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Bennington College History: Drama: Productions, Workshops, Lectures 1970-1979

A guide to the history of drama at Bennington College

                  

Productions, Workshops, Lectures 1970-1979

1970

  • Endgame by Samuel Beckett. Production by Michael Kalinowski. "The production has been invited to New York's foremost off-off Broadway theater, Cafe La Mama, for the week of July 8. The part of Nell will be played by alumna Zoe Noyes, '68. The rest of the cast will remain intact." (1970 spring) Quadrille, Vol IV, No 4 review with photographs
  • School for Buffons by Michel de Ghelderode. Directed by Tone Brulin. (1970 spring) Quadrille, Vol IV, No 4 notice with photographs
  • The Seagull Chekov, Anton; Young, Stark, translator; Sugarman, Robert, director; Kerry, Richard, setting, costumes and lighting; Kelley, William E., technical director; Brown, Rommy, stage manager; Byers, Candace F., stage manager; Sheckler, Susan, assistant designer (1970-10-22)  program | Quadrille, Vol 5, No 1 p. 50
  • Writer-In-Residence Eric Bentley planned to perform his play, The Red, White and the Black, but his accompanist and composer Brad Burg was unable to attend. Bentley instead read excerpts from the work, singing several of its songs and other related pieces. He accompanied himself on piano and pump organ. (1970-10-05) Quadrille, Vol 5, No 1 
  • The Nile Game. Presented by the Environmental Theatre Class. "An evening of usual theatre experience and excitement." (1970-11-13) Quadrille, Vol V, No 2 
  • Happiness Ahead a theatrical review about the American Depression. Barn Studio Theatre. (1970-11-26) 
    Quadrille, Vol IV, No 2 
  • Saboo. Performed by the Theatre Laboratoire Vicinal, an experimental group founded and directed by Belgian playwright Tone Brulin. (1970-11-24) Quadrille, Vol V, No 2 
  • Bennington Drama Division Presents: Everyman Marijnen, Franz, director; Swados, Elizabeth, music; Kerry, Richard, design consultant; Kelly, William, technical director; Jones, Suzy, costumes; Weitz, Elissa-Racquel, drawings (1970-12-08) program

1971

  • The Bennington College Drama Division Presents A Workshop Production of Three Plays by Michel de Ghelderode Ghelderode, Michel de; Breslow, Maurice, director; Swados, Elizabeth, music; Kelley, Bill, lights; Nelson, Lisa, choreography (1971 spring) production information
  • Kaaka-Makaakoo by Tone Brulin and the Otrabanda Company. (1971-04-08) Quadrille Vol 5 No 3
  • A reading by 1943 Bennington graduate and actress Nancy Cole. "Gertrude Stein's Gertrude Stein," Carriage Barn Lounge. (1971-04-18) Quadrille, Vol 5, No 4
  • When the World Was Young. A children's play written and directed by Maurice Breslow. (1971-04-17) Quadrille, Vol 5, No 4
  • The Journal of the Albion Moonlight. A play adapted from Kenneth Patchen's anti-war novel and directed by Judith Gershman. (1971-04-23) Quadrille, Vol 5, No 4
  • The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds. Brown, Alex, photographer. (1971-05) photographs
  • Paul Gray. "The Film Performer as Characterwright: A Creative Approach to Acting for the Camera" lecture. (1971-05-11) Quadrille, Vol 5, No 4
  • Amateur Night. Samuels, Steve; Brown, Alex, photographer (1971-05-14) photographs
  • CIRKOOKOOSS. A senior project by Caroline Simonds and Deborah Borda. (1971-06-03) Quadrille, Vol 5, No 4 article and interview
  • Bellerophron. A play written, produced, and acted by Elissa Weitz, '72. Barn Studio Theatre (1971-11-21) Quadrille Vol 6 No 2

1972

  • The Birthday Party Brown, Alex, photographer (1972) photographs
  • The Shooting Gallery Brown, Alex, photographer (1972-05) photographs
  • Sister Son/ji. Sanchez, Sonia. Dixon Stowell, Brenda, director. (1972-06-07) Cast: Esther Moses Ryvlin, Christopher Bishop, Julian Gerstin, Tommy Quralnick, and John Hagen. announcement
  • The Theatre Vicinal, a Belgian company, performed its own playlet, Tramp in the Carriage Barn. (1972-10) Quadrille Winter 1973 vol 7 no 2
  • Panel for students interested in careers in television or performing arts. Panelist: Theodora Klein Sklover, '60 and Harvey Lichtenstein. (1972-10-04) Quadrille, fall 1972
  • Heart's Aim Brown, Alex, photographer; Keffer, Steve, actor; Atlas, Larry, actor (1972-11) photographs
  • Rapunzel the Witch. Logan, Leroy. Brown, Alex, photographer (1972-11-04) photographs
  • School for Wives Brown, Alex, photographer (1972-11-28) photographs
  • An original work, written and directed by Shellen Lubin, was presented. (1972-11-29) Quadrille Winter 1973 vol 7 no 2
  • Two one-act plays directed by Alex Brown. Lather by Richard Zigun, with Bert Allen and Carol Frederick and Playback by Alex Brown with Clarke Jordan and Carolyn Brooks. (1972-12-08) Quadrille Winter 1973 vol 7 no 2

