STAGE S The University of Massachusetts Amherst Department of Theater Alumni Newsletter Fall 2007 New faces: Two new faculty and a guest grace our halls by ANNA-MARIA GOOSSENS Cox came to the department on a student exchange in the early 1990s. Irish-born but studying in , she We were fortunate to welcome several new faculty members wanted to leave the country and landed a scholarship to come to our midst this September: Assistant Professor in Directing study at UMass-Amherst. The scholarship was intended to let Gina Kaufmann, Five-College Visiting Lecturer in Sound students learn about something they couldn't do at their home Design Rob Kaplowitz, and Adjunct Professor in Lighting university, Cox recalled, so even though she was a flautist, she Design Jane Cox. Kaufmann and Kaplowitz are here to stay, wrote down that she wanted to study lighting design. while Cox is filling in ably during Penny Remsen's sabbatical. continued on page 6 Though they span the disciplines within theater, all believe in the collaborative model of theater-making we prize, where Professor Vincent C. Brann open dialogue forms the heart of the creative process and We were saddened to learn shortly before going to print that Professor Emeritus Vincent C. Brann passed away on Oct. 26. Professor Brann strong opinions are welcome. They've only been here for a was a director, dramaturg, poet and opera scholar who graciously and couple of months, but they're fitting in just fine. diligently served our department and the university for 24 years. He Jane Cox retired in 1988 but remained involved in the department as an audience member and patron. We will remember Professor Brann's life and work If lighting design lecturer Jane Cox gets lost less than her in the department in our spring issue. If you have a fond memory you'd like to share about him, please email us at umasstheater@theater. fellow newbies as she navigates the halls of the department, umass.edu; include "Prof. Brann" in your subject line. attribute it to the fact that this is her second time here. Finding her niche outside the theater meccas Nellica Rave graduated from the department with an MFA in costume design in 2005, and immediately moved to Rochester, NY, with her husband. Though it's not one of the cities people think of when picturing America's cultural centers, Nellica has found a vibrant scene there and in just two short years has made a place for herself as a lynch pin of the opera scene, working for two different organizations. In an email exchange, she explained how things came to be. — Anna-Maria Goossens

Question: I know that you are involved with the Eastman School of Music and the Mercury Opera — can you tell me a little about what you do for each company? Nellica Rave designed costumes for the Eastman School of Music's production of I Capuletti et i Montecchi. (photo courtesy of Nellica Rave) NR: I am resident costume designer Opera Rochester. Although not directly of the student and staff talent. Both for both the Eastman School of Music affiliated, Mercury plans its season to not companies do shows of various sizes, from Opera Department and Mercury conflict with Eastman to take advantage continued on page 5

