13 - Union County College

LEADERSHIP
IN
ART AND
CULTURE
Each year
Union County College hosts
programs to enhance the
environment with arts and
culture and make them
available to its students,
and the community at large.
Guest Lecturers
In October 2006, New York Times Correspondent Anthony DePalma spoke
to a huge and attentive crowd in the Roy Smith Theater on the Cranford
Campus. De Palma is an author
and staff reporter for the newspaper,
who, just prior to his coming
to UCC, had published The Man
Who Invented Fidel, which chronicles
the dramatic story of how a
reporter in the 1950’s helped
Castro come to power. Using his
book as his foundation, DePalma
offered fascinating insights into
the history of Cuban-American
Relations and graciously autographed
his books for
the long line of readers
awaiting him in the
College Book Store.
In May, Joanna
Quinn and Less
Mills of Beryl
Production, Ltd.
Provided a lectureanimated
performance on the Cranford campus. These artists are well known
for their creative collaboration based in Cardiff Wales, UK, which produced
the “Whiskas” cat food commercial and a “Lightbulb” ad for United Airlines.
NY Times columnist and author Anthony
DePalma (second from left) shares his reminiscences
of Cuba with (l-r) Professor Luis
Garcia, UCC Governor Liz Garcia, and
Professor James Brophy at the book signing
held on the Cranford campus.
The Theater Project’s
production of “The Skin of
our Teeth” received wide
critical acclaim.
Anthony DePalma’s
latest book.
The Theater Project
Begun in 1994 as a non-professional company, The Theater Project is now
Union County College’s professional theater company and is one of only two
professional theater companies in the entire County. It uses Equity actors as
well as nonunion professionals in its productions, and has been accepted as
an affiliate member of the New Jersey Theater Alliance
This year the Project mounted
three main stage productions.
■ At the beginning of the