Spring 2011 Calendar of Events

School of Communication at Northwestern

spring 2011 Calendar of events

Senior Dance Concert Marjorie Ward Marshall Dance Center Ballroom May 19–21 In this issue Sharks Before Drowning Choreographed and performed by Molly Shanahan and MadShak 4 Our community Marjorie Ward Marshall 6 The dean’s speech Dance Center Ballroom June 2–5 8 Better than ever Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project: 16 Faculty focus Songwriters Showcase Josephine Louis Theater 18 Alumni achievements June 24 21 In memory Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project: 22 Philanthropy A Celebration of Charles Strouse Pick-Staiger Concert Hall June 25

Jump Rhythm Jazz Project Artistic direction by Billy Siegenfeld Josephine Louis Theater June 25–26

Godspell Music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz Book by John-Michael Tebelak Directed by Dominic Missimi Ethel M. Barber Theater July 7–24

Broadway in Revue: The Golden Age and New Age of Musicals Featuring Heidi Kettenring and Hollis Resnik Directed by Dominic Missimi Ethel M. Barber Theater July 18–August 2

Edge of Peace This year the Northwestern by Susan Zeder University Theatre and Directed by Henry Godinez Interpretation Center hosted Ethel M. Barber Theater “Imagine U,” a new Saturday July 28–30 morning series for the whole family. The series invites com- Never the Sinner munity families into the center to by John Logan hear stories, create (right, Owen Opening Night Talkback and Campbell enjoys “Secrets from the Garden”), dance (above, at Reception with Hope Abelson “Everybody Dances!”), and get Artist-in-Residence John Logan an insider’s look at how stage Josephine Louis Theater productions are put together. October 14 “Bringing children and families and the community together gives For more information on school us the opportunity to celebrate events, see www.communication our unique styles, cultures, and .northwestern.edu/news gifts and to appreciate the wealth of diversity around us,” said theatre lecturer Lynn Kelso, the program’s artistic director.

On the cover: School of Communication students enjoying Northwestern’s beach

Taking the School of Communication undergraduate program to Education City in Qatar has been exciting for many reasons: we gain impact and presence in a critical region of the world, create new opportunities for young people to study the communication arts and sciences, and redefine our scholarly and artistic agendas to encompass global cultural flows and communication networks. But as we built Northwestern University in Qatar, we have also learned two very important lessons that are now helping us improve undergraduate education in Evanston. The first lesson was about how to articulate our educational goals. In Western Europe and the United States, it is easy to explain why students should study communication, because here people share (more or less) a common view of its critical role in society. But in the Middle East there is no such common appreciation of the communication arts and sciences: views of education, ways of governing, forms of relating in private and in public, and development of public institutions can be very different. This challenged us to reflect on the value of our program for the global economy, and especially what we do for students that others do not. We realized that our school—uniquely among our peers—prepares our students for leadership roles in the creative economy. And now this sharper appreciation of our niche is helping us develop new initiatives, such as our Leadership Journeys program, that will be even more effective in helping our students develop as leaders. The second lesson we learned was that not everything in our curriculum contributes equally to this strategy. In designing a program for Education City, we were forced to be very selective and bring just those parts of the curriculum in communication studies and radio/television/film that are most relevant to preparing Qatar students to build a vibrant public culture. We selected clusters of courses on topics such as social networks, social media, screenwriting, film and television production, interactive entertainment, and the history and structure of the creative industries. These “modules” are building blocks that can be combined in different ways to help students reach their goals, providing a genuinely interdisciplinary education in the communication arts and sciences. And now it turns out that a modular curriculum may be as appropriate for our students in Evanston as it has proved to be in Qatar. The main story in this issue of Dialogue discusses the curriculum changes our students would like to see and how a new modular curriculum and career-development initiatives will improve their experience at Northwestern. One of the most exciting aspects of these new initiatives is the way we will be integrating alumni leaders into online communities to support each module. This will give students access to experience and connections, and it will give participating alumni opportunities for continuing education and news about the latest scholarly and artistic developments. We hope this will evolve into a new way of educating leaders for our fields—not just for four years, but for a lifetime.

Barbara J. O’Keefe Dean, School of Communication Start a dialogue: [email protected] Our community

Light becomes fellow of Institute for Advanced Study Jennifer Light, associate professor in the Department of Communication Studies, has been invited to join the prestigious Institute for Advanced Study Light plans to spend the year writing on Under the Radar Festival in January— (IAS) as a fellow of the historical and contemporary significance placing its members at risk of imprisonment its School of Social Science. of the junior republic movement (1895– if they returned home. In Belarus the com- Light is the first School of Communica- 1945), during which children with troubled pany performs with little notice in small tion faculty member to receive this honor, backgrounds joined self-governing, mostly venues, including private homes, to avoid joining an elite institution whose renowned self-sufficient colonies for civic and charac- censorship and government persecution. affiliates have included physicists Albert ter education. The troupe’s play Being Harold Pinter is Einstein and J. Robert Oppenheimer and based on playwright Harold Pinter’s work mathematician Kurt Gödel. She will spend TIC provides space for theatre and Nobel Prize lecture as well as on letters a year at the institute in Princeton, New from Belarusian political prisoners. Jersey, starting September 1. company seeking political asylum “The production was a great experience “Opportunities to work full-time on Northwestern University’s Theatre and for our students and community,” said the- your own research are increasingly few and Interpretation Center (TIC) partnered with atre associate professor Henry Godinez, TIC far between,” she said. “The idea of joining Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, the League of artistic director and a Goodman Theatre what looks to be an intense but informal Chicago Theatres, and Chicago Shakespeare artistic associate, who credited colleagues intellectual community is thrilling.” Theater to bring exiled theatre artists from across Chicago with the collaborative effort. Approximately 20 scholars from around Belarus to Chicago stages this winter. The “It demonstrated the powerful intersection the world—economists, anthropologists, his- Chicago performance dates for Belarus of exciting performance aesthetic and torians, and political theorists—are invited Free Theatre’s Being Harold Pinter (above) deeply held beliefs and convictions. It was annually to IAS’s School of Social Science to were part of an effort to extend the com- visually bold with a poignant, moving text, commit to their research full-time. The pany members’ visas so they could apply even in translation, and powerfully acted. All environment allows them to solicit feedback for political asylum in the United States. of that combined for an overall message that from colleagues and bounce ideas off one The underground theatre company fled functioned as a clarion call for freedom of another. Belarus to perform the play at New York’s expression and indictment of repression.”

Department of Radio/Television/Film associate professor Rebecca Gilman was recently named to the Goodman Theatre Artistic Collec- tive, the fellowship of senior national theatre veterans who serve as a think tank for the Chicago company’s artistic director, Robert Falls. Gilman has a long association with the Goodman, where her Spinning into Butter (left, as performed by seniors Taylor Heisly-Cook, Alex Ryser, and Jacqui Jarrold on the Theatre and Interpretation Center mainstage this winter), Boy Gets Girl, Dollhouse, and last season’s A True History of the Johnstown Flood premiered. The collective also includes performance studies professor emeritus Frank Galati (C65, GC67, GC71); Mary Zimmerman (C82, GC85, GC94), Jaharis Family Professor of performance studies; and Henry Godinez, artistic director of the Theatre and Interpretation Center and associate professor of theatre.