1 Alumni, students, faculty, and staff updates Once again our alumni continue Formicans. Stephanie Parker '04 to do us proud, racking up honors and Friends accomplishments. As ever, please send Stephanie Parker, a Theater major us your updates for the next go-round, ■ Communication Professor Marty between 2001-2003, who went on to or contact us to be placed on the alumni Norden, a longtime friend of the receive a degree in Women’s Studies, mailing list so you can invite all of us department, had a busy spring and passed away Sept. 5. In addition to her when you have a production or special summer. He appeared in Arena Civic involvement in the Dept. of Theater, event. Let's get right to it, shall we? Theatre’s April production of The Stephanie served as a resident assistant On The Fringe Crucible as Giles Corey, the same and volunteered at the Everywoman’s role he played in the department’s Center as a crisis counselor. After ■ UMass Theater alumni and students production in 2001. The following graduation she was a volunteer for practically took over the month, he participated in the Play-in- AmeriCorps and most recently worked Fringe Festival. Graduate directing a-Day festivities by playing yet another as a working as a teacher’s aide at The student Dora Arreola choreographed father of a troubled young adult — one May Institute in West Springfield, and directed She-Wolves. Another piece, of Marty’s ongoing specialties — in where she worked with children with Helmet, included in its team Talya Connie Congdon’s mini-play Po Mo autism, and was starting her career as Kingston ‘07G as dramaturg, Maryann Home. In June, he teamed up with Troy an instructional leader for the town of Lombardi ‘07G as director, Robbie David Mercier and others to appear in Bloomfield, Conn. Strano ‘07 on lighting, Lauria Kincaid Darren Harned’s one-act play Ephemera, ‘89 has been offered an outstanding ‘07 as a stage manager, and Troy David staged at NYC’s Chernuchin Theater tenure-system faculty position to help Mercier ‘07 as a cast member. Faculty as a part of the Samuel French Off- lead the directing program at the member June Gaeke designed costumes Off-Broadway Play Festival. He then University of Minnesota. for Roll With the Punches. Finally, Robin traveled to the Czech Republic, where ■ Alumnus Jason Czernich ‘00 was Reed ‘97 invited us to come see her and he gave a presentation at Prague’s world- recently in a pilot, Flocked, directed by Carrie Haugh ‘97 in a show directed famous FAMU filmmaking school and Steve Delahoyde, whom he notes was by Melanie S. Armer ‘92, Scout’s Honor. a scholarly film paper at a conference at one of the Top 5 Filmmakers to watch Also in the cast, she pointed out, were Masaryk University in Brno. according to the Tribune. The Hampshire Alum (and UMASS stage- Alumni pilot has made the final judging rounds, gracer) Chance Muehleck and Elan and, as of his writing, was to be screened Moss-Bachrach, who played Eric in ■ Melanie Armer '92 has taken a new at The Music Box theater in Chicago our 1998 production of Tales of the Lost position as an Associate Producer in as part of the Chicago Comedy Shorts If you have an update for us, please Contemporary Programming at Lincoln Festival over the summer. e-mail us at umasstheater@theater. Center Theater. ■ Eagle-eyed secretary Denise Wagner ■ umass.edu or [email protected]. Jeannie-Marie Brown ‘06G will spotted Rob Corddry ‘93 in a preview You can also call 413.545-3490 or be a tenure-track Assistant Professor at for The Heartbreak Kid and found a 413.545.6808. Millsaps College in Jackson, MS. piece he wrote to his daughter in a ■ Margo Caddell ‘06G has been recent issue of Real Simple Magazine. If that doesn’t work for you, send your offered a permanent position as faculty ■ Jeffrey Donovan ‘91 is in USA’s carrier pigeon to: Lighting Designer at Tufts University. Burn Notice. ■ Stages Megan Cannon ‘96 was finishing up ■ Melissa Fendell ‘03 let us know about Fine Arts Center 112 a full year at FoodPlay Productions as a Labor Day-weekend staged reading of 151 Presidents Drive Production Manager when she wrote us. her new play, Through the Aperture. UMass Amherst “We’ve doubled our tours since I’ve been Later in the month, she was scheduled Amherst, MA 01003 here,” she noted. “Since the Batman to workshop another new project which stunt show is no longer at 6 Flags, I’ve she was devising/directing, called The Please include contact information and turned my talents to performing, and Untitled Columbus Project. the year you graduated. danced in the Get Ready to Wiggle Show. ■ Miriam Gilbert ‘01 writes that she I even got to perform with the Wiggles just started grad school at the American We'll post your news online at www. from Australia in front of 6000 people Film Institute in . It’s a 2 year umass.edu/theater/deptnews.html or — no small feat for a tech!” MFA conservatory program, and she is ■ run it in the next issue of Stages. Undergrad alumna (and former Theater one of 14 1st year Production Design 100 adjunct instructor) Lisa Channer continued on page 3

