Nellie Bransfield
( Acting )
Liz Constabile and Tyler Dobrowsky

George Bernard Shaw
( Best Essay by a Graduating Senior in Dramatic Literature or Film. )
Beau A. Dagenais
for his essay
"Let me see life the way it is so I'll know what to do with it": Illusion, Reality, Satire, and Autobiography in Guare's Rich and Famous

Past Awards

      Theatre Majors Lauren Checki, Liz Constabile, Bill Conway, Tyler Dobrowsky, Chris Lops,and Melissa Wojciechowski will receive their BA's on Friday, May 23, in traditional ceremonies on Fitton Field.

      The Department extends our congratulations to all and wish them all the best. 

2002-2003 Highlights

On September 17, 2003, Professor Rynders received The Rev. Raymond J. Swords, S.J., Faculty Medal. Named after the 28th president of the College, it is designed to honor members of the faculty who have served at Holy Cross for 25 years. Nine other members of the Holy Cross faculty were recognized. (see Public Affairs Feature Story)

 The Fenwick season opened in November with a stunning production of Tennessee Williams's The Night of the Iguana. Directed by Steve Vineberg, majors Tyler Dobrowsky '03, Liz Constabile '03, and Emily Strong '04 delivered subtle performances, complemented by Nick Coccoma's '06 touchingly vulnerable portrayal of Nonno. Both Tyler and Emily were invited to the KC/ACTF Irene Ryan Acting Competition in late January on the strength of their performances. The production was mounted with the aid of 81 students, staff, and faculty. William Rynders's design of the Costa Verde Hotel was ably realized by the Practicum students with the help of Katy Hallee and scenic painter Nancy Schubert, who created a glowing moon for the third act. The on-stage rain storm by Professor Rynders in the second act was most memorable. Over 800 people attended the production and the adjudicator from KC/ACTF was highly complimentary.

CHITRA performed on the Fenwick stage on February 7th and 8th before going to the Tsai Performance Center in Boston on March 8th and 9th. This revival was part of the FleetBoston Celebrity Series and Boston's performances were praised in The Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and The Boston Phoenix. CHITRA is a revival of Professor Kremer's fifth collaboration with Shirish Korde, Chair of the Department of Music, as composer and was originally commissioned by Boston Musica Viva. A snowstorm kept the Fenwick audience small on opening night, but the house was full for the second performance. The program involved 35 participants and had an on-campus audience of 310.

Michael Baron brought his quirky sensibility to the Fenwick stage as the director of the swashbuckling costume drama Cyrano de Bergerac. Costume designer Kurt Hultgren was challenged to design and build over one hundred elegant and detailed costumes for eighty roles. Innovative casting of 39 actors included women in men's roles and vice versa, hearing impaired students using sign on stage, and minorities in the roles of 16th-century French characters. Combat choreographer Craig Handel conducted a workshop and numerous fight calls to stage the battle scene in the fourth act. A minimalist set was enhanced by another of Nancy Schbert's luminescent moons. Performances in late March and early April involved 98 participants and was seen by an audience of 812. The opening night performance of Cyrano de Bergerac was a benefit for the Burncoat Middle and High Schools Save Our Fine Arts (SOFA).

The final production in the Fenwick season was the Dance Concert on April 24. In what was the most professionally produced Dance Concert to date, Professors Daniel McCusker, Kathleen Ridlon, Lynn Kremer, and William Rynders involved students from five classes. In total, 85 participants entertained an audience of 215. Dances ranged from Isadora Duncan recreations by Sandra Zarotney and choreography based on George Balanchine's "Symphony in C" by Carol Somers to original choreography by Daniel McCusker, Kathleen Ridlon, and student Amanda Cormier. Kamikaze Acting contributed two numbers choreographed by students, "Rhythmic Grace" by Alpha Gingrich and Kristin Wheeler and "Aballetinonereallylongact" by John Keller, Katie O'Callaghan, and Michelle Spezia. The Lighting Design class designed for many of the pieces, Katy Hallee for the remainder, and Kurt Hultgren provided costumes.

Guest artists in dance are brought to campus throughout the year as part of the Holy Cross Dance Collective, an initiative by Professor McCusker to introduce students to a wide range of choreography and performance. This year, Irene Lutts taught ten ballet classes in the fall, Myrna Packer and Art Brigman came from New York to perform in The Pit in October, Leah Bergmann brought yoga to campus in November, and Sandra Zorotney and Carol Somers choreographed for the spring Dance Concert. Irene Lutts also returned to campus to coach Amanda Cormier for the spring concert. The Holy Cross Dance Collective is in its fourth year.

The Gamelan Gita Sari also enjoyed a successful season. In Desak Made Suarti Laksmi's third year at the College of the Holy Cross, both the fall and spring concerts were well attended with 195 in the fall audience and 210 in the spring. The fall concert involved 45 students and the spring, 47. Professor Suarti Laksmi invites a number of guest artists to campus to participate in these concerts, expanding the repertoire of the gamelan and the dancers. This year, guests artist included I Nyoman Catra, I Nyoman Saptanyana, Ida Ayu Ari Candrawati, Ni Gusti Ayu Armini, Putu Bagus Krisna Saptanyana, Kadek Bayu Saptanyana, Nyoman Triyana Usadhi, Cynthia Laksawana, and Chris Romero. Gamelan Gita Sari also took part in the 2003 Odyssey Series department of Family Academic Conference held at the college in March.

- Joan Townsend