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Show PERSONALITY 4 Meet Larry West, the El ectr a director Nicole Gamble man in the Salt West is a Lake City acting community, not only for his directing skills but also for his passion, said fellow cast member and Westminster student Amanda Corbett. Huftalin, who hadnt worked with the director previous to Electra , described West well-respect- Staff Reporter The 45th annual Classical Greek Theatre Festival kicked off its month-lon- g run at Westminster College with the show Electra, directed by Larry West. The Classical Greek Theatre Festival (CGTF) is an annual event that opens at Westminster College and travels to other locations. The festival was created to introduce and sustain the appreciation of ancient Greek theatre, according to the mission statement on Westminsters website. CGTF incorporates music, dance and modernization into each show. Even though Electra is placed in ancient Greece, West was able to modernize it. I think its important to bring classic shows to a contemporary audience, said West, regarding the modernization. Im always looking to what will speak to a young audience. West has been directing for over 40 years and has now participated in the CGTF seven times. If youve seen Greek shows in the past, some are very traditional, West said. Mine tend to not be. Intimidated by seeing Electra ? No need to worry. Its significantly funnier than you might think, said Max Huftalin, a senior getting a BFA in theatre performance, who plays the role of Orestes. Dont get put off by the idea of it being Greek and the seventh show West has directed for the festival. A new Griffin ed as a phenomenal individual." Work with him if you ever have the chance to, in any capacity, Huftalin said. Not only did West create a new take on this ancient Greek story, he also left his actors with some advice. Ive learned a lot from him, said Corbett, a senior getting a BFA in theatre performance who took part in the chorus. Corbett was originally intimidated by West because hes a big deal around town." On the night before we opened, West said, The most important part of a show is the actors,1 Corbett said. We are here to tell these stories, and thats important. During the month of rehearsals for Electra, West was able to demonstrate how hard work can create success. Hes had an entire career off of this, said Allison Smith, a senior getting a BFA in theatre performance, who plays the role of Chrysothemis. You can make a living off of this. Its possible. Not only did the actors enjoy their time with West, but West enjoyed his time with them. I loved working with this cast, West said. They were just so supportive of each other. on campus: Sylvia O'Hara Colleges President Steve Morgan, played a vital role in selecting the executive director, and after interviewing multiple candidates, he determined OHara was the perfect fit for the job. We were really fortunate that she applied and we liked her immediately. She is not a rookie, she hits the ground running. I think our veterans will connect with her, said Morgan. Westminster Director of Corporate Relations Safia Keller, has been a part of this process since the beginning. She is a driving force behind acquiring funding for the center. Keller was on the tour of University of Utahs veterans center when she first met OHara. When asked about OHara, Keller said she immediately knew OHara had the personality to make Westminsters center succeed. OHara hopes the center will provide a place for veterans and military students to share similar experiences, and feel accepted. My favorite part is working with students, I think it is enjoyable to see students bloom. They learn the ropes, learn what they want to do, and excel, said OHara. Although the center officially opened on Friday, September 11, students have already connected with OHara. Sophomore and Marine Corps Reserve, Luke Childers, is excited to get to know OHara. I think she has been great, and is really hilarious too. Westminster Turning a difficult personal experience into an emotional cause has brought Sylvia OHara to Westminsters staff as the new Executive Director of the Center for Veteran and Military Services. The opening ceremony for Westminsters new Center for Veteran and Military Services was Friday, Sept. 11, at 1:00 p.m. in Walker Hall. I started by helping other military spouses through the deployment process, said OHara when talking about her first experience with helping veterans. She found it hard to find people who could relate to her situation, and because of this, she wanted to reach out to other military spouses as a support system. This was an unexpected path for OHara to take, but has also proven to be a rewarding path for her. OHara was appointed executive director for the new veteran and military center on Westminsters campus this past July. From a documentary shedding light on female veterans, to planning Veterans Day events at the University of Utah, OHara has an extensive background in helping veterans. Westminster has a great reputation, and I was impressed with how intentional and thoughtful they were at getting this center right, said OHara. fI Sylvia O Hara speaking on Sept. 11 at the grand opening of the Center for Veteran and Military Services. OHara is the inaugural director for the center and said she students to hopes that it will provide a place for veterans and military-affiliate- d grab a cup of coffee and be in an environment of understanding and inclusion. |