2 More theater updates continued from page 2 Winona, MN. When she wrote, she was ■ A world premiere production of Fellows. The school is in the Hollywood in the midst of directing The Winter’s Tale Molière’s comedy Don Juan, translated Hills, and has great connections to the in Boston for Bad Habit Productions. by professor emeritus Virginia Scott LA film community. In the next two The production featured a number and directed by Linda McInerney years she will design sets for 3 short of UMass-Amherst alumni: Rachel ‘98G, was presented at Old Deerfield films and a thesis project. “And the great Cummings '06, Pam DeGregorio '06, Productions in July. thing about studying film in LA is that Derek Fraser '06, Kevin Kordis '07, ■ Natasha Norman ‘07 was part of a while I’m in school, I’ll be using many of Timothy McDermott '06, Thomas team that contributed a short film based the same locations, prop houses, studio Naughton '06, Adam Sanders '06 and on the game Mike Tyson’s Punch Out to spaces, etc, that I’ll use after I graduate, Shannon Stillings '06. the Nintendo Short Cuts Showcase. so it should help ease the transition back ■ Jen (Deane) Hawkins ‘95 emailed ■ Toks Olagundoye (who didn’t attend into the working world. Of course, I’m that she has been working as a Los UMass but spent lots of time with us) so excited!!!” she wrote. Angeles Public Defender for almost sent us word of One Nation Under, ■ Erin Greene ‘02’s Greene Room two years now. “I love it but it doesn’t her recent collaboration with At Hand Productions Theatre Production and leave much time for my REAL love Theatre Company of New York City. Educational Outreach Company — acting,” she wrote, She hasn’t left ■ Dramaturgy MFA Yael Prizant ‘00G mounted a number of shows in the the field completely, though: “Recently just completed her PhD at UCLA. Pioneer Valley, including Of Mice and I did do a play in Los Angeles where ■ Sam Rush ‘97G and his cohorts at Men, for which the group teamed up I played a woman who got murdered New Century Theater turned in another with the Monson Public Library. — among other things — which was well-received season. Graduate student ■ Sabrina Hamilton ‘96G continues a great experience and a role that really Sarah Nelson designed costumes and as director of the Ko Festival at Amherst expanded the acting muscles.” David Wiggall provided sound design College. This summer’s slate of works ■ We always have a couple of births for some of the productions. included O Yes I Will, by Deb Margolin to announce, but I think this notice ■ Lian Sifuentes ‘02 was featured on and The Mammy Project by Michelle from Halina Kusleika ‘91 ranks among the front page of Matlock, as well as a performance by the the most exciting: “Daughter number Arts section for her most recent piece, Mettawee River Project. 2 arrived on April 3rd. Not to be a performance art piece performed in ■ Midori Harris ‘05 assistant-directed overshadowed by her big sister who was Times Square that was simultaneously Macbeth and As You Like It this summer born on New Year’s Day, this one made being turned into a film. at the Great River Shakespeare Festival in a hurried debut in our car just outside ■ Sheila Siragusa ‘03G will be a the emergency room of the hospital! tenure-track Assistant Professor at STAGES Her name is Rhiannon Sage Kusleika.” Central Connecticut State College in The University of Massachusetts Amherst ■ Marta MacRostie ‘06 is performing New Britain, CT. Department of Theater with her band around the Pioneer Alumni Newsletter Valley. Students Fall 2007 Issue ■ Michael Marceline ‘07 headed to ■ Directing graduate student Shawn the Berkshires for two weeks this July to LaCount directed Mr. Marmelade at do a residency at the Berkshire Fringe Stages Editor Company One at the BCA Plaza this Festival. While there, he worked on his Anna-Maria Goossens summer to positive reviews. play, Cowboys (Straight, Queer, Quixotic, ■ Undergraduate Alexander Nicosia & Otherwise Allegorical), in preparation Contributors was at Hackmatak playhouse doing for a reading. Nellica Rave summerstock: All Shook up, Big River, ■ Bethany Marx ‘07G worked at the and South Pacific. He isn't around Indiana Repertory Theatre as a First Department Editor during the fall semester because he is Hand. Gina Kaufmann in Moscow studying at the Moscow Art ■ Tim Matos ‘99 was pleased to let Theater through the Eugene O’Neill Stages welcomes articles from students, us know that he was selected as one of School (National Theater Institute). alumni, faculty and staff. If you have an twelve playwrights to attend La Mama ■ And from the “there’s a smart aleck in interesting experience or exciting news you’d E.T.C’s first annual playwrights retreat every bunch” desk comes MFA directing like to write about or a story you’d like in Umbria, Italy this past August. He student Aaron Schmookler’s update: to suggest, call (413) 545-6808 or e-mail planned to use the time to work on his “On July 28th, I married Jessica L. . piece, Frost Heaves Melinda. Blinn. We’ve been happily married continued on page 4