1973

  • Dear Alex Dear Harriet Brown, Alex, photographer (1973-03) photographs
  • Nova Funk by Bob Glaudini. Directed by Glaudini, Bob, director; Keffer, Steve, director; Kerry, Richard, stage design. (1973-03-19)  photographs | rehearsal photographsQuadrille, Vol 7, No 3/4 review p. 5
  • The Hostage Behan, Brendan; Logan, Leroy, director; Kerry, Richard, scenic design; Luckacovic, John, technical director; Ryack, Jane, costume design; Colvard, Karen, lighting design; MacKenzie, Shawn, stage manager; Samuels, Steven, production manager (1973-05-07) photographsprogram | Quadrille, Vol 7, No 3/4 review p. 5
  • Songbook an original play by Larry Atlas, starring Larry Atlas and Leroy Logan. Also featured were Vivian Belmont, Alex Brown and a band made up of Keith McCarthy, Joe Matthews, Doug Leviton and Grecio Alexia. (1973-05-23) photographsQuadrille, Vol 7, No 3/4
  • Recipe by Margaret Holloway was presented June 2-4. Directed by Bob Glaudini. Music by Bill Dixon. The cast included Eileen Bresnahan, Margaret Holloway, Terri Huggins, Leslie Lowe, Donna Simms, Sidney Smart, and Philemona Williamson (1973-06-02) photographsphotograph | photograph | Quadrille, Vol 7, No 3/4 
  • The Dead Theatre Presents: Krapp's Last Tape Beckett, Samuel; Samuels, Steven Edmond, director; Townsend, N. I. Rock, designer (1973-09-14) production information | photographs
  • Measure for Measure Brown, Alex, photographer (1973-11) photographs
  • The Drama Division presents Imamu Dutchman by Imanu Amiri Baraka's (1973-11-02) announcement

1974

  • Act Without Words Beckett, Samuel; Brown, Alex, photographer (1974-03) photographs 
  • Santa Claus Brown, Alex, photographer (1974) photographs
  • Jean Racine's Phaedra directed by Larry Atlas (1974-03-10) announcement
  • The Maids Brown, Alex, photographer; Genet, Jean (1974-05) photographs
  • The Drama Division Presents Joanna Featherstone in a one-woman show of Afro-American poetry (1974-05-16) announcement
  • This is the Rill Speaking. Wilson, Lanford; Brown, Alex, photographer (1974-06) photographs
  • The Madness of Lady Bright Wilson, Lanford; Brown, Alex, photographer (1974-06) photographs
  • Casserole: An Illusion Fales, Nancy; Lee, Ralph, director; Golub, Peter, music (1974-06) production information | photographs
  • Reader's s Theatre presents Naked Lunch adapted by Jean Pochna from William S. Burrough's s book. Cast: Clarke Jordon, Priscilla Heine, Elvis Garretson, Rock Townsend, and Alec Marsh. (1974-06-10) College Week
  • And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little  Zindel, Paul; O'Dwyer, Larry, director; Werden, David, set designer; Rennolds, Caroline, costume designer; Teller, Debbie, lighting designer; Dennis, Judy, stage manager (1974 fall) production information
  • The Threepenny Opera Brecht, Bertolt; Weill, Kurt, music; Minor, Philip, director; Starobin, Michael, conductor; Carruthers, Tony, set designer; Schwolow, Julie, costume designer; Longert, Ken, lighting designer (1975) production information | Drama Division Productions Fall Term 1975 | Quadrille, Vol 9, No 2 article p. 5 
  • Equal Rights Zigun, Richard, writer; MacKenzie, Shawn, director. Cast: Mabbie Buck, Chris Contreras, Jeremy Peterson and Ron Dabney. Stephen Smith provided the music. October 7 through 9. (1975-10-07) Quadrille, Vol 9, No 2 article p. 5 
  • Becket (1974 fall) Drama Division Productions Fall Term 1974 
  • The Great Nebula in Orion Wilson, Lanford; Bower, Wendy, director; Williams, Genie, stage manager; Bonomo, Ruth, lighting designer; Williams, Margo, house manager; Wisoff, Jill, costumer; Tyson, Tish, costumer (1974-11-01) program | Quadrille, Vol 9, No 2 article p. 5 
  • The Maker of Dreams Down, Oliphant; Humes, Mavis, director; Addona, Jackie, set designer; Nevius, Christine, lighting designer; Rennolds, Caroline, costume designer; Kraft, Michael, stage manager (1974-11-01) program | Quadrille, Vol 9, No 2 article p. 5 
  • How He Lied to Her Husband Shaw, George Bernard; Taubes, Ethan, director (1974-11-08) Quadrille, Vol 9, No 2 article p. 5 
  • The Imaginary Cuckold Molière; Werden, David, director (1974-11-08) Quadrille, Vol 9, No 2 article p. 5 
  • An Evening of Plays: Cop Out Guare, John; Dichter, John, director. The Lesson Ionesco, Eugène; Belmont, Vivian, director. Talk to Me Like the Rain Williams, Tennessee; Mackenzie, Shawn, director. (1974-11-15) Quadrille, Vol 9, No 2 article p. 5 
  • An Evening of One-Acts: La Ronde Schnitzler, Arthur. Swan Song by Chekhov, Anton. Is the American After Death Seider, Maggie (1974-11-23) Quadrille, Vol 9, No 2 article p. 5 

