Spring 2011 • Issue #14 A newsletter for alumni and friends of the department of theatre and fine arts John Kander and New at NU Fred Ebb. Directing By Gregory Fletcher Director of NU Theatre and choreographing is Derek Roland, Our first full season ’00, featuring a in the Leary Theatre cast of Michele was exhilarating, and Marie Roberts introducing audience (Benzin), ’99; members to the new Louis Colaiacovo, Elizabeth Ann Clune ’99; Carmen Ruby Center for Theatre and the renovated Floyd, ’00; Vanessa Leary Theatre was equally thrilling. Gawinski Dawson, ’01; and With the high quality Venue to go Paschal Frisina III, ’00. Design along with our Variety of season and includes Sarah Cymba, ’11, on Value of ticket prices, our three “V’s” sets; and Ian Tweedie, ’05, on make NU Theatre a top theatre choice lights and sound. Kurt Erb, in the area. ’09, will stage manage. I hope you will join us this summer Recent purchases and for a big experiment. If it’s a success, improvements to the Leary it might be the start of a new summer Theatre include three moving tradition that will showcase the alumni lights, five cyclorama lights, of NU Theatre. Please mark your six 12-foot wide legs to mask calendars and buy your tickets for the backstage area, and a new July 21-31, 2011, for the premiere all- aubergine front curtain. This In March, NU Theatre presented Oedipus the King, alumni production of The World Goes summer, we will be adding directed by Gregory Fletcher. Pictured top photo, from ‘Round, a musical revue that celebrates two welded spotlight baskets left: Claire Cannon, ’14; Emily Aguilar, ’12; Amy Mings, ’14; and Leacel Hillenbrand, ’14. the Broadway and Hollywood music of that will hang from either side Pictured above, Richard Cole, ’13; Andrea Gollhardt, continued on page 3 ’12; Cory McCants, ’11; Steven Foote, ’13; and Elexa Kopty, ’11. Pictured bottom, far left, Steven Foote, ’13. Pictured near left: Amy Mings,’14; Cynthia Edith Printup-Harms, ’13; Steven Foote, ’13; and Cory McCants, ’11. Two Receive NU Theatre Scholarships in Presents Memory of Friends The Credeaux By Ann Heuer, ’78 Canvas At the annual In February, NU Theatre NU Players presented a staged reading of The Banquet on May Credeaux Canvas in collaboration 13, Dr. Sharon with the Castellani Art Museum. Watkinson pre- The production was directed by Paschal Frisina III, ’00. sented the Suzanne P. Jones Pictured top to bottom: Nicholas Scholarship G. Gnacinski, ’11. to NU theatre Alissa Sumerano, ’14, and performance Andrea Gollhardt Nicholas G. Gnacinski, ’11. major and fine Joe Liolos, ’11, and Meagan arts minor Andrea Gollhardt, ’12, Kurilovitch Millar, ’12. of Amherst, N.Y. The scholarship is named in memory of a dear and generous friend of Niagara University Theatre who passed away several years ago. According to Marilyn Deighton, assistant professor of theatre and fine arts, “Andrea is not only a wonderful student; she is my right hand in the costume shop.” Also, the Douglas E. Towey Scholar- ship was awarded to NU theatre performance major Andrew Adolf, ’13, of Lancaster, N.Y. The scholarship Andrew Adolf was first awarded to an NU theatre studies student last year in memory of Helen’s Towey’s beloved husband, Doug, a CBS Sports executive who was also the cherished brother of Brother Augustine Towey, C.M., director emeritus of NU Theatre, and his sisters, Ann and Brenda. This scholarship was created by the Towey family and their friends after Doug passed away in 2009. “We’re happy to award this scholarship to Andrew Adolf. He is an excellent student with an extremely positive, generous spirit,” said Gregory Fletcher, director of NU Theatre. 2 Niagara University Theatre Newsletter continued from cover of the catwalk above the audience. named “Rex,” and a Python named Theatre and the addition of the Building on the success of last “Sly.” I can’t wait to hear how the Elizabeth Ann Clune Center; I loved summer’s free performances of NURT bunny and the python get along. collaborating on the new website in the Leary Theatre on Wednesday (Notice I used the verb to hear versus and online box office system, as well afternoons, we will be offering free to see.) Since 2003, David has worked as with the Castellani Art Museum performances again this summer on as an associate professor at Southern where we have annually presented a Tuesdays and Thursdays. Also, NURT Virginia University. Among his many play about art. But at the top of my performances will be presented at regional design credits from Maine to list is working with the students, both the band shell in Academy Park in Florida, David has