3 More theater updates continued from page 4 ■ Dramaturgy professor Paul Walsh production in 2009. The first of his now for over 2 weeks.” Congratulations, clearly doesn’t believe in the sentiment, new translations, Burned House, will be Aaron! “summertime and the living is easy.” To offered in November in a public reading Staff wit: During late May and early June he at Modern Times Bookstore in San served as Artistic Director in the 21st Francisco. He plans to attend rehearsals ■ Assistant Technical Director John annual New Harmony Project, a new and the reading in November 2007 and Iverson directed Man of La Mancha at play development workshop centered in participate in the public post-reading the Memorial Hall Center for the Arts New Harmony, Indiana, and dedicated discussion of the play with members of in Wilmington Vt. to “serving writers and celebrating the the audience and production team. In ■ Assistant Costume Shop Supervisor human spirit”. He oversaw two-week August his translation of Ibsen’s A Doll’s Felicia MacNeill designed costumes for developmental workshops of three went into rehearsal at Theatre a local television commercial for Azure length plays (And L.A. Is Burning by Y. Vertigo in Portland OR for a September Green (azuregreen.com) for Big Picture York, Timberland by Austin Bunn and production directed by Mary McDonald- Agency. In the Same Room by Anna Ziegler) and Lewis. In recognition of his translations consulted with five additional writers-in- of Ibsen’s plays, the cultural wing of the Faculty residence on projects they were working Norwegian Embassy has invited him on. He led ten post-reading discussions, to visit Norway this December to meet ■ In addition to being part of the Fringe consulted with each of the professional with various cultural dignitaries. crowd, June Gaeke designed constumes production teams (playwrights, Also this summer he presented a for Winnie the Pooh at North Shore dramaturgs, directors, casts), mentored paper —”a diatribe really” he admits— Musical Theater. student dramaturgs and other theater for a special panel on “Translation and ■ Rob Kaplowitz started the new school students from the University of Intercultural Performance” sponsored year auspiciously by becoming not just Evansville and Purdue University, and by the Research and Publications our new sound design faculty member, led closed discussions of the plays and Committee at the national conference but a father: Son Niall Thomas was born of the vision and future of the New of the Association for Theatre in Higher to wife Kittson O’Neill on Sept. 3 Harmony Project with members of the Education (ATHE) in New Orleans. The ■ Julian Olf reports that a new short New Harmony Board of Directors. In paper, “Erasing Cultural Nuance through sketch of his, a James Bond spoof called addition, he served as liaison between Intralingual Translation,” explored what The Assignment, appeared this September the New Harmony Project, the NHP is lost in translation when the translator in a series of site-specific plays called Board of Directors and funders, and the does not speak the language or know the Asphalt Jungle Shorts III. On eight days townspeople of New Harmony, Indiana. culture in which the original text was and nights in Kitchener, SW Ontario, During the summer he received written. In July, he attended the Annual a number of plays was presented in a commission from the Cutting Ball Conference of Literary Managers of different parts of the city, with the Theater, a small experimental theater in Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA) in audience moving about from site to San Francisco, to translate Strindberg’s Toronto. site. His play, which was intended for five Chamber plays for repertory — compiled by Anna-Maria Goossens performance in an urban cemetery, has been moved to an indoor garage. In the producer’s words, “Car pulls up. Bad spy A Place Where Lives Are Changed music spills out as the door flies open. We’re proud of the role we play in our students’ lives. The opportunity to introduce A bit like that.” “Sounds like great fun. them to all aspects of theater is something we find thrilling and rewarding. Whether they Too bad I can’t get to Kitchener for the forge a career in professional theater or go into another line of work, we are proud of the event,” Julian says. That’s not all he’s way they represent us. been doing, though. This summer two of We also feel a sense of responsibility. Our students trust us to provide them with the Julian’s short plays received productions best education possible, and we do our level best to live up to that expectation. Your gift in three cities: 1-900-SEX-DATE, in to the Department of Theater can help us do that. When you donate, you can help us fund New York City and Northampton; SWF: improvements to our facilities. You can help us offer them educational opportunities: guest A Love Story For The Stage, in Boston. artists to inspire new creative leaps, support for internships and other special experiences He is working with Joel Zwick (director that serve as valuable adjuncts to their learning here in classroom and theater. of Big Fat Greek Wedding) and Hershy Please consider making a contribution to the Department of Theater. Felder (creator and star of Gershwin Visit https://www.umass.edu/development/give/ and allocate your gift to theater Alone) on a new one-man show about Thank you for your support. the life of Beethoven.