4 Dialogue spring 2011 Wong wins NIH research grant Patrick Wong, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, has won an Independent Sci- entist Award from the National Insti- Wildcats and Blackhawks: Rocky Wirtz tute on Aging, (C75), chairman of the National Hockey part of the National Institutes of Health. League’s 2010 champion Chicago Black- Known as a K02, the Independent hawks, enjoyed a Wildcat welcome (and a Scientist Award is intended to foster the photo with Dean Barbara O’Keefe) when he development of outstanding scientists and brought the Stanley Cup to Ryan Field to enable them to expand their potential last fall. Wirtz and team president John to make significant contributions to their McDonough, a frequent Northwestern field of research. The award will allow lecturer, were recognized by the athletics Stephanie Spies and Matthew Fisher took Wong to devote 75 percent of his time department at the Wildcats’ September 23 the top prize in the 2011 National Debate over the next five years to research. game against Central Michigan. Tournament in March. Northwestern “This award will allow me to investi- remains the winningest university in NDT gate how older adults learn compared Rahm Emanuel (GC85) greets Chicagoans history, with an unprecedented 14 cham- with younger adults, and to examine dif- February 22 (below) after winning the pionships. This was the first NDT win for ferences in brain mechanisms behind the city’s mayoral election, the first since 1947 Dan Fitzmier, director of forensics in the learning of these two groups,” said Wong. without a sitting mayor on the ballot. The School of Communication, since he was “This research will hopefully guide the former White House chief of staff to Presi- named Wildcat debate coach in 2009. design of treatments for older adults who dent Barack Obama and senior adviser to Spies and Fisher are both seniors in the suffer from communication disorders.” President Bill Clinton takes office May 16. Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.

Short takes

With radio/television/film assistant professor Zayd Dohrn (left), director Richard J. Lewis (C83) answers questions from students and community members after the Chicago premiere of his film Barney’s Version at Northwestern’s Block Cinema in January. “I wouldn’t want to premiere anywhere else,” Lewis told the enthusiastic crowd.

spring 2011 Dialogue 5 THE DEAN’S SPEECH The King’s Speech, the Oscar-winning film about the speech therapist who helped England’s King George VI conquer his fear of public speaking, reclaimed a nearly forgotten story where communication and history collided. But there’s another, even more nearly forgotten story at its heart: before Lionel Logue treated the king’s stutter, the Australian therapist visited the United States and consulted with Robert Cumnock, the founder and first dean of Northwestern University’s School of Oratory, now the School of Communication. In 1910 Logue and his wife, Myrtle, landed in North America from Down Under and made their way straight to Chicago. “They were the toast of the town,” reported Logue’s grandson and biographer, Mark Logue, who with Peter Conradi collected Lionel’s journals and correspondence in the book The King’s Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy (2010, Ster- ling). The film, while not based on the book, relied heavily on the same source materials, provided by the Logue family. While in Chicago, the couple socialized in “smart homes” and attended theatre. “It was not all play, though,” Logue and Conradi wrote. “By day they went to Northwestern University, where they attended classes and lectures given by Robert Cumnock, a Robert McClean Cumnock (above, top), founder King George VI (above) inspects a military guard and first dean of what is now the School of of honor on arriving at the People’s Palace in professor of elocution who had founded the Communication, waves what is believed to be a London on February 13, 1937, his first public University’s School of Oratory and whom check donated to fund the construction of Annie engagement after his accession to the throne. May Swift Hall, still an active school facility. Myrtle pronounced ‘simply charming.’ [Lionel] Logue also gave recitations and talks to students about life in Australia.”

6 Dialogue spring 2011 Michelle Jones, lecturer in speech- language pathology in the School of Communication’s Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Com- munication Sciences and Disorders, spoke to Northwestern News about stuttering and modern treatments. Colin Firth in his Oscar-winning role as King George VI and Oscar nominee Geoffrey Rush as speech therapist Lionel Logue in the film The King’s Speech What message do you take away from The King’s Speech? Rather than showing a weak character, the movie The Logues traveled the country and then continued to sheds a positive light on the disorder itself. It provides the United Kingdom, seeing Buckingham Palace as tourists. knowledge about stuttering and an opportunity to talk Logue wouldn’t begin to work with George VI—the father about it. And that’s great, because when you avoid of current Queen Elizabeth II—until 1926, while the future talking about a subject it implies there’s something king was still the Duke of York. This work continued until bad about it. 1944, when the king gave his first national address without Logue at his side. What does treatment look like today? It was no coincidence that Lionel Logue’s trip led him We don’t just treat the motor components of stutter- straight to Cumnock. The Logues mixed business with ing, those outward behaviors that everyone associates pleasure as they crossed the country, meeting with the with the disorder. We treat the whole person. What luminaries of the field. Cumnock, of course, was a star. happens when someone stutters over a long period “Many good readers have come to us from the West,” of time is they come to believe they’re not effective wrote one reviewer for the Brooklyn Daily Times, “but Prof. communicators. So when we treat stuttering, we’re not Cumnock surpasses them all.” Many other publications had setting out to “cure” it. We create strategies to manage glowing things to say about Cumnock’s speaking engage- the motor breakdowns and use counseling to target the ments across the country and beyond. “Last evening with negative attitudes and emotions that are so strong. Prof. Cumnock was an unqualified success, the reader fairly taking the audience by storm,” reported The Empire. “A What are the myths associated with stuttering? better entertainment was never given in Toronto.” Unfortunately there is still widespread negativity about Logue’s visit to Northwestern may have had reverbera- people who stutter. There is the idea that stutterers tions in his work with the king, but we’ll never know. “Very are unable to do certain jobs or lack the intelligence little was known about the methods [Logue] employed with of others. But we know that stuttering has nothing to the king,” wrote Mark Logue and Conradi. “Although he do with cognition. There are challenges, of course, but wrote a few articles for the press about the treatment of stutterers are just as smart and able as the rest of us. stammering and other speech impediments, he never set out his methods in a formal way and had no student or How should one effectively deal with a stutterer apprentice with whom to share the secrets of his work. in conversation? Nor—probably because of the discretion with which he The gut reaction for most people is, “Oh, I should always treated his relationship with the king—did he write help them finish their sentence.” Honestly, that is not up his most famous case.” the thing to do. It can be difficult, but you have to be Luckily for the field—and for generations of speech- patient and allow the person to finish speaking without language pathologists, their patients, and the School of interruption. Communication today—Cumnock, at least, wasn’t reticent about sharing his work.

spring 2011 Dialogue 7 Better than Ever By asking current students and recent alumni for their perspectives about studying in the School of Communication, we’ve developed a road map to provide the kind of experience our students want and need for a successful future.

In the fall of 2009 the School of Com- how we’re responding, and how we the school’s entire senior class—a last munication started a dialogue with our hope to create a better experience chance for each graduating student to undergraduates about the strengths for every student in the School of meet Dean O’Keefe and other faculty and weaknesses of the school’s under- Communication. members and to toast their own bright graduate experience. A discussion in futures. the Dean’s Advisory Council—a select What they said Strengthen the sense What’s next We’ll continue to look group of students who advise Dean of community across the School of for ways to build interdepartmental Barbara O’Keefe—prompted us to Communication. programs and activities. conduct a series of focus groups with What we did We have started two new undergraduate majors from across the school traditions. Each fall every stu- What they said We need a first-year expe- school, which in turn helped us design a dent, graduate student, faculty member, rience for the School of Communication. survey for all current School of Commu- and staff member of the school will What we did We made immediate addi- nication majors and a sampling of recent be invited to our new annual welcome tions to the courses available for this fall’s graduates. party—the School of Communication incoming freshman class. Reserved for The good news is that both students Beach Party. This past fall more than first-year students only, thesefreshman and young alumni are very apprecia- 500 members of our community came seminars (see page 12) give new students tive of the school’s faculty, cocurricular for Chicago-style hot dogs, beach volley the opportunity to connect immediately activities, and great course offerings. ball, Frisbee, and a chance to see old with the school’s programs and with But the survey also suggested areas for friends and make new ones. The second their School of Communication peers improvement. Here’s what we learned, tradition is a series of receptions for and faculty.