designed two pro- in the classroom (freshman acting, Lewiston on Mondays, Wednesdays, ductions at the National Museum of playwriting, stage-management and and Fridays. Whether you would the American Indian at the Smith- 14 independent studies) and on stage like an open-air performance or sonian Institution in Washington, D.C. (having directed Life’s a Dream, The an air-conditioned one, NURT’s In addition, David has also worked as Cripple of Inishmaan, tick…tick… children’s theatre troupe will offer free a light designer and as a director. We BOOM!, Baby With the Bath Water, performances with a rotating repertoire are all certain that David will be a big Almost Maine, and Oedipus the King). of children’s stories. asset to both the department of theatre At previous university jobs, there was A big NU thank you to Jonathan and fine arts and to NU Theatre always one student whom I thought I’d Wyman, who was here during the productions. like to know in 10 or 20 years. Here at spring 2011 semester. As a visiting Lastly, I need to share some news NU, there are dozens and dozens! lighting designer, he taught stage that isn’t easy to put into words. I have Maybe someday I will return as craft and light design, designed the decided to move back to New York a guest director — or at least as an lights for The Pirates of Penzance, City. I plan to pursue my writing, admiring patron. Either way, I will and mentored our student lighting directing, and local theatre/education remain a true friend of the Friends of designer, Jayson Clark, ’12, for Oedipus opportunities. As much as I love this NU Theatre for life and I mean that the King.Prior to NU, Jonathan taught job, living outside of New York City with a capital “F.” I have nothing but at East Carolina University, Smith tears at my heart more than I expected. respect and love for everyone involved College, and University of Massachu- I assumed with each new year it with NU Theatre, and I wish you all setts at Amherst. He also lived in Los would get easier, but in fact I become continued success, love, and a life of Angeles for 25 years, where he worked more and more like Eva Gabor on the joy and jobs, forever. Meanwhile — in every possible aspect of lighting: television show Green Acres, singing: I JUST ADORE A PENTHOUSE theatre, dance, opera, corporate, and NEEEEEEW YORK IS WHERE I’D VIEW. concerts, some of which included RATHER STAY. My last day will be DAH-LING I LOVE YOU BUT Blue Oyster Cult, Tony Bennett, Burt July 29, which means I will have had GIVE ME PARK AVENUE. Bacharach, k.d. lang, Bob Hope, and the privilege of this position for just a the Winans with Stevie Wonder. Cur- little over four years. rently based in western Massachusetts, Looking John Woodley, ’13; Andrea Gollhardt, ’12; Richard Cole, ’13; Leo DiBello, Jonathan hopes everyone will keep back, I have ’11; Kathleen Denecke, ’14; Richard Vogt, ’14; Jocelyn Mankowski, ’14; Steven in touch with him on Facebook or had some Foote, ’13; and Cory McCants, ’11. [email protected]. Best wishes tremendous to you, Jonathan, and thank you for opportunities all of your help and expertise; it was a and exper- pleasure working with you. iences. I A big NU welcome to David Dwyer absolutely and his family, who are relocating loved putting from Buena Vista, Va. David is joining together our design/tech faculty this fall as seasons of assistant professor, scenic designer, theatre with and production manager. David will great variety; I be joined by his wife, Dana, and their loved being the children, Garrett (13), Patrick (11), theatre point Larcey (7), Connor (5), and Moira (3). person for the Not to be left behind, the family pets renovation will be joining them, too: a bunny of the Leary Niagara University Theatre Newsletter 3 Spirit Awards Presented at Friends of NU Theatre Gala By Ann Heuer, ’78 The 26th annual Friends of Niagara University Theatre Gala was held on Saturday, April 30. The event began with a matinee of the comic opera Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan in the William P. and Marie Leary Theatre within the Elizabeth Ann Clune Center for Theatre. The audience was delighted to see Adair Saviola, the president of the Friends of Niagara University Theatre, make a guest appearance as “Queen Victoria” during the matinee. Friends member Elizabeth Ann Clune won this walk-on role at last year’s gala and gave it to Adair as a thank you gift for all that she does with the Friends of From left, the 2011 Spirit of NU Theatre Award honorees: William and Pamela LeCuyer; Michael NU Theatre. C. Arena, ’77; Maria Arena; John R. Sanderson, ’75; Karen L.