1975

1976

1977​​​​​​​

  • Hello & Goodbye Bower, Wendy director. Timothy Daly and Jill Wisoff starred.(1977-04-07) Drama Division Productions Spring Term 1977 | Quadrille vol 11 no 3 | The New Paper vol II no 1
  • Skunk City Schram, Robin, director (1977-04-15) production information
  • The Ballad of Sing-Sing Delano, Daniel; Delano, Peter (1977-04-16) Drama Division Productions Spring Term 1977 
  • Facials Holloway, Margaret; Carruthers, Tony, set designer; Juskevich, Jan, costume designer; Dooley, Ray, lighting designer; Luth, Jennifer, stage manager; Dixon, Bill, musical director; Dabney, Ron, choreographer (1977-04-22) production information | Quadrille vol 11 no 4
  • One-Woman Concert by Ariel Ashwell (1977-04-24) Senior project in voice / acting production information
  • Puppet Show. Flowers, Cedric (1977-04-25) Drama Division Productions Spring Term 1977 
  • The House of Blue Leaves Guare, John; O'Dwyer, Laurence, director; Levine, Devorah, designer; Walz, Melissa, lighting designer; Edwards, Frances A., stage manager (1977-05-05) program | The New Paper vol 2 no 2 review
  • Two-Man Concert. Marc Falcone, Marc (1977-05-07) Drama Division Productions Spring Term 1977 
  • Escurial Ghelderode, Michel de; Brown, Alex, photographer; Logan, Leroy, director; Graves, Milford, music composer and recorder; Navin, Sean-Marie, set designer; Juskevich, Jan, costume designer; Rosen, Chris, lighting designer; McGinnis, Felix, stage manager (1977-05-12) programphotographs | invitation
  • Small Favors in the Dark Convertino, Michael; Ashwell, Ariel (1977-05-14) poster
  • Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf Albee, Edward; Wisoff, Jill, director; Kelter, Jerie, set designer; Moss, Laurie Ruth, lighting designer; Juskevich, Jan, costume designer; Hopkins, Ann, stage manager; Miller, Julie, technical director (1977-05-26) program
  • The Balcony Genet, Jean. Gobbeo-Harris, Alison director. (1977-10-22) Quadrille vol 12 no 1 | The New Paper vol 3 no 3
  • Outcry Williams, Tennessee; O'Dwyer, Laurence, director. (1977-10-23) Quadrille vol 12 no 1 | The New Paper vol 3 no 3
  • Odd Man's Logic. Jeness, David. (1977-10-26) Quadrille vol 12 no 1
  • Season in Hell Brown, Alex, photographer. Holloway Margaret, director. (1977-11-17) photographs | Quadrille vol 11 no 4 | Quadrille vol 12 no 1 | The New Paper vol 3 issue 4 review
  • A Doctor in Spite of Himself Molière; Reynolds, Patricia, director; Flower, Cedric; scenery designer; Starobin, Michael, music composer. (1977-12-01) The New Paper vol 3 issue 4 
  • Sweet Eros McNally, Terrence; Schram, Robin, director. Starring Timothy Daley and Didi Sinclair.  (1977-12-07) Quadrille vol 12 no 1
  • East of the Sun, West of the Moon a puppet performance. (1977-12-08) Quadrille vol 12 no 1
  • The Jewish Wife Brecht, Bertolt; Dennis, Judith, director. Starring Ellen Maxted and Dion Birney. (1977-12-10) Quadrille vol 12 no 1
  • Aura a theatrical work based on the story by Carlos Fuentes. Bergendoff, Rondi, director. Starring Steve Banks, Cecilia Cody, and Julie Miller. (1977-12-10) Quadrille vol 12 no 1

