Of Kings for director Elise Theron in periods of his life-long practical research. plans of offering another professional the Under the Radar Festival at the In New York, she is directing the play opportunity to more students. His work Public (off-Broadway). Currently, he UFUF-91/9, written & performed by in the shop and with CTH was the is co-designing Cuentos De Eva Luna Zoe Mavroudi (from Greek), at the subject of a cover story in the Daily at Smith with student designer Amber Under St. Marks Theater. Hampshire Gazette's weekend magazine, Tanudjaja for director/adaptor Ellen n Heather Crocker designed costumes Hampshire Life, this past March. Michael Kaplan, Charles Fuller's Zooman and the for New Century Theatre's Well last is also working on a year-long CAD Sign for director Stephen Henderson at summer, as well as Chester Theatre's (computer-aided drawing) project with the Signature Theater (Off-Broadway), Almost, Maine. She was make-up artist the Mullins Center. and David Adjmi's Stunning for director on a domestic violence training video n Milan Dragicevich enjoyed a sold- Anne Kauffman at Lincoln Center (Off- for the Massachusetts Police academy. out run of Milosevic at the Hague, a Broadway). n Last summer, MFA dramaturgy production he wrote and co-directed n Julie Nelson was cast as Lady candidate Emily Denison was a Literary with Sheryl Stoodley at Northampton's Catherine de Bourgh and Mrs. Gardiner Intern at Actors Theatre of Louisville Serious Play. A number of department in Pride and Prejudice at Playmakers where she wrote for the Pride and students were involved in the production Repertory Theatre in Chapel Hill, Prejudice and 43 Plays for 43 Presidents North Carolina this spring. study guides, and the newsletters for STAGES n The University of Massachusetts Amherst Professor Emeritus Dick Trousdell Pride and Prejudice and 43 Plays for 43 Department of Theater emailed to tell us that a piece he wrote Presidents. Alumni Newsletter on Aeschylus’ Oresteia, “Tragedy and n Thad Kramer will be Master Spring 2009 Issue Transformation,” was the lead article Electrician at the Utah Shakespearean in the Jung Journal: Culture and Festival's Adams Shakespeare Theater in Stages Editor Psyche, vol. 2, no. 3 (Summer, 2008), the summer. Anna-Maria Goossens 5-38, published by the University of n Directing MFA candidare Shawn Copy Editor California Press. He gave another paper LaCount was just nominated for a Liana Thompson on the Oresteia, “The Wisdom of the couple of Boston Theatre Awards. The Furies,” first to the National Conference Independent Reviewers of New England Contributors of Jungian Analysts and Trainees at the (IRNE's) nominated his production of Megan Cannon, Anna-Maria Goossens, Tanya Kane-Parry, Gilbert McCauley, Bryn Sebago Harbor Resort in Maine, and Assassins (last summer at the BCA) for Manion, Kate Nugent, James Vesce, again for the Connecticut Association the year's "best musical" and Shawn Denise Wagner for Jungian Psychology in Hartford. for "best director." "It is kind of funny Finally, he has been invited by the Petros because I had never directed a musical Stages welcomes articles from students, M. Nomikos Foundation to be one of before and my time at UMass gave me alumni, faculty and staff. If you have a story you’d like to suggest, call (413) 545-6808 or eight seminar presenters at the “Ancient the courage to tackle it," Shawn writes. e-mail
3 Greg Egan (1976-2009) Van Farrier and Don’t you love sitting in a crowded a proud brother, a true friend. To add theatre as the lights dim and audience courageous seaman and world traveler to Verbal Décor chatter subsides knowing we’re all going that list is hardly a stretch. Had he been I met Van Farrier in the early 1990’s to witness something magnificent? That any one of these things we’d be grief- through my colleagues in Sleeveless time is going to slow when the actor stricken. But to have lost a man who Theatre, Lisa Channer '89 and Maureen we all came to see makes his entrance? lived each of these lives so completely Futtner '89. In 1997, after a bad breakup We’ll fall into his hands, and allow as to become a master of them all is an that left me homeless, Van and his him to work his alchemy, to alter our incomprehensible tragedy. Our world husband, David, took me in. I lived in perspective, reignite our humanity, heaves and sobs, and we will forever the mother-in-law apartment over the and enliven our sense of purpose and ache for the kindness and passion and garage; every night at dinner time my wonder. We won’t want it to ever end, excellence he displayed and inspired. phone would ring with Van on the other but plays inevitably must. Slowly, we’ll Of course, the irony is that Greg end exclaiming, “Mama Rose is cooking – put on our coats, dreamily walk to our was never terribly interested in himself, we’re gonna eat!” cars, and go home inspired, a little or aware of how special he was. He Van had just come off the road from a awestruck, maybe a bit smitten, certain was so conscientiously observant and nine-month tour of Joseph and the Amazing we’ll never forget how alive we felt this intrigued by other people, he barely Technicolor Dreamcoat as the dresser for one special night. noticed what we were most interested the star, Sam Harris. Van wanted a life at Greg Egan made me feel that way in was him. He’d simply give us his home, so he enrolled in nursing school every time I saw him perform. He attention, and we’d let him because the and took a job at the Department of was a sight to behold, devastatingly fondness and fascination