Alumni Callboard

Penn State Theatre Reunion in NYC

May 2, 2006

Alan Teicher, Midge Maroni, Darrie Lawrence, Nancy Madden and Jerry James

The Penn State Theatre Reunion was held on 28 January. This particular edition of the Alumni Update was supposed to go out at the end of February, right after my visit to the West Coast. Unfortunately, I woke up on the morning of 26 February in a motel outside Sacramento and made an interesting discovery: I couldn't see out of my right eye. After some rather intriguing experiences, including an operation I will gleefully describe in ghastly detail to anyone evincing the slightest bit of interest, I can see again, and my eye is fine. Needless to say, this gave me an excellent excuse to put off this edition. Let me get to it now before I lose the sight in my other eye.

In response to many queries, I am happy to announce that I have
found Tom Spivey. Indeed, I could have found him eight months ago if only I had looked. Tom has returned to his home town, Emporia, VA, where his painting of a mural on the wall of a downtown building made the local paper. Although these stories were originally accompanied by pictures, by the time I got around to Googling Tom the stories had been cached, and the pictures were no longer available. Here are the stories.

Emporia News, 13 July 2005: The "Paint the Town" project sponsored by the Riparian Woman's Club is continuing into the downtown area. Work began yesterday when Tom Slippy and Brian Van Hall began removal of the old paint from the wall. Tom and Brian are members of the Main Street United Methodist Men
who have volunteered to help with this project. The wall on the Red Dog Gifts building will be the second wall to have a mural painted on it. "Paint the Town" is the name given to this Community Improvement Project of the local woman's club. Once all of the old paint is removed, the woman's club will then prime the wall and put a base coat of paint on the entire wall before the mural is started. Local artist, Tom Spivey, has designed the mural and is anxious to begin.

Emporia News, 2 August 2005: Last evening, Tom Spivey continued applying the final base coat in preparation for the mural that he will paint on the entire side of the Red Dog Gift Shop located on S. Main St. Helping Tom last evening was his mother, Virginia Spivey. They seemed to be having fun working together

Minutes of the Emporia City Council, 4 October 2005: Mayor Adams
recognized Tom Spivey for his efforts in improving the down town area. He stated that Mr. Spivey was responsible for the mural on South Main Street. He further stated that the Riparian Women's Club was also assisting with that project. This should mean that Tom can be reached at this address: Tom Spivey 313 Tillar St. Emporia, VA 23847

Now to matters of the Reunion... Steve Wolf was unable to come but wrote, "For the record -- Millie Ross appeared with me in Kelly Yeaton's Jim Dandy in Spring 1975. So Tom [O'Leary] is wrong about the date of her death."

Duke Durfee also couldn't make it: I regret to say that I will not be attending the reunion since this is always the busy season for me. I have just returned from designing and supervising the DaimlerChrysler corporate shows in Detroit, (car-centric readers of the NY Times will have seen our Jeep show on the cover of Tuesday's business section. There's a TV special on NAIAS the night of the reunion on NBC) and am now gearing up for another show in Chicago at the end of the month. Life is good and busy, with Susan's health back to normal after her heart attack a couple of years ago.

As Ed Lange noted, I did his tour to Sweden with 'Born Yesterday' and had a great time. How often do you get invited to a reception at a Castle? Other non-corporate work this year was a production of 'Vincent in Brixton' at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto. I'll be doing 'Anna in the Tropics' for them this year. I also saw the Bay Area production of 'Deathtrap' designed by Tom Benson. A great set, but unfortunately I did not see Tom. The design highlight of the year was Bill Bloodgood's work on 'The Belle's Stratagem' in Ashland. The Shakespeare festival unearthed and mounted this lost script by Hannah Cowley, a restoration playwright who wrote it as a woman's 'answer play' to 'The Beaux Stratagem'. Good fun, great cast and Bill's 'toy theatre' setting was just great. Loved the info
on Rick Lyon...saw his show at the Wynn while visiting Rick and Tracy Gray earlier this year. It's a great show for Vegas and sits nicely in the NY-style theater Rick G. designed for it. Regrets on again for missing the reunion and best wishes to all.

Rick Lyon, by the way, will be returning to the Broadway production of AVENUE Q on 2 May, after finishing the puppets for the London production. Let me lift this quote from Playbill.com: Rick Lyon, who designed all the puppets for Avenue Q, also portrays Nicky, Trekkie Monster and Bad Idea Bear #1 in the Jeff Marx-Robert Lopez-Jeff Whitty musical. A professional puppeteer for more than 25 years, Lyon's credits include "Sesame Street," "Bear in the Big Blue House," "Between the Lions," "Men in Black," the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" films and "Muppetvision 3D." Avenue Q marked his Broadway debut.

Carol Mansell wrote, "Wish Dick [Hobson, Carol's husband] and I could make it to NYC for the reunion. Have fun."

