The Nineteen Eighties
In the 1980’s and early 1990’s the department went through several dynamic changes. With the support of the Theatre faculty, led by Professors Moulton and Josal, the university’s Dance Program was invited to join Theatre Arts, creating a new Department of Theatre Arts and Dance. After the tragic death of Nadine Jette Sween, who had led the Dance Program and its fight for survival, Barbara Barker became head of the program within the new department. Despite extremely poor physical facilities in Norris Gym on the East Bank, under Barbara’s leadership and the excellent and dedicated faculty, the Dance Program surged forward, attracting the support of donors such as John and Sage Cowles, who contributed the funding for the Cowles Chair. This support in the form of a visiting residency for teachers/choreographers of international repute allows the program to bring in several artists in the course of a year to work with students. The program began to attract national attention with its excellence. Barbara Reid succeeded Wendell Josal as Department Chair and became the first woman to chair a Big 10 Theatre Department. And Robert Moulton served as Artistic Director for the University Theatre
Actor training in the department also underwent re-evaluation and revision. The old BFA Program had been discontinued in 1974 because the department felt it could not adequately provide excellence in both BFA and MFA programs in acting. At the same time, decisions were made to upgrade the MFA and move forward with the department priority to revitalize the cooperative arrangements our graduate programs had enjoyed with the Guthrie Theatre since its founding. With the support of new Guthrie Artistic Director Garland Wright, University President Nils Hasselmo, the financial support of the University and the Mahadh Foundation, a new agreement was reached with the Guthrie in 1989. This agreement included joint recruiting of MFA students, Professional Theatre Internships for 50% of the graduating MFA actors, regular workshop classes led by Guthrie company members and company members serving as mentors to the MFA students.
These were difficult financial times for the University and particularly for the College of Liberal Arts. Departments were being asked to downsize; there were years of 0% salary increases. Nevertheless, the department planned strategically and continued to attract gifted students, providing excellent education and training in theatre and dance. New efforts were made to identify our alumni and fund-raising began in earnest to increase support for the Showboat, the Dance Program and student Scholarships. Lobbying efforts to move the faculty offices and department administration out of Middlebrook Hall and into Rarig Center began.
Several honored and legendary faculty and staff retired in the 80’s and early 90’s: Arthur H. Ballet, renowned theatre renaissance man who introduced thousands of students to the joys of theatre history and literature and managed the Office for Advanced Drama Research for years, giving new playwrights an opportunity to get their works before the public; Virginia Fredricks, who served not only the department as Director of Undergraduate Studies but the college as Associate Dean for two terms; her colleague in the oral interpretation of literature, David W. Thompson, who acted, directed, and served as chair of the department through several interesting years of evolution; Bob Moulton, who led the stage movement program for years, never to be forgotten for his annual May Day celebrations, Showboat productions, and Dance and Prance performances; the absolutely unique Wesley Balk who inspired and released generations of actors and singers; Glen Gadberry, theater historian and Director of Graduate Studies, who gave the wittiest orientation speeches on record; Jean Congdon, the last faculty member of the nationally known Oral Interpretation Program, and dedicated Director of Undergraduate Studies; Charles Nolte, renaissance man: playwright, actor, director, historian, whose legend continues, and who gave all of us the gift of a memorable performance in The Visit before he officially retired; Wendell Josal, who served the department admirably as scene designer, Director of Graduate Studies, and Chair; Lee Adey, Technical Director, mainstay of the directing program, and Director of Undergraduate Studies; Kent Neely our superb Managing Director who moved on to greater things in the academic world; Mrs. Jean Darling, department executive secretary, who knew everything and who ran us all.
New faculty and staff arriving in the 80’s and early 90’s included Lou Bellamy in Directing, Barbara Barker in Dance, Stephen Kanee in Directing, Michal Kobialka in History and Theory, Nancy Houfek in Voice and Acting, Marge Maddux and Maria Cheng in Dance, Nels Hennum in Movement and Stage Combat, Martin Gwinup as Technical Director and Sherry Wagner as Managing Director of University Theater. The incomparable Pam Mitman moved from Rarig as University Theater Secretary to Middlebrook Hall as Department Administrator.
In the mid 90’s the department was ready to move forward under the new leadership of Lance Brockman, and a new Dean in the College of Liberal Arts, Stephen Rosenstone. Barbara Reid joined the college administration as Associate Dean for Planning. [BR]
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