88 Dialogue spring 2011 What’s next A committee of faculty, students, and others from across the school have spent the past year devising a plan for how the school will welcome and engage our freshman class each fall.

What they said Transferring to the School of Communication from another school can be confusing. What we did Our advisers have gathered and shared information on how to handle interschool transfers and have begun reaching out to these new students to make sure they’ve been welcomed and assisted. What’s next We’re making academic advising a school priority so as to continue improving our advising services for all students.

What they said We want more access to classes and fewer barriers between the school’s departments. What we did We immediately added more sections of some of the most in-demand courses and made them available to nonma- jors within the school. In addition, we elimi- nated a barrier between the Departments of Performance Studies and Theatre so that performance studies majors may enroll in the theatre department’s acting sequence. What’s next We’ll continue to expand in- demand programs, such as dramatic writing and filmmaking courses, and develop new courses and modules (see page 14) that span departments.

What they said We would all like to have the kind of intense cohort experience that the acting program offers. What we did We asked departments to expand opportunities for civic engagement, media making, theatre productions, and casual, out-of-class community-building activities. In addition, a new Theatre and

spring 2011 Dialogue 9 10 Dialogue spring 2011 Interpretation Center program is giving What’s next Our new curricular modules student organizations access to prime will provide opportunities to develop performance and meeting spaces. marketable skills, professional connec- What’s next All five departments are tions, knowledge of career pathways, creating new curricular modules to and a portfolio of work with which to allow students to build academic com- launch a career. munities around studying in-depth topics (see page 14). What they said We need to be better prepared for graduate study. What they said We need better advice What we did We’ve made this request a about classes to take outside the School priority, asking both the EPICS office of Communication. and the School of Communication What we did Our advisers developed a Research Office to step up efforts to list of recommended classes in other communicate research opportunities to schools that both fulfill distribution students. We’ve asked that faculty pre- requirements and complement School paring class syllabi include information of Communication student interests. about student research opportunities. What’s next School of Communication What’s next We’ll continue to work with module communities will have access our faculty researchers to support stu- to a list of recommended courses out- dent research opportunities and to pub- side the school that complement each licize those opportunities to students. module topic. What they said We need to know more What they said We need more oppor about the creative economy and business. tunities for internships. What we did We called on Chicago-area What we did The School of Communi- alumni to host Leadership Journeys (see cation’s Office of External Programs, page 13), a new series of events where Internships, and Career Services students travel to businesses and orga- (EPICS) has debuted an improved web- nizations to learn about their work and site where students can more easily find meet their leaders. information about internships in their What’s next As our faculty continues fields of study. to grow, we’ll look for specialists in What’s next We’ll continue to work with creative-industry studies and develop alumni and friends to identify outstand- more courses on these industries as well ing internship opportunities and pro- as business and leadership. mote them to our students.

What they said We need more mentoring and help with professional development. What we did Our advisers and the EPICS office are working together to build more professional development support into academic advising.

spring 2011 Dialogue 11 Fresh take on communication When first-year studentZachary Silva Roberta Stack said her freshman seminar saw Truth, Truthiness, and the Media Media in the Movies provided a shared listed as a freshman seminar option, he foundation. “In the first few quarters all knew immediately he wanted to take it. freshman radio/television/film majors “The title caught my eye as a truly are taking the same core courses,” she Performance studies major Abigail important topic in our current society,” said, “so class discourse about cinematic Jenkins found the positive discourse of said Silva. “We’ve been hearing com- techniques and film analysis is grounded Johnson’s class to be a valuable lesson. plaints from every direction about how in shared rhetoric that complements and “I have heard completely differing the media or government has been reinforces concepts from that quarter’s opinions on a whole gamut of social altering how we, the public, receive and core course.” problems and ideas,” she said. “It never interpret the news every night. Person- Performance studies professor and became an argumentative atmosphere, ally, I saw this as an integral piece of my department chair E. Patrick Johnson, though it easily could have.” communication studies education.” who taught the freshman seminar Modes Freshman seminars also let students The addition of a series of School of of Performance (below), said that an explore School of Communication areas Communication freshman-only semi- intimate cohort of students sharing a outside their majors. Human communi- nars is ensuring that students dive right common experience creates an “incred- cation sciences major Samantha Ayoub into their majors and build an immedi- ibly powerful bonding tool.” Johnson did just that by enrolling in Stack’s class. ate peer group. A committee of school taught a similar freshman-only course a “This was my only chance to take this faculty, students, and administrators is few years ago and remembers the tight class,” she said, “as I am only going looking into further ways to give our stu- community the students formed. “They to be a first-quarter freshman once! I dents a cohesive freshman experience. are seniors now, and many of them still enjoyed the class, watched great films, Students benefit from a shared come to me and say what a wonderful and improved my writing.” Ayoub will class experience that encourages in- and important experience that course also benefit from her own department’s depth discussions and helps them was for them. These kinds of courses first-year courses, which introduce basic achieve college-level writing and study- set the tone, in many ways, for these scientific principles underlying human ing skills. Radio/television/film lecturer students’ experience at Northwestern.” communication. These courses are team taught, connecting students with several faculty members right away. Faculty members find the freshman seminar experience rewarding as well. D. Charles Whitney, associate dean for academic affairs and professor of communication studies, created the class that capitalized on alumnus Stephen Colbert (C86) and his coining the term “truthiness.” Finding the first-year students a “dream” to teach, Whitney said, “They’re smart, articulate, industrious.” With the help of freshman seminars, these School of Communication students are ready—truthfully—for the rest of their Northwestern experience. — Emily Hiser Lobdell

12 Dialogue spring 2011 Journeying to lead When the Chicago Blackhawks scored a Chicago-based TV show. At goal in the first minute of their March 4 the United Center (right) game against the Carolina Hurricanes, the group met with Black- no one was cheering more loudly than a hawks human resources group of Northwestern School of Com- and communication lead- munication students high above the ice ers, including alumnus in penthouse-level suites. The suites? Patrick Dahl (C03), director A surprise from the Blackhawks, whose of advertising. busy management team had hosted the “Getting the chance students that afternoon. to hear from the people The visit to meet the team’s leaders who call the United Center home was see all aspects of what I want to do, not was part of Leadership Journeys, a an experience that I was really excited just a narrow path.” new program offered by the School of about,” said communication studies Radio/television/film junior Ryan Communication’s Office of External senior Ben Johnson. “Attending events Hynes had an epiphany about his own Programs, Internships, and Career Ser- like this is something that everyone career during the TV studio visit. “The vices. In this series of visits to companies should do even if it’s not something stage manager said that live television and organizations across the Chicago you are particularly interested in. You was like theatre on film,” he said. area, communication students get the never know what door may open or if an “Which is exactly the field I want to chance to hear from professionals opportunity will present itself.” go into. I didn’t really know the field —many of them alumni of the school Senior Kaitlyn Southard got the same existed. This was my first opportunity to or the University—about the positions message. “Working for the Blackhawks meet people who do what I want to do.” they hold and the paths they took to get would be a dream job for me—I’m sure The journeys are doing more than where they are. many fans would say the same. It was opening students’ minds about career Students groups have met with really interesting to see how my com- paths: they’re also opening connections theatre professionals at Steppenwolf munication studies background could fit within the school. Theatre, with speech-language pathol into the Blackhawks organization.” Graduate students Ian Blechschmidt ogists at Northwestern Memorial Hos- On the Leadership Journey to and Ben Ng—PhD candidates in media, pital (below), and with producers of a Northwestern Memorial Hospital, technology, and society—attended the sophomore Anjli Blackhawks outing and got more out of Lodhavia saw how it than they’d predicted. “We don’t often a career in speech- interact with undergraduates outside language pathol- the professional environment—teaching ogy could be more them—so it was fun to meet students varied than she’d from the undergrad community in a more realized. “A hospi- informal setting,” said Blechschmidt. “I tal setting is fast- think it’s good to keep the two commu- paced and vibrant, nities connected, so I especially enjoyed something that that aspect of the trip.” truly interests me,” And that penthouse view wasn’t so she said. “This visit bad, either, said Ng. “There’s nothing like will help me make being in a stadium packed full of fans.” decisions regarding my career because it allowed me to

spring 2011 Dialogue 13 A MODULE = FOCUSED, IN-DEPTH CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE A module is built around four to six courses that provide formal instruction related to a learning goal—for example, Performing for Young Audiences, Political Communication, Advocating for Persons with Communication Disorders, or Staging Live Performance Art. Each department in the school will propose modules that answer specific skill needs in their fields. Although students may need to take a prerequisite course before beginning, the module’s courses can be loosely sequenced to take students from an entry point to mastery of a significant skill or body of knowledge within the communication arts and sciences. Modules will be designed to provide School of Communication students with opportunities for true interdisciplinary study and a learning community of colleagues with shared interests.

