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| Francis X. Kuhn, Department Chair | 
These are exciting times for theatre at SUNY Brockport. We've been re-energized by the accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST). That “stamp of approval” means an enormous amount to our faculty, staff and students.
Much is new in the department, including a creative drama workshop by Dr. Oh Kon Cho, and a new season already in rehearsal. Our first production of the year, Stop Kiss, directed by Dick St. George, opens October 6 with an all-student cast, a student costume designer, and scene design by guest designer, Scott Dahl. It’s the department’s 40th anniversary, and we’re planning a bash at the end of February. Of course, we are continuing our internship and guest artist program with Geva Theatre Center and our noontime lecture series on theatre, now titled Stage Directions. I think you'll agree Theatre at Brockport is thriving at 40! |
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Last March, the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) granted accreditation to the Department of Theatre. This followed a peer-review process that included a year-long self-study by the department, and an evaluation visit by national representatives. NAST is the accrediting agency for theatre and theatre-related disciplines. It establishes strict standards for the knowledge and skills necessary to develop academic and professional competence. This accreditation assures our current and prospective students that we offer a high-quality theatre education. |
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This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Department of Theatre and of the Tower Fine Arts Center. In honor of the anniversary, the department is planning a celebration on Saturday, February 24, during the first weekend of the department’s Festival of Ten.
Keep the date open, and watch for more information later this fall! |
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Last winter the call went out for submissions for the department's fifth biennial festival of 10-minute plays, the Festival of Ten, scheduled for spring of 2007. We received 394 scripts from across the nation. All summer, these scripts have been reviewed and those with the highest scores are then given in-house readings, where they are scored again. Finally, out of 20 finalists, the faculty chooses 10 scripts for production in the Festival of Ten, opening February 23, 2007. The department will host a Playwrights Symposium with workshops and guest speakers during the second weekend of the festival. |
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Gary Musante, the Department of Theatre’s technical director and lighting designer, has re-designed the department’s Web site. It now includes up-to-the-minute news from the department, updates on alumni, and an archive of photos from past productions. |
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This September, the Department of Theatre offered a creative drama and puppetry workshop for local second and third graders. The workshop was staffed by Dr. Oh-Kon Cho’s creative drama practicum students, and met on three Saturdays, offering the children an opportunity to explore creative ways to tell stories. |
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This fall, the Department is hosting Dr. Csilla Bertha, an International Faculty Fellow from the University of Debrecen in Hungary. She is teaching a course this semester on Eastern and Central European drama. Dr. Bertha’s residence at Brockport is part of a new exchange program: Brockport Professor Dick St. George will travel to Debrecen as a guest professor in the spring. |
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