Mike Smanko had a good excuse: Sorry that I will once again miss our PSU get together. I will however be gainfully employed setting up VIRGINIA WOOLF at the Apollo Theatre in the West End. Actually I return the day after the event; so much for timing. I begin immediately on production of WELL, Lisa Kron's ''exploration'' (she doesn't want to call it a play) of wellness.

Other news: Jim Fineman made his annual December visit to see
shows and old friends. He is fine and has connected with Hagen & Montez King. Jim still lives in Manteo, NC and is a perpetual part of the Lost Colony Family.

Pat MacKay Bombace also sent an apologetic e-mail: I'm sorry I won't see you this year at the reunion -- I had to take up leadership of a Girl Scout Troop and Cub Scout Den to keep my kids socially active, 'cause Lord knows, they don't get it from me. Wow, what a varied and impressive group of humans Penn State University Theatre Department has incubated over the years!

Spelling explanation: When Pat McKay went to join Equity, she had to change the spelling of her last name to MacKay. I mention this because Ed. Lange spells his name as I just typed it. He writes, "If you hadn't noticed, I wasn't able to make the reunion. Hope it was a good time. So it goes."

All those pages of regrets, and now we're finally there! As always, corrections are invited... Nancy Madden thought that she would certainly win the trophy for traveling farthest to reach the jam-packed upstairs rooms at the Playwright Tavern on January 28. Nancy, who recently appeared in THE SUGAR BEAN SISTERS at San Jose Stage, had flown from Sacramento. ("Thank you, JetBlue!") Alas, she hadn't counted on David (Garfield) Fields, who'd flown from Los Angeles. David works for DreamWorks Home Video, where he terms himself "VP in Charge of Shrink Wrap." Nancy was accompanied by her husband, Terry Williams. They met at a spelling bee in 5th grade. Later on, she was a cheerleader and he was the school mascot. Thirty years later they met again ... and were married.

Somehow Tim Lorah managed to get the room quiet enough to make a pitch for contributions to the Helen and Lowell Manfull Theatre Scholarship. Helen was in attendance.

Bev Ettinger Beers teaches French and Spanish at Western Wayne HS in Honesdale, PA. She is also a grandmother. Midge Maroni is not a grandmother, but she does teach high school English in the NYC Public Schools.

Gary Silow, Esq, practices law in Jenkintown, PA.

Brian Franco interned with the Roundabout.

Jim Carnahan formed the Red Door Theatre Company, and will be producing EQUUS in the spring.

Carla White was nominated for an Emmy for her makeup on WARM SPRINGS. She also did the makeup for the notorious cover of Vanity Fair featuring three prominent and naked actresses. Currently she's working on THE GOOD SHEPHERD. One of
the actors she made up in this film was Keir Dullea. When they shot in the Adirondacks for a few days last fall Mia Dillon (Mrs. Keir Dullea) came up as well, and Carla had the pleasure of hanging out with her for a bit. (Mia went to PSU; Keir Dullea didn't.) Carla did Karen Shallo's makeup for her role as one of the dancing little old ladies in THE PRODUCERS. Carla gave me a picture of her and Karen, with Karen in full costume and makeup. Karen has informed me that if I publish this picture I will be killed... Karen also has a recurring role as a judge on "Law and Order."

Jeffrey Nauman was in PING PONG DIPLOMACY at 59E59, and also made a series of training films for Royal Caribbean International. He is a member of Partial Comfort Productions. For more info:
www.jeffreynauman.com

Alison Lee was a stage manager at Radio City Music Hall, her ninth season there.

Jason Pizzi also stage-managed at Radio City, besides doing the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

Kim Stolzfus was on tour with DORA THE EXPLORER, and also stage-managed at Radio City. She told me that no fewer than six PSU stage managers work there.

Patricia Grabb, another member of the stage manager corps, worked at Surflight Theatre last summer and then toured with MISS SAIGON. She is currently SM on the American Theatre Arts for Youth tour of THE WIZARD OF OZ.

Abraham Sparer played the priest in TONY AND TINA'S WEDDING, and will also appear in the Ivan Reitman film, MY SUPER EX-GIRLFRIEND.

Matt "Dup Dup" Doebler is conductor sub and first keyboard sub on WICKED.

Alan Teicher is in sales at Restoration Hardware.

Bradley Whyte is writing a one-man show, making a music CD and teaching music to preschoolers.

J. T. Arbogast is doing comedy improv with National Comedy Theatre.

Ephraim Lopez was in a reading at Manhattan Theatre Club, did an industrial and worked with the 52nd Street Project. He also appeared as Massasoit in SHAKESPEARE IN AMERICA in the 2006 Strawberry One-Act Festival at the Riant.

Nedra Gallegos appeared in the SAG indie film, ONCE UPON A FILM. She will be on tour with MISS JULIE with the Loaves and Fishes Company later this year.

