The Next Century
2000-2001
The first five years of the 21st century saw a large number of renovations to Rarig Center. Beginning in 1999, we received some generous support for space renovation and improvements, technology upgrades, and new equipment from the college. Thirty-year-old theatre dimmers are being replaced theatre-by-theatre with dimmer-per-circuit technology and new lighting control consoles are being integrated into the systems. Sound has moved into digital technology and all theatres have received upgrades – no more tape decks or editing blocks. New seats have been installed in the Arena, Thrust, and Proscenium theatres and issues of access have been addressed. The Xperimental also received new upholstered seats with arms to use in whatever configuration is desirable. A huge campus upgrade of the fire and life safety systems had sprinkler systems installed throughout all offices, classrooms and lobby areas (the theatres already had them). The Ticket Office and 110 administration offices received their own air-conditioning system, while all faculty offices received unit air conditioners. When the building was built, the prevailing idea was that rooms with windows did not require central air-conditioning, so many spaces where personnel work 12 month of the year had no air-conditioning. That has now been rectified. The old naugahyde lobby furniture was replaced with sleek wooden benches, cubes, chair grouping pieces and some new hangings. The TA pod in 506 traded with an acquired shop space from television/media folks (508) so we could gain a large classroom in Studio A and adjunct sound studio. Room 275 (the design room) finally got a complete upgrade: new orientation of the new furniture, new paint, improved lighting, and several computer stations for sound design as well as general use for costume, scenery, and lighting classes.
All in the Timing directed by guest Peter Moore in the Thrust led off the season. With brilliant wordplay by Daniel Ives (a playwright with a love affair of words) the cast presented the several scenarios with brief comic zany interludes to change and set the scene. Anna Deavere Smith’s Fires in the Mirror directed by Kamesha Jackson followed in the Arena. UDT’s production of in the mix included “Excerpts from There is a Time” (Jose Limón reconstructed by Risa Steinberg), “Poemas de Amor”-premiere (Ginger Farley), “Democracy” (Doug Varone reconstructed by Adriane Fang), “Moonlight” (Shapiro and Smith), and “All in a Day’s Work”-premiere (Joe Chvala). The “X” season included John Doe, an original adaptation of Christopher Durang pieces; Savage Love, a performance poetry piece by Sam Shepard and Joseph Chaihin; and The Futurist Project, a collection of works known as the sintesi performing in the Thrust.
A Dream Play directed by Aleksandra Wolska finally got its chance in the Proscenium (it was slated to open the Rarig Center originally). The production featured a large raked disk floor with a slanted projection surface hovering above (designed by Lance Brockman). Martin Gwinup’s multi-media class developed the variety of digital still and moving projections used in the production. And we found out how sensitive the new door smoke detectors were when the hazer used during the show set off the alarms two nights in a row during tech rehearsals. Produced as part of the international Strindberg Symposium “Staging Strindberg in the 21st Century” in February, this production of A Dream Play was another unique addition to the history we have of producing this play, thanks in large part to the innovative and unique approach to the script taken by the director. An evening of Ionesco one-acts The Lesson and The Bald Soprano directed by Pam Joyce in the Arena followed. The fire chief emerging from a very large dinner table was a huge surprise for the audience (and a test of Scott Reynolds’ endurance). Pirandello’s Emperor Henry IV ended the spring season in the Thrust. Directed by Jen Blackmer it reflected on reflection and though we seemingly tried, no one died. The X season in spring included Conundrum Circus Theatre, an original 
dance/theatre project directed by Joelle Worm and Tara Alex; Howard Barker’s Judith directed by Natalya Baldyga; narcissus and the legends of glamour directed by Jeffrey Bleam; and the MFA-Directing One-Acts by Julie McGarvie, Alice Moore, and Maggie Scanlan (the last MFA-Directing class before the program went on hiatus). We continued the On the Edge series with number III – new works by Ruth Zaporah and Kari Margolis. The Student Dance Coalition (SDC) performed in April.
Judy Bartl joined us as the coordinator for the BFA-Actor Training Program. Bryan C. Moore became the Scene/Prop Shop Supervisor for the year. Pearl Rea continued her appointment as Light Lab Supervisor. Nora Jenneman replaced Matt Jensen in the Dance office. James Norwood resigned to continue teaching in humanities. We convinced the college that we needed more space and the rental of the People’s Center Gym began. We added sound deadening panels and acquired some black velour drapes being tossed by an alum and hung them on the walls to deaden the reverb. The space is used mostly by dance composition students and tap/ballroom classes.
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