4 Alumna Nellica Rave costumes the opera crowd continued from page 1 a small “chamber” opera such as L'Enfant et les Sortilèges or The Tenderland, to enormous productions such as I Capuletti et i Montecchi or Showboat. My job depends on the production's needs. I can go from being the designer and shop manager on a fully built show like L'Enfant to purchasing 60 jackets for the I Capuletti army, to organizing rental of bustle gowns and frock suits for a cast of 50 in Showboat. I coordinate with a makeup designer and hair designer to create the look of the show. I have several people at Eastman who sew for me intermittently, and I have a phenomenal wardrobe supervisor and hairdresser who do shows for both companies. In addition to designing, I manage the costume collection for Mercury. The community group the company sprang from had a world class seamstress who built hundreds of period costumes, which Mercury uses in productions and rents to the community. It had been sadly neglected, so I co-coordinated moving the collection to a safe, accessible location. I have been sorting and organizing it. I plan to publicize it locally so it can generate a steady source of rental income for the company.

Q. How did you learn about these two places, and how did that lead to your work for them?

NR: I moved to a small city for the same reason any other theater professional does — because my husband David makes more money that I do. When I got here I picked up the alternative Nellica Rave designed costumes for Mercury Opera's The Tenderland. (photo paper and yellow pages and actually called every theater in courtesy of Nellica Rave.) town. Thanks to June, I had a great portfolio, and I worked for nine different companies my first year here. Some were it can be different for every show. When a director for Mercury practically volunteer. Only assistant-designing at Eastman paid is from out of town it means phone conferencing early in reasonably. I have to thank my husband for totally supporting the design process, but opera often makes that easier than us while I got established. I got fired from a job at a high school other theater because the period and the characters are so and in such a small theater community that spread my name established, it's not as wide open to bizarre interpretation. For around fast! Thankfully, everyone else who worked with me Mercury, opera patrons pay to see tradition. Budget is perhaps liked my work and asked me back. Damita Peace, Eastman’s a bigger concern for Mercury, but that’s always been one of previous designer, really mentored me and then took a teaching my strengths. Mercury grew from a community group and is position and left me the job. Mercury didn’t previously have a trying to establish itself as a professional company, so people resident designer position, but they were very happy with my there have been willing to invest in quality production values, work on consecutive shows and asked me to stay on. by which I mean they want fancy costumes and give me the budget for them. Q. Can you talk a little about the differences in working for the School vs. an independent company. I assume budget plays a Q. You designed for theater here — is opera something you had role, but I imagine the creative process might be run differently been interested in previously or is it a new interest? How does it as well? differ from designing for theater?

NR: In my case, the difference between working for the school NR: I can’t say I had an interest in opera before I came to and professional companies is the personnel. Mercury has Rochester. I had seen a couple of operas, and listened to a few a local volunteer chorus, so I see many repeat singers there, more. Although I did not exactly “specialize” while I was at whereas at Eastman the students come and go. Conversely, at UMass, I think I tended towards shows with some spectacle. Eastman the production team never changes, and at Mercury Big, flashy and colorful always interests me more than serious continued on page 6

