annual alumni publication 2015 - 2016 wayne state university college of fine, performing and communication arts we’re jazzing up detroit The Gretchen Valade Jazz Center | 10 guess who’s turning 30 CFPCA 1986 through 2016 | 14 arts entrepreneurship Navigating the New Detroit | 24 cfpca.wayne.edu letter from the dean Dear CFPCA Alumni, Supporters and Friends, It’s an exciting time for Detroit, provides a unique educational for Wayne State University and for environment that is simultaneously the College of Fine, Performing academic and real-world. and Communication Arts. Detroit is Our commitment to students and to enjoying an historic renaissance and Detroit is only possible through the Wayne State and CFPCA are literally support of alumni and friends. We and figuratively right in the middle of are especially excited, therefore, that this amazing transformation. Wayne State launched the Pivotal Our faculty and visual, performing Moments Comprehensive Campaign. and communication arts students are The campaign allows us to celebrate working to bring about new places for the central role we have played in the learning and creating. Creative place- lives of Wayne State students over making processes connect proven decades and the support that alumni approaches to cultural enrichment and friends continue to provide to with economic development through CFPCA. innovative infrastructures and You will read about the supportive programming. This is how comprehensive campaign and we create community. about many pivotal moments in One particularly exciting example is this edition of Expressions. CFPCA our Hilberry Gateway Performance continues to foster moments such as Complex, a project that will enhance public relations and theatre double the cultural vitality of Detroit, the major Sydney Machesky’s national central city and Midtown. The Hilberry championship in persuasive speaking Complex will become a destination, and music alumnus George Shirley’s a gathering place and an intimate National Medal of Arts. The college performing arts center for Detroit. recognizes a Pivotal Moment of its Hosting theatre, music, dance and own, as this year we celebrate the film events, the Hilberry Gateway 30th anniversary of our founding. As Performance Complex will build upon we prepare for the opportunities that CFPCA’s long history of excellence in are developing in Detroit, we also performance. look back on some of our important While the development of world accomplishments. class performance venues such as Thank you for your support of the the Hilberry Gateway Performance College of Fine Performing and Complex is critical, our core focus Communication Arts, our students and is upon our students. Students our faculty as we continue to shape an bring enthusiasm, talent and exciting future filled with more pivotal excitement. Our programs provide moments. transformational experiences and learning opportunities that drive student success. We provide the supportive environments necessary to nurture creativity, bolster critical inquiry and inspire discovery. Our Matthew W. Seeger Detroit living-learning laboratory Professor and Dean Photo: Christopher Scalise ‘96 made @ wayne 4 cfpca fosters standout accomplishments pivotal moments 6 update on the university comprehensive campaign Expressions jazzed about new plans College of Fine, Performing and 10 wayne state announces plans for the gretchen valade Communication Arts jazz performance center Matthew W. Seeger, Professor and Dean Editors: Laura Orme, David Romas, Rhonda Welsh ‘89 ‘02 Design: David Romas cfpca turns thirty Photography: Rick Bielaczyc, Len Katz, Scott 14 looking back across three decades of excellence in Lipiec, Mary Jane Murawka, Sarah Rahal, David arts and communication higher education Romas, Christopher Scalise Contributors: Michael Barnes, Danny DeRose ‘11, Brian Escamilla, Sean Hoskins, Joe Kvoriak ‘06 ‘09, Savannah Lee, Matt Lockwood, Carrie Morris, Sandra Schemske, Daniel Sperry ‘08, slow your roll Michael Suggs, Daniel Trudeau, Joan Verla ‘02 18 cfpca alumnus leads the way as wayne state On the cover: takes to two wheels WSU’s Jazz Big Band wow’d the crowd at the university’s December 2015 event announcing plans for the Gretchen Valade Jazz navigating the new detroit Performance Center. 