NETC News, Vol. 11, No. 4, Fall 2002
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A Quarterly Publication of the New England Theater NETCNews Conference, Inc. volume 11 number 4 fall 2002 NETC Convention 2002 Find Strength in Community inside “Starting Here,Starting Now” A letter from the Executive Director by Tara McCarthy this issue The 51st annual NETC Convention will be held November Dear Members and Friends, 1, 2 and 3 in Bedford, NH at the Wayfarer Inn. In addition As I wrapped up the Labor Day weekend by organizing to a fabulous lineup of workshops, performances, and special my files, I was ruminating on 2002. It’s been a difficult Special Feature: events, many distinguished guests—including Julie Harris, year for all of us. Arts support has been cut from shrink- Dawn Wells, Norman Leger, Arthur Lessac, Gregory Abels, ing budgets, attendance is down in many theatres The Forum and Jean-Claude van Itallie—will number among our award around the region, the country is at war with an recipients and presenters. abstract foe, and the bounty of the late nineties feels page 7 like a world away. NETC Welcomes Arthur Lessac Among the most highly regarded teachers of voice, But there is a beacon shining against the murky cultural Opportunities speech, singing and movement is NETC Major Award skies! As I shuffled sheet after sheet of paper embla- Winner Arthur Lessac. At the 2002 NETC Convention zoned with the NETC logo: “NETC: Fifty Years of page 5 in Bedford, NH, Professor Lessac will receive the continues on page 8 Leonidas A. Nickole Award for Excellence in Theatre Education. He will also offer conventioneers a valuable Ovations opportunity to participate in one of his workshops. Jason Robards Tribute Since his three generations of alums include Martin page 6 Sheen, Faye Dunaway, Irene Daily, Michael Douglas, Co-edited by NETC Member Frank Langella and Linda Hunt, this is a workshop not Sheila Hickey Garvey, a former NETC Director and to be missed! member of the College of Fellows, co-edited and con- Upcoming tributed to a new book of interviews, essays, and per- Events Professor Lessac’s two books, The Use and Training of the sonal recollections about Oscar-winner Jason Robards. Human Voice: A Biodynamic Approach to Vocal Life and Robards was named best supporting actor by the page 9 Body Wisdom: The Use and Training of the Human Body, Academy for the films All the President’s Men (1977) and have become required reading for students of theatre. again for Julia (1978), but he is particularly remembered Professor Lessac has taught as a Professor Emeritus of for having created central roles in the later plays of SUNY at Binghamton, Distinguished Visiting Professor Eugene O’Neill. Jason Robards Remembered: Essays and at the University of Puerto Rico, at California State Recollections, by the Eugene O’Neill Society, edited by University-Fullerton, and at the University of Virginia- Stephen A. Black, Zander Brietzke, Jackson R. Bryer Charlottesville. His summer intensive workshops have and Sheila Hickey Garvey, honors Robards in two parts. been held at college campuses across the United States and in Germany, Puerto Rico, Yugoslavia, Canada, Part One presents recent interviews of the late actor as Mexico, and South Africa. He is recipient of the 1991 well as articles by Arthur and Barbara Gelb which Southeastern Theatre Conference Distinguished Career appeared in the New York Times on the occasions of the Award and the 1998 Association for Theatre in American premier of Long Day’s Journey into Night Higher Education (ATHE) Career Achievement as (1956) and of the successful production of A Moon for Outstanding Teacher. the Misbegotten, with Colleen Dewhurst (1974). Sheila Hickey Garvey writes of the 1956 production of Iceman Jean-Claude van Itallie to Receive Award and gives a brief history of Robards’ work with the and Deliver Keynote Circle in the square Theatre, the theatre that began the No writer-actor-innovator-activist personifies the 2002 Off Broadway theatrical movement of the 1950s. Convention theme “Starting Here, Starting Now: Stephen A. Black, Michael Manheim and Edward Celebrating the Genesis of Theatrical Creativity” more Shaughnessy write of seeing Robards perform in O’Neill continues on page 2 continues on page 2 2 NETC News NETC Convention 2002 separate article). For our high school students and continued from page 1 teachers, check out Friday’s innovative new event: the Cover NETC Theatre Olympiad! (see separate article). fully than Jean-Claude van Itallie. Born in Brussels, Belgium, raised in Long Island, he graduated from The Wayfarer Inn and Convention Center in Bedford, Stories Harvard in 1958 and achieved prominence when his NH is situated in a delightful New England setting on trilogy of one-act plays, America