Northwestern’s campus offers hundreds of opportunities for students to get involved, including WNUR (above, top) and other student- run media as well as student-led theatre productions such as the Dolphin Show (above).

ALLIED COCURRICULAR + ACTIVITIES Formal course work is paired with cocurricular experiences that provide engaging opportunities for application and practice of knowledge gained in the classroom. North- western’s campus is rich with possibilities for student involvement, including student theatre, advocacy groups, student government, and student media outlets.

WHAT DOES A MODULE LOOK LIKE? Playwright and theatre lecturer Laura Senior Aaron Ricciardi did just that when will combine courses in theatre, radio/ Schellhardt invokes a powerful image he first arrived on campus; Schellhardt television/film, and performance studies when she talks to students about their put him in the playwriting sequence. with on-campus cocurricular activities futures—the invisible staircase. “In “The downside was I took the advanced (such as the annual Agnes Nixon Play- many fields, you enter and the steps are course when I was a sophomore,” said writing Festival), off-campus professional laid out for you,” she said. “In the arts, Ricciardi. He ended up taking several experiences (such as an internship in you have create those steps for yourself.” more classes with Schellhardt, includ- literary management or participation in Northwestern students interested ing an independent study. At press time a reading series), and a capstone experi- in playwriting have taken those steps he was a semifinalist for a 2011 Eugene ence that will help students formulate a all the way to the top—including John O’Neill National Playwrights Confer- professional identity—complete with a Logan (C83), 2010 Tony Award winner ence residency. resumé, a portfolio, and a mission state- for best play. But Schellhardt believes That self-motivation—and, increas- ment for the work they want to do. a module in playwriting will give new ingly, success in obtaining internships “I’m thoroughly excited about the shape and legitimacy to the steps her and mounting campus showcases for capstone experience,” said Schellhardt. students have built for themselves. student work—is one reason why the “We live in times with an active debate Steps such as making sure the playwriting sequence will be one of the about whether or not the arts are part of theatre faculty knows you want to write. first modules off the ground. The module the fabric of this country. We all know

14 Dialogue spring 2011 Students enhance their professional skills through volunteer positions, internships, and other external activities, including radio/television/film junior Ryan Hynes’s work with DirecTV (left), human communication sciences major Theodore Chou’s summer internship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (center), and Los Angeles internships coordinated by associate professor emeritus in service David Downs (right, far right), who introduced students to Emmy- winning executive producer and director Jason Winer (C94) (right, center) on the set of Modern Family.

+ External + Capstone project skill-building The culmination of this extended, opportunities structured learning experience is a As part of their progression through a demonstration of mastery. Capstone module, students will be encouraged to projects require that students produce a participate in skill- and community-building significant demonstration of their ability activities off campus, such as internships to integrate and apply what they have and practica at businesses and organizations learned in the module—a film, a perfor- in the Chicago area or beyond. Internships mance, or a thesis project. The project and practicum experiences provide stu- demonstrates not only students’ ability dents with opportunities to apply theoretical to produce an appropriate concluding knowledge to real-world problems and to work for their learning experience but A capstone is a show of mastery—a performance (such as a star turn in , above, also the ability to articulate what they The Who’s Tommy begin developing their own professional net as part of the Theatre and Interpretation Center’s works. Students can search for these posi- have learned. mainstage season), a creative project, a research tions in the school’s internships database. endeavor—and a chance for our students to shine.

they are, but we have to be able to quan- tify it and to find the language to say it effectively.” Students say the module will add dimension to the work they already do. “The most important part about playwriting classes is the connections I’ve formed with other students,” said sophomore Danielle Littman, whose short play Dead Letters is part of Chicago’s annual Collaboraction Sketchbook festival this year. “In the module we will be able to Communication studies sophomore Austin James, theatre senior Jacqui Jarrold, theatre sophomore Amanda continue these relationships and take Summey, and theatre junior JJ Phillips performed in Car Trouble (written by MFA in Writing for the Screen more classes together, creating a cohe- and Stage student Julissa Castillo and directed by communication studies senior Camille Edwards), one of 19 student-authored plays staged in The State(s) of America: The Regina Taylor Project March 4–6. The festival also sive and supportive group of writers.” included short films, online interactive arts, a literary reading, and a poetry slam, all by Northwestern students. Collaboration is a key element, said junior Naomi Brodkin, who has twice beginning of the process. You become to turn her passion for theatre into a been selected to participate in the Agnes part of a work of art that’s much bigger career in foreign relations and conflict Nixon Festival—named for alumna than the piece you’ve contributed to it.” resolution. “Writing a play is one of Agnes Nixon (C44), famous for creat- A play is not only bigger than the the most challenging, frustrating, and ing several daytime dramas. “The great sum of its parts. It can also accomplish rewarding experiences I know,” she said. thing about writing a play is that once more in the world than people might “Playwriting is not a pastime or a hobby; you’ve put words on the page, it’s just the think, said junior Allison Finn, who hopes it is a life.”

