In the early days of UCF 麻豆精品 S� when it was known as Florida Technological University with the overriding mission to provide personnel for the U.S. space program 麻豆精品 S� 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 麻豆精品 S渟et the stage 麻豆精品 S� for today 麻豆精品 S檚 highly regarded Theatre UCF.
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.
麻豆精品 S淲e were part of something that was unique. It was a brand new school so there was a first time for everything, 麻豆精品 S� said Mary Monroe, 麻豆精品 S�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. 麻豆精品 S淵ou became a pioneer because you were immersed in something for the first time. Because it was new, there were no restrictions, 麻豆精品 S� she said. 麻豆精品 S淲hatever was the outcome, you opened the door for other possibilities down the road. 麻豆精品 S�
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 麻豆精品 S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 UCF since graduation. And when she heard that one of their fellow theatre students died, she thought it was time for a reunion.
麻豆精品 S淏ecause you had this intense experience, you bond, 麻豆精品 S� Monroe said. 麻豆精品 S淭he imprint was solid. I thought this was important to be able to come together again. It 麻豆精品 S檚 like a denouement. 麻豆精品 S�
The first production in the theatre department 麻豆精品 S檚 tent was Shakespeare 麻豆精品 S檚 麻豆精品 S淭itus Andronicus 麻豆精品 S� in November 1969. The department followed with dozens of shows such as 麻豆精品 S淜iss Me Kate, 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S淥f Mice and Men 麻豆精品 S� and the Gershwin 麻豆精品 S檚 麻豆精品 S淥f Thee I Sing 麻豆精品 S� before FTU became UCF in 1978.
麻豆精品 S淭he theatre department was small, and I听immersed myself in it, doing every conceivable job. I learned so much, 麻豆精品 S� said Julia Gagne, 麻豆精品 S�74, who had the opportunity to direct a show even though she had no experience as a director.
麻豆精品 S淚 had great mentor/professors at UCF, and the directing experience was very positive, 麻豆精品 S� she said. 麻豆精品 S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. 麻豆精品 S�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: 麻豆精品 S淪top the World, I Want to Get Off, 麻豆精品 S� directed by Frances Johnson of the communication department.
麻豆精品 S淏eing in theatre gave me confidence and poise, 麻豆精品 S� she said. Her theatrical involvement at UCF led her to do Orlando community theatre, a TV Christmas special, voice-overs听and TV commercials. 麻豆精品 S淚t all started from my UCF experiences and classes. 麻豆精品 S�
Despite the challenges of improper facilities, low budgets and limited participants of four decades ago, Monroe said, 麻豆精品 S淚t was incredible the way we all came together. This doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 happen often. We were doing things then that were brand new. Whether we knew it, we were pioneers. 麻豆精品 S�
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.
麻豆精品 S淭he art that is created today at Theatre UCF, 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 UCF, 麻豆精品 S� Chicurel-Stein said. 麻豆精品 S淭o those pioneers, we are grateful. 麻豆精品 S�
Anyone involved with the early years of FTU Theatre who would like more information can contact FTUnions@gmail.com.