a newsletter for alumni and friends of the department of...

Spring 2012 • Issue #16

A newsletter for alumni and friends of the department of theatre and fine arts

New at NUBy Steven BraddockDirector of NU Theatre

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When I arrived at NU last July, one of my very first thoughts was: did I

pack enough sweaters, scarves, gloves, and a pair of knee-high snow boots for the Niagara winter? As a transplant from Syracuse, I was definitely pre-pared … and yet a tad apprehensive. But to my delighted surprise, it turned out I didn’t need them. It was a pleas-antly placid winter in Niagara County. However, inside the Leary Theatre, there were veritable blizzards of activity, favorably challenging students and fac-ulty while charming and stimulating audiences from January through April!

Barely back from Christmas vacation, the Short Play Festival, spearheaded by Doug Zschiegner, associate professor of acting/directing and associate director of NU Theatre, showcased not only the fledgling directing talents of the junior class, but offered a multitude of wonderful roles for the NU students, majors and nonmajors alike. Three cycles of 10-minute plays offered some-thing for literally every taste.

The Castellani Art Museum col-laboration in February gave us art inevery sense of the word. A reader’s theatre production of Yasmina Reza’s “Art,” helmed by guest director Paschal Frisina III, ’00, featured plentiful laughs as well as intellectual stimula-tion for our patrons. Complemented bya stunning installation of minimalist

artwork, curated by Michael Beam, curator of collections and exhibitions, the production delivered vibrant per-formances surrounding three friends at odds over one’s choice of artwork.

Also in February, the NU Players’ production of Twilight of the Golds enjoyed a tremendous one-weekend run and boasted the strongest produc-tion values yet for a student-produced piece. Senior Annise Celano’s direc-tion, supported by senior Primo Thomas’ scenic design, junior David Spychalski’s costumes and junior Tony Rajewski’s lighting, guided a stellar cast through an illuminating tale of a family in crisis.

The first faculty-directed piece of the spring, a classical romp through Athenian woods, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, was up next and Doug Zschiegner’s innovative, contemporary conceptualization provided rare ac-cessibility to Shakespeare, and laughs galore. Traditional audiences, as well as school groups, enjoyed the bard’s young lovers and rude mechanicals cavorting through the woods, thwarted by the machinations of the fairy world. Word of mouth spread quickly, and by the end of the run, the show was play-ing to packed houses.

Rounding out the spring season in the Leary was Little Women, the Musical. My second foray into direct-ing musical theatre here at NU was as resoundingly fulfilling as the first, due in large part to the generous collabora-tive spirits of everyone involved. Music director Randy Andropolis’ restructur-

ing of the orchestra for acoustic instru-mentation and Terri Filips Vaughan’s period-appropriate choreography gave the piece a historically accurate feel, while Maureen Stevens’ costumes graced David Dwyer’s magnificent set in much the same way a beautiful bouquet complements an ornate vase. The cast, exceptionally talented and energetic, likewise went the extra mile over their Christmas break, reading Louisa May Alcott’s 400+ page novel as a basis for character development. The result was a beautifully rendered piece of musical theatre that evoked

From April 19 – 29, NU Theatre presented Little Women, a musical based on the beloved book by Louisa May Alcott. The production was directed by Steven Braddock with choreography by Terri Filips Vaughan and music direction by Randy Andropolis. Costume design was by Maureen T. Stevens and scenic design was by David Dwyer. Jason D. Clark, ’12, designed the lighting for the production, while Brittany Gabryel, ’12, was assistant choreographer and Celine Keefe, ’13, was assistant director. From left, the four March sisters played by Alicia Ann Burning, ’12, Keirsten Lynne Greifenstein, ’13, Kerisa Bonville, ’13 and Renee Landrigan, ’13.

Niagara University Theatre Newsletter

From March 22 – April 1, NU Theatre presented William Shakespeare’s romantic comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Doug Zschiegner, associate professor and associate director of NU Theatre. Zschiegner also provided the sound design, while set design was by David Dwyer, lighting design was by Patty Rihn, and

costume design was by senior Brittany T. Metz. Choreography was by cast members Kelsey Anderson, Megan Kelley, Brianna Lanoye and Lauren Parrow. Above right, from left, NU elementary education major Megan Kelley, ’15, and theatre studies students Lauren Parrow, ’15, Alan Trinca, ’13, Megan Kemple, ’13, Kelsey Anderson, ’14, and Brianna Lanoye, ’13.

At left. Dan Urtz, ’14 (left), and Kyle Baran, ’15.

Clockwise, from top left:

From left, Keirsten Lynne Greifenstein, ’13, Andrea Gollhardt, ’12, and Alicia Ann Burning, ’12.

Fr o m l e f t , K e r i s a Bonville, ’13, Renee Landrigan, ’13, and Steven Foote, ’13.

Renee Landrigan, ’13.

From left, Rachel M. Olszewski, ’12, and Renee Landrigan, ’13.

From left, Keirsten Lynn Greifenstein, ’13, Renee Landrigan, ’13, Kerisa Bonville, ’13, Andrew Adolf, ’13, and Alicia Ann Burning, ’12.

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the spirit of the book, and left audi-ence members sniffling and smiling by turns.

The NU Players’ soirees each open-ing night continued to be a huge suc-cess, and the party for Midsummer was full of surprises, including a visit by alumnus and Powerhouse Theatre pro-ducing director Ed Cheetham, as well as the long-awaited announcement of the 2012-2013 season. Faculty-directed offerings for next season will be: The Rimers of Eldritch by Lanford Wilson, Neil Simon’s Rumors, the Tony Award-winning Urinetown the Musical, Picasso at the Lapin Agile by comic Steve Martin, Moliere’s The Learned Ladies, and Stephen Sondheim’s classic Into the Woods. Rounding out the sea-son will be the Short Play Festival in January and the NU Players’ produc-tion of Time Stands Still by Donald Margulies. We feel it’s a very strong season which will both challenge and showcase the talented students in the department.

Of course, the jewel in the crown of each spring season is the annual Friends of Niagara University Theatre Gala. And this year was no exception. Attendees were treated to a late after-noon performance of Little Women, followed by a resplendent evening of cocktails and conversation, dining and auction bidding, of both the silent and live varieties. Christopher Blake once more generously lent his considerable talents as auctioneer for the evening.

And the Spirit of NU Theatre Awards were presented to four alumni, each with a long history of assisting the theatre department. (For more, please see Ann Heuer’s article on page 3.) In short, my first gala left me genuinely assured that the significant yearly support provided by the Friends to NU Theatre comes first and foremost from the hearts of alumni and friends who dearly love the program. We are indeed fortunate!

Finally as the academic year draws to a close, I’d like to give you a glimpse of more “new” at NU, some of which you will see in the coming months! The Niagara University Repertory Theatre (N.U.R.T.), a long-standing

summer tradition for the region’s young audiences, will continue to per-form in the Leary Theatre as well as return to touring, providing outreach to camps and daycare centers. And, for the first time in many years, we will return to perform at Artpark in Lewiston. N.U.R.T. will be featured at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Family Saturdays during July. In an effort to provide even more for our family audiences, the N.U.R.T. actors and crew will perform a fully staged production of Duck for President, adapted from the award-winning book by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin. This musical production, suitable for all ages, can be seen on the Leary stage between July 26 and August 5. Outside the Elizabeth Ann Clune Center for Theatre you’ll notice new landscaping in the turnaround and benches for patrons to sit on and enjoy the summer breezes, while inside, above your heads, new catwalk baskets will have been installed to pro-vide more comfort and safety for our spotlight operators.

As I approach my first anniversary here, it’s delightful to look back on a successful, exciting year. And, of course, to look forward to the next one!

But I will be keeping my winter apparel close at hand, just in case.

Niagara University Theatre Newsletter 3

Spirit Awards Presented at Friends of NU Theatre GalaBy Ann Heuer, Office and Media Coordinator

The 27th annual Friends of Niagara University Theatre Gala was held on Saturday, April 28. The event began with a matinee of Little Women – The Musical in the William P. and Marie Leary Theatre within the Elizabeth Ann Clune Center for Theatre.

The audience was delighted to see Friends member Elizabeth Ann Clune in a walk-on role in the production that she won at the live auction at last year’s gala. After the production, guests pro-ceeded to the Niagara Falls Country Club for a cocktail hour, silent auction, dinner, and live auction. Auction items included paintings, entertainment and sports memorabilia, gift baskets, a wall full of gift certificates and much more.Funds raised at the event will benefit the theatre program and its students, from needed theatre equipment and supplies to workshops and mentoring by guest artists.

One of the highlights of the evening was Steven Braddock’s presentation of the third annual Spirit of Niagara University Theatre Awards to four NU alumni.

According to Braddock, director of NU Theatre, “The award is given to individuals or couples each year who have been generous to the theatre with their time and contributions. Niagara University Theatre and its students are enriched by such dedicated people who truly value and support quality theatre. We are honored to call them our friends.”

This year’s honorees include four outstanding alumni who have all starred on stage in NU’s theatrical productions and, as alumni, have worked behind the scenes on behalf of Niagara University Theatre. Awards were presented to Kathleen Gormley, ’63, Patricia Nowak Orzetti, ’63, John T. Overbeck, ’75, and Barbara Neubert Pascua, ’66.

Patty Orzetti also vividly recalls how fun it was to be in the cast of The Crucible and The Mousetrap

with Kathy Gormley at Niagara University “over 50 years ago” when their association with the NU Players began.

Kathleen Gormley was a member ofthe board of the Friends of Niagara University Theatre from 2000 through 2011. She and her dear friend and fellow honoree, Patty Orzetti, were active with the NU Players while students at Niagara. They both fondly recall helping the Rev. Joseph Ganley, C.M., and “Bro,” Brother Augustine Towey, C.M., director emeritus of Niagara University Theatre, promote the Niagara University Players and present theatrical productions “on the stage in the gym in the Gallagher Center.”

Kathy remembers being in the cast of The Crucible and assisted with The Mousetrap. While she served on the Friends board, she was active on many committees and she and Patty were the dinner co-chairs for the Friends’ 25th anniversary gala in 2010. Kathy was a history teacher in the Niagara Falls school system for 40 years and spent the last 10 years serving as an adjunct history professor at Niagara University. She currently volunteers at the Heart, Love and Soul Food Pantry in Niagara Falls and is a lector at NU’s Alumni Chapel.