spring 2011 Dialogue 15 Faculty focus

Pablo Boczkowski (PhD, Cornell funding for his research from King of Hollywood” in Idols of and Interpretation Center, University), professor of com the National Science Founda Modernity: Movie Stars of the joined the board of the Albany munication studies, has authored tion and others; received top 1920s, edited by Patrice Petro Park Theatre Project. a number of articles published in conference paper awards at the (Rutgers University Press, 2010) such journals as Communication 2010 Academy of Management and “Between Observation Research, Communications of Conference and in the Organi and Spectatorship: Medicine, the ACM, International Journal zational Communication Divi Movies, and Mass Culture in of Press/Politics, Information, sion at the 2010 International Imperial Germany” in Film Communication & Society, and Communication Association 1900: Technology, Perception, New Media & Society as well as Conference; wrote numerous Culture, edited by Klaus in edited volumes. He has also articles published in such jour Kreimeier and Annemone gaven invited talks at Harvard, nals as Communication Methods Ligensa (John Libbey/Indiana MIT, Cornell, the University of and Measures, Science Trans- University Press, 2009). Chicago, the Institut d’Études lational Medicine, and Com- Eszter Hargittai (PhD, Princeton Politiques in Paris, Universidad munication Research; and was Zayd Dohrn (MFA, New York University), associate profes de San Andrés in Buenos Aires, named an honorary professor of University), assistant professor sor of communication stud and other institutions across the business at Fudan University in of radio/television/film, won ies, contributed the chapter country and abroad. Shanghai, China. the Dallas–Fort Worth Theater “Minding the Digital Gap: Why Critics’ Award for best new Understanding Digital Inequal play of 2010 for Long Way Go ity Matters” to the book Media Down, which premiered at Perspectives, edited by Stylianos Linda Gates (MA, New York Kitchen Dog Theater last sum Papathanassopoulos (Routledge, University), senior lecturer mer. His play Reborning will 2011). She also gave a number be seen at San Francisco Play of talks across the country and and head of voice in the house this spring. Starting in abroad and published a paper Department of Theatre, is May, his short play Public Space on young adults’ credibility the dialect coach for The will be part of the America: assessment of Wikipedia with Chicago Code, a new Fox Now and Here traveling exhibi Ericka Menchen-Trevino, a tion, which includes art by Jeff PhD candidate in the School cop drama filmed entirely in Koons, Chuck Close, and Jasper of Communication’s media, Chicago that premiered in Johns; plays by Edward Albee technology, and society program. February. Gates has been and Emily Mann; music by with the show from the Lou Reed, Joan Baez, and Paul A film edited by Kyle Henry beginning, primarily helping Simon; and work by many other (MFA, University of Texas at artists and writers. Austin), assistant professor of Australian actor Jason Clarke (left) pick up the complex Chicago radio/television/film, premiered accent. Also profiting from her assistance was Chicago-born David Downs (MA, Loyola Uni at the South by Southwest costar Jennifer Beals, whose theatre training had smoothed out versity Chicago), associate pro (SXSW) Film Festival’s docu her native accent. “A dialect is really an amalgam of all the dif fessor emeritus in service of mentary competition in March ferent ethnic groups that have come through and settled in a theatre, hosted an impressive and won the best editing award. lineup of guests—including Directed by alumna Heather place,” said Gates. “In Chicago a lot of it is Polish, Irish, and Whitney Anderson (C03), writer Courtney (J89), Where Soldiers German, tempered by location itself. It’s all sort of mixed up.” of the new Buffy the Vampire Come From will be broadcast Gates also does vocal coaching for such Chicago theatres as Slayer film, and Chris Silber on PBS’s P.O.V. this fall as the Steppenwolf, Goodman, Northlight, and Lookingglass. (C95), writer for CSI: New centerpiece film of a program York—for School of Communi marking the 10th anniversary cation students interning in Los of the US invasion of Afghani Angeles last quarter. The stu stan. Henry and Courtney did Noshir Contractor (PhD, Uni Scott Curtis (PhD, University dents also met actor Mark postproduction work on the film versity of Southern California), of Iowa), associate professor of Harmon on a visit to the CSI: at the Sundance Institute Doc Jane S. and William J. White radio/television/film, presented New York set and met with Story and Edit Lab (right). Professor of Behavioral Sci the keynote address “The Effi Mike Knobloch (C92), presi ences in the McCormick School ciency of Images: Educational dent of music production and Paul Leonardi (PhD, Stanford of Engineering and Applied Effectiveness and the Moder recording for NBC Universal. University), assistant professor Science, the Kellogg School of nity of Motion Pictures” at the See DavidGoingOn.blogspot and the Allen K. and Johnnie Management, and the School of 37th International Conference .com for Downs’s posts about Cordell Breed Junior Chair of Communication’s Department of the Austrian Association his work with interns. Design in the Departments of Communication Studies, gave for American Studies in Inns of Communication Studies, several lectures across the coun bruck, Austria, last November. Henry Godinez (MFA, University Industrial Engineering and try and abroad; received new His most recent publications of Wisconsin–Milwaukee), as Management Sciences, and include “Douglas Fairbanks: sociate professor of theatre and Management and Organiza artistic director of the Theatre tions, was elected a visiting

16 Dialogue spring 2011 Department of Radio/Television/Film lecturer Bill Bleich is a big man on campus once again. With his wife, Institute for Policy Research postdoctoral fellow Pam Schuetz, he moved into a new apartment in the Elder Residential Community in November as part of a new faculty-in-residence program. Bleich collaborates with University Residential Life to plan and oversee community-building activities (such as Cider Sundays, left) for the students who make Elder Hall their home.

international fellow by the Jensen contributed the chapter Spanish-language premieres. Jason Sperb (PhD, Indiana Advanced Institute of Manage- “The Relative Effectiveness of She also wrote a 10-minute play University), lecturer in radio/ ment Research. As part of this Gain-Framed and Loss-Framed that premiered at Chicago’s television/film, gave a talk last honor, he gave talks in March Persuasive Appeals Concern- American Theatre Company. year before a screening of at England’s London School of ing Obesity-Related Behaviors: Punch-Drunk Love for the Economics, Reading University, Meta-Analytic Evidence and Molly Shanahan (MA, Ohio State University of Chicago’s Doc and Lancaster University. Two Implications” to Leveraging University), lecturer in dance, Films as part of its film series of his papers tied for the 2009 Consumer Psychology for Effec- and her dance company Molly on Paul Thomas Anderson. His best published paper award of tive Health Communications: Shanahan/Mad Shak premiered book A Frown Upside Down: the National Communication The Obesity Challenge, edited the new trio Three Maggies last Race, Convergence, and the Association’s Organizational by Rajeev Batra, Punam Anand fall at a program celebrating the Hidden Histories of Disney’s Communication Division. Keller, and Victor J. Strecher. 10th anniversary of Columbia Song of the South was accepted The book’s chapters were origi- College Chicago’s Dance Cen- by the University of Texas Press. Jennifer Light (PhD, Harvard nally presented at a conference ter. In December Shanahan University), associate professor at the University of Michigan’s presented the new ensemble Mimi White (PhD, University of communication studies, was Ross School of Business. work Sharks Before Drown- of Iowa), professor of radio/ invited to join the Institute for ing. Also last fall she received a television/film, authored the Advanced Study as a 2011–12 Linda Roethke (MFA, University prestigious achievement award article “Mad Women” in Mad fellow of its School of Social of Iowa), professor of theatre, from the Helen Coburn Meier Men: Dream Come True TV, Science (see page 4). is designing costumes for Julius and Tim Meier Charitable edited by Gary R. Edgerton Caesar at the Oregon Shake- Foundation for the Arts. (I.B. Taurus, 2011). Weiko Lin (MFA, University of speare Festival, Orlando at California, Los Angeles), lec- Chicago’s Court Theatre, and Ann Woodworth (MA, North- turer in radio/television/film, the premiere production of western University), associate wrote the new play 100 Days, Sarah Ruhl’s Stage Kiss at professor of theatre, gave a which opened in February for Chicago’s Goodman Theatre. presentation for female business a six-week run at the LOFT students at Carnegie Mellon Ensemble in Los Angeles. Elaine Romero (MFA, University University in Qatar. Her work- of California, Davis), lecturer shop, “Leaders as Performers,” Daniel O’Keefe (PhD, Univer- in radio/television/film, gave a addressed how acting skills are sity of Illinois), Owen L. Coon talk at the University of Notre an essential leadership tool. Professor of Argumentation Dame. Her play Ponzi pre- and Debate in communication miered at Kitchen Dog Theater, studies, and Purdue Univer- and her plays Barrio Hollywood sity assistant professor Jakob and Revolutions received their Jacob Smith (PhD, Indiana University), assistant professor of radio/television/film, has authored Spoken Word: Postwar American Phonograph Cultures (University of California Press, 2011); his next book, The Thrill Makers: Celebrity, Masculinity, Harvey Young (PhD, Cornell and Stunt Performance, is now University), associate professor under contract with the same of theatre, performance stud- publisher. He also wrote the ies, African American studies, essay “The Books That Sing: and radio/television/film, was The Marketing of Children’s named to the editorial board Phonograph Records,1890–1930” of Theatre Survey, the flagship for the book Children and journal of the American Society Consumer Culture (Palgrave for Theatre Research. He will Macmillan, 2010). serve a two-year term beginning this year. Kyle Henry and Heather Courtney

