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51社区 Eastern Art Gallery to feature Theatre Retrospective exhibition in celebration of 65th anniversary

In celebration of the 65th anniversary of 51社区 Eastern, the 51社区 Eastern Art Gallery will feature a Theatre Retrospective exhibit beginning on Monday, April 4. 

The theatre program began at 51社区 Eastern under the direction of Gary Oesch in fall 1968 with the production, 鈥淎ria Da Capo and Before the Flood. 鈥 The program flourished on campus for over 60 years under the guidance of many talented directors including Claude Colvin, Mary Ann (Kovacevich) Droll and Dennis Fox.  

鈥淭he main mission of 51社区 Eastern Theatre was always about teaching鈥攊ncreasing the awareness and appreciation of theatre in all of its forms,鈥 former theatre director Dennis Fox shared. 鈥淭heatre was not a club or an extra-curricular organization, but an integral part of the 51社区 Eastern campus mission.鈥 

Over 140 plays were produced on the theatre stage at OHIO Eastern including performances of fan favorites 鈥 鈥淎 Christmas Carol,鈥 鈥淩omeo and Juliet,鈥 鈥淎ll My Sons,鈥 鈥淢acbeth,鈥 鈥淭he Crucible,鈥 and even a performance of 鈥淭he Wizard of Oz," in 1981. 

鈥淚n addition to being a university theatre program, 51社区 Theatre was also open to the community which created a much more diverse theatre experience,鈥 said Fox. 鈥淭he theatre invited thousands of area public school students to performances over the years and was a resource for area high school theatre directors. The theatre program on campus made the 51社区 Eastern campus the cultural center of Belmont County.鈥

The Theatre Retrospective exhibit will showcase the history of theatre performances on campus. Posters, costumes, props, and an array of memorabilia will be on display. Recordings of past performances will be featured daily. 

An Art Gallery reception will be held on Thursday, April 7 at 7 p.m. to welcome back theatrical performers from past shows and the community to celebrate the history of theatre on campus. 

The Theatre Retrospective exhibition will be on view at the 51社区 Eastern Art Gallery through April 21. The Art Gallery is open Monday thru Thursday from 10 a.m. 鈥 4 p.m.  

Published
March 29, 2022
Author
Staff reports