that washed Theater costume shop. But all the while handsome and fiercely talented. But he over his beautiful face when he listened his first love in the theater, acting, was inspired me more in daily life than he to the people he loved felt like a miracle crying, “Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art ever did on stage. Be it drinking a cup to be savored once in a lifetime. That so thou, Romeo?” of tea or poring over poetry, browsing many of us were able to have his eyes Van’s comeback occurred at Hallie a wine aisle at the market or bragging emphatically trained on us, and watch Flanagan Theater at Smith College in about his little sister, clambering up an his perpetual half smile explode into the spring of 1998, at a reading of Joe impossibly high tree or listening to his the full, radiant, real thing on a daily Salvatore 97G’s play, full of grace… Van friends tell jokes and stories, Greg’s love basis ... now that just feels like pure went on to play the Friar in a department and meditative study of daily life made indulgence on God’s part. production of Romeo and Juliet in 1999; life itself so much more the wonder. — Bryn Manion '97 he directed my play The Mad Dad Show at After college, Greg Hamden Theater that same year; and he moved to New York, turned acted in the first everPlay in a Day Festival his attention to writing, and in 2004. fell in love with his gorgeous Romeo and Juliet, directed by James and vivacious wife, Rachel. Vesce '99G, was an extravaganza of stage They moved to California combat, Pat Metheny music and hip-hop where he joined the Navy dance. We were teaching the play in Theater and sailed the seas. Is that an 100 (I was T.A.ing under Joe Salvatore, incongruous trajectory for us who had taken over for Professor Harley anti-establishment liberal artsy Erdman that semester), and I remember types to get our minds around? struggling with the concept of “verbal I hope not. Greg lived many décor”, a technique that Shakespeare used full lives in his too short time to have the characters describe the scene, with us. He was a champion as sets were minimal in those days. When gymnast, an occasional Van entered as the Friar and began his first ascetic, a focused scholar, a speech, I suddenly understood what we brave actor, a charismatic had been teaching: entertainer, a skilled writer, an impulsive risk taker, a The grey-eyed morn smiles on the frowning Greg Egan, at top, in a publicity photo from the night, wine aficionado, a devoted Department's 1999 production of The Mandrake. husband, an honorable son, (UMass Photo Services) Chequering the eastern clouds with streaks continued on page 5 4 Megan Cannon's Santaland Diaries
continued from page 1 minute visits with Santa and 30-minute puppet shows. We festive. Santaland is in a corner of Macy’s on the eighth saw a thousand “audience” members an hour, and dealt with floor that is only occupied for two months out of the year. costumes, lighting, and unruly cast members. Therefore, the upkeep and maintenance is sparse. It’s heated The season ended with Christmas carols and poor mice to stifling and cooled by opening vents to the outside. My first who didn’t survive the many layers of snow they tried to tasks at my new job were to light the trees and make it snow. burrow in. We cleaned up in a few short days, and it was back Though Buddy the Elf managed to do this in an evening, it to reality. I confess that as I left I felt a good deal of nostalgia took us a bit longer. for this amazing and enduring icon. My holiday seasons in the First, lighting the trees. There didn’t seem to be a lot of future will have more dimension as I remember my funny and outlets, so like Ralphie’s dad, we just plugged them all in on bickering elves, the army of Santas (including Santa Santa a top of each other. Sure there were some sparks, but they didn’t la David Sedaris of course), and my fellow managers trying to last long. That left us with large piles of green cord and long hold together this unusual show. rods of connected plugs. We did what comes naturally to those trying to bring Christmas cheer to the world and covered them all up with layers of synthetic snow. On top of the blankets of snow we piled different kinds of glittery confetti. It was quite pretty, and not at all flammable (ahem). With Santaland sparkly (and sparking) and ready to go, we invited the elves in for their training. I figured the training would include making etch-a-sketches, eating from the major food groups (candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup) and discouraging tiny people from becoming dentists. Imagine my surprise when the elves were full size people made up of out-of- work actors and actors who don’t have jobs. It made for quite a bit of drama. Training finished, we were ready to open. The day after Thanksgiving came and went in a flurry of children big and small waiting in lines to see the one and only Santa. It was then that the potential fires and difficult elves and loose mice all faded into the background, outshined by smiling faces and the hopes of people believing in the magic of the season. Running between Santaland and the Puppet Theatre, the month of December flew by. I was charged with troubleshooting electrical problems, front of house issues and cast conflicts. I dealt with biological hazards (it’s difficult for Santa to tell kids they’ll shoot their eyes out when he is being distracted by the fact that his lap is wet…) We created a festive illusion for Megan Cannon and one of her Santaland compatriots pose for a snapshot