spring 2011 Dialogue 17 Alumni achievements

Class notes are selected 1960s the new design firm Intensity Ken Kwapis (C79) is writer and from alumni submissions to Advisors, which will concentrate director of the hit NBC series Northwestern magazine at www on lighting for televised live Outsourced. .northwestern.edu/magazine, entertainment and events and stories of alumni featured in studio-based programs. Ravitz 1980s the media as identified by the consulted on and adapted the University’s Office of Alumni lighting for Justin Bieber’s 3-D Relations and Development, movie Never Say Never. Deanne Kaplan and updates sent to Dialogue Turim (C81) either by mail or by e-mail at Erwin Chemerinsky (C75), found- opened her [email protected]. ing dean of the School of Law second voice at the University of California, studio in 1940s Irvine, is the author of the New Buffalo, book The Conservative Assault Michigan. on the Constitution (Simon & Her first stu- Agnes Nixon (C44), former Schuster, 2010). dio is in Northbrook, Illinois. writer for ABC and creator of such daytime soap operas as Linda Rimac Colberg (C75) Leigh Thompson (C82), executive One Life to Live and All My authored Mount Diablo: director of the Kellogg Team Children, was named a “Giant Marcia Quale Chellis Kay (C61) The Extraordinary Life and and Group Research Center of Media” at the recent Giants has written her third book, Landscapes of a California and a professor of manage- of Broadcasting Awards. The Girls from Winnetka Treasure, a fine art photogra- ment and organizations in (iUniverse, 2010), about five phy book featuring landscape Northwestern’s Kellogg School 1950s friends from New Trier High images and panoramas by of Management, won the School in Winnetka, Illinois. photographer Stephen Joseph. International Cycling Union Her sorority sister and fellow World Championship in Austria. alumna Ann-Margret (C63) wrote Sharon Spence Lieb (C75) was the book’s foreword, and Ann recently featured in a Wall Joe Purdy (C83), writer for Fraser Lorentzen (C61) is one of Street Journal Online article television and film, visited the featured “girls.” about “second acts” in the lives campus to talk to School of of people over 50. Lieb left a Communication students in Frank Galati (C65, GC67, GC71) career in film production to February. Purdy was the cohead recently moved to Sarasota, become a travel writer. writer and coproducer of the Florida, where he directed the popular Nickelodeon series play Twelve Angry Men at the Warren Spector (C77), founder Hey Arnold! and won an Emmy Asolo Repertory Theatre. and creative director of Junction as head writer of the PBS Point Studios (which he sold to children’s series Arthur. He Sherry Lansing (C66), CEO of the Disney in 2007), produced the has developed original series Irv Hamilton (C57) is the author of Sherry Lansing Foundation, was for those networks as well as A 20-Minute War: A Cold War new video game “Disney Epic appointed by Los Angeles mayor Mickey.” for Disney, the Jim Henson Novel (iUniverse, 2010), a book Antonio Villaraigosa to the based on his own experiences in Blue Ribbon Commission on the military. the city’s proposed Downtown Events Center. Bruce A. Houston (C59) and Joan Hilborn Houston (C62, GC68) are president and CFO, respectively, 1970s of Metro Radio, which owns three Washington, DC–area Gayla Kraetsch Hartsough (C70), radio stations. His career has president of KH Consulting included ownership and man- Group, presented the LA agement of a number of radio Speaks! survey results to an stations and 25 years as a media audience of 400 at the 2010 broker. She retired after 30 Emerging Business Symposium years as a speech and language and Vendor Fair, “Connecting pathologist to devote herself Small Business with Oppor full-time to their business. tunities,” at the Rose Bowl.

Jeff Ravitz (C72) shot a DVD in Don Johnson (C82, GJ87) joins Don Jackson (C65) in Soldier Field after last fall’s Memphis for the rock band 13th annual Chicago Football Classic, where Johnson called play-by-play for CN100 Styx to capture its 30th anni- Comcast and Jackson was a media consultant as CEO of Central City Productions. versary tour. He also created Both are radio/television/film alumni and former Northwestern lettermen, Johnson in football and Jackson in basketball.

18 Dialogue spring 2011 Northwestern University Entertainment Alliance

Company, ABC, Fox Family, 1990s and Cartoon Network.

Rahm Emanuel (GC85) was elected Alan Arrivee (C90, GC08) is mayor of the city of Chicago the director of cinema at after leaving his position as the University of Mississippi. White House chief of staff. Emanuel won with 55 percent Oveda Brown (C90), multicultural of the vote against five other marketing manager for the candidates, avoiding a runoff. media and marketing research He will be sworn into office firm Arbitron, received the May 16 (see page 5). American Urban Radio Net- works’ Urban Knight Award. Tom Holt (C85) is the director of legislative and regulatory Elizabeth Lively (GC90) was affairs for Regence BlueCross named vice president of NUEA-East BlueShield of Oregon. government relations for the Metropolitan Chicago This past fall NUEA-East greeted an enthusiastic new board as Ayun Halliday (C87) compiled and Healthcare Council. well as 2010 graduates with its annual welcome event at New released The Zinester’s Guide York City’s Boat Basin. New board members are Kristin Johnson Karen V. Newbury (GC92) was to NYC (Microcosm, 2010), a (C08), Zack Baer (C10), Catherine LeFrere (C08), Stephanie “top-to-bottom, on-the-cheap, appointed counsel in the Sherline (C07), Abby Wolbe (C05), and Andrew Tolbert (C10). warts-and-all exploration of the restructuring, bankruptcy, and city that never sleeps.” creditors’ rights practice at In a new and hugely successful fall event, acclaimed alumna Schiff Hardin in Chicago. Jen Bender (C01) (above, standing sixth from right) conducted a Jon Shapiro (C87) produced master class on Music Theatre Auditioning 101. This spring prom- J. Anthony Crane (C93) starred as Curious George 2: Follow That ises to be a busy one as NUEA welcomes Northwestern’s New Monkey!, released on DVD last Scar in the touring production York Showcase participants and, in conjunction with the show- year. He also won his second of The Lion King. Emmy Award for outstanding case, presents the second annual “Ways of Broadway” panel children’s animated program as Heidi Meyer (C93), a family phy- on theatre production, management, and development. Visit the sician in Tucson, Arizona, was an executive producer of the newly redesigned NUEA-East website at www.nuea.org. PBS series Curious George. elected to the board of direc- This year Shapiro will produce tors of the American Academy content for a new 3-D TV chan- of Family Physicians. nel, and the 3-D technology NUEA-West Tony Cardinale (GC94) company he cofounded, 3ality is senior To showcase current work of alumni, NUEA-West held a screen- vice president of strategic Digital, will support the stereo- ing of the independent romantic comedy Moonshine Inc. in scopic production of Peter insights for the Women and September at the Downtown Independent Theater, followed by Jackson’s two Hobbit movies. Lifestyle Entertainment Networks at NBC Universal. cocktails and a chance to mingle with the film’s cast and crew. Kevin Gore (C88) was appointed Written and directed by Philip Crippen (GC04) and produced by Seth Meyers (C96), head writer president and CEO of Rhino Amanda Krieg (C07), the film features the talents of many other Records. for Saturday Night Live, was the key speaker at the White Northwestern alumni. In October NUEA-West held its first Young Laura Eason (C89) wrote and House Correspondents’ Alumni Mixer, a casual talkback with up-and-coming young alumni. directed a stage adaptation Association Dinner in April. Featured speakers included staff members of Modern Family, of Edith Wharton’s novel Gigantic, Chuck, Undercover Boss, Lionsgate, Spyglass, ABC, and Sarah Gubbins (C97, GC08) wrote Ethan Frome at Chicago’s EPIX. In December the group’s quarterly Short Film Night fea- Lookingglass Theatre. The The Kid Thing, a play that tured work by James Kapner (C05), Elizabeth Schmidt (C01), Paul cast included Eason’s husband, received a reading this past Erik Lochtefeld (C96). fall as part of Steppenwolf Jury (C02), Naomi Grossman (C97), April Wright (KSM92), Tracy Theatre’s First Look Rep. Mulholland (C04), Karolyn Szot (C10), Dustin Pearlman (C04), James E. Grote (C89) is a member Ryan Beveridge, Meg Halloran (C05), Jenna Johnson (C07), Josie Philip M. Napoli (GC97) is a of the artistic staff at Chicago’s Chai (C10), Josh Stroud (C10), Josh Friehling (C07), and School Lifeline Theatre and author professor of communica- of Communication sophomore Chet Hanks. The group also held of the new children’s musical tions and media management Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That in Fordham University’s a December holiday party cosponsored with other Midwestern Type, staged as the opening Graduate School of Business. universities. Join in at www.nueawest.org. show of Columbus Children’s His recent books include Theatre’s season. Audience Evolution: New Technologies and the Trans- formation of Media Audiences

