Post on 27-Jul-2018
Spring 2011
CenterStage
Alfred University Division of Performing Arts
First play in the new Miller Theater
A Streetcar Named Desire
A great American classic makes a grand entrance onto a wonderful, contemporary stage. The AU Theatre Department
makes its debut in the Miller Theater with Tennessee William‟s masterpiece, A Streetcar Named Desire. No better
play could be chosen for Alfred University‟s new gem of a theatre. Considered by many to be the “finest play ever
written for the American Stage” (Thomas Adler), the Division of Performing Arts proudly presents A Streetcar
Named Desire, directed by AU faculty member Stephen Crosby, April 6th through 9th, Wednesday through Saturday.
A Streetcar Named Desire made an immediate and profound impact following its opening in Broadway‟s Barrymore
Theatre on December 3, 1947. That night Williams received a 30 minute standing ovation. It propelled Marlon Bran-
do who played Stanley into stardom, and it earned Jessica Tandy a Tony award for her portrayal of Blanche. Over
the next two years, it was performed 855 times. By its 50th anniversary, Streetcar had been seen by well over 20,000
audiences worldwide. Time magazine drama critic Louis Kronenberger claimed Streetcar was “the most creative new
play….the one that reveals the most talent, the one that attempts the most truth.” Playwright Robert E. Lee (Inherit
the Wind) said, “There are very few nearly perfect plays. Streetcar is one of them. It is indigenous to the speaking
theatre.” Since its wildly successful beginning, Streetcar has become one of the most performed American plays in
the world, powerfully affecting the way theatre of “realism” was to evolve over the decades that followed its opening,
both in the United States and beyond.
Volumes have been written about Streetcar and the clash between its leg-
endary, iconic and combative characters, Blanche DuBois and Stanley
Kowalski, dramatic personae riddled with ambiguities and contradictions.
This multi-layered creation of genius explores many complex themes and
social issues presented in the context of a truly compelling plot. Blanche
represents a fragment of the past, a remnant of the old and powerful aris-
tocratic South, whereas Stanley represents the new, powerful and virile
industrial South. These two conflicting forces provide the impetus for the
play. Williams masterfully weaves together a wide range of topics: sex,
violence and death; cleanliness vs. “dirtiness”; male dependency; light
vs. dark; fantasy vs. reality; fragility vs. power; escapism through alco-
holism; old vs. new. Most prevalent and vivid is “politics of gender and
sexuality,” as introduced in the play‟s title. Williams plunges into taboo
social subjects (especially so in the „40‟s) of nymphomania, homosexual-
ity and rampant desire. While Streetcar does not give clear answers, it
does present profound insight into the complexity of issues and contra-
dictions that are part of life and society. Set designer is Marketa Fantova. Student Margot James is costume de-
signer. Donald Fox from the University of Toledo is guest lighting de-
signer. Curtain time is 8 p.m. nightly. Tickets can be obtained by email-
ing performs@alfred.edu or calling 607-871-2828.
Student actors (from left) Anna Kowalczuk,
Jessica Antrobus and John Halmosky
rehearse a scene from the show.
A return visit of the popular
Susquehanna String Band
Back by popular demand, the Susquehanna String Band, a group of three educators/musicians dedicated to the pro-
motion and performance of American traditional music will be performing and teaching at AU. Known for their
highly entertaining and educational presentations and workshops, the group is comprised of Rick Bunting, John Kirk
and Dan Duggan. Rick Bunting, former chair of Music Education at Crane School of Music and Luanne Crosby‟s
opera workshop teacher at Fredonia, has long been recognized for his vocal renditions of Scottish airs and ballads.
Complimenting this great vocal tradition, Bunting excels instrumentally on banjo, lap dulcimer, concertina and flute.
John Kirk is recognized as one of the most versatile and
talented performers of traditional music, playing fiddle,
guitar, banjo, mandolin and vocals. His original song
“Long Roads” has been performed by the Dixie Chicks.
He has recorded with his wife Trish Miller as well as
solo albums and collaborations with the Susquehanna
String Band and others including The Charlie Daniels
Band.
Dan Duggan, nationally touring performer and teacher,
is rapidly being acknowledged as one of the finest dulci-
mer players and composers in the country. As recipient
of the prestigious National Hammered Dulcimer Cham-
pionship, Dan's accomplishment, though based on tech-
nical merit, is even more considerable as he is the first
winner to have performed all original compositions.