the public and kept it going all season. My shows were five behind the scenes at Macy's. (photo courtesy Megan Cannon) Van Farrier remembered continued from page 4 Hamlet (and through him, Shakespeare) makeup, at home between matinee and of light… ordered his players to do: Suit the action evening shows, sweeping the dining Now, ere the sun advance his burning eye, to the word, the word to the action. And room floor and readying the house for The day to cheer and night's dank dew to it felt generous, like he really wanted out-of-town guests. He is vamping for dry, us to see what he saw, the way he saw the camera, with his sprayed-on gray hair I must up-fill this osier cage of ours it. I’ll never forget it. I’ve been in Van’s and darkened cheekbones, hanging over With baleful weeds and precious-juiced audiences many times since then, and I’ve his broom like a harangued housewife. I flowers. always felt the audience sit up straighter love this picture because it is Van as actor, when he enters, the better to receive that comedian, host and always, always, full Against the backdrop of a energy and generosity. of life. complex, modern set, Van was painting I have a photo of Van in his Friar — Kate Nugent Shakespeare’s words. He was doing what
5 An advisor who listens and observes by JAMES VESCE fledgling career. Three years later, while applying for a university teaching I first met Julian as a graduate directing student in 1996. position, I asked for his recommendation. In another His reputation preceded him — mainly those legendary understated moment of advice, he suggested I consider my stories about his mythical and bizarre taste for really weird own potential for academic administration. Now, ten years theater — perhaps the result of his work at LaMama as a later, I serve as a departmental chair in an undergraduate young theater artist in New York in the 1960's. But if you theater program of 80 students and 20 full and part-time chose to negotiate your way through his oft-worn Western faculty. attire or impressive mane of carefully-coiffed hair, you found I have a great deal of appreciation for his knowledge a master teacher, a dedicated artist, and a lifelong mentor. and expertise, and value greatly the intensity of learning in As a first-year director the path was lonely and uncertain. his classroom. But I most remember his ability to listen to Frequently I considered moving on to a more comfortable his students, his compassion, and his example as an artist as profession and way of life. It was Julian's steady observation I constantly seek to emulate that commitment to my own that I was "probably in the right place" which validated my students. Farewell to a valued colleague continued from page 1 the campus community have benefited immeasurably from his keen and adventurous theatrical mind. The former students who write in these pages speak to some of Julian's strengths as a mentor — he listens attentively, and just as importantly, he follows that with the right questions, questions that nudge, prod, push toward revelations and better work. As an artist, too, Julian pushed students to do their best when they worked with him. Actors, dramaturgs, designers and technical personnel all recalled their time working on productions he helmed as particularly exciting and challenging, bringing them to a new understanding of theater. In recent years, he has pushed beyond his long-time roles in the department. Julian's support for the department extends beyond his presence at all department mainstage To a resume that already included productions — he is always on hand for special events and fundraisers, including a celebration teaching, mentoring, administrating, of honorary degree recipients Bill Pullman, Michael Haley and Peter Tolan after last year's directing, and of course dramaturgy, he commencement ceremony. (photo by Jon Crispin) added screen- and playwriting and even, last year, acting, in the self-penned (... productions based on those works. One made Julian a constant presence when people almost always smell good in the art of the department's early fundraising the department needed to put its best museum), a benefit performance. His activities was a benefit reading of his foot forward. writings have received awards, and our award-winning screenplay Anthony, a We will miss his reserved but students have received, once again, the mobster re-imagining of Hamlet (a piece indomitable spirit, his sharp and benefit of his generosity as an artist, that eventually received a reading in Los encouraging wit, and his brilliant taking courses in screenwriting and Angeles, too). Donating his skills and blending of his roles as thinker, teacher playwriting with him and being cast in resources to various special events has and artist. 