19 Alumna combines performance and activism in new theatre festival Performance and activism go hand in hand, according to Jocelyn Prince (GC08), a master of arts alumna in performance studies who cofounded the first annual New Black Fest theatre festival, held in late 2010 in Brooklyn. Prince and two friends brainstormed the Daniel Osit (C04) and Adam Sachs (C05) are two of the founders of Ignighter.com, inaugural event, created a six-person advisory an online dating site that encourages would-be daters to go out in groups with their friends. The site has taken off in India, where this spring Ignighter will open board (including performance studies, radio/television/film, and an office and hire a dozen local employees. theatre associate professor Harvey Young as well as two Pulitzer Prize winners), and persuaded a network of major theatre artists (Columbia University Press, footage shot all over the world to volunteer their time and efforts. The festival—meant to stir 2011) and Communications on the day Barack Obama was African American artists to “stretch, interrogate, and uplift black Research in Action: Scholar- elected president. Contributing theatre in the 21st century”—drew more than 500 people. The Activist Collaborations for filmmakers include fellow alumni multisite event presented free performances ranging from singing a Democratic Public Sphere Jon Lefkovitz (C05), Marc Naggar (C06), Marcus Cohlan (C07) to poetry, standup comedy to musical theatre. (Fordham University Press, and as 2011). well as former Block Cinema “One of the goals of the festival was to work on expanding curator Will Schmenner. The the notion of what theatre is,” said Prince, currently the artistic Christine Hassler (C98), life coach film premiered at SXSW last associate at Manhattan’s Public Theatre. and author, is partnering with March and opened theatrically American Express on “The in 20 cities in October. Quarterlife Project” to gauge

Finding fulfillment with continuous goal-setting the attitudes and perceptions Julie Gliniany (C05) is associate Every five years since age 20, S. Jenell of 20-somethings about money. director of NW Documentary, Trigg (C78) sits down to evaluate her a film production organization. Kate Shindle (C98) plays the Mad life over the past half-decade. At age Hatter in Wonderland, a new Robert Boesel (C07), a writers 35, as a national sales manager and musical seen in Tampa, Florida, assistant on the Disney Channel’s director of marketing for a Baltimore prior to beginning previews on Wizards of Waverly Place, wrote television station, Trigg wondered if Broadway in March. an episode for the series. she was truly getting everything she Erik Kaiko (C07) played a lead- 2000s wanted out of her career. She had ing role in Bailiwick Chicago’s dreamed of a stage career as an production of the new musical undergraduate theatre major, but for Hilary Doyle (C00) is cocreator, Departure Lounge, performed 16 years she had pursued the business writer, and star of Stock & Awe, at the Royal George Cabaret a new comedy series on Canada’s Theatre last October. side of creative life, working in advertising and marketing. At her Business News Network. age-35 “check-in,” she decided to study law. Lee Stark (C07) has become a Four years later she graduated magna cum laude, having Kristen Schaal (C00), actress and member of the resident acting held down a full-time job the whole time as a clerk for the head comedian, cowrote The Sexy company of New York City’s Book of Sexy Sex (Chronicle Pearl Theatre. of the Federal Communications Commission, thus combining Books, 2010) with partner Rich her interests in media and law. Trigg is now a partner in the com- Blomquist, a writer for Jon Maria Finitzo (GC08) was nomi- munications law boutique firm Lerman Senter, the chair of its Stewart’s Daily Show. nated for an Emmy as executive Intellectual Property and New Technology Practice Group, and producer of the documen- the firm’s first African American partner. Zach Gilford (C04) and Mamie tary Typeface. Working with Gummer (C05) star in the new Kartemquin Films, Finitzo will She sees the logic of her circuitous journey from the stage ABC series Off the Map. be project director for a docu- to business to the courts. “Every creative person needs to know mentary about Bill Leonard, something about the business side,” said Trigg. “How deeply you Lily Rabe (C04) starred with Al a Northwestern University need to get involved in the nuances of the media or entertain- Pacino in the Broadway revival anthropologist who has been of The Merchant of Venice. The ment industry depends on where you want to go.” studying how members of show’s assistant director is Bolivia’s Tsimane tribe have Laura Savia (C04). fared better than indigenous peoples who haven’t held on to Jeff Deutchman (C05) made the their traditions. film 11/4/08 by collecting