Patty Orzetti also vividly recalls how fun it was to be in the cast of The Crucible and The Mousetrap with Kathy Gormley at Niagara University “over 50 years ago” when their assoc-iation with the NU Players began. During her career, she worked for Niagara University’s College of Nursing as an administrative assistant to the dean and for the Admissions Office as an admissions counselor. She was also head of the cheerleaders –– no surprise to anyone familiar with Patty’s vivacious personality. As a member of the Friends of Niagara University Theatre board for more than three decades, she served for a time as the Friends’ secretary and president and was the co-chair of the Friends’ annual gala several times. Recently retired from the Friends board, Patty is a volunteer at the Heart, Love and Soul Food Pantry in Niagara Falls and she is a lector at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in Lewiston. She previously served on the Stella Niagara Education Park board of trustees in Lewiston.

Bro was a bit conniving as I told him I’d never been on stage before, and he asked me to do him a favor and read a few lines to one of the actors.

John T. Overbeck, ’75, visiting pro-fessor of marketing in NU’s College of Business Administration, worked in a number of executive sales positions for IBM for over 30 years. A major con-tributor to NU’s recent theatre renova-tion, John has been a member of the Friends of Niagara University Theatre board for several years. Thanks to his generosity, a number of improvements

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Three of this year’s Spirit of Niagara University Theatre Award honorees, from left: Patricia Nowak Orzetti, ’63, John T. Overbeck, ’75, and Kathleen Gormley, ’63. Missing from the photo is Barbara Neubert Pascua, ’66.

Barbara Neubert Pascua, ’66


impact on his business success in the corporate world –– and now he’s paying it forward as an educator. This spring, in fact, John was selected by the student body as one of Niagara’s “20 most intriguing professors” for a special edition of the Niagara Index Random Magazine.

His students applaud him for his interactive teaching style in his sales communications and principles of marketing courses where he provides innovative theater workshops. “The techniques used to ease and loosen up actors before a performance can also be used to head a business meeting or to give a speech,” John said. “Students who are tense, sound tense, and so the

workshop is intended to get them feeling comfortable –– able to address a room with confidence.” He added, “The growth in education and personal maturity from a sophomore to a senior is truly incredible, and the thought that I play a part in that transformation is something I will forever cherish.”

There was one play in which I had a small walk-on part as a housekeeper,

supposedly with an Irish brogue. I believe I got a few laughs –– and the play was not a comedy!

As a graduate of NU’s College of Nursing, Barbara Neubert Pascua enjoyed a multifaceted career in health care. She worked for a short time at a hospital in Tarrytown, N.Y., after graduating, and then spent twodecades with the United States Air Force, working at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida, other stateside loca-tions, and on overseas assignments in the Philippines, Guam and Japan.She began as a general duty nurse, then worked as a neonatal nurse and trained as one of the first of the Air

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have been added backstage at the Leary Theatre this spring, and benches will be added outside the Elizabeth Ann Clune Center for Theatre in the near future.

So how did John become involved in NU Theatre when he was an under-graduate? A roving photographer for Niagara’s student newspaper, The Index, one of his assignments was to shoot an NU Theatre production. “I met Brother Augustine Towey at the Leary Theatre one day and was intrigued by the rehearsal,” John explained. “Bro was a bit conniving asI told him I’d never been on stage before, and he asked me to do him a favor and read a few lines to one of the actors.”

After that experience, John was hooked. His first production was Our Town, with alumna Adair M. Saviola.His last role as an undergraduate was in Death of a Salesman. He was also the stage manager of A Glass Menagerie, and he was a cast member in Fiddler on the Roof, Dames at Sea, The Merchant of Venice, Arsenic and Old Lace, Cabaret, You Can’t Take It With You, and That Championship Season (which he reprised 30 years later in 2004 with original cast members Frank Layden, Ray Tamborini, Pat McAllister and the late Rich Schneider).

The knowledge John gained at NU in the classroom and the confidence he gained on stage had a dynamic

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The chairs of this year’s gala were Margaret and James L. Turner III of Buffalo. Their daughter Grace Turner, ’13, center, is a theatre performance and Spanish double major.

Force’s pediatric nurse practitioners. After retiring from the Air Force, she earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in ceramic art. She also continued to work with children as a pediatric nurse practitioner in California and Oregon for many years. Now retired, she volunteers on the Oregon State Advisory Council regarding the development and maintenance of the state’s database for childhood and adult immunizations.

While at NU, Barbara worked with the NU Players for an “art-related balance to the heavily science-oriented studies” of her major. She can remember exactly when she fell in love with theatre at NU –– 1965. “I began with the NU Players the second semester of my junior year,” Barbara said. “One of my classmates worked on costumes and invited me to help. I was thrilled, and thereafter until graduating in 1966, helped with various backstage jobs, costumes, props for sets and prompting. I remem-ber being a stage manager for one of Bro’s plays which was put on in Clet Hall in the old gymnasium. Most plays, however, were performed on the main stage in the Gallagher Center. There was one play in which I had a small walk-on part as a housekeeper, supposedly with an Irish brogue. I believe I got a few laughs –– and the play was not a comedy! And I must mention our star actress at the time

Elizabeth Ann Clune, center, enjoyed her guest appearance in this year’s gala matinee production of Little Women. She had bid on the role and won it at the live auction at last year’s gala. She enjoyed talking about the musical with NU Players co-presidents Dino Petrera, ’12, left, and Andrea Gollhardt, ’12, right.


me to name the program as a recipient of my godparents’ generous gift which funds scholarships through a charitable trust.”

Barbara’s aunt and uncle spent their careers working for the federal govern-ment. Martha had secretarial jobs with the National Institutes of Health, and later was an executive secretary for representatives in Congress. She was, for a time, one of the secretaries for the House Com-mittee on Science and Astronau-tics which was established in the late 1950s. Paul was a mechanical engineer and one of his projects was to work on preconstruction models for the St. Louis Arch. When they retired, Paul became a deacon in the Catholic Church in 1980, serving his parish in Vir-ginia for many years. Paul passed away in 2005 and Martha in May 2011. Their charitable trust then became active.

Dr. Sharon Watkinson, chair of the department of theatre andfine arts said, “Last year we received $12,875 from the Rees Charitable Trust, and beginning in 2012, in

perpetuity we will receive $22,500 earmarked for scholarships for theatre students. I am personally thrilled as Barbara Neubert Pascua was a classmate of

was Sharon Onevelo, now Dr. Sharon Watkinson. She was truly a gem for the NU Players. Brother Augustine was a big influence on my continuing with the NU Players. He was generous in his friendship to all of the group, fun to be around and dedicated to putting on good theatrical productions.”

Thanks to the generosity of Barbara’s late aunt and uncle/god-parents, Paul J. and Martha N. Rees, and to Barbara’s enduring connection to NU’s department of theatre and fine arts, the Rees Charitable Trust was recently established at the university.

Barbara was enormously fond of Father Joe and Bro. The charitable trust is a testament to how much the NU Players and these Vincentians meant to her.

“Aunt Martha, my father’s sister, and her husband Paul were close to my three siblings and me as we grew up,” Barbara explained.” They had no children of their own and Martha called the four of us, ‘her kids’. When she asked me what educational pro-gram I would like to benefit from their trust, I was very grateful for the opportunity to help current and future Niagara theatre studies students. Yousee, through the NU Theatre news-letters, I have followed the amazing development of the theatre studies program, so knowing of Bro and Sharon’s work over the years inspired

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Enjoying the silent auction, from left: Dr. Bonnie Rose, executive vice president; Dr. Sharon Watkinson, chair, department of theatre and fine arts; and Dr. Nancy McGlen, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

From left, Renee Landrigan, ’13, the Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., NU president, and Andrew Adolf, ’13. Renee (Jo March) and Andrew (Laurie Lawrence) were members of the cast of Little Women.

mine at Niagara University. Both of us worked with the Niagara University Players, under the supervision of theRev. Joseph Ganley, C.M., and eventually Brother Augustine Towey, C.M., who co-founded the theatre studies program with me and the late Tim Ward. Barbara was enormously fond of Father Joe and Bro. The charitable trust is a testament to how much the NU Players and these Vincentians meant to her. It will enable us to provide a variety of scholarships for the academic year and for summer study abroad for a number of our theatre students each year, a true blessing for our students.”

All four of this year’s recipients of the Spirit of NU Theatre Awards have continued to contribute to the vitality of Niagara University’s theatre studies

program long after their graduation from their alma mater. The program and its students will continue to bene-fit from their generosity and vision for years to come. Barbara Neubert Pascua’s sentiments are no doubt shared by her fellow honorees this year: “To Sharon Watkinson, Steven Braddock and the dedicated theatre studies faculty and staff – and especially to Brother Augustine Towey, C.M., I say thank you. To the theatre students, I say do well, have fun, ‘break a leg’ and put on a good show!”

From left, Steven Braddock, director of NU Theatre, Josie Lazusky, ’15, Mike Van Dyke, ‘12, Erica Miranda Diederich, ’12, and Doug Zschiegner, associate professor/associate director of Niagara University Theatre.

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Much Ado about a To-do List:And Other Aspects of Adriano Gatto’s Theatrical CareerBy Mary E. Furlong, Author & Freelance Writer

Pop quiz: Identify the speaker in each of the following scenes from Shakespeare:

1. Is this a dagger I see before me?2. The readiness is all.3. Do like I say, and no one gets

hurt.Number 1 is easy for veteran NU

Theatre goers. It’s Adriano Gatto, ’06 (former theatre studies student, now artist-in-residence and recruiter), per-forming the role of Macbeth on the Leary Theatre stage. This, his first major role in a Shakespeare play, had a profound effect on his perception of his ultimate place in the world of theatre. The play debuted more than 400 years ago, and its subject was an-cient history even then. Yet it spoke to Adriano in a way that modern drama cannot. While the language is lyrical, the characters vivid and complex, it’s the timelessness of Shakespeare that chiefly appeals to him.

Besides, Adriano is really, really into daggers –– not to mention rapiers, cross bows, sabers, and even gangland shivs. Nowadays, onstage violence is his métier. He teaches theatre studies classes in stage combat, an impor-tant facet of choreography, not only in Shakespearean plays, but in all kinds of theater. “Drama is essentially conflict,” says Adriano. “Violence occurs when words no longer resolve conflict.”

Which is to say that words fail from time to time. Or as Shakespeare would

put it, events may leave characters “bereft of all words.” Not that the bard himself was ever bereft. Far from it.

That dagger speech goes on for 30 lines or so, with nary a blow struck. But you know

violence is coming, and when it does, Adriano, or someone of his ilk, will call the directorial shots.