Hurrah, was hailed as the site of the historic John Goffe’s Mill—only a short the watershed off-Broadway play of the sixties. hour from Boston. This unique inn offers a covered bridge, two waterfalls, and authentic antiques from the Over the course of four decades, Jean-Claude van Itallie Mill. Rich with history, the hotel features the most has nurtured the creative spark to build an illustrious, modern of amenities, with 194 guestrooms, indoor and innovative career. He was one of the original LaMama outdoor pool, full fitness center, restaurant and lounge. Playwrights, and was principal playwright of Joe Shopping and restaurants are within walking distance. Chaikin’s Open Theatre, for whom he wrote what has Complimentary airport shuttle service is available to been called “the classic ensemble play,” The Serpent. and from Manchester Airport. For folks wishing to His translations of four major Chekhov plays enjoy travel into Manchester, tours of the beautiful Palace continued popularity and are frequently produced. He Theatre will be offered. has authored other plays, including The Tibetan Book of the Dead, based on the traditional teachings, The Why not make your reservations now? Rooms Traveller, based on his experience helping Joseph are very reasonable at only $94.00/night for Chaikin when Chaikin had a stroke, Struck Dumb, a single/double occupancy. The deadline for reserva- monologue written with and for Joseph Chaikin, and tions and for pre-registration is October 18, 2002. Ancient Boys, about a gay artist living with AIDS. He Call (603) 622-3766 or (877) 489-3658 or email has also recently published a book on writing called The [email protected], and be sure to Playwright's Workbook, published by Applause Books. mention NETC. As a performer, Jean-Claude an Itallie appeared as a in 1998 in Flesh Chronicles, a piece on aging, conceived with choreography Nancy Spanier. He performed with Robards Tribute two other men in the largely autobiographical Guys continued from page 1 Dreamin’, which received excellent reviews in Boston and New York. His one-person show, War, Sex, and plays. The O’Neill bibliogra- Dreams has received positive reviews in both the LA phers Madeline Smith and and NY Times. Jean-Claude van Itallie has taught play- Richard Eaton analyze the writing and performance at Princeton, NYU, Harvard, effect Robards’ performances Yale School of Drama, Amherst, Columbia, University have had on subsequent per- of Colorado, Boulder, Naropa Institute and other col- formances and on scholarship leges. He now teaches “Healing Power of Theatre” on- about O’Neill’s later plays. your-feet workshops around the country. He has trans- Zander Brietzke writes about formed his farm in western Massachusetts into the the problem of performing Shantigar Foundation, where spiritual and artistic prac- O’Neill in the post-Robards era. tices meet, and is the founding member of the grass roots group, Citizens Awareness Network, which com- Part Two contains more personal recollections of Jason bats production and proliferation of nuclear pollution. Robards. Several of Robards’ theatrical colleagues, including Blythe Danner, Christopher Plummer, We welcome this extraordinary artist, and anticipate Kevin Spacey, Zoe Caldwell, and Eli Wallach, to name what promises to be a keynote address to remember. a few, recall their times with the actor. Also included are particularly fine obituary and memorial notices by Kevin Spacey, Joe Morgenstern, and Charles Saydah, Something for Everyone and a tribute by Jason Robards’ colleagues at The The 2002 Convention promises something for every- Roundabout Theatre. one. Workshops in acting, directing, playwriting, design, technical theatre, administration, puppetry, The Eugene O’Neill Society is a scholarly and profes- dance, choreography, children’s theatre, community sional organization devoted to the study of the life and theatre, summer theatre, professional theatre—to works of O’Neill. Jason Robards Remembered is available name a few! In addition to the many, colorful work- from the publisher McFarland & Co., but is also avail- shops, we will stage performances right at the hotel (see able at Amazon.com, Borders, and Barnes & Noble. 2002-2003 NETC Membership Form PLEASE PRINT! Member Name (Person or Group) ________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________________________ City ___________________ ST ______________________ Zip____________________ Phone H(____)___________ B(____) ____________________ FAX(____) _____________ E-mail(very important) ___________________________ Web Address __________________________________________________ Membership: (check one) Delegates: __ Individual $45 Group Membership entitles two delegates __ Student $30 (Name school below) from your group/organization