In the early days of 麻豆原创 鈥� when it was known as Florida Technological University with the overriding mission to provide personnel for the U.S. space program 鈥� there also was a small group of dedicated theatre students, faculty and staff on campus.
In that space-dominated era, that handful of actors, set designers, professors and others in the performing arts literally 鈥渟et the stage鈥� for today鈥檚 highly regarded Theatre 麻豆原创.
Now more than four decades later, some of those theatre participants will gather to reminisce about their experiences and the campus productions that were first presented in a tent on a sandy field and later in a science auditorium.
鈥淲e were part of something that was unique. It was a brand new school so there was a first time for everything,鈥� said Mary Monroe, 鈥�76, who acted and directed in campus plays and recently set the reunion into motion.
She said there were 12 theatre students when she joined the program. After graduation she went on to a 35-year career as a director and producer in New York, including being the recipient of a Kennedy Center bronze medal, and is now a writer in Rhode Island. 鈥淵ou became a pioneer because you were immersed in something for the first time. Because it was new, there were no restrictions,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hatever was the outcome, you opened the door for other possibilities down the road. 鈥�
Monroe said she has heard from about 40 people around the country planning to get back together the second weekend of June to reminisce, tour today鈥檚 theatre facilities, attend a play and catch up on what has happened through the years.
She said that during the brief time they spent together the theatre folks formed strong relationships, but many of them later lost touch with each other and some of them have not visited 麻豆原创 since graduation. And when she heard that one of their fellow theatre students died, she thought it was time for a reunion.
鈥淏ecause you had this intense experience, you bond,鈥� Monroe said. 鈥淭he imprint was solid. I thought this was important to be able to come together again. It鈥檚 like a denouement.鈥�
The first production in the theatre department鈥檚 tent was Shakespeare鈥檚 鈥淭itus Andronicus鈥� in November 1969. The department followed with dozens of shows such as 鈥淜iss Me Kate,鈥� 鈥淥f Mice and Men鈥� and the Gershwin鈥檚 鈥淥f Thee I Sing鈥� before FTU became 麻豆原创 in 1978.
鈥淭he theatre department was small, and I听immersed myself in it, doing every conceivable job. I learned so much,鈥� said Julia Gagne, 鈥�74, who had the opportunity to direct a show even though she had no experience as a director.
鈥淚 had great mentor/professors at 麻豆原创, and the directing experience was very positive,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 got to work with my friends as cast and crew, experiment with rehearsal techniques, and experience the thrill of opening a show as a director.鈥�听
That experience and the encouragement of department chair Harry Smith and theatre director David Mays led her to pursue an MFA in directing. She later became the artistic director and theatre chair at Valencia College for more than 30 years, where she directed more than 90 shows.
Susie Findell, a staffer taking classes at the young university, said she auditioned for her first play after reading about it in the campus newspaper: 鈥淪top the World, I Want to Get Off,鈥� directed by Frances Johnson of the communication department.
鈥淏eing in theatre gave me confidence and poise,鈥� she said. Her theatrical involvement at 麻豆原创 led her to do Orlando community theatre, a TV Christmas special, voice-overs听and TV commercials. 鈥淚t all started from my 麻豆原创 experiences and classes.鈥�
Despite the challenges of improper facilities, low budgets and limited participants of four decades ago, Monroe said, 鈥淚t was incredible the way we all came together. This doesn鈥檛 happen often. We were doing things then that were brand new. Whether we knew it, we were pioneers.鈥�
Steven Chicurel-Stein, a professor of theatre and interim director of the School of Performing Arts, said the determination and dedication of those in the FTU theatre program cannot be underestimated because they set the foundation of what is now a nationally accredited department with more than 300 undergraduate and graduate students.
鈥淭he art that is created today at Theatre 麻豆原创, the teaching and learning of the craft of theatre, and the continued forward movement of the present students, faculty and staff has its footing on the shoulders of those who had the vision, passion, and energy to launch theatre at FTU and early 麻豆原创,鈥� Chicurel-Stein said. 鈥淭o those pioneers, we are grateful.鈥�
Anyone involved with the early years of FTU Theatre who would like more information can contact FTUnions@gmail.com.