The readiness quotation is another easy one. It’s Adriano again, this time playing Hamlet. You haven’t heard of this particular performance? Perhaps that’s because it hasn’t happened yet. But it’s a sure thing. The role is at the very top of Adriano’s ambitious to-do list. His goal is to play a part in every one of Shakespeare’s 37 plays. Maybe more than one part. Macbeth and McDuff, for instance. Hamlet and Laertes. There’s a wide world of Shakespeare out there, and Adriano, an Equity actor since 2008, is eager to take it on.

How’s this for starters? After gradu-ating from NU, he launched his career by winning an acting fellowship with the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. Widely regarded as the U.S. counterpart of Britain’s Royal Shakespeare Company, STC offered opportunities to work with acclaimed artists like directors Michael Kahn, Gale Edwards, David Muse, and Ethan McSweeny, as well as to perform along-side such multitalented stars as Avery Brooks and Suzanne Bertish.

And how’s this for Shakespeare credits already racked up? Iago in Othello (Olney Theatre Tour 58); Marc Antony in Julius Caesar and Bassanio in The Merchant of Venice (both Shakespeare in Delaware

Park productions); Proteus in Two Gentlemen of Verona (Heartland Actor’s Repertory Company); Mortimer in Henry IV, Part I (Washington’s Folger Theatre); Beaumont in Edward II (the aforementioned Shakespeare Theatre Company); and Philip, the Bastard, in King John (a staged reading at the Buffalo Seminary).

And, those are just the major roles. Adriano has also served as ensemble member or understudy in a wide variety of Shakespeare plays in ad-dition to performing other classical pieces, modern dramas, comedies, and even commercial films. A source of pride is his recent performance as Julian, in a world premier adaptation of Ibsen’s Emperor and Galilean at the Torn Space Theatre in Buffalo.

Okay. Okay. That third quote (at the beginning of the article) is not Shakespeare. How clever of you to notice. It’s not, word for word, Adriano Gatto either. But it makes a point about his stage combat class, wherein students learn how to handle all those daggers and things that Shakespearean and other dramas so often call for. Here’s the thing: audiences may howl for blood, but they really don’t want to see it spilled right in front of them. They love to hear the clang of dueling swords, but not the real-life crack of breaking bones. What they want is spine-chilling illusion. To no one’s surprise, the actors concur.

That’s where stage combat comes in. It may be swift and terse in a realistic drama, stylized and balletic in a poetic musical like West Side Story. For the actor, it’s all a matter of knowing the right moves, having the grace and athleticism to execute them, and pre-serving life and limb in the process. Safety first, in other words.

Whether the combat is gritty or

Adriano Gatto,’06, left, played the role of Macbeth for Niagara University Theatre in 2004. At the right is Katie Mallinson, ’05, in the role of Lady Macbeth. Mallinson is currently an adjunct lecturer in NU’s theatre and fine arts department.


graceful, Adriano is good at it, and he has the credentials to prove it. His training began at NU under the tute- lage of Steve Vaughan. Since then, he has worked with such combat lumin- aries as Broadway fight director Rick Sordelet as well as a prestigious roster of fight directors and master instruc-tors certified by SAFD (Society of American Fight Directors). In addi-tion, he trained at Rapier Wit Studios, Canada’s oldest stage combat school, whose faculty includes fight master Daniel Levinson and fight director Todd Campbell. He had the high honor of receiving Certification with Distinction from Fight Directors Canada as well as the coveted Rapier Wit award.

Stage combat is not, however, the be-all and end-all for Adriano. For him, the most dramatic stage duel can’t hold a candle to performing a Shakespeare role. He wears his heart on his sleeve in that regard. No matter how demand-ing his schedule, he’ll always find the professional elbow room to accom-modate that to-do list of his. He may have come full circle by returning to Niagara as an instructor, but that’s neither here nor there. After years of preparation, the larger world of Shake-spearean drama is his oyster. In his heart of hearts, he knows he’s ready for it, and the readiness is all.

Extra credit if you spot nine timeless expressions coined by Shakespeare in the previous paragraph.

At last summer’s production of The Merchant of Venice at Shakespeare in Delaware Park, Adriano Gatto, right, played Bassanio, and Peter Palmisano, left, was Antonio.

“Find us on Facebook!”By Adriano Gatto, Artist-in-Residence (Stage Combat)/Recruiter

How many times today have you seen an advertisement concluding with the phrase, “Find us on Facebook?” Do you access your “news” digitally through an App on your smart phone? In other words, are you connected?

In a study conducted by social media consultant Jeff Bullas, approxi-mately two billion people worldwide are connected to the Internet utilizing some form of social networking such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and more. Cumulatively, Facebook users alone spend a total of 700 billion minutes per month on the site, each individual averaging almost 16 hours per month. (Source: Bullas, Jeff. “20 Stunning Social Media Statistics Plus Infographic.” JeffBullas.com. N.p., 12 Sept 2011. Web.)

The global corporate world has latched on to these social media out-lets, harnessing their power to increase communication with their clients and/or audiences. Facebook and Twitter are now considered social marketing norms in an organization’s strategic marketing plan. Their logos are blasted on every advertisement and publicity-related event. No longer are companies advertising with phone numbers and websites, but with their Facebook URL, or address, such as facebook.com/niagarau

After my first year back as a member of the faculty/staff in the department of theatre and fine arts, I was often curious as to why we were not utilizing these social media norms to promote Niagara University Theatre. Why had we not tapped into the social media network to promote not only our unique academic programming but also NU Theatre productions? As the new artist-in-residence and principal recruiter, I strongly believed this was an avenue that we needed to improve upon, especially in terms of our audi-ence and prospective student outreach.

Last summer, we launched the official Niagara University Theatre

Facebook page. Immediately, we began to see benefits of this creation. Among our students, we were able to commu-nicate more immediately and effec-tively with important information and updates regarding casting notices, job opportunities, and NU Theatre announcements. We also saw an in-crease of fans from alumni, relatives of current students and faculty, and members in the community.

Additionally, I thought of an engag-ing way to show prospective students and patrons the work our students create on stage and behind-the-scenes. With the expertise of NU’s multi-media specialist, Brian Rock, and his team, we have produced approximately 12 promotional videos about our NU Theatre productions this year. Each is a fantastic resource allowing individuals to feel as if they’re sitting in the Leary Theatre with us, watching the actors rehearse, and listening to each director speak about their vision, and the role that design elements play in the creation of theatre today.

Having the ability to create these video segments for each show allows individuals to stay current with us, seeing our talented students grow and develop as artists and individuals in the community. To check out these promotional videos, please visit our Facebook page at Facebook.com/niagarauniversitytheatre.

These efforts are just the beginning, with many more plans on the drafting board for upcoming changes to our websites and social media.

Currently with 336 “Likes” on our Facebook page, we hope to achieve the 500 status by the beginning of the 2012-2013 season. As an added bonus, our 500th fan will receive a pair of ticket vouchers, redeemable for any production in our 2012-2013 Season.

So if you haven’t yet, Find us on Facebook!


Throughout the summer of 2011, theatre performance major John Woodley, ’13, relished portraying a man with nerves of steel: Jean Francois Gravelet or “The Great Blondin” as he was better known, a real 19th century daredevil famous for tightroping across the Niagara River gorge on June 30, 1859, while 50,000 spectators watched.Blondin went on to continue amazing tourists with his spectacular stunts that summer, including carrying his manager on his back for one crossing and cooking an omelet on a small cook stove high up on the tightrope. Woodley was so convincing as this daredevil that his employer, Encounter Niagara, invited him back this summer.Q. How did you find the job with Encounter Niagara?A. I read about this opportunity through a departmental email at NU. I needed a summer job at the time and interviewed with Danielle and Peter Green, who run Encounter Niagara.

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Summer SpringboardsBy Ann Heuer, Office and Media Coordinator

Theatre studies performance major John Woodley as the 19th century daredevil, Blondin. Photo courtesy of Charles Lewis.

Q. How did your acting, speech and physical theatre training at Niagara help you play this larger-than-life character?A. They all helped tremendously. My acting training was crucial and really helped me stay in character and keep a strong connection with tourists. With Blondin, I tried everything out and found what worked. My acting train-ing is to thank for that. Learning speech dialects with adjunct speech professor Amanda Sharpe helped immensely. Physical theatre classes with Robin Patterson and Terry Judd really came in handy once I put the tights on. And knowing how to do improvisational acting was key to my performance. I did my research, developed a strong story to share, and became this character –– very much like what happens when you put on a mask in physical theatre. I discovered a regal strut and a special way to move and carry myself. I had to be confident in what I was doing regardless of wearing tights. Real men wear tights!Q. Will you be portraying Blondin this summer? A. I had eagerly planned on this, but I just found out that I have been selected as the recipient of the 2012 Vassar College and New York Stage and Film’s Powerhouse Theatre Training Program Internship. The annual six-week summer internship is made possible by the generosity of the Friends of Niagara University Theatre and also NU alumnus Ed Cheetham,’87, the pro-ducing director of Powerhouse. I’ll follow in the footsteps of current NU Theatre performance majors Michael Wachowiak, ’13, and Meghan Deanna Smith, ’12, who participated in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Theatre minor Eric Walsh, ’10, participated in the internship in 2009.

Whoever portrays Blondin this sum-mer will create a lot of interest since high-wire artist Nik Wallenda has gained permission from both the U.S. and Canada for an 1,800 foot wire-walk over the Horseshoe Falls. This will be exciting as Wallenda will be

following in Blondin’s footsteps!Q. As a historical reenactor, you must have attracted a lot of attention last summer.A. With Encounter Niagara, I was able to roam both Prospect Point and Goat Island as Blondin. Nothing was off limits to me and the other actors, which was really nice because we could always change up our routines and go to new places. I worked with actors who portrayed other fascinating historic figures out of the pages of Niagara Falls history –– Annie Edson Taylor, Nikola Tesla and Augustus Porter, to name a few. We saw and interacted with thousands of tourists. Let me put it this way. During Memorial Day, the busiest day all year at the park, the line for the Cave of the Winds had close to a five-hour wait! I walked that line and engaged with tourists to pass the time. I can’t even fathom the number of people I met from around the world.

And talking to the kids, that was the best. Children generally had three reactions when they saw me. The bold ones came right up to me and asked who I was. The shy ones asked their parents if I was a superhero. And the rest seemed terrified –– maybe it was the tights! Seriously, though, costume-wise, I was the luckiest actor. All the other actors were in wool suits or heavy wool dresses. And our longest shift was five hours. Imagine that on a 95 degree day!Q. What do you hope to do after graduation?A. I am amazed at how much I have learned in these three years with Niagara University Theatre. I have been blessed with some great opportunities thus far, and I am quite excited to explore the vast horizon of acting once I graduate. I need to keep getting experience, work my tail off, and hopefully make a name for myself one day. And I’d love to portray historical legends again in the future. I have noticed a little bit of Blondin has rubbed off on me, which isn’t a bad thing. He took risks, but the greater the risk, the greater the reward.