5 Costuming opera Department gets new faculty continued from page 5 continued from page 1 contemporary straight theater. I was always "I didn't, at the time," she admitted — drawn towards musicals for that reason. Not although she speculated that perhaps it having a background in opera occasionally had been there subconsciously. puts me at a disadvantage when everyone However, she enrolled in one of else has a frame of reference for not only Remsen's lighting design classes and the plot, but the last ten productions they’ve soon discovered that she was intrigued. seen. But I catch up, and I have a fresh view, Remsen, meanwhile, saw potential I’m willing to try anything. I love the scale, and steered her away from her original the theatricality and the periods of opera, it’s career leanings in music. really a great fit for me. I also like that they "Penny was like, 'Stop that pay better than any other theater in town. nonsense! Be a lighting designer!'" Jane Cox laughed Cox. "She is an astonishingly and well-trained," she said, before Q. You’re making a good career for yourself good teacher. Nobody taught me the laughingly correcting herself. "No, in a town that isn’t thought of as one of the way Penny taught me. She has a good they're a great group: so engaged, entertainment meccas — do you have any knack for finding the weak spots and creative, interesting and smart!" words of advice for people who love theater/ pushing at them." opera/whatever but aren’t going to be making Cox took what she learned here Rob Kaplowitz the move to New York, Chicago or LA? and earned a Master's in her field One of Cox's colleagues at the from New York University. She has O'Neill was sound designer Rob NR: My advice for working in theater in a gone on to work — with renown — in Kaplowitz. Although he is new to small town is always to find a partner with a New York with dance and theater UMass-Amherst, he has crossed paths real job who will support the arts! Seriously, companies. This fall, she received a professionally with several alumni: not establishing a reputation for quality work "Bessie, " a.k.a. the New York Dance only Cox, but lighting designer Ben and being easy to work with is my goal, and and Performance Award. Cox has also Stanton and scenic designer David it just takes time. In Rochester the theater been tapped to design the Broadway Korins. community is small and gossip travels fast. production of Come Back, Little Sheba, Kaplowitz had been working in It’s a good idea not to bad-mouth anyone. starring S. Epatha Merkerson, at the New York for some time, racking Biltmore Theater this winter. up awards including an OBIE, for Q. What elements of your education at In addition to working as a lifetime achievement in his field, last UMass do you find yourself drawing on most designer in New York, Cox has been May. Pondering his career in recent frequently? teaching: workshops at the Kennedy years however, he realized that he Center American College Theater wanted to be able to be choosier about NR: I am grateful for so many of the things Festival, a team-taught course for the his collaborators and the scripts he I learned in my time at UMass. Obviously, dance department at Sarah Lawrence worked on. A teaching position, he my drawing skills, history knowledge and College, and a solo class at Princeton thought, would allow him to remain construction technique (thanks to Professor are among the experiences on her engaged in his profession, explore it June Gaeke, Professor Pat Warner and resume in this area. from a new angle, and work only on Costume Shop Manager Cecilia Precciozzi- Teaching has been part of her the projects that truly spoke to him. Chalfin!) serve me every time I design a work even when that wasn't officially He had just reached this conclusion show. One thing that I got from my time at what she was hired to do, however. when he spotted an ad in his union's UMass Amherst that I depend on and that I "The labor force (in theater) is newsletter for the Five College position. think UMass does particularly well was the made up in large part of 20-year-olds. It was, he said, "the perfect option to chance to work with a variety of directors. It's a young person's job, being an try this idea of teaching on." Aside from having an artistic vision, so electrician," Cox said, and she has The position Kaplowitz now holds much of successful design is the ability to always tried to pass on her expertise. is a three-year appointment. He will be communicate, to find agreement, to get Here, she will work on Ondine and based at UMass-Amherst, where he is egos out of the way and understand what a advise designers for all the other shows, instrumental in creating the Sound director and a production need. I got many and she looks forward daily to her Design Studio for which money was challenging opportunities to practice that interactions with the undergraduate raised during the 2006-2007 school at UMass, and I definitely draw on those and graduate students. year through the O'Connell Challenge. experiences when things get tough. "They come very submissive continued on page 7