20 Dialogue spring 2011 In memory

Farhan Arshad (GC10) as execu- The following death Marvin E. DeBoer (GC51, tive producer, Christopher Amos notices were compiled GC62), January 5 at age 85 (C10) as editor-gaffer, and by Northwestern’s Office in Conway, Arkansas. Alvaro Saar Rios (GC10) as writer- of Alumni Relations and director were nominated for a Development and from Gary Geers (C51), November 10 student Emmy for their film updates sent to Dialogue by at age 84 in Sun City, Prison Boat, along with cur- staff or by alumni by mail Florida. rent students Byron Austen or by e-mail at dialogue Priscilla Ott Horter (C52), Ashley, producer; Travis @northwestern.edu. LaBella, director of photogra- December 16 at age 80 in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. phy; and Zachary Badreddine, Isaac P. Brackett (C38, GC40, sound recordist and sound. GC47), October 24 at age 94 Edward A. Hansen (C53), in Carbondale, Illinois. Kate McGroarty (C08), writer Meridith Friedman (GC10) wrote December 31 at age 79 in New York. and drama teacher, won Blue Monday, one of six plays Edna R. Gilmore (C41), the Museum of Science given staged readings by the November 4 at age 90 in Lorrice Pratt (C54), and Industry’s Month at the National New Play Network Rockville, Maryland. Museum contest and lived in at its National Showcase of December 9 at age 78 in New Braunfels, Texas. the Chicago museum for 30 New Plays, hosted by Denver’s Betty Stoddard Muncie (C42), days as part of a live experiment Curious Theatre Company in September 15 at age 90 in James Dwyer (C59), and exhibit. During her stay December. Reno, Nevada. she visited every nook of the November 10 at age 73. museum, slept overnight in a F. Hollis Griffin (GC10) is the Violet Wertens Redding (C42), Donald Albin Pearson (C60), submarine, and met astronaut recipient of the 2011 Society October 11 at age 90 in November 3 at age 79 in Jim Lovell (above). for Cinema and Media Studies Laguna Woods, California. Dissertation Award for his Rockford, Illinois. Justin Shapiro (C08) is cofounder “Manufactured Feelings: Gladys Reed (GC43), January 2 Smith V. Brand (GC61), with Glen Andrianov (WCAS08) Media Convergence and Gay at age 91 in Falls Church, October 10 at age 72 in of BareDeal.com, which Consumer Citizenship.” Virginia. describes itself as “Groupon South Holland, Illinois. meets Netflix.” La Ray M. Barna (C44), Dede Reid Blackburn (C63), October 16 at age 88 in December 14 at age Rishi Taparia (C08) is an analyst Oregon. at Scale Venture Partners. 69 in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Helen Gauthier (C45), Jenny Hagel (GC09) and Erik December 10 at age 87 in Wendie L. Ihrke (C65), Gernand (GC09) cowrote and Needham, Wisconsin. coproduced the short film October 15 at age 67 in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Tech Support, shortlisted at Teresa Trompeter (C46), the United Kingdom’s Iris November 23 at age 84 in Ruth “Abbi” Maxton (C68), Prize Festival and winner Laura Huizenga (C10) played Deerfield Beach, Florida. of the Best Lesbian Short Mary in the musical Saved January 27 at age 63 in Belmont, Massachusetts. Award at Germany’s Hamburg at the Kansas City Repertory Helen Wilhoit Moroney (C47), International Queer Film Theatre last fall. November 4 at age 85 in Anthony B. DeFeo (GC71, Festival, the Audience Award Dallas, Texas. at the Pittsburgh International Russell Yaffe (C10) and Erica Hart GC77), September 21 at age 62 in Tucson, Arizona. Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, (C10) produced Running Fox, Willard F. Bellman (GC49), and the Best Short Film Award a Studio 22 grant–winning December 12 at age 90 in Paul Nicholas Kedo (GC75), at the Fresno Reel Pride LGBT film written and directed by Winnetka, Illinois. Film Festival. It was acquired Patrick Bishop (C10) and Chris October 11 at age 61 in Lake Forest, Illinois. for both US and European dis- Poole (C10) and selected for Geraldine Carmody (C50), tribution and will be included the Austin Film Festival. November 13 at age 82 in Heather Jean Turner Burdinie on a DVD compilation of Yaffe won the Blue Sky Film Tucson, Arizona. LGBT short films. The film’s Festival’s best direction and (GC80), September 7 at age 56 in Riverside, Illinois. production designer is Carrie story award as writer and Sister Timothy Kirby (GC50), Barrett (GC09). director of Keycards, pro- December 22 at age 92 in Michelle Nicastro-Stark (C82), duced by senior Andrew Glor. Duluth, Minnesota. Kaelan Strouse (C09) starred in The film was also selected for November 4 at age 50 in Toluca Lake, California. Candida with ShawChicago the Young Cinema Art–World Dawn G. Wickman (C50), Theatre last fall. Student Film Festival in September 7 at age 81 in Plock, Poland. Woodruff, Wisconsin.

spring 2011 Dialogue 21 Philanthropy

New campus building to house School of Communication Top floor of planned building will give every department in the school room to grow

A long-planned Northwestern University construction project set to break ground in the spring has new and exciting implications for the School of Communication. The addition of a fifth floor to the design for the Bienen School of Music’s new building will provide a new home for the School of Communication. Slated for completion within four years, the project will add 18,000 square feet to the School of Communication’s available space—a boon to the school’s growing programs and faculty. The fifth-floor facilities will set off a domino-like set of moves that will have a far-reaching effect on School of Communi- cation enrollment, faculty hiring, and student activities. Included in the plans are a new South Campus home for the School of Communication administration, including the office of Dean Barbara O’Keefe and the Office of Undergraduate Resources, and the net gain of dozens of additional offices for the school’s growing faculty. In addition to the new structure’s square footage, School of Communication departments will all gain additional space when the new facility reduces occupancy in existing buildings. The plans include t/FXEFQBSUNFOUBMPGGJDFTBOEGBDVMUZPGGJDFTGPSUIF Departments of Theatre and Performance Studies t"EEJUJPOBMCMBDLCPYUIFBUSFTJOUIF5IFBUSFBOE*OUFSQSFUB- tion Center for classes and student activities and a new Arts Circle Drive entrance for the center t"EEJUJPOBMTQBDFJO"OOJF.BZ4XJGU)BMMGPSUIFVTF of faculty and students in the Department of Radio/ Television/Film tAdditional faculty office and laboratory space in the Frances Searle Building on north campus for the Department of Communication Studies and the Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders t5ISFFOFXQFSGPSNBODFTQBDFTJOUIFCVJMEJOHGPSUIF Bienen School of Music, increasing availability for School of Communication programming in other campus venues Fundraising for the project is under way. Naming opportunities are available in all School of Communication buildings. For more information, contact Amy Kahn, director of development for the School of Communication, at 847-467-5411 or a-kahn @northwestern.edu. Gifts to the project can be made at the Uni- versity’s secure giving site, https://nualumni.org/donate. Use A new building on Northwestern’s Evanston campus will include offices for the the “My Designation” field to specify the School of Communica- School of Communication, making room for growth in every corner of the school. tion Fifth Floor Project. The five-story structure will border the lake (above, top) and complete the Arts Circle complex (above).

22 Dialogue spring 2011 Tony Award winner named to inaugural Hagan Chair in Theatre Theatre professor Anna Shapiro, Tony Award winner and director of the Depart- ment of Theatre’s MFA Program in Directing, was recently named to the Marjorie Hoffman Hagan, Class of 1934, Chair in Theatre. The new endowed professorship was established with a bequest from theatre alumna Marjorie Hoffman Hagan (C34), who died at age 96 in 2008. “Teaching at Northwestern has been the most rewarding experience of my professional life,” said Schapiro in response to the honor. “That the University continues to support and acknowledge me at this level is as remarkable a thing as I could ever imagine. To receive an endowed chair is an honor I take very seriously, and I look forward to my continued commitment to the school, my department, my colleagues, and my students.” Shapiro won the 2008 Tony Award for best direction of a play for staging Tracy Letts’s Pulitzer Prize–winning August: Osage County. She also directed the play’s premiere production at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre, where she is an associate artist. Hagan was a lifelong donor to the School of Com- munication who planned her generous gift to the school more than a decade ago. As a student she was a member of Zeta Phi Eta, the national speech sorority, and performed in numerous theatrical productions. After receiv- ing her degree, she participated in theatre in Madison, Wisconsin, and taught speech at the elementary and high school levels.

The new building (above, top) will house a number of perfor- Hagan (top row, far right) was a member of Zeta Phi Eta mances spaces, including a recital hall with a view of the at Northwestern. Chicago skyline. The main entrance (above) will open onto Arts Circle Drive and the University’s other arts facilities.

spring 2011 Dialogue 23 Northwestern University Nonprofit Organization School of Communication U.S. Postage 2240 Campus Drive PAID Evanston, Illinois 60208-3580 Northwestern University

Dialogue is published for the alumni of the School of Communi- cation. Comments and suggestions may be mailed to Dialogue, Northwestern University School of Communication, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3580, or sent via e-mail to dialogue@northwestern .edu. Please e-mail all address changes to address-change @northwestern.edu.

Editors: Lori Rader-Day, Kingsley Day Publications Writer: Emily Hiser Lobdell Contributing Writer: Lori Rader-Day Designer: Heather Cosgrove Photo credits Cover: Sally Ryan. Inside: Steve Anzaldi, AP Photo, AP Photo/ Charles Rex Arbogas, communication studies senior Justin Barbin, Andrew Campbell, Aaron Fuqua, Randy Korwin, Northwestern University Archives, Northwestern University Athletics, Aleksandr Paskannoi/Goodman Theatre, radio/television/film freshman Margaux Pepper, Lori Rader-Day, Laurie Sparham/The Weinstein Company, Sundance Institute/Fred Hayes, Daniel Zox, or provided by subject.