For today’s college student, holding a summer job at a fast food restaurant, ice cream stand or department store is a tried and true way to pay for books and tuition. For NU theatre majors, however, some unusual – even remarkable – theatre-related job opportunities and internships can be found with a bit of research. And often, these jobs can be springboards to lifelong career opportunities.


Callie Bush, ’11, has discovered that her general theatre studies major, her work experience in the NU Theatre Costume Shop, and her 2011 summer study abroad trip to London’s Anglo American University have made a major difference in her marketability.Q. What kind of work experience did you get on campus as an under-graduate theatre studies student? A. I actually started my costume education at Niagara by accident. I signed up for a costume class because I needed a credit and I ended up loving it. After that class I was offered a work study position in the Costume Shop. Since then I progressed from assisting in fin-ishing costumes to becoming a shop manager and one of the drapers for the shop. As a draper I was able to take a design from a designer and construct a pattern to create a costume. As a man-ager I was able to organize the shop, take care of paperwork, and control schedules. I went from barely being able to sew to being able to produce complex costumes.Q. You gained some priceless costuming experience when you studied abroad. A. Yes! I was fortunate enough to tour several costume shops in London in-cluding the National Theatre Costume Shop, the Hampton Court Palace Costume Shop, and The Tower of London Costume Shop. There, I was able to interview different employees to gain information for my honors thesis about costume management. I was even given the opportunity to care for

the costumes we used at the Tower of London for our performance of Henry VIII. I was put in charge of these per-iod style costumes and was able to help dress actors and maintain the clothing. It was fascinating to discover the simi-larities and differences between the costume shops in London and the ones here in the United States. The knowl-edge I gained is unforgettable. Q. How did studying overseas and your three years in NU’s Costume Shop impact your career plans?A. My experience at Niagara has given me the skills needed to land jobs in local costume shops. This past winter, I worked on a show at the Niagara Falls Aquarium, building and design-ing costumes for a “Spirit of the Seas” production at the organization’s charity event. I’ve also been interviewing for a number of possible costuming oppor-tunities in Western New York. Inter-estingly, when interviewers see London on my résumé, their interest is piqued and they ask a lot of intriguing ques-tions. That study-abroad experience sets me apart in my field.Q. The direction you’re heading in is different from the career path you envisioned when you were a freshman.A. I started my education at NU as a performance major, never thinking I would be interested in creating costumes or that I would have the oppor-tunity to study abroad. Niagara has helped introduce me to a skill that I never knew that I had a talent for –– yet working with costumes from start to finish has given me exciting career opportunities. My experiences at NU have been both unexpected and invaluable. Q. What’s next?A. I will continue to work locally on costumes and get my cosmetology license. I would love to go to graduate school for costuming and possibly speech pathology. I’d also love to travel to Disney World, London, and New York City, and I hope to work for a while in each location. Eventually I would love to open my own salon and costume shop in Buffalo.

Jayson D. Clark graduated from Niagara University this spring with a theatre design/technology degree and enough backstage experience gleaned from productions at NU, work with local bands and work off-Broadway to make him marketable in his field. Unfailingly upbeat, whenever asked how his day is going, he replies, “I’m living the dream!” Q. You’re known in the department as a “go to man” for lighting and sound questions. Can you tell us how your education and outside work experiences have helped launch your career? A. Every experience I have been lucky to enjoy, be it my theatre courses, my internship, and my work playing music has taught me something about light-ing and sound technology. My courses have instructed me in the fundamentals of lighting and sound and my work on NU Theatre productions has put those concepts into practice. Summer 2009 was spent as a lighting and sound intern on A More Perfect Union off-Broadway, allowing me to experience professional theatre and how to be a professional designer and technician. My involvement playing music and working on outside productions has allowed me to branch out and experi-ence many different facets of lighting and sound, and helped to reinforce the concepts I learned in class. Putting all of those aspects together, I feel like I am able to bring a unique perspective to lighting and sound production.

continued on page 10

Callie Bush, ’11, right, helps lace the corset for Andrea Gollhardt, ’12, prior to the theatre students’ performance of Henry VIII at the Tower of London last summer. In the background is Brittany Gabryel, ’12. Photo courtesy of Dino Petrera. ’12.

Jayson D. Clark, ’12, provided sound design for the NU Players all-student production of Twilight of the Golds this spring. Photo courtesy of Fred Heuer.


Q. Congratulations on earning your bachelor’s degree! What’s next? A. My postgraduation plans have me staying in the area, building my résumé and working with as many different companies and people as I can for a year or two. After that, I plan on finding a job in lighting and/or sound in New York City or working at a regional or touring company as a resident designer. Q. You’re such a positive leader. What inspires your work ethic? A. Well thank you! I have always at-tempted to do things to the best of my ability, and it certainly helps to be in such a positive atmosphere. I think everyone in the department here is extremely dedicated, and I try to feed off of the great work that everyone else is doing. The support that I have received from my peers and the faculty and staff makes it very easy to want to work hard and do the best I can for them. I take great pride in knowing that at the end of the day, I put every-thing I had into something.

My time as a student of NU Theatre has been amazing. The posi-tive atmosphere and the feeling of being part of a family is truly a unique educational experience. I am the per-son I am today because of many of the great people I have met here, and I can only hope to work with some of these individuals again!Q. Would you be willing to be a guest designer in the future for NU Theatre?A. It would be an honor and a very interesting way to take my journey at NU full circle. I would leap at the chance to work with any of the talented people in this department on a professional level.

continued from page 9 NU Theatre audiences have enjoyed watching theatre performance major Kerisa Bonville in such musicals as Anything Goes and Little Women. This talented student juggles two complimen-tary majors at Niagara with great success and grace. She eagerly looks forward to all that the next chapter of her life will bring following graduation next May. Q. Tell us about your summer 2011 internship and its NU connection.A. I spent last summer as an intern in the medical department at CBS 2 News in New York City working with medical reporter Dr. Max Gomez. My job involved scheduling shoots with PR representatives and doing research on additional information for stories. I also accompanied Dr. Gomez for shoots and logged tape of the inter-views. I worked in the news room every day and had a wonderful hands- on experience. Some of the stories we covered included extreme reconstruc-tive surgery, stem cell organs grown in a lab, and infant heart attacks.

The president of CBS Television Stations, Peter Dunn, ’81, is an NU alumnus, so it was amazing to work under him. It made me feel very com-fortable during my experience at CBS. Q. Why did you apply for this opportunity?A. I had a strong desire to have a sum-mer internship between my sophomore and junior year. I tried to stay aware of the opportunities available to me and Dr. Kalen Churcher, an assistant pro-fessor in the Communications Depart-ment at NU, approached me about this particular opportunity. I think I was chosen because of my strong interest in reporting and the medical field. This internship paid $13 a day, but more importantly, it paid in experience. I learned so much from that 10-week time frame that I never would have learned from a book or lecture. I was forced to immerse myself in the real world of journalism –– which moti-vated me to learn as much as I could very quickly.

Q. Your training as both a theatre performance major and communi-cations major must have given you a valuable advantage.A. My two majors helped me during my internship in ways that complemented each other. Having been pushed out of my comfort level in performance classes in the NU theatre program gave me the confidence to go on camera for a few practice news stand-ups. My course work in the communications department gave me a solid foundation of media knowledge, enabling me to jump right into work in the news room, including writing practice news pieces of my own. The multitasking skills I have learned while trying to balance a double major at NU prepared me for the fast-paced atmosphere of a news station in New York City.Q. The internship is going to be golden on your résumé.A. I think this internship will help in-fluence my marketability because it shows that I am an independent hard worker who is not afraid to take chances. The experience has opened many doors for me both as a performer and as an aspiring news professional because it shows that I am versatile.

Kerisa Bonville, ’13, an NU theatre performance and communications studies double major on the job as an intern for the medical department at CBS 2 News in New York City.


heroism and selflessness inspired the humans and animals to work together and clean up the sea, thereby healing the Spirit of the Sea and giving cause for celebration. The piece ended with exultant music, dancing, streamers, and a wonderful display of agility and creativity from the marine mammal trainers and the two youngest sea lions, Arie and Kiah.

On March 1, Spirit of the Sea pre-miered at the Aquarium of Niagara. The many patrons watched with an-ticipation and excitement as the story unfolded before them.

“With original narration, live paint-ing, costumed characters, original art work, dancing and swimming we hope to inspire, and spark interest in seeing this [performance] reproduced in many different ways.” said Vita Verde. “Spirit of the Sea has been such an interest-ing, unique project to work on –– how many fully staged productions does one get a chance to see at the Aquari-um of Niagara?”

Deep Roots Niagara, founded by Vita Verde and me, is now working with Old Falls Street in the city of Niagara Falls on its summer programming. We hope to revive Spirit of the Sea at the Aquarium and create similar performance opportunities in downtown Niagara Falls and Western New York.

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Hope For Troubled WatersBy Rachel Macklin Olszewski, ’12

News headlines and nature docu-mentaries have sounded the alarm –– our planet’s oceans and seas are in trouble. Overfishing is a major concern, as are oil spills, improperly discarded medical waste, abandoned fishing nets or “ghost nets” which kill marine mam- mals, fish and sea birds, and ever grow-ing “islands” of plastic waste. So it was appropriate that this winter, Deep Roots and the Aquarium of Niagara pre-sented Spirit of the Sea, a show unlike anything Niagara Falls has seen before.

NU graduate student Ashley Vita Verde and I were blessed with the op-portunity to write, design, and direct the performance for the Aquarium’s annual fundraiser, “SEAsonings.” In less than one month, we pulled an entire show together despite many obstacles which, with quick thinking and problem solving, we were able to overcome.

Spirit of the Sea can be described as a colorful, multifaceted production in-volving sea lions, synchronized swim-mers, dancers, and marine mammal trainers. Niagara University students Stephanie Grierson, Chelsea Recor, Ian O’Rourke and Emily Hughes, partici-pated in the performance. Addition-ally, Karine Amato, Alexandra Davis, and Shawn O’Rourke graced our pro-

duction with their talent. Costumes were created by general theatre studies alumna Callie Bush, ’11, who also starred as the character of the Spirit of the Sea. The lighting was designed by theatre design/technology major Tony Rajewski, ’13, with the assistance of NCCC’s Christina Merkle and William D. Servizi II.