6 Cox, Kaplowitz and Kaufmann join the department

continued from page 6 "I was so excited about who my collaborators would be. I He will teach and advise at had a really instinctive response of 'I want to work with these the other schools and is people.' They are genuinely supportive, genuinely working as expected to remain active a team, and they are passionate about teaching," she said. That in the profession. pairing of support for creative work and mentoring students "As an instructor, was extremely important, Kaufmann said, adding that she also my value is based on my liked that the department seemed to have "a good balance real-world experience," he between the big picture and the details." said. "If I were to stop, I Kaufmann has been performing much of her life — at would lose my value to the 9, she toured with People and Puppets — but like her fellow newbies, originally saw herself in music, as a singer. program." Rob Kaplowitz Sound design is a She began directing in college and moved to New York nascent discipline, Kaplowitz noted, pointing out that the after receiving her undergraduate degree to work mainly 2007-2008 Tonys will be the first to honor sound design. In with new playwrights and plays. She eventually decamped to the theater, he is an advocate for having the designers involved Maine, where she opened a cabaret theater and served as its early on. That allows him to "make the mistakes I need to artistic director. After four years, she headed to graduate school make" and present a director with a cache of choices that ups at the University of Texas-Austin, a time she cherished. the odds that they'll find the right element. "When it's done "It is amazing, after struggling for seven years between badly, (sound design) is decorative, and when it's done well, undergraduate and graduate school, to have that space to do it's essential," Kaplowitz said. your work for three years," she said. Like Cox, Kaplowitz originally started in music before During the summers off, switching to his chosen field. Like her, he has been teaching Kaufmann headed northeast, more or less since graduating, at O'Neill and NYU, among working at Williamstown others, and finding that it was an extension his interactions Theater Festival as an assistant with other theater artists. director. "It was just as He admits he doesn't have an educational background, important as being in school," taking as his guiding philosophy something he is committed she said. to in his design: "My goal is to make the strongest choices Leaving graduate school, possible," he said, and he hopes to convince his students to do she headed back to New York, the same in class. directing, at Soho Repertory Kaplowitz takes a hands-on approach in class, asking Theater and Dixon Place Gina Kaufmann students to do their own designs and then talk about how among others, then to a set they came to the choices they made. One of the unexpected of guest teaching positions before spending four years at bonuses of having people in the class who are just "tasting" Sacramento. She directed at the Sacramento Theatre Company, sound design instead of looking at it as a possible career is that a LORT theater — Tartuffe and Private Lives. While in the group seems to be less concerned with "getting it right" California, she also directed The Comedy of Errors at the Lake and freer in its approach. Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. "I'd rather they don't fulfill the assignment spectacularly Among the benefits of relocating here will be a chance to than if they fulfill it in an ordinary way," he said. reconnect with Shakespeare and Co. in Lenox, with whom she has worked in the past. The company, she said, "has influenced Gina Kaufmann my teaching a lot." "The teachers have a way of being open to the students. Gina Kaufmann is the third of our new faces who'll be There's a lack of being threatened by disagreement. They feel working on Jean Giraudoux's Ondine in the spring. Unlike really open to what (students) are bringing into the room," she the others, she has no prior connection to UMass Amherst. said, which has rubbed off on her. "I used to be more like an Though tenured at Sacramento State University, she was arrow, but I don't feel that way anymore." looking for a change of pace and learned about the opening in Now that she's here, she is getting to know the department. the department through Artsearch Magazine. She almost didn't Although she didn't propose it, Ondine has proven a boon. apply because the deadline had passed, but took a chance that "It's a big cast — I'll get to know the students. And I have the right candidate hadn't come along yet. Rob and Jane and two fabulous graduate students (on the When she got here, she knew immediately that she would design team). Ondine's going to be a great way to jump into love working here, she said. the department artistically," Kaufmann said.

7 One Fish, Two Fish, Horton Sees a Blue Fish

MFA scenic design student Sam Laird constructed props for Papermill Theatre’s run of Seussical. They will be auctioned in the winter for the North Country Center for the Arts Annual fundraising auction in New Hampshire. The Props include 4 Seussian fish, Vlad the black bottomed eagle, and an elephant bird. Living in the land of Seuss around here (the good "Doctor" was born in Springfield, MA), we had to share some of these fun creations.

Also in this issue: New faculty, costume designing in upstate New York, updates

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