OCR Text |
Show September 29, 1969 THE SIGNPOST Page 5 NEW SIGNPOST DEADLINES: NEWS ARTICLES TUES. or THURS CLUB NEWS MON. or WED. PICTURES WED. or FRI. LETTERS-TO-THE EDITOR TUES. or THURS. All News or pictures ideas welcome ftoivey says theatre vital part of corapos BY BRAD Q. POST "The theater is a vital part of any alive campus." So states Dr. T. Leonard Rowley, Chair, man of the Weber' State Theater Arts Department. T. LEONARD Rowley heads the Weber State theatre department which is one of the most active groups on campus. Each year the theatre department presents to students and the public a variety of studentproductions. Dr. Rowley feels that the college theater also plays an im. portant role in the community. "The theater sets to a degree the intellectual awareness in the community, bringing to that community a vehicle for this aware-ness to be displayed." Dr. Rowley has been with the faculty here at Weber State since 1955. He was named acting chair, man of the theater arts depart, ment in 1961, prior to taking a leave of absence to teach and work on his doctorate at the University of Minnesota." He return, ed to Weber State for the 1964. 1965 school year and resumed his position as Acting Chairman. One year later he was named Chairman of the Theater Arts Department. The University of Minnesota awarded him his Ph.D. in 1967. Dr Rowley also serves as Co-Director, along with Dr. Herbert Cecil, of the Weber State Theater. Dr. Rowley feels that there ex-ists a definite "polarization of theater majors" carrying the greater part of the load in the college productions. Dr. Rowley' indicated that this abundance of theater majors "isn't neces. sarily a good sign." Attracting a greater, more diversified student participation in productions is one of the greater concerns of Dr. Rowley. "I am certain that there are hundreds of students who are interested in the theater, but feel that they can't take part In productions unless they are "The Seagull" to open '69-70 Weber theatre stage season maioring in theater." Frequently there is a lack of acting experience among non-theater students, but Dr. Rowley states that this isn't necessarily a hinderance. "Many students have come to the auditions with no acting experience whatsoever, and walked away with the lead parts." On the subject of theater sup-port at Weber State, Dr. Rowley said that often the first few nights of a run have a poor attendance here. "The play is sort of a living thing.-until word of mouth reaches people, we have poor attendance. Our last few nights a,re usually thebest.-often capacity crowds." Dr. Rowley wishes to remind students to watch for try-out announcements posted through, out the campus. "Many students, are frightened and don't come to the auditions because they don't want to try-out 'cold' in front of people." Students who feel this familiar stage fright should get in touch with the director and ask for a private audition. Rehearsals are held almost entirely in the evenings, so most students won't have to miss classes. They usually last about two-four hours and most students find time to study during the rehearsals. Dr. Rowley en. courages newcomers, "the rewards of participating in a theater production will more than compensate for the time spent rehearsing," he said. ' The Weber State Theater will open its 19694970 stage sea. son with the presentation of An. ton Checkhov's "The Seagull." The play will be presented on the nights of Oct. 7 through Oct. 11, with a separate matinee on the last day. The Russian play written in the 1890's, was coldly received by the Mocscow theater audiences when first presented in 1896. Some years later, when it reappeared with the newly formed Moscow Art Theater, it was cheered a triumph for Chek-hov and Russia. "The Seagull" soon became the symbol for the realistic theater. The play is labeled a comedy by Chekhov, but one might be misled by such a description. Often audiences find themselves stifling their laughter as they wipe the tears from their eyes. The tone of the play lies delicate, ly between tragedy and comedy. Perhaps what audiences find most interesting with the play is the "tons of love" complica-ting the lives of four men and six women, in four different tri-angles of involvement. "Life is a jumble," Chekhov explained, "in which the profound existed along with the trivial, the great with the insignificant, the tragic with the ridiculous, and that is the way it ought to be represent, ed on the stage." Chekhov was concerned with the inner life, and he makes the emotional life of this small group trans, parent to the audience- deep, irrational longings, regrets, enthusiasms, and above all, love, a love whose object is almost unattainable. The array of interesting char-acters and the range of sub-telties of emotion expressed throughout the play demand ac. tor's and actresses of outstanding ability. Director John EL zey has selected a cast that has the stage experience and acting authority needed to meet this challenge. Regular theater, goers will recognize the names of many of these seasoned per. formers. These include: Pat Farr, Deanna Meyer, Judy Jones, Stanely Wolf, Larry West, Bill Allred, David Emmert, Alan Meyer, Richard Smith, Allan Ly-kins, Sharon Elzey, Tom Wertz, and introducing Shelly Price. It is suggested that all in. terested students and faculty members wishing to see this play should contact the Theater Ticket Office in ad- vance for ' seats. The play will be presented In the Cellar. Cost of tickets is $1 with student I.D., and $2 without. This year the Theater Department is offering special reduced rates for students and faculty interested in attending the first two performances, Oct. 7 and Oct. 8, and for the matinee Oct. 1. State committee members chosen Bill Washburn and Toney King have been selected by Colonel Peay, Utah state director of the Selective Service, for member, ship in the Selective Service Youth Advisory Council. Washburn, Weber State Legis. lative Vice-President, was nam-ed'chairman of the group. Ton. ey King is the president of the Black Student Union. The committee is composed of nine members picked from campuses across the state. They will meet regularly in the Selec tive Service headquarters in Salt Lake City. Two members of the committee will be chosen to go to Washington to confer with the President. Before offering the suggestions, the group will make a study of all aspects of the system. "The thing I'm glad of," said Washburn, "is that we are not a rubber stamp group. We are not there to give student sup. port to the draft system." Washburn also noted that any developments which might be of interest would be reported. - v . ... 1 ) U M : i -1 r iS. a Y ." 1 |