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Spring/Summer 2010 • Issue #12 A newsletter for alumni and friends of the department of theatre and fine arts NU Theatre Celebrates Opening of The Elizabeth Ann Clune Center for Theatre and Renovated William P. and Marie Leary Theatre By Ann Heuer, ’78 Niagara University officially opened both members of NU’s Class its new $3.1 million Elizabeth Ann of 1958. George A. Wiegers, Clune Center for Theatre and Leary a classmate of theirs, donated Theatre with a blessing, dedication and $850,000 to the capital ribbon-cutting ceremony inside the campaign for the theatre new center at Clet Hall on May 1. renovation. Wiegers asked From left, the Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., Niagara University The new center is named after that the new theatre complex president; Elizabeth Ann Clune; Gregory Fletcher, director of NU the daughter of Niagara University be named for the Clune’s Theatre; and alumnus George Wiegers, ’58, prepare to cut the alumnus Robert J. Clune, Esq., a daughter, Elizabeth, an ardent purple ribbon at the Elizabeth Ann Clune Center for Theatre. Photo courtesy of the Niagara Gazette. member of the university’s board of fan of Niagara University trustees, and his wife, JoAnn G. Clune, Theatre and Broadway. The newly renovated William P. thank for the completion of the and Marie Leary Theatre was initially Elizabeth Ann Clune Center for created out of a former Clet Hall Theatre and renovated Leary Theatre, gymnasium in 1972, and named in such as George Wiegers, Bob, JoAnn honor of Mr. and Mrs. Leary in 1998. and Elizabeth Clune, Broadway William Leary, an alumnus, graduated composer John Kander, John in 1950. Overbeck, John and Karen Sanderson, Brother Augustine Towey, C.M., Jerry Williams, Vinnie Russo, Pam director emeritus of Niagara University Vogt, and many other friends and Theatre, took a leadership role in the alumni,” said Towey. “A few other key theatre initiative of “The Promise people who assisted in the fundraising of Niagara … The next 150 years” efforts are three of my high school campaign. classmates, Drs. Hugh Babinski, Dick “We have many generous friends to Cheshire and Gordon Weil, who voluntarily developed a proposal for Elizabeth Ann Clune and her parents, NU alumni the theatre campaign that was accepted Robert, ’58, and JoAnn Clune, ’58, chairs of the Friends of NU Theatre’s 25th Annual Gala. “I’m by the university.” excited, absolutely,” Elizabeth said. “I feel honored, “We wanted to do what we could to overwhelmed, thrilled about the new theatre center!” see that Niagara University’s physical Photo courtesy of Tom Burns. theatre is renovated to equal the an all-student Players,” an extracurricular group produced which produced a few plays each year production. in the gymnasium, and some one-acts. Thousands In the late 1960s, students requested of patrons that some credit-bearing courses in from Western theatre be made available. Then, a New York further series of courses were instituted, and Southern and in 1975 a concentration in theatre Ontario enjoy studies (under the department of the theatre’s English) was created. In 1989 the state productions each granted permission for the full theatre year. degree through the department of Theatre theatre and fine arts, chaired by Sharon has played Watkinson, Ph.D. Niagara University NU Theatre’s gala production of Cole Porter’s musical “Anything Goes” sold out during its run in the newly renovated William P. and Marie Leary Theatre within an important now grants the B.F.A. in theatre studies the new Elizabeth Ann Clune Centre for Theatre. Singing “Blow Gabriel, Blow,” part in the with concentrations in performance, cast members in the front row from left are: Meghan Hinton, ’13, Courtney life of Niagara design/technology and general theatre. Weather, ’10, Alicia Ann Burning, ’12, and Andrew Adolf, ’13. Second row from University since In the past 46 years, more than 1,700 left: Alan Trinca, ’13, Sara Ball, ’10, Jocelyn Hanson, ’11, Nicholas Gnacinski, students have been involved in theatre ’11, and Kerisa Bonville, ’13. Back row from left: Renee Landrigan, ’13, Erin its founding in Daley, ’11, Justin Mitchell Krall, ’11, Celine Keefe, ’13, and Michael Wachowiak, 1856. For many at Niagara University in some capacity ’13. Photo courtesy of Anna Hoffman. years, theatre or other. For more information about was known as Niagara University Theatre, visit www. the “Niagara niagara.edu/theatre. University excellence of its theatre program,” Dr. Weil said. “That’s how it all happened.” Following the blessing, dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony, the 25th From left, moments after the ribbon cutting Annual Friends of Niagara University at the Elizabeth Ann Theatre Gala was held. Festivities began Clune Center