Gillian Albinski's work with her Compact Broadway series may be seen at the website: www.compactbroadway.com

Julia Kent has been waitressing and getting acclimated while bouncing from sublet to sublet.

Heather Carino signed with an agent and was on hold to be a swing in WICKED.

Megan Asher had been working on THE GOOD SHEPHERD but recently moved to MICHAEL CLAYTON.

Abigail Flynn appeared in GUYS AND DOLLS at Northern Stage.

Jack Perry appeared in HAPPY HOUR. Marshall Mays of Kaleidoscope Theatre Company hopes to produce a show this June.

Bob Buckler continues as prop man on THE PRODUCERS, while Art Soyk is prop man on MAMMA MIA!

Sean Bradley appeared on "The Late Show with David Letterman" in his underwear.

Jim O'Connor directed THE CHERRY ORCHARD at South Carolina, where he continues on the faculty. He will direct PEG O' MY HEART at Utah Shakespeare this summer.

Mike Lewis appeared at the St. Louis Muny and Stages St. Louis.

Joe Abraham and Carla Hargrove are both in HAIRSPRAY. They told me news of others, including Steve Wilson, a member of the cast of LESTAT; James T. Lane, who will be playing Richie ("Gimme
the Ball") in the revival of A CHORUS LINE; and Marcus James, who's in RENT.

Rachel (Donnenberg) Hunter appeared in BEYOND THE VEIL at Where Eagles Dare Theater under her professional name, Rachel Rhodes.

Gretchen Lustig teaches autistic children. She also married Thom Woodley.

Kel Haney's bio threatened to fill my notebook. She worked at the Manhattan Theatre Club with Lynn Meadow, then served as assistant director to Joanne Woodward on A MEMBER OF THE WEDDING at the Westport County Playhouse, where (as a teaching artist) she directed NUTCRACKER. She was assistant
director to Charlotte Moore on FINIAN'S RAINBOW at the Irish Rep, then directed NAGASAKI at EATFest Spring 2006.

Debbie Damp had an American Express ad campaign in print, and had just finished sending Susan Lucci to prison on "All My Children."

Darrie Lawrence understudied Rosemary Harris in THE OTHER SIDE at Manhattan Theatre Club, appeared in the TACT production of BOTH YOUR HOUSES and was nominated for a Kevin Kline Award
for her work in the St. Louis Rep's production of THE RETREAT FROM MOSCOW. She is currently playing Carrie Watts in THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL at the Missouri Rep.

Don Hopper and Kevin Haulihan write for "Best Week Ever" on VH-1.

Joe Thompson is producing a five-song EP, "Unraveling Tassel." He
is writing tunes and trying to get work.

Stephen Laurie is working in the chemical industry. He is the younger brother of Hugh Laurie, star of "House."

Others I saw but didn't get quotes from include Kim Hubbard, Tom
O'Leary, Ben (Sisholtz) Sweetwood and Carrie Robbins, among many others.

I mentioned Tom Foral's painting in the last issue. We chatted at the Reunion and he mentioned some other good stuff going on his website, www.tomforal.com/t_home.html: Not just painting, but did you see the Broadway stuff? I do an annual graphic called "The Lights of Broadway", that includes every marquee of every show of that season. It is doing nicely at the Triton Gallery on 45th Street (right across the street from the Al Hirshfeld Theater), and from my site directly. Also a bunch of Celebrity Collages...AND I've just finished book of show posters(that combines Show Biz, design, humor and gossip), and am out to find a publisher--perhaps in 2006! JUST had a meeting this morning with an agent
who wants to show it to Abrams(the BEST~!!!!!!)

Charles Dumas, a man for all media, appeared in "Law and Order" on TV, was in THE DARKER FACE OF THE EARTH onstage at American Theatre of Actors, and is in the new John Leguizamo movie, WHERE GOD LEFT HIS SHOES, which will be seen in next year's Sundance Festival. Charles is also directing SEVEN GUITARS at Pittsburgh's Kuntu Rep, 18 May-3 June.

As always, our thanks to the Arts & Architecture Alumni Society and the tireless Joyce Hoffman for making this happen.

I had intended to include my West Coast trip in this edition, but we have already gone on long enough. There will have to be a second half very soon. I will mention that I directed a reading of THE DIET MONOLOGUES, a new musical, back in January. Keith Grant was kind enough to attend.

Let me end with this story from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, a tale of "a popular and somewhat avant-garde town bar, the My-Oh-My," its owner, Jack Sapia and Franco Harris. Them was days, Joxer, with the Calder Alley side of the My for rednecks and sometimes-topless dancers and the College Avenue side for gays and theatre people, who were sometimes one and the same. Scroll down for the mention: www.post-gazette.com/pg/06036/649771.stm

(The above has been edited for space and content by Jerry James, dramaturge of the Woodstock Shakespeare Festival and member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop.)