It’s taking a bit longer to get into the building these days.  Many Drama faculty members lost their prime Culbreth lot parking spaces to the construction projects (see the images) surrounding our building. I would love to report to you that these images depict the early construction phase of the Ruth Caplin Theater but instead what’s shown in the accompanying photographs are the excavations for the Ruffin Hall Studio Art building and the Arts Grounds parking garage.  Completion of the parking garage is scheduled for early '08 and will practically offer our patrons curbside parking next to the Culbreth and Helms theatres.  The current parking woes led HRT Producing Artistic Director Bob Chapel to “go dark” for summer ’07 season; but Heritage definitely will be returning in summer ’08. 

Construction of the studio art building in the Culbreth parking lot (click for larger image)

Recently the Board of Visitors approved moving ahead with the Gateway project – UVa News reports that “...the project, which will cost $118 million, would contain a performing arts space (future), a museum, a student residential college, studios and a dining hall. It will replace the Cavalier Inn and extend from the corner of Emmet Street and Ivy Road to the railroad tracks on Emmet Street and along Ivy Road in front of the parking garage.” With all of the new projects surrounding our building we eagerly look forward to that day when attention will turn to the planned renovations for the Drama building – perhaps the final act in the university’s commitment to building a magnificent center for the arts.

I can report, though, that there are some significant changes occurring inside the Drama building.  New technical director Steven Warner reports in this newsletter that a number of improvements are being made to our building, which is now over 30 years old.  Even the hydraulic lift system (“Hydro”) is scheduled for replacement with a state of the art electrical winch system. Read more in Steven’s article.

Construction adjacent to the Helms Theatre (click for larger image)

At the time of this newsletter’s publication date our spring season is in full gear, beginning with The African Company Presents Richard III directed by our new Associate Professor of Cross Cultural Performance, Theresa M. Davis.  We welcomed the African Company playwright Carlyle Brown to the Feb 16 performance.  Following the show Mr. Brown conducted a talk back with the audience and then met informally with company members at a reception in the Helms Theatre.

Oedipus Tyrannus appears in the Helms theatre the week following the Ides of March. Betsy Tucker directs, with choreography by our new instructor of Dance Rose Pasquarello Beauchamp. The spring season concludes when the rock musical Hair, returns to the Culbreth stage, directed by Thadd McQuade. I remember seeing the first touring production of Hair in Chicago years ago –so many years ago that I barely remember the experience – but those of us who made it through that era and have any recollection what the 60’s were like – weren’t really there – or so we’re told. I believe that this iteration of Hair will keep its focus in the present. 



Spring term ends on a rather bittersweet note when we bid farewell to our longtime friend and colleague Martin Beekman, who will retire at the end of term. I join with my predecessors in acknowledging that we owe Martin a huge debt of gratitude for bailing us out time and again. Adios Martino – you’ve left your mark on this department in so many positive ways.

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