for with a 4 p.m. matinee of the musical Theatre, an ecstatic “Anything Goes,” directed by Towey Dr. Sharon Watkinson, chair of the department at the renovated Leary Theatre inside of theatre and fine arts, the new theatre center. The “black-tie and Brother Augustine optional” gala was held at the Niagara Towey, C.M., director Falls Country Club and included a emeritus, celebrate with cocktail hour, dinner, and silent and Tony Award winning composer John Kander live auctions. Gala co-chairs were and his partner, Albert Robert and JoAnn Clune of Ithaca. Stephenson. Dinner co-chairs were Patricia Orzetti and Kathleen Gormley of Lewiston. Auction co-chairs included Maria Nearly 225 people Arena of Clarence, Pamela LeCuyer of attended one of the Getzville, Lori Presti of Youngstown, most successful Friends and Adair Saviola of Buffalo. of NU Theatre galas ever on May 1. From The Friends of Niagara University left, George A. Wiegers, Theatre Gala annually raises significant ’58, the Hon. Jerome C. monies to support and aid the mission Gorski, ’58, Janet W. of Niagara University Theatre. Gorski, and Elizabeth Under the direction of Gregory C. “Betsy” Wiegers. Fletcher, Niagara University Theatre Photos courtesy of Fred this year presented five main-stage Heuer. productions, two readers’ theatre productions, a short play festival, and 2 Niagara University Theatre Newsletter P concession bar, serving Pepsi New at NU products. We are also licensed By Gregory Fletcher, editor-in-chief for beer and wine for future sales. Walled up, between the concession Prior to my life in theatre education, bar and the retrospective wall is the some of my freelance work included stage new … management. Prior to each performance, P theatre storage room and I would tour the different areas of the theatre library. Across from the stage and check off each item in its café bar, toward the windows proper place. Currently at NU Theatre, overlooking Lewiston Road, is an … our new stage covers more ground than P acting studio with a soft From left, Dr. Nancy McGlen, dean of the College of Arts ever before. With checklist in hand, let and Sciences, visits with Gregory Fletcher, Marilyn Deighton, rubberized floor. At the end of the and Terri Filips. Fletcher is director of NU Theatre, while me give you the latest tour and check off center hallway are the … Deighton is assistant professor of costume technology and each new item in its proper place: P coat racks and restrooms. Filips is associate professor of dance. Photo by Ann Heuer. As you drive onto campus and Back in the lobby, when the approach Clet Hall on Freshman Drive, house opens, the house manager will P air conditioning. Looking forward you may drop off someone at the lobby open the crowd control … at the proscenium arch, you will see the entrance simply by turning right into P stanchions, where tickets will be read apron of the stage, 40 feet wide. Nine feet the ... by a … from the edge of the stage is the beautiful P circular driveway drop-off. P wireless ticket scanner. Access to the purple … Once inside the main entrance of the Leary Theatre can be reached by taking P front curtain. When the curtain Elizabeth Ann Clune Center for Theatre, the … parts, the … you will find yourself in the new … P elevator or walking up the … P stage opening is 24 feet wide with a P three-story lobby, where on your P stairwell, which offers one of the best depth of 33 feet. immediate right you will find the … views on campus of the Niagara Gorge. In the back of the stage, upstage left, P patron services booth offering From the top level, you can see all the through the double doors, is the new … information, brochures, raffles, and … way down to the Niagara River. P backstage area (formerly the old P listening devices that may be checked P The second level of the lobby offers lobby), and further around the corner out for the performance. On your left, entrances to house right and house left on the left is the … carved into the former exterior stone wall for the lower half of the audience (rows P backstage tech room (formerly the is the high-tech … A-F). women’s bathroom and make-up room). P computerized box office, where P The third level of the lobby offers the Inside is a … credit cards and NU IDs may be swiped entrance to the top half of the audience P slop sink and storage for paint, and tickets printed. While waiting for (rows G-M). Also, on the third level is hardware, tools, gels and gobos, and a the house to open, the audience may the entrance into the fully enclosed … large lockable cage for equipment, stage spend some preshow time in the new … P tech booth, where the stage manager weapons, and auction items for the P lounge (formerly faculty dining calls the show and the light board annual gala.

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