Sam '82 and Linda-Lee Troiani '83 Niedbala ... - Asoundstrategy

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6 Alumni Spotlight By Rita M. Plotnicki ’72 “Once upon a time, about 20 years ago, I was you,” Darrin Lamont Byrd, ’9 , told the high school and college students participating in a musical theatre audition workshop at East Stroudsburg University’s Fine and Performing Arts Center in April. “You can create the life that you want,” he added. “Be confident and go for a performing career, especially if you know that nothing else will make you happy.” The musical theatre audition workshop was the first event of a week-long residency at his alma mater for Byrd, a musical theatre veteran currently starring as Mufasa in the Hamburg, Germany production of The Lion King. He also gave two talks on the business aspects of musical theatre and two concerts: one a musical theatre concert featuring Byrd and the second with the University Jazz Ensemble as its featured soloist. Byrd’s residency was sponsored by a grant from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity. The tone of the week’s residency was Alumni Spotlight ESU Alumni Herald How do you get to Broadway? Audition, audition, audition! ESU grad Darrin Lamont Byrd ’91 passed up football, scored with musical theater set in the audition workshop as Byrd mixed advice and examples from his ESU experiences and his 5 years as a musical theatre performer. “When I started out, I didn’t like auditioning,” Byrd told the group, “but then I figured out that you have to love auditioning to be successful. Preparation is the key and you need to start long before the audition. Presentation is important—walk in and take the room. Your posture is important. Be confident; know your purpose. If you’re not there to book the gig, stay home. “When I first got to New York, I went to EVERY audition,” he said, “even one for Mary Poppins.” Byrd chuckled and added, “now what was I going to do in Mary Poppins? Years later, however, I got a call from that director offering me a part that I was right for in the Canadian production of Five Guys Named Moe.” From Five Guys Named Moe Byrd went on to play major roles in Big River, Dreamgirls, the world tour of Riverdance and his current engagement. In all of his presentations, Byrd talked about how his ESU experiences shaped his career. “I came to ESU in the summer of 985 to play football,” he noted, “but playing college level football really hurt.” In the spring of 986 he chanced upon an audition for Of Mice and Men in ESU’s Fine and Performing Arts Center, read for a role and got the part. Parts in other ESU productions followed. “Professors Jay Brennan and Rob Howell challenged me to be the best that I could here is a nurturing atmosphere here with professors who care and
Fall 2006 Alumni Spotlight 7 be,” Byrd noted, and, after changing his major three times, graduated from ESU with a degree in theatre in 99 . While at ESU, Byrd, who enjoyed singing while growing up in Newark and Harrisburg, joined the Concert Choir and met the director, Terry L. Flatt, associate professor of music. “Professor Flatt taught me how to use my voice, how to breathe properly, and he also believed in me,” Byrd said. “He inspired me to go forward.” The mentoring relationship that developed between the two continues to this day. “I saw talent and ability and I also saw a warm, outgoing personality. He always took music and theatre seriously,” Flatt said. “My wife and I look on Darrin as part of the family, like an adopted son.” Neal Simpson, retired head of ESU’s Center for Educational Opportunity, also remembered Byrd’s “outgoing personality.” The two met when Byrd was one of Simpson’s students in the Act 0 summer program, and kept in touch over the years. Both are members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, whose Omega Xi chapter sponsored a reception for Byrd. “Every time I walk into Cohen Recital Hall, I feel a rush of emotion from all that I did in there—classes, concerts, musical revues,” Byrd said. “Being back at ESU as a teacher is inspirational. It gives me a sense of purpose to step outside of myself and give back things I learned in the last 5 years.” All of the participants in the audition workshop were invited to perform with Byrd as part of the musical theatre concert. The group served as backup performers for Byrd’s rendition of “Free at Last” from the musical Big River, a song that is his signature piece. Darrin Byrd, right, audition workshop participants, and supporting performers take a bow at the end of “An Evening of Musical Theatre.” Performers include: Erin Dent ’10; April Field (community); Dawn Rother (community); Dennis Carrig (Byrd’s long-time friend and co-owner of The Deerhead Inn); Jason Zimmer ’06; Ryan Groff, a senior theatre major from Perkasie; Regina Sayles ’03; Lindsey M. Buffa ’05; Mike Rogusky ’06; Irwin Antoine (community); Jenell Anne Manzi, a sophomore theatre major from Mount Bethel; Michelle Buzzelli (community); and Heather Werline, a senior theatre major from Levittown. The musical theatre concert also featured ESU alumni Regina Sayles ’03 and Lindsey Buffa ’05; graduating senior Jason Zimmer ’06; and Dennis Carrig, a local actor and co-owner of the Deerhead Inn who has been friends with Byrd since they both appeared together in “Of Mice and Men.” “I was surprised at the level of talent I found here,” Byrd stated, “especially since this isn’t a specialized performing arts school. There is a nurturing atmosphere here with professors who care and many opportunities to be onstage. It’s a place to build yourself up.” “I am also glad that the Center for Educational Opportunity is still up and running because it was very instrumental in supporting me while I was at ESU,” he added, “but am disappointed that it is not as strong due to funding cuts and the loss of the summer program that brought me here.” While an undergraduate Byrd made his first trip to Europe in 988 when the choir toured England. “I remember being in awe of different cultures, different values, different foods,” he recalled. Now he considers himself “a citizen of the world,” with Florence, Italy, as his home base. After his contract for The Lion King expires in May, 2007, Byrd, who is fluent in Italian, plans to pursue a television career in Italy. “Television will lead you into film,” he said. “I’m pretty confident that things will go as I plan—first to play a major character in a television series and then to go into films.” “Darrin’s residency has been a special event, especially the musical theatre concert,” Flatt commented. “Our faculty and students appreciated his professionalism, his even temperament and his sense of caring.” many opportunities to be on stage; it’s a place to build yourself up.”
Page 1 and 2: 1 Subject ESU Alumni Herald Alumni
Page 3 and 4: Fall 2006 Table of Contents 1 Offic
Page 5 and 6: Fall 2006 Great Teacher Award: Lois
Page 7: Fall 2006 Alumni Day At right, Beve
Page 11 and 12: Fall 2006 Thirty-five years after a
Page 13 and 14: Fall 2006 DC Fall 2006 The Kennedy
Page 15 and 16: Fall 2006 Homecoming 3 There was no
Page 17 and 18: Fall 2006 1940s Mary A. Henning ’
Page 19 and 20: Fall 2006 “Who’s Doing What”
Page 21 and 22: Fall 2006 Appreciation Award from S
Page 23 and 24: Fall 2006 “Who’s Doing What”
Page 25 and 26: Fall 2006 Today’s Dream, Tomorrow
Page 27 and 28: Fall 2006 Cover Story Above, Linda-
Page 29 and 30: Fall 2006 Developing technology of
Page 31 and 32: Fall 2006 Engagements 29 Nicholas A
Page 33 and 34: Fall 2006 Weddings 3 is employed at
Page 35 and 36: Births Fall 2006 33 Births Robert T
Page 37 and 38: Fall 2006 In Memoriam 35 John Eiler
Page 39 and 40: Fall 2006 Warrior Spotlight ‘We h
Page 41 and 42: Fall 2006 Warrior Spirit 39 Shoudt,
Page 43 and 44: Sample Annuity Rates Single Life Do

Sam '82 and Linda-Lee Troiani '83 Niedbala ... - Asoundstrategy

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