The three day residency will include lecture/demonstrations in American Music, Music Theory, Music Appreciation
and Fundamentals of Dance. The band will also present the Bergren Forum on Thursday, April 14 from noon to 1
p.m. in Nevins Theater. The combination of information and music is always a real treat.
You can also catch their performances at the Nancy Howe Auditorium at the Wellsville Library on Friday, April 15
at 7 p.m. and at the Alfred Seventh Day Baptist Church on Saturday, April 16 also at 7 p.m. What a great way to end
Hot Dog Day! All concerts are free and open to the public.
Jazz Band Concert: April 15
The Alfred University Jazz Band, under the direction of Dr. Chris Foster, is an impressive ensemble, now nineteen
members strong, consisting of some of the best musicians in the Alfred area. For years the AU Jazz Band has been
entertaining audiences with a commitment to quality performance and an exciting mix of jazz styles.
On Friday, April 15 at 8 p.m., the band will perform a concert featuring such classics as Benny Goodman's Sing, Sing,
Sing and Dave Brubeck's Blue Rondo a la Turk, contemporary works such as Gordon Goodwin's High Maintenance,
and even a wonderful arrangement of Stevie Wonder's Superstition!
Soloists for the band will include Clayton Morgan on trumpet, Brandon Rolling on trumpet, Jeff Colby on trombone,
Hunter Haddad on alto sax, Patrick Francia on tenor sax, Colby Charpentier on tenor sax, Scott DeFranco-Norton on
piano; Max Feeman on guitar, and Vicki Eaklor on drums.
Start the Hot Day Weekend out well with an evening of wonderful music! The concert is free.
Two Student Recitals
The two student recitals for the semester will be held on Sunday, April 10 in Howell Hall and Sunday, May 1 in the
Miller Theater. Both will start at 3 p.m. and are free and open to the public. Accompanist for both recitals is Laurel
Buckwalter. Performers for the April 10 recital will be singers Sara Egan, Ned Allen, Hope Barnum, Ryan Maggio,
Crystal Luk, Martin Wong, Kaitlin VanderWeide, Michaela Stone, Jasmine Hill, Keriann Bellamy, Christiana Allen,
Corissa Fanning, and Christina Young. The students are from the studios of Rebecca Weaver and Luanne Crosby. Performers for the May 1 recital will include Scott DeFranco-Norton performing a tuba concerto by Gregson and pia-
nists Victor Heung, Martin Wong, Xiang Li, Kevin Templeton, Rebecca Smith, Rebekah Robinson, Maxwell Wilkins
and Crystal Luk. Music will include works by Handel, Chopin, Kabalevsky and Glass, a Chinese popular love song
and an original composition by Wilkins. The students are from the studios of Laurel Buckwalter and Chris Foster.
Come support our student performers.
An Elizabethan Evening With the AU Chamber Singers It is that time of year again, when the AU Chamber Singers present an evening of music, food and fun. This year‟s
event on Saturday, March 26 begins at 7 p.m. and has an Old English theme. The singers, in costume, will perform
Elizabethan madrigals and songs of the era and monologues by The Bard and others. An Elizabethan Evening is a
fundraiser for a future international tour and will include a cash bar, appetizers and delectable desserts. (Please note,
that while there will be plenty of food, this is not a full dinner.) So come wine and dine while being serenaded by
the Chamber Singers.
Reservations are required. Tickets will be on sale in the Powell Campus Center the weeks of March 14-18 and
March 21-25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All reservations must be prepaid. The cost of the full evening‟s entertain-
ment is $35 per couple, $25 single or $125 for a full table of eight people. You can also make reservations by con-
tacting Kate Truini at KJT3@alfred.edu and sending a check made out to:
Alfred University
Chamber Singers
c/o Luanne Crosby
Performing Arts Division
Alfred University
Alfred, NY 14802.
Come and support these
fine singers and have a
wonderful evening!
The AU Division of Performing Arts
would like to recognize and thank
Lisa Lantz
for her six years of service as Chair of the Division of Performing Arts.
Lisa has expended an extraordinary amount of time and energy on behalf of the Division
with greatly increased duties due to the construction of the Miller Theater during her tenure.