Originally, we wrote the script to showcase a local synchronized swim team. Due to an unfor-tunate turn of events,

however, we had to find new swim-mers a week before the fundraiser. Talk about sink or swim!

Luckily, the dedicated and talented assistant trainers at the Aquarium volunteered to endure the cold waters of the sea lion tank and learned the choreography in less than five days. Ashley Vita Verde also stepped up to take on the difficult swimmer soloist role of Azmina.

The story began with the appear-ance of the Spirit of the Sea, who was dying because of the pollution and destruction caused by humanity’s greed. She called forth the creatures of her depths, the sea sprites, and Azmina, ancient guardian of the sea to plead with Humanity in order to save the sea. However, Humanity, as portrayed by two poachers, sought only to cap-ture Azmina, and in doing so, caused chaos in the sea. Rafaa, played by Gary Siddall, a senior marine mammal trainer, became the hero of the story by courageously challenging the poachers, although he was outnumbered.

When he succeeded in scaring off the poachers and was left alone with the sea sprites and Azmina, Rafaa exhibited his compassion in a beauti-ful water work duet with Diamond, one of the aquarium’s sea lions. His

NU theatre performance major Rachel Macklin Olszewski, ’12, and NU interdisciplinary studies graduate student Ashley Vita Verde pose with the students and Aquarium personnel who volunteered to assist with Spirit of the Sea, a compelling production they created for the Aquarium of Niagara. From left: Mikayla Townsend, Vita Verde, Olszewski, Callie Bush, Stephanie Grierson, Karine Amato, Gary Siddal, Jennifer Humphrey, Courtney Gill, Colleen Cassidy and Kerry DiPasquale. Bush, who created the costumes for the production, represents the sea, so her blue gown is awash in plastic bottles, soda cans and garbage bags.

Olszewski, right, creates iridescent “fish scales” with netting and make up pencils on one of the swimmers. Photos by Fred Heuer.


Edited by Ann Heuer, Office & Media Coordinator

Updates!

Stephanie Bax, ’93, participated in A Spontaneous Solstice Celebration, a benefit conceived by alumnus David Granville, ’92, for the Buffalo United Artists in December. Granville starred in Buffalo United Artists’ production of Secrets of the Trade by Jonathan Tolins in March and April. Bax was also in Killer Joe for American Repertory Theater of WNY in April and May.

Joey Bucheker, ’09, and former NU theatre studies student Nick Lama starred in the musical Nunsense A-Men! for Buffalo’s O’Connell & Company in February. In November, Bucheker was in the company’s production of Buffalo Zings!: A Rogues Gallery, a political cabaret. Lama was in 12 Angry Men for Buffalo’s Rocking Horse Productions at the Lancaster Opera House in May, and will be in Buffalo’s Theater Jugend production of Cannibal! The Musical by Trey Parker in March 2013. He will be joined by NU Theatre alumnus Matt Kindley, ’10. Kindley was in Occupy Animal Farm for Buffalo’s Subversive Theatre and Theatre Jugend in December. In March, he and fellow alumni J. R. Finan, ’05, Steven Sitzman, ’10, and Courtney Weather, ’10, were in Men of Like Passions by Justin Karcher for Buffalo’s Theater Jugend.

Carmen Ruby Floyd Calloway, ’00, is the voice for Pillsbury Grand biscuits and she’s also featured on com-mercials for Quilted Northern Toilet Paper and Bailey’s. In February, she reported that she was the understudy for the role of Mariah in Porgy and Bess on Broadway. In 2011, she was featured on Law and Order SVU. She was also in a show called Cotton Club Parade at City Center Encores! featur-ing the Lincoln Center Orchestra. A special thrill for Carmen was singing a duet with Wynton Marsalis. Carmen’s new single, Unexpected Blessing, was released in April on itunes. Visit http://

itunes.apple.com/us/album/unexpect-ed-blessing-single/id514724240

Senior acting lecturer Derek Campbell directed the world premiere of Clean Break by Darryl Schneider for Buffalo’s Road Less Traveled Theater in March and April, and A Delicate Balance for Buffalo’s Irish Classical Theatre in April and May. Alumna Andrea Andolina, ’07, was in the cast. Andolina was also in Speed the Plow for Buffalo’s Subversive Theatre Collective with Kevin Craig, ’08, this spring. In December, Craig was in Junie B. Jones In Jingle Bells, Batman Smells for Buffalo’s Theater of Youth.

In February, the NU Players presented Jonathan Tolins’ The Twilight of the Golds, an all-student produced production directed by Annise N. Celano, ’12. From left: Celano, Richard Cole, ’13, Glenna Rankin, ’14, Michael Wachowiak, ’13, Megan Millar, ’12, and Nathan Andrew Miller, ’14.

Sheila Connors, ’97, starred in the world premiere of Cut-Ups at Buffalo’s Alleyway Theatre in February.

Devan Marie Corcoran, ’11, is working with local actors Kelli Natale and Loraine O’Donnell on a children’s show, Mother Goose Rocks, as an actor and choreographer. She also accepted an offer this spring to play the lead on a new children’s television series for Tri-State Christian Television. She is getting film experience and free horseback riding experience as the show takes place on a ranch. Devan hopes the show will be picked up by a network and broadcast nationally. She said that Greg Robbins, the show’s producer, gave NU a complement by telling Devan that she was one of the few actors her age in Buffalo that could give a “solid cold read.”

Lindsie Detota, ’06, lives and

works in New York City and is cur-rently in the off-Broadway production of Berenstain Bears Live playing Mama Bear.

Leo DiBello, ’11, and Elexa Kopty, ’11, both theatre performance alumni, and theatre performance minor Jocelyn Hanson, ’11, were in Fred’s Requiem for the American Repertory Theatre of Western New York in December.

Diane DiBernardo Blenk, ’89, was in Words of Choice! with the feminist troupe, Brazen-Faced Varlets, in Buffalo at Hallwalls in January.She was also in God of Vengeance by Sholem Asch for the troupe in March at Buffalo’s Rust Belt Books.

Erica Miranda Diederich, ’12, and Alicia Ann Burning, ’12, presented choreography showcases for their independent study projects in choreography at the Leary Theatre on May 3. Their choreographic presentations featured a variety of dance formats and pieces and were supervised by adjunct dance professor Stacy Zawadzki-Janusz and associate professor of dance/choreographer Terri Filips Vaughan, respectively. Zawadzki-Janusz was delighted to be able to choreograph A Chorus Line for the Western New York Lancaster Opera House in January. Steven Sitzman, ’10, and former NU theatre studies student Meghan Hinton were among the cast members of the musical.

Josie DiVincenzo, adjunct acting lecturer, participated in a reading of Seeds by Donna Hoke for Buffalo’s Road Less Traveled Emanuel Fried New Play Workshop in December.

Mary Furlong, ’83, of the Friends of Niagara University Theatre, can add another writing accomplishment to her impressive publishing résumé. Her murder mystery comedy, Murder by Chance, was presented by the Niagara Regional Theatre Guild in December at the Ellicott Creek Playhouse in Tonawanda, N.Y.

Thom Gates, ’95, opened previews for Newsies on Broadway in late March.


Thom has stage managed many Broad-way and off-Broadway productions since graduating from NU.

Adriano Gatto, ’06, starred with former NU Theatre student David Lundy in a world premiere adaptation of Ibsen’s Emperor and Galilean, directed by NU alumnus David Oliver for Buffalo’s Torn Space Theatre in March. Stage manager of the production was alumna Emily Pedersen, ’11, and assistant stage manager was alumna Victoria Wolcott, ’10. Gatto (Oberon) is in the cast of Buffalo’s Shakespeare in Delaware Park production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream from July 26–Aug. 19 along with alumna Brittany Gabryel, ’12 (Fairy) and former adjunct faculty member Larry Smith (Egeus). Lundy (Hastings) and former NU theatre student Nick Lama (Rivers) are cast members in Richard III for Shakespeare in Delaware Park from June 21–July 15.

Cassie Gorniewicz, ’08, appeared as Ben Franklin’s daughter in Ben Franklin’s Apprentice at Buffalo’s Theatre of Youth (TOY) in February. She was also in TOY’s production of A Wrinkle in Time in March, and will play Jeanie in Buffalo’s MusicalFare Theatre summer production of Hair. Alumnus Kurt Erb, ’09, will also be in the production.

Nathanial W. C. Higgins, ’15, played piano for NU’s College of Hospitality and Tourism Management student dinner sponsored by the NU chapter of the Club Managers Association of America in February. The theme of the event was “Wild Bill’s Speakeasy Gin Joint.” Ryan Masline, ’14, portrayed Wild Bill at the event.

Amber Dawn Hohman, ’09, is currently working in the box office at The State Theatre in State College, Pa. Last spring she was a substitute teacher in the Lewiston-Porter School District and last summer she stage managed four productions, including The Taming of the Shrew and A Moon for the Misbegotten. In

the fall of 2011 she taught classes on Shakespeare for elementary and middle school students at the Nittany Valley Shakespeare Festival in State College. She then stage managed A Year of Magical Thinking, Orson’s Shadow, Under Milk Wood and Circle Mirror Transformation. This summer, she will stage manage Guys and Dolls and Seussical the Musical.

In Buffalo’s Irish Classical Theatre production of the musical The Dead, NU theatre performance major Renee Landrigan, ’13, left, landed the role of Young Julia. Here she plays opposite Sheila McCarthy as Aunt Julia. The production was presented by the theatre in December of 2010 and 2011, and directed by senior acting lecturer and ICTC associate director Derek Campbell, with musical direction by voice lecturer Jason Bravo. Photo by Gene Witkowski, courtesy of the Irish Classical Theatre.

Cassie Gorniwicz, ’08, reprised her role as Lily the maid in The Dead for the Irish Classical Theatre in December. The production was directed by ICTC associate director and NU theatre senior acting lecturer, Derek Campbell. From left, Valerie Yawien, Gorniewicz, and Kaitlin Buehlmann. Photo by Gene Witkowski courtesy of the Irish Classical Theatre.

Lisa LeCuyer, ’08, played Judy in White Christmas in November and December. She is living and working in New York City. Recently interviewed by NU’s Admission Office for one of its new brochures, Lisa discussed her NU experience as a theatre performance major and communications minor. “Theatre isn’t a choice,” she said. “It’s a calling. And so was Niagara University. The incomparable education that I received and dedication helped turn my calling into reality.”

In November and December, three NU grads appeared in Buffalo’s MusicalFare Theatre production of A Class Act. From left: Bobby Cooke, Lisa Vitrano, alumna Adrienne Lewis, ’09, Nancy Sam, alumnus Marc Sacco, ’00, and Doug Crane. Photo by Chris Cavanagh courtesy of MusicalFare Theatre.