6 An alumna says thank you to Julian Olf continued from page 8 first big undertaking – a production of contemporary classical music. When it human interaction, Julian only nods and Heiner Mueller’s Hamletmachine. I had was all over, Julian, who was seated high smiles when the student finally says “A- really wanted to direct MacBeth, so I up on a chair that was on top of the ha!” Yes, he’s done his job – helped the picked Hamletmachine as a back-up, center table pronounced, “Yes, now we student find his/her own way into the thinking that the play was so far out, the understand” and continued to talk about play, into the magical place of incredible Committee would have to let me direct performance art, experimental theatre, possibility. MacBeth. My plan back-fired, and I was etc. Meeting adjourned, back to work! He challenged us to think by suddenly stuck with the daunting task When, a year later, I had completed posing questions, never suggesting of taking on a text I had always admired my thesis project, and mangled my he had “the” answer. He asked us to and been drawn to, but felt completely project report, I got a job offer for a full- consider unthinkable questions from inadequate as an artist to take on. The time faculty position in the Department our own subconscious – smells, sounds, play is incomprehensible, and any of Theatre Arts and Dance at California sensations, imagery – to illuminate a attempts to make it “comprehensible” State University, Los Angeles. Julian three-dimensional world of dramaturgy diminish the intent of the play. generously advised me on each step of and text analysis. I remember the first production the negotiation. I was under strict orders My journey through grad school was meeting, down in the basement, with the to not “accept” any part of the proposed at times arduous and frustrating, and student designers and mentoring faculty offer without first running it past Julian, I often sought refuge and guidance in sitting around, waiting to hear about who then gave me the exact language Julian’s office. He calmly listened to my our collective intent for this production. for my counter-offer. It was a terrifying rants, and when I was done, he would Professor Penny Remsen was to be the experience. I had no background in any point out a simple, yet not so simple lighting designer. She turned to me and of this. I truly could not have done it obstacle that I had to face and resolve. said, “So, tell us about the character of without him holding my hand through Inevitably, I left feeling less overwhelmed Hamlet – who is he?” Like a deer in the every step of that process. or enraged, and I could gather myself headlights, I gasped, “I have no idea And though I moved across the together to do my work. That was what who Hamlet is, I have no idea if there country, far from the lushness and I had come here for, and Julian patiently are 20 Hamlets or none at all. How I beauty of the Happy Valley, Julian and I kept reminding me of that. am supposed to answer a question like have not only stayed in touch, but have I seemed to always “be in trouble.” that?” My answer didn't satisfy her, and become friends. He has continued to Julian never chastised me for this. He the meeting dissolved into chaos and advise me and console me through the stood by me, watched, listened, and, I conflict. No, this was not one of my politics of Tenure (finally achieved), and think, chuckled inside. At times, Julian best moments (though, certainly not my has trusted me to read his new works. would accidentally reveal himself – a worst either). We had to try again. We have visited each other on both snicker or passing remark that let me A week later, the student designers coasts, sharing a deep commitment to glimpse within, where Julian enjoyed and I re-arranged the basement meeting our students, and laughing at life's trials. the ruckus I caused. He often defended room into a type of living-sculpture I feel so incredibly lucky to have had the me, too, understanding my intentions gallery space. We placed the faculty opportunity to find a mentor like Julian of experimentation, deconstruction and purposely throughout the space, and — and to become his friend. interdisciplinary work. then we began a performance art piece With immense gratitude: Thank Julian mentored me through my that included snippets from the text and You, Julian! My first memories of meeting Julian Olf are not from the Julian Olf called me at home to offer me the position of UMass Department of Theater, but at the Office of University Secretary for the Department of Theater. I answered “yes” Relations and Development (now the Office of University without hesitation. Advancement) in the Whitmore Administration Building, Now, almost 18 years later, I’m still here in 112 FAC. Julian where I worked from 1986-1991 in the Vice Chancellor’s is a friend, not an acquaintance, and the fact that he is tall and office as Secretary and Receptionist. I recall a tall, regal and I’m not makes no difference at all—as a matter of fact, when he distinguished gentleman who occasionally stopped by and is sitting down, I am exactly the same height. What I treasure always greeted me kindly. the most is the mutual respect and friendship that evolved from Little did I know back then that in May of 1991 I’d be that first hello until now (he always let me make suggestions sitting in the Conference Room within the Main Office of the and “heard me out”). Thanks for the phone call, Julian, and all Theater Department, being interviewed by this tall, regal and best wishes and congratulations on your retirement! distinguished looking Department Chair. Shortly thereafter, — Denise Wagner
7 To “Papa Julian” by Tanya Kane-Parry '01G
Julian played a huge role in my studies, artistic development, and personal growth while I was a directing grad student in the Theatre Department (1999-2001). Since then, he has continued to be my mentor and become my dear friend. On first impression, his tall stature and refined demeanor belies the cynical, wry wit that fuels Julian’s creativity and his passion for teaching. Meticulous in the classroom, gently urging the students to delve deeper into the text, into the language, beyond the language, into the darker realms of continued on page 7 Julian Olf (photo by Ben Barnhart)
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