Lisa has been granted a well-deserved yearlong sabbatical for next year.
Steve Crosby has agreed to a three year term as chair of the division.
AU Orchestra
Made in America Concert
The AU Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Lisa Lantz will share the
stage with the Wellsville Performing Arts Orchestra on Sunday evening, May 1 at 8
p.m. in Miller Theater. In celebration of the new theater, the theme is "Made in
America." The concert will feature music by American composers. An arrangement
of “American in Paris” by Gershwin, “Syncopated Clock” by Leroy Anderson and
“Appalachian Spring” by Copland are on the program, as well as a medley of Cole
Porter tunes. Senior Anna Kowalczuk, a theatre major and music minor (shown at
right), will be featured in two Broadway hits with the orchestra: “My Romance”
from Jumbo by Rodgers and Hart and “Make Believe” from Showboat by Kern and
Hammerstein.
Come enjoy the beautiful music as the Division of Performing Arts wraps up its
2010-2011 celebratory season in the beautiful Miller Theater!
Symphonic Band Concert
On Friday, April 29, at 8 p.m., the Alfred University Symphonic Band will perform a varied program of exciting
and beautiful music under the direction of Dr. Chris Foster. The AU Symphonic Band consists almost entirely of
AU students with a few community members and Alfred State College students. The quality of performances is al-
ways impressive! Audiences are consistently amazed by the ensemble's musicality, balance and intonation.
On this concert, the AU Symphonic Band will perform classic band works such as Incantation and Dance by John
Barnes Chance and October by Eric Whitacre and new works such as Elements by Brian Balmages. If you've never
been to an AU Symphonic Band concert, now is the time!
AU Chorus and Chamber Singers The Alfred University Chorus, Chamber Singers and the Alfred Volunteer Choir Company will present their spring
concert in the new Miller Theater on Friday, April 22 at 8 p.m. The concert will feature works by American and
British composers including William Billings, Ralph Vaughn Williams, Moses Hogan and more.
The Alfred Volunteer Choir Company, under the direction of Laurel Buckwalter, is comprised of the faculty and
community members of the University Chorus. These slightly older singers will perform the rousing spiritual “Soon
I Will Be Done” and the hauntingly beautiful, “My Love Walks in Velvet” by contemporary composer, Gwyneth
Walker.
The Chamber Singers under the direction of Luanne Crosby will set the mood for the concert by singing Elizabethan
madrigals (still fresh from their Elizabethan Evening on March 26) in the lobby. They then will join the larger choir
for “We Beheld Once Again the Stars,” a work for double choir by Z. Randall Stroope. The Chamber Singers will
continue their exploration of settings of “Sure on This Shining Night” by repeating a performance of the setting by
Morten Lauridsen and adding a new one by Stroope.
The concert will include everything from Colonial American music to spirituals, English folksongs and pieces made
popular by the TV series “Glee”. Please join us for an evening of wonderful choral music.
Congratulations
to our graduating
senior theatre majors!
Melanie Baker
Katie Barlow
Humberto Bonilla*
Tyler Cummins
Emily Dowd
Johnathan Hamolsky
Chris Hanretty
Ramona Kingsley*
Anna Kowalczuk
Dan Meltzer*
Javier Pritchard * December graduate
The Theatre Department is most proud of this outstanding class. Not only has it been the
largest group (eleven) of students to graduate in a single year, but it has been one of the strongest.
All have performed, designed or worked technically on every production produced by the depart-
ment since their arrival as freshmen. Significant accomplishments include many nominations for
the Region II Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Irene Ryan scholarships acting
competition, participating in three productions, two scenes and one Senior Project production
(Ramona Kingsley) featured at the regional festival. Also graduating are the co-presidents of Al-
fredian Dramatists, the highly active student theatre organization. The faculty are so very pleased
with these students for their accomplishments – most importantly achieving the goal of graduat-
ing. We will very much miss each one of them. Best of luck to them all!
From left, Melanie Baker, Katie Barlow, John Hamolsky, Anna Kowalczyk,
Justin Pietropaolo (almost a theatre major), Tyler Cummins, Chris Hanretty, Javier Pritchard.
Division of Performing Arts Non Profit Organization
Alfred University U. S. Postage Paid
Miller Performing Arts Center at Alfred, NY 14802 Saxon Drive Permit No. 5 Alfred, NY 14802
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