Alumnus Louis Colaiacovo, ’99, as lyricist Edward Kleban in MusicalFare Theatre’s production of A Class Act. Photo by Chris Cavanagh courtesy of MusicalFare Theatre.

Meagan Miller, ’12, and Mary Boatman, ’12, represented Niagara University’s theatre program beauti-fully when they attended the United Professional Theatre Auditions in February in Memphis. Meagan said, “Around 80 theatre companies from across the U.S. auditioned several hundred people for positions in their companies, amusement parks, touring


companies, dinner theatres and more. We had 90 seconds to perform for an acting or musical audition, which is very little time. I was fortunate enough to get several callbacks and a few on- site job opportunities, including an offer to be part of a Broadway reading. The entire audition was very well organized and a great opportunity. I highly recommend it.” Mary added, “The UPTA audition was the first ‘cattle call’ I went to in my preparations for finding work after graduation. It was a fantastic learning experience for all performers in attendance, including NU alumni Joe Liolos, ’11, Elexa Kopty, ’11, and Devan Corcoran, ’11. I was thrilled to have callbacks from the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, Foodplay Productions, and The Lost Colony. Overall the trip was a huge success, and I felt even more prepared for auditions following the UPTAs!”

Gerard “Jerry” Miller III, ’01, opened Kamala Sankaram’s Miranda: The Steampunk Murder Mystery Opera at the HERE Arts Center in New York City in January.

Nathan Andrew Miller, ’14, played Peter in the Greater Niagara Ballet Company’s production of Peter and the Wolf in May.

Casey Lynn Moyer, ’11, works for Applewalk Housing by day, and by night she performs. She was recently in Coops Spotlight production of Cinderella and Suds: The Rockin’ 60’s Soap Opera. Later this year, she will perform in O’Connell and Company’s production of USO: Coast to Coast in the Buffalo area. She also sings in the progressive rock band Searching for

Dinosaurs, which will release its first CD soon. Her brother Patrick Moyer, ’07, runs his own disk jockey business and is working in Niagara Falls in an audio-visual position.

Brendan Powers, ’96, competed with writers across the U.S. and won captioning contest #323 sponsored by the New Yorker Magazine this winter. His witty caption was voted the winner of the three selected finalists. It appeared in the March 12, 2012, New Yorker magazine.

Geoff Redick, ’11, a former theatre minor and actor in many NU Theatre productions, is now a reporter/videojournalist for YNN Television’s Rochester/Batavia bureau.

Patrick Riviere, ’88, is now a bi-coastal actor and artist. He moved to the Los Angeles area in February and has booked the USC film, Bounce playing Professor Jablonski. He will also be in August G at Casa 0101 Theatre playing the White Baron. He appeared as a parish priest in the TV series Gossip Girl and has appeared in two short films (A Very Tight Place and Basis of Decision) and in three independent films (Turkey Bowl, Kitty Bainbridge is Dead and Vulnerability).

Armand Schultz, ’81, plays the physician in the Crestor commercials often aired during nightly network news programs. He also appears in Crestor print advertisements in national magazines. He recently appeared in the television shows, Unforgettable, Law and Order, and The Chicago Code, and provided additional voices for Star Wars: the Old Republic video game. He was in the 2010 spy film Salt with Angelina Jolie.

At left: Maureen Anne Porter,’86, (Meg Dillon), center, and former NU theatre studies student Tom Zindle (Pat) were in Buffalo’s Irish Classical Theatre production of Brendan Behan’s The Hostage in February. In the background is Mary Ramsey (Mary, the musician). Photo by Gene Witkowski, courtesy of the Irish Classical Theatre.

Adrienne Lewis, ’09 (left), played Gary Coleman, and Marc Sacco, ’00 (right) , portrayed Princeton, in Buffalo’s MusicalFare Theatre production of Avenue Q from January through March. Photos courtesy of Chris Cavanagh for MusicalFare Theatre.

Brother Martin Schneider, C.M., administrative assistant in NU’s department of theatre and fine arts, will celebrate his 50th anniversary as a Vincentian brother in June. Congratulations!

Melissa Seifert-Leventhal, ’01, was in A Christmas Story at the Western New York area Lancaster Opera House in December for Rocking Horse Productions.

Kristen Smiley, ’07, is enjoying living and working in Chicago as a teaching artist. She is independently contracted with three companies. She teaches creative movement and musical theatre with the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s Youth Program. Kristen also teaches dance at a high school, and she is involved with a new pilot program “ArtsXchange,” working with classroom teachers to integrate the arts in their classrooms. She also spends her evenings choreographing for a few companies and auditioning.

Maureen T. Stevens, associate professor, design/technology, and costume designer, attended the United States Institute for Theatre Technology annual conference from March 27–31 in Long Beach, Calif., with two colleagues and three NU design/technology students. She was accompanied by Marilyn Deighton, assistant professor, design/technology and costume technologist; and David Dwyer, assistant professor, design/technology and scenic designer/


At the April 27 College of Arts and Sciences R e c o g n i t i o n Day, 15 theatre studies majors were awarded o u t s t a n d i n g theatre student a w a r d s f r o m t h e i r d e p a r t m e n t for academic d i s t i n c t i o n . During the past four years, all the students maintained a 3.33 GPA or higher while spending 24–27 hours in class each week and being involved in over 35 NU Theatre productions, which were seen by thousands of theater patrons. The average GPA of these 15 students is 3.64! Back row from left: David Dwyer, Mary Boatman, Steven Braddock, Maureen Stevens, Aaron J. Moseley, Brittany T. Metz and Doug Zschiegner. Second row, from left: Jayson D. Clark, Annise Celano, Dino Petrera, Leanne Troutman, Andrea Gollhardt, Meghan Deanna Smith, and Adriano Gatto. Front row, from left, Terri Filips Vaughan, Jamie Lynn Nablo, Erica Diederich, Dr. Sharon Watkinson, Olivia Coloton, Emily Aguilar, Brittany Gabryel, Marilyn Deighton and Brother Martin Schneider, C.M.At the recognition day ceremony, Dr. Sharon Watkinson, chair, along with Terri Filips Vaughan, interim chair/associate professor, and Doug Zschiegner, associate professor, announced the two recipients of this year’s Tim Ward Players’ Award for Excellence in Theatre: seniors Jayson D. Clark of North Tonawanda, NY, and Dino Petrera of Syracuse, NY. The two received this special distinction for their outstanding work in the classroom, on stage or back stage, and as student leaders committed to serving the theatre and fine arts department, their fellow students, and the community. The department generally only gives this award to one student each year, but this year there were an extraordinary amount of students to consider for the honor.

15

production manager. Students Olivia Coloton, ’12, Tony Rajewski, ’13, and Steph Schmidt, ’13, attended for the opportunity to meet potential employers and design/technology professionals and to explore options for graduate school. Deighton presented a poster session for the Costume Commission on her research for the construction of costumes for La Farce de Maitre Pathelin. Dwyer reviewed student portfolios for the Scenic Design Commission. Stevens presented a poster session for the Education Commission about the season selection project she includes in the Introduction to Theatre class at NU.

Katie Swimm, ’06, has accepted an offer from Tufts University in Boston, where she will begin her Ph.D. in drama this fall. She will be leaving Chicago in August.

In December, a group of faculty and staff members and their significant others gathered at Dr. Sharon Watkinson’s home to celebrate the season of giving. Front row from left: Steven Braddock, Marilyn Deighton, Josie DiVincenzo, Dr. Sharon Watkinson, Terri Filips Vaughan, and Robin Patterson. Back row from left: Peg Lacki, Doug Zschiegner, Ann and Fred Heuer, Derek Campbell and Kate Philbin, Heather and Adriano Gatto, and Terry Judd.

Terri Filips Vaughan, associate pro-fessor, dance, and choreographer, and Marilyn Deighton, assistant profes-sor, design/technology, and costume technologist, provided a presentation to the university’s Outcomes Assess-ment Committee in February as NU’s Department of Theatre and Fine Arts was one of four finalists for the Stu-dent Learning Outcomes Assessment of the Year Award. The committee was impressed with the department’s varied and creative approaches to a

wide range of outcomes that might be difficult to assess. Also praised were the department’s clearly articulated goals, methods, strong rubric and solid results.

Chelsey M. Zimmerman, ’12, presented her vocal independent study production in the Leary Theatre on April 24 under the supervision of adjunct voice lecturer Jason Bravo, who accompanied her. She selected 14 songs from different genres for her cast to sing and wrote a fictional musical script called aNother wAy about Tori, a young woman who struggles to find her way through college and life, discovering love and newfound strength along the journey. Bravo was the music director for Avenue Q at Buffalo’s MusicalFare Theatre from January through March.

Doug Zschiegner, associate professor and associate director of Niagara University Theatre, directed It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play for Buffalo’s Kavinoky Theatre in December.

Alumna Lauren Marie Arena McCann, ’04, and her husband Toby McCann, celebrated the birth of their son, Pierson Vittorio McCann, in England on Feb. 17. Pierson is also the first grandchild of Michael, ’77, and Maria Arena, members of the board of the Friends of Niagara University Theatre.

Gala co-chairs/Friends board members Marge and Jim Turner are also first-time grandparents. Their son Jack and daughter-in-law Elizabeth welcomed Maria Rose Turner into the world on March 26.

Adjunct professors Robin Patterson and Terry Judd celebrated the birth of their first grandchild, Graeme Oliver Judd Rifken, in Canada on Feb. 15. He is the son of Ashley Judd Rifkin and her husband, Michael Rifkin.

Alumni James Campese, ’06, and Amanda Jo Serio, ’09, are engaged to be married on Sept. 7, 2013.

Congratulations!