24 entrepreneurial alumni share their wisdom WSU Board of Governors Diane L. Dunaskiss ‘74; Marilyn Kelly ‘71; Paul E. Massaron; David A. Nicholson; Sandra Hughes O’Brien; Gary S. Pollard; Dana Thompson; Kim Trent ‘91 ‘10; M. Roy Wilson, ex officio my pivotal moment CFPCA Board of Visitors 32 arts and communication alumni articulate the wsu Jocelyn Allen ’08, Arthur Bryant ‘71, Laura Christian ’92 ‘06, Ray Day ‘88, Ann Delisi ‘95, moment that changed their lives Delf Dodge, James Evola, Carole Harris ‘66, Daniel Kanter, Bud Liebler, Emily Linn ‘07, Joseph LoDuca ‘79, Christina Lovio-George ‘79, David Lubin, Phoebe Mainster ‘83, Sue Nine ‘62, George N’Namdi, Marc Schwartz, Paula Silver ‘82, Lisa Vallee-Smith ‘84, Michael Zarobe ‘85 ‘02 Emeriti: Maggie Allesee ‘84 ‘00, Elizabeth DuMouchelle ‘91, Howard Hertz ‘72 ‘76, Barbara Kratchman 2 expressions | fall/winter 2015-16 Wayne State helped put him in WSU’s Journalism Institute for Media the White House Diversity, is a recipient of the Ben Junior journalism major Timothy Burns Endowed Scholarship for Carroll landed a very distinctive Excellence in Journalism and is a internship last summer – working former editor in chief of WSU’s student in our nation’s capital at the White newspaper The South End. House. Carroll was one of 149 students “Tim is one of the most from 78 universities to serve in the intellectually and personally 2015 edition of the prestigious White mature and accomplished students House internship program and he I’ve ever taught,” said Professor is the second student from Wayne Jack Lessenberry, head of the State to do so. He is a member of journalism area in the Department Winter, in apparel form, wins top recognition Fashion and costuming design costuming, was one of four national student Anne Suchyta earned first finalists and Suchyta was named top place in the Rose Brand Action Design costume designer. “There can be Competition at the 2015 United States no other,” said Tony Award-winning Institute for Theatre Technology Costume Designer Jane Greenwood, conference in Cincinnati. Suchyta’s a judge in the competition, about project pictured here, a Winter Suchyta’s design. Suchyta graduated seasonal design for found object this year with her MFA. • His light is bright on Broadway BFA alumnus George Last summer, Abud performed the Abud ‘12 made his cabaret act Never Been Young at New Broadway debut in April York’s 54 Below and has become a at New York’s Lyceum regular guest performer in their series Theatre, playing the titled Sondheimas. role of Karl Schell in the Abud played the role of Charlie musical The Visit. The Townsend in Classic Stage Company’s production ran for 61 2014 production of Allegro, a rarely performances and was produced Richard Rodgers and Oscar nominated for five Tony Hammerstein musical. This year he Awards, including Best will open Classic Stage’s productions Musical and Best Original of Nathan the Wise, with F. Murray Score. Abraham, and Peer Gynt. • of Communication. “He is a superb ‘I am taking your name to the White example of what is great about Wayne House!’ State.” “I worked in the constituent White House interns work in several relations unit with an exceptional key departments. Daily tasks are staff of professionals and reported challenging and diverse, ranging from to Richard W. Porter, special conducting research, writing memos, assistant to the president over the social media engagement and online domestic policy council. We were content creation. • housed in the executive office building next to the west wing. Alumnus Melvin Gupton ‘98 “It was life changing for me in terms reflects on his time as Wayne of advancing my world view and State’s first White House intern introducing me to the awesome “I served under the first President privilege that is public service at the Bush in the summer of 1991. I had national level. It later helped me responded to an open call I received secure work with WJBK-TV FOX 2 through my church. I remember an Detroit and as a communications exciting series of interviews and having manager for Mayor Archer with the to pass a security clearance. I was City of Detroit. It was so worth giving ecstatic when I received word I’d been my all – and I did. I treasured, and still accepted. I recall telling my late dad, do, every moment.” • “Wayne State is a gold mine.” William Underwood is a second year A member of the WSU Wind master of music candidate in flute Symphony, he won the University performance. In October he debuted Symphony Orchestra concerto at the Schaver Music Recital Hall an competition and opened the 2015 original arrangement of his that mixes Department of Music Awards event the works of Beyonce, The Weeknd with a performance of the Nielsen [sic] and Paganini. “I wanted to show Flute Concerto. Not only a performer the younger students it’s okay to try but also a scholar, Underwood took new things and to just be yourself,” part in the WSU Graduate School’s Underwoood said. “Becoming a part inaugural Masters Showcase where he of the music department here at presented research on the National Wayne State has been a milestone Anthem and its relationship to classical in my education. There is a pool of and popular music. • limitless opportunities for students.” Student work throughout campus vies for Art Installation Award Temporary public art provides an State’s 2015 Campus Art Installation out of the ordinary experience for Award competition in early fall. Art the viewer. The artwork is perceived students took new works out to the as a fleeting reformulation of the campus community, installing six architecture and its attendant exhibitions around campus in four landscape or urban-scape.