1978

  • Firebird a puppet performance. (1978-04-07) Quadrille vol 12 no 1
  • Exploring Ritual in Performance: An Evening of Dance-Drama and New Music from Wesleyan University (1978-04-07) program
  • All's Well That Ends Well Shakespeare, William; Schweizer, David, director; Kelter, Jerie, set designer; Simon, Douglas, lighting designer; King, Peggy, costume designer; Healy, Carolyn Patricia, stage manager; Morris, Matthew, technical director; Starobin, Michael, music composer (1978-05-11) program 
  • The Vikings: A Musical Saga, Collage no 103. Schonbeck, Gunnar. Workshop by narrators, soloist, ensembles, dancers and actors. (1978-09-10) Quadrille vol 12 no 3
  • Estelle Parsons performed "Miss Margarida's Way," a portrayal of the frustrated and dictatorial teacher in Miss Margarida's Way, by Brazilian playwright Roberto Athayde (1979-10-31) Quadrille vol 11 no 3
  • Le Ronde Arthur Schnitzler, Arthur; Clarke, Raymond, director. Featuring John Hickok and Kate Goldsborough. (1979-11) Quadrille vol 11 no 3
  • One-Act plays directed and designed by students. Noh plays, Self Accusation, and A Rat's Nest (1978-11-09) Quadrille vol 12 no 3 
  • Workshop in auditioning. Conducted by Rosemarie Tichler. (1978-11-18) Quadrille vol 12 no 3 
  • One-Act plays directed and designed by students. How He Lied to Her Husband, Story Theatre, Icarus's Mother. The Jewish Wife, and Footfalls. (1978-12-08) Quadrille vol 12 no 3 
  • Snow Queen and Fire Bird puppet performance. (1978-12-08) Quadrille vol 12 no 3 

1979

  • Snow Queen and Fire Bird puppet performance. Special 100th performance (1979-03-09) College Week
  • Caretaker (1979-03-22) College Week
  • Symposium - Peter Handke and His Work
    • The Ride Across Lake Constance by Peter Handke. This opens a 4-day Symposium on Handke sponsored by the drama division, with events scheduled each day and each evening at several locations. (1979-04-19) College Week
    • "Peter Handke: Theatre & Ideas" A video programs on Peter Handke. Karl Weber discusses his work. (1979-04-20) College Week
    • Film Screening. "The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick" FiIm written by Peter Handke. Directed by Wim Wenders. (1979-04-20) College Week
    • Film Screening. "Wrong Move" Film written by Peter Handke. Directed by Wim Wenders. (1979-04-20) College Week
    • Public Insult by Peter Handke Presented by Nightshift "an international cultural cell of writers, actors, fi lm-makers, designers, theoreticians and directors, working collectively." (1979-04-20) College Week
    • The Ride Across Lake Constance by Peter Handke. (1979-04-20) College Week
    • Peter Handke's Poetry in Translation: a Reading by Michael Roloff, Lindsay Smith, Roger Sorkin and Karl Weber (1979-04-21) Vanguard Volume1, Issue 3 | College Week
    • Peter Handke Symposium. Participants:· Richard GiIman, Joann Green, Michael Roloff, Lindsay Smith, Roger Sorkin, and Karl Weber. (1979-04-21) | College Week
    • The Ride Across Lake Constance by Peter Handke. (1979-04-21) College Week
    • The Ride Across Lake Constance by Peter Handke. (1979-04-22) College Week
  • Knocking Ground A short piece for four performers written by Dan Cameron. Cast: Dan Cameron, Lauren deMoll, David Hurwith, and Leland Lawder. (1979-05-03) College Week
  • A Program of Musical and Choreographic Offerings in Honor of the Birthday of Erik Satie by members of the Black Music, Dance, Drama, Literature and Languages, and Music Divisions (1979-05-11) program and audio
  • The Unjust King (1979-06-08) College Week