By Ann Heuer, Office & Media Coordinator

Alumna Diana Sproveri has not only made her mark as an actress, writer and scriptwriter –– she has also created a thriving dessert business in Los Angeles which has attracted such high profile customers as David Schwimmer of the hit TV series Friends. Talk about sweet success!Q. When did you graduate from NU and what were your majors and minors. A. I graduated in 1995 with a B.F.A. in theatre and a minor in communications.Q. Can you tell us several shows that you were in while a student at NU or as a graduate performing at Artpark?A. I was so fortunate to have many wonderful experiences performing while at NU. Examples include Little Shop of Horrors and Chicago at NU, and Nunsense, The Fantasticks and Into the Woods at Artpark. It was truly a wonderful time in my life.Q. You’ve made your mark as an advertising account executive, script writer, and business entrepreneur since leaving Niagara. Can you tell us about your career path since graduation?A. The only way to sum it up is that you never know where life is going to take you. While I was in New York City, I took a day job in advertising between auditioning. For the first time I was put in front of a computer all day –– and I found myself writing dialogue. I had always leaned toward comedy in my acting and once I started writing it, I discovered a whole other side to myself that I hadn’t known yet. As much as I loved por-traying characters, what I loved even more was creating them on paper. I lived a double life for a while; working in advertising during the day, writing scripts at night. When I felt I might actually want to do it for a living, I moved to Los Angeles while contin-uing that same schedule. It wasn’t until

years later that I actually had my first studio job and was able to quit my day job. However, as most entertainment professions go, you still have to make money in between writing jobs and so I started doing dessert gifts and birthday cakes for friends. Again, I had never thought about it as a career until I found that being in the kitchen fueled my artistic passion and from there it grew into something that I never imagined. I still take writing jobs while working as a pastry chef. My path has taught me many things –– including that I enjoy having more than one career.Q. You sold a movie script to Disney about six years ago! Even though you’re not allowed to share details, what can you tell us about the process of writing and submitting a script to such an industry leader? A. The experience with Disney was different than sending over a script via my agent and having them buy it. They had a script that they bought that was in need of being rewritten and by someone other than the original writer. I was one of 10 writers and/or writing teams that were brought in to pitch a rewrite. And magically, my script idea was chosen. After rewriting the script, there was a shake up at Disney and the head of the studio was fired and the project was put it in something called “turnaround” –– where they shop the project to other studios. As far as I know, it’s still looking for a home. However, it was an amazing experience nonetheless.Q. What advice do you have for theatre students who are serious about scriptwriting?A. Read and watch as much as possible –– and listen to Dr. Sharon Watkinson! The journey of a film is very similar to the structure of a play. Knowing your inciting incident is key –– how your character changes, evolves and grows is all part of it. However, the structure of a film is

very specific, with certain plot points happening on specific pages. My advice is to read books on TV and film structure to understand what plot points are vital on certain pages of a script. Read as many scripts as you can, especially those that have sold. There is one thing to have the film in your head –– and another when someone else reads it on paper. Learning the craft of scriptwriting is key.Q. Many of our alumni mention NU theatre professors or courses as having had a positive effect on their career success. Can you share a bit about the personal touch you enjoyed in the theatre department?A. Majoring in theatre is a highly personal experience in general. It’s not just about lecture, study and test. The professors were wonderful at giving us knowledge while also understanding our own personal needs. They were attentive when we came to them with questions or problems and I remember graduating with this amazing edu-cation and knowledge, while also feeling like I had been part of a family. Having that kind of confidence is important no matter what career you undertake. I can’t imagine being the person I am today without the NU Theatre Department.Q. What advice do you have for NU theatre students regarding their career paths?

Diana Sproveri,’95. Photo courtesy of Justine Ungaro.

She Takes the Cake!


A. Theatre is at the heart and soul of what makes a great actor, director, costume designer or member of another field. However, in this digital age, be open to exploring every facet of performance: sketch comedy, commercials, TV, film. Be educated about other outlets and learn the craft of those mediums. You never know where your career will take you and being diverse is truly the best way to continue working and having a long and successful career. In addition, have a trade skill. Speaking from Hollywood experience, you would be amazed at the length of time between auditions or projects. Whether it’s helping people move, working as a waiter, nanny, or massage therapist, find something that you can do to support yourself while you are waiting for that big break. Timing is everything. And the more time you give yourself in your career, the more opportunities you give yourself to find success. Q. You’ve been deliciously successful as a pastry chef and baking entre-preneur. You own a popular bake shop in LA, you’re writing a book, you contribute to the Everyday with Rachel Ray Magazine, Sunset Magazine and Rachael Ray cooking show –– how has your background in theatre and communications helped you succeed on such a national stage?

A. In a workplace, you are presenting yourself to employers, clients and peers every day. Having the ability to talk in front of a group, at an interview or in a meeting is invaluable. Selling yourself is a skill that many don’t learn –– yet it’s actually more important than the major on your résumé. Theatre is what gave me the confidence to do that. In addition, communications gave me the business writing skills and glimpse into advertising that has helped me become an entrepreneur.Q. As the owner of The Diana Sproveri Designer Bake Shop, you get to create designer cupcakes, cookies, chocolates and your own Lollibakes® –– a cross between a lollipop and cupcake. Can you tell us who some of your customers are?A. My customers are everyone from celebrity actors and TV/film production companies to corporate clients and brides. It’s amazing to work with so many people from different walks of life. Q. You’ve been baking and making chocolate confections by your mother’s side since you were a little girl. You’ve said that you love creating sweet things as this is “a beautiful marriage of art and science.” Along with your mom, who has inspired you to make a living doing what you love?A. The people that have inspired me

are women who followed their passion and broke the mold in setting out to do something different. Ina Garten from Barefoot Contessa inspired my career in food as she was in a completely different field before taking it on. She taught herself how to cook, just as I

did with pastry work, and managed to build that passion and love for cooking into an extremely successful career. Martha Stewart has always inspired me with her ability to build herself as a brand –– a model I’ve worked into my own business plan. And lastly, the one person who inspires me daily to do what I love is my husband. He has always supported and encouraged me to do what I love.Q. Like St. Vincent de Paul, Niagara’s patron saint, you’re eager to help those in need. You donated your Lollibakes® to Buffalo Sabres’ Ryan Miller’s Steadfast Foundation to help children with Leukemia in December. Do you have any other charities that you support?A. I am very proud to have been involved with The Lili Claire Foundation, as well as donated to many schools and other charitable events in Los Angeles.Q. What’s next on the horizon for you?A. My shop is moving to Melrose Avenue in Hollywood this summer. I’ll be working alongside a friend whois opening a café. It will be an amazing marriage of gourmet food and coffee along with bakeshop treats in one foodestablishment. I’m very excited aboutnot only the new space, but the oppor-tunity to be closer to my customers.Q. And finally, how do you stay so trim as a food artist? And do you offer any “ healthy options” for those customers who love their sweets, but who also count calories?A. I tell everyone the fastest way to notbe tempted by desserts is to be around them all day, every day. Instead of creating health conscious recipes, I amvery passionate about focusing on flavor, balance and fine ingredients in smaller portions –– one of the reasons behind creating Lollibakes®. I still have two pieces of chocolate every day. The way to stay trim is to make sure you stick with two pieces, not the whole box.Diana Sproveri, right, was in Niagara University Theatre’s production of

Little Shop of Horrors directed by the late Tim Ward in November 1992. From left, former NU student Philip Lee Clark, Janien Nola,’94, Dan McDonald,’93, and Sproveri,’95.


NU Students Receive Scholarships in Honor of AlumniBy Ann Heuer, Office & Media Coordinator

Dr. Sharon Watkinson, chair of the department of theatre and fine arts, awarded several scholarships this spring to outstanding students in memory of deceased friends of the theatre program and in honor of a College of Nursing alumnus with ties to the program.

Kerisa Bonville, ’13, of Fairport, N.Y., a double major in theatre per-formance and communications studies, has been selected by the faculty of Niagara University’s depart-ment of theatre and fine arts as the fifth recipient of the Julie Burdick Memorial Scholarship for academic year 2012-2013. The scholarship is named after alumna Julie Burdick, ’03.

Burdick passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 27, 2007, and her parents, Dr. James Burdick and Mrs. Sharon Burdick of East Amherst, N.Y., estab-lished the scholarship as a result of thousands of dollars of contributions made to Niagara University Theatre in honor of their daughter. Any student selected for this honor must excel in performance or theatrical production and in the classroom, and they must model a Vincentian-like interest in caring for and helping others. Prior recipients have included Preston Cuer, ’09, Jessica Bill, ’10, Casey Lynn Moyer, ’11, and Jayson D. Clark, ’12.

The seventh Tara Laurie Memorial Scholarship was awarded to NU theatre performance and English double major Brianna Lanoye, ’13, ofGetzville, N.Y., for summer study abroad at London’s Anglo-American University. Donald and Janice Laurie established the scholarship in 2005 inmemory of their daughter, Tara, atheatre performance/hospitality stu-dent who passed away unexpectedly in 2004, several months after partici-pating in the London study-abroad program. The Laurie family said, “The Tara Laurie Memorial Scholar-ship is our way of keeping our daughter’s song alive and her spirit of joy and love soaring.” Prior recipients have included Sara Kovacsi, ’06, Rebecca Spindler, ’07, Charles Wahl, ’08, Noelle Wright, ’09, Sarah Jessie, ’10, and Callie Bush, ’11.

Four additional study-abroad

scholarships were awarded for the first time this spring, thanks to thegenerosity of the Paul J. and MarthaRees Charitable Trust. This scholar-ship fund was established in honor of College of Nursing alumna Barbara Neubert Pascua, ’66, by Mr. and Mrs. Rees because of their niece’s heartfelt appreciation of NU’s theatre studies program, its administrators and its students. The students receiving the study-abroad scholarships for study this summer at London’s Anglo-American University include the following theatre performance majors: Andrew Adolf, ’13, Keirsten Lynne Greifenstein, ’13, Celine Keefe, ’13, and Michael Wachowiak, ’13. Keefe and Wachowiak are also majoring in political science.

The third annual Suzanne P. Jones Scholarship was awarded to

Kerisa Bonville, ’13 Brianna Lanoye, ’13 Andrew Adolf, ’13

Keirsten Lynne Greifenstein, ’13 Celine Keefe, ’13 Michael Wachowiak, ’13 Preston Williams, ’15

continued on page 19


Editor-in-Chief:Steven Braddock

Director, Niagara University Theatre

Managing Editor:Ann Heuer

Office and Media Coordinator, Department of Theatre & Fine Arts

Editorial Consultants:Dr. Sharon Watkinson, Chair

Department of Theatre and Fine ArtsPeg Lacki

Office Coordinator/ Box Office Manager

Department of Theatre and Fine Arts

Contributing Writers:Steven Braddock

Michael FreedmanMary FurlongAdriano Gatto

Ann HeuerRachel M. Olszewski

Photographers:Chris Cavanagh

Michael FreedmanAnn HeuerFred Heuer

Charles LewisTim Marchinda

([email protected])Carl Modica

([email protected])Dino PetreraJohn Sauter

Justine UngaroGene Witkowski

Editing and Design:Lisa McMahon

Associate Director for Publications

Please e-mail story ideas to Ann Heuer at [email protected].

Deadline for submissions for the fall issue is

Oct. 1, 2012.


