Department of Speech & Drama
This article describes the department of Speech & Drama. This and other articles may be found in the University Archives.
Citation for this article is: "Department of Speech & Drama" ECU Report, Volume 15, No. 5, September 1983.
Take one of the finest academic theatre facilities in the southeast, blend together an academically qualified faculty and 200 enthusiastic drama and dance students to create theatre served to full-house audiences several times a year, and you have the recipe for one of the most delightful offerings to be found in eastern North Carolina.
The department of drama is housed in Messick Theatre Arts Center (formerly Wahl-Coates School). The renovation of the complex, which includes McGinnis Auditorium was completed a year and half ago. Nearly perfect accoustics, comfortable seating, and excellent sight lines enhance the audiences' appreciation of performances.From the actors and technicians point of view, the facility is highly functional with the sophisticated computerized lighting control system to the stage four times larger than the previous one to shops for costumes, properties, and set construction.
"During the coming year the auditorium is going to be in use constantly, and that is the way it should be for it is just such an excellent facility," said Scott Parker, general manager of the ECU Playhouse and the Summer Theatre.
"In the near future we hope to host the North Carolina Theatre Conference which would bring theatre people from all over the state here for a week of play festivals and conferences," said Parker. This Conference includes all aspects of theatre: community, educational, children's, and black theatre arts.The statewide conference is preceeded by regional conferences and this year ECU wil host the competition of one-act plays for the eastern region.
The majority of the students who major in drama, speech, or dance intend to pursue a professional career and there have been many successes. "Most of our graduates are trying to make it in the professional world," said Edgar Loessin, chairman of the department."Not all in New York -- some graduates are in regional theatres, on and off Broadway, some are in stock companies, and some doing very well in broadcasting."
The philosophy of the department is to give the student professional training within the liberal arts concept and this can be achieved with an academically qualified faculty having professional experience as is the case at ECU.Loessin said, "Our graduates know this is not the end of their learning, for that goes on and on.It takes a long time to make it and so much of success is being in the right place at the right time."
Loessin said the theatre major differs from the music or design major in many instances."Usually by the time a student comes to college their talent has been pretty well defined, say as a pianist or a painter, but with acting there is a maturation process that depends so much upon working with yourself and most 18-year-olds are still growing personally. The general college atmosphere is a good place for an actor to prepare for the professional theatre."
Students learn technical theatre as well as acting through the four major theatre pieces produced by the ECU Playhouse during the academic year. Many of these students work in the Summer Theatre Program, which is a professional company of 100 actors and dancers.
Each year hundreds of high school students come to campus to see one of the Playhouse productions and during the coming year a similar number of elementary school students will view the Youth Theatre offering which was introduced last year.
There are occasions when the deparment takes a performance "on the road."During the spring break vacation to particpate in demonstrations and pefromances in high schools in the area.Dance instructor Pat Pertalion said, "We take a production that has been porgrammed and therefore already costumed and the schools provide a lunch and the gas money." Arts councils have written grass roots grants from the state to support these endeavors. Pertalion said, "Our students have been very well received and in the places we have gone three consecutive years, we have seen a growth in appreciation from our audiences."
The dance program began 10 years ago as a minor area of studies. Students now can major in dance with a built in drama minor. Each year there is a "Day of Dance" when world-acclaimed artists conduct master classes.Ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance classes are popular with students other than dance and drama majors."Our classes always close early in registration," said Pertalion.There are four full-time dance instructors and one part-time.
Last year a program was instituted to bring dance teachers from the area here for a day of workshops. This was well received and many who participated recommended it be expanded to a two-day workshop.
ECU graduates in dance are involved in many careers such as private teaching, teaching in schools or recreation programs, or with professional companies."Our students learn what good training is and will teach this, and people will gain more appreciation for good dance," said Pertalion.