Face to face with Bro!Brother Augustine Towey, C.M., the beloved director emeritus of Niagara

University Theatre, would love to hear from NU alumni and friends –– especially since he celebrates his 50th anniversary as a Vincentian brother in June! You can send him a card or letter at his address:

Brother Augustine Towey, C.M. St. Vincent’s Seminary 500 E. Chelten Ave.

Philadelphia, PA 19144

Bro can also be contacted via Facebook or Skype. If you have the ability to skype, you can now contact Bro “face to face” by adding his address for skyping: Augustine.Towey

In March, NU’s Department of Theatre and Fine Arts held two prospective student scholarship auditions attended by students from the Western New York area, as well as Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The students participated in monologue, vocal, dance and stage combat auditions and had the opportunity to meet current theatre studies students, faculty and staff. Here, Megan Owens, center, and her mother, right, visit with Terri Filips Vaughan, left, interim chair of the department of theatre and fine arts/associate professor, dance/choreographer.

double major Celine Keefe, ’13, of Williamsville, N.Y. The scholarship is named in memory of a dear and generous friend of Niagara University Theatre who passed away several years ago. Prior recipients include: Alicia Ann Burning, ’12, and Andrea Gollhardt, ’12.

Also, the third annual Douglas E. Towey Memorial Scholarship was awarded to NU theatre performance major Preston Williams, ’15, of Rabun Gap, Ga. The scholarship was first

awarded to an NU theatre studies student in 2010 in memory of Helen 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. Prior recipients include: Alan Trinca, ’13, and Andrew Adolf, ’13.

continued from page 18


Two NU Departments Collaborate on Touring ProductionBy Michael Freedman, Assistant Director of Public Relations and Manager of Online Content

On a cool November morning, a couple hundred students from five Western New York high schools took in an unusual theatrical performance in Niagara University’s Gallagher Center. Judging by their reactions, itwas clear that the attendees were emo-tionally engaged by the one-hour play.

Most laughed. Some cringed in opposition of the characters’ conniv-ing behavior. Less than a handful of the teens stared with puzzled expres-sions, impressive considering they were watching a medieval farce transcribed during the 15th century.

La Farce de Maitre Pathelin (The Farce of Mr. Pathelin) was originally performed by itinerant companies in the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance. It is still a part of the French canon, although it is rarely performed because the antiquated

language and period allusions in the text do not always resonate with a contemporary audience.

Those challenges did not deter Dr. Henrik Borgstrom from writing a new adaptation of the text for Le Théâtre de la Chandelle Verte, a French-language touring company that he has been involved with since 2006. Dr. Borgstrom estimates that it took him about 16 months to research and write the new adaptation, a process that necessitated several visits to the Bibliothèque Nationale and medieval drama archives in Paris.

“The show’s script, especially the jokes, had to be adapted specifically for a 21st century audience made up primarily of non-native speakers of French,” explained the chair of Niagara University’s department of modern and classical languages. “Most editions of this play contain hundreds of footnotes to explain the 15th century references.”

The troupe brought Dr. Borgstrom’s adaptation to life at Niagara on Nov. 4, 2011, approximately five years after seeds for the show were first planted on Monteagle Ridge. It was then that Dr. Borgstrom, performing in an earlier production for Chandelle, sought out Marilyn Deighton, assistant professor of design/technology and costume technologist, for assistance in repairing an actor’s outfit.

Several months later, Dr. Borgstrom emailed Deighton to gauge her inter-est in designing costumes for a new show that he was working on, La Farce de Maitre Pathelin. Deighton originally declined the invitation citing scheduling restraints but, in true farce form, the show’s itinerary took an unexpected turn when one of its primary actors found out she was pregnant, postponing the show’s official opening until October 2011.

Over coffee, Dr. Borgstrom and Deighton reviewed elaborate sketches

for the costumes, which were intended to grossly exaggerate the actors’ body shapes in the style of medieval French puppet shows. It was also necessary that they be light enough to allow foracrobatic stage play and maintain theflexibility to fit into a suitcase for manageable transportation.

“For this I needed not just a talented tailor, but a skilled costume engineer,” noted Dr. Borgstrom.

Deighton devised a technique similar to Victorian bustles, but with the plastic boning sewn directly into the seams. She would then pattern the shaped pieces, using a hula hoop as a guide for the characters’ waistlines. The horizontal circumference of Dr. Borgstrom’s character, Guillaume Joceaulme, measured 88 inches. The exaggerated waistline for Pathelin was even rounder.

Two of the costumes were made out of silk noil (raw silk) because the mate-rial is light and responds well to dye-ing and laundering. Dr. Borgstrom’s costume was made out of a drapery material that is embroidered with a fleur de lis pattern and Pathelin’s out of a wooly knit for the texture and look of a ragged commoner’s garment.

“Needless to say, these costumes were totally different from anything I’ve ever done before,” Deighton admitted.

One sticking point: Deighton esti-mated that the costumes would cost at least $1,000 for materials alone, a steep price for a small theatre troupe.

A few weeks went by before Dr. Borgstrom returned to Deighton with a request that she co-sign an application for a summer research stipend from Niagara University’s Research Council. He suggested that half of the $5,000 award would be used to defray the expenses of hiring the actors while the other half would be used for costuming.

Dr. Henrik Borgstrom, chair of NU’s department of modern and classical languages, collaborated with Marilyn Deighton, assistant professor and costume technologist in the department of theatre and fine arts, for a production of the French comedy, La Farce de Maitre Pathelin. Right, Borgstrom plays the role of Guillaume Joceaulme, the Draper, in a fall 2011 production of the show at Niagara University. At left is Francine Conley-Scott as Guillemette.


When the application was approved in spring 2011, the project began to move ahead again, but challenges remained. For starters, two of the show’s three actors lived out of town, meaning that Deighton could build only Dr. Borgstrom’s costume until the other actors arrived for summer rehearsals.

“I had about 15 minutes to take measurements of the actors and then had to work with dress forms, but of course dress forms don’t move,” Deighton remarked.

By the time the actors, Francine Conley-Scott and David Whiteley, landed in Western New York,

Deighton had designed mockups for them to try on while they rehearsed.

“While they were rehearsing, I was able to see what worked and what I needed to change. I made changes to my patterns and garments right then and there,” Deighton said. “It was good for the actors, too, because it gave them an idea of what types of movements are going to work and not work.”

Despite a few additional obstacles that arose –– the bosom area for

one of Conley-Scott’s characters, for instance, had to be plentiful but removable for the actor’s shift to a male role (and washing) –– Deighton had the costumes finished in a week. (Deighton’s solution was to use a snap-on, makeshift bra that was filled with Styrofoam pellets, similar to those found in beanbags.)

“Since our production has no set at all, our costumes become the ‘set,’ and the exaggerated body shapes give the actors multiple opportunities for physical comedy,” said Dr. Borgstrom. “As you can imagine, Francine’s enor-mous faux bosom is an endless source of cheap gags. Also, because Marilyn

From left, Francine Conley-Scot as The Shepherd and Dr. Henrik Borgstrom as Guillaume Joceaulme, the Draper, in La Farce de Maitre Pathelin.

constructed my fat-suit with plastic and metal boning, somewhat like a Chinese lantern, I can literally crouch down into my costume, making it look like I am being swallowed up by my own gigantic body.”

Conley-Scott added that the inter-play between spoken word and physi-cality is part of the show’s charm. “Imagination is a muscle that you have to work, and we give the audience that responsibility,” she said. “I know that when I go to see theatre, I don’t neces-sarily want to be told what to think about everything that’s happening.”

In the fall of 2011, Le Théâtre de la Chandelle Verte performed La Farce de Maitre Pathelin over a dozen times at various universities, including NU, the University at Buffalo, Ithaca College, Hartwick College (Oneonta, N.Y.), the University of Scranton (Pa.) and Whittier College (Los Angeles, Calif.). A general national tour will get underway this fall with stops already set up in Virginia, Vermont, New York and Minnesota.

Editor’s Note: Dr. Henrik Borgstrom will direct Moliere’s classic comedy, The Learned Ladies, for Niagara University Theatre next spring. The production will be on stage at the Leary Theatre from March 21–26, 2013.

Above: This spring, a magical spell was cast when NU Theatre presented Shakespeare’s romantic comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. From left, the humorous mechanicals as played by Sean Craig, ’15, Alan Trinca, ’13, Fabio Del Carlo, ’13, Eric Madia, ’12, Billy Leonard, ’12, and Dino Petrera, ’12.

At left: When NU Theatre presented Little Women - The Musical this April, the spotlight was on Louisa May Alcott’s beloved March family. From left, three of the March sisters, played by Keirsten Lynne Greifenstein, ’13, Alicia Ann Burning, ’12, and Kerisa Bonville, ’13.

In the Spotlight: Little Women and A Midsummer’s Night Dream


You’re a Friend, But Are You a Friend of NU Theatre?

• The Friends of Niagara University Theatre is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assistingthe theatre by supporting student and faculty development, production costs and equipment purchases.

• Joining the Friends will not only help us continue to improve our new facility and futureproductions, but will also afford us the ability to bring guest mentors to work with our students.

• Our Friends members are “kept in the loop” with our biannual newsletter.

• Friends also receive discounts to all NU Theatre productions.

• Your generosity will help assure that our talented theatre students, faculty and staff will continue to benefit from your generous contributions.

• We need your help. To join, complete and return the form on the next page.

Thank you for your consideration and Friendship.

In the Spotlight: “Art”

What constitutes art? And why do some people have such dramatic reactions when it comes to viewing and interpreting modern art? From Feb. 16 – 19, in collaboration with the Castellani Art Museum, NU Theatre presented “Art” by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton. Alumnus Paschal Frisina III, ’00, directed the production.

Above, from left, Mary Boatman, ’12, Chelsey Zimmerman, ’12, and Steph Wattie, ’14. At right, from left, Chelsey Zimmerman, ’12, Mary Boatman, ’12 , and Steph Wattie, ’14.


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NU Theatre presented William Shakespeare’s romantic comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, from March 22 – April 1. From left, Mike Van Dyke, ’12, Grace Turner, ’13, Patrick J. Tighe, ’14, and Meghan Deanna Smith, ’12.

From April 19–29, NU Theatre presented Little Women –– The Musical. From left, Phoebe Wright, ’15, with Jeff Burruano, ’15; and Kathleen R. Denecke, ’14, with Tyler J. Duncan, ’15. Back row from left: Alex A. Garcia, ’14, with Brittany Gabryel, ’12; Preston D. Williams, ’15, with Kaylee LeRoy, ’15; and Matt Gilbert, ’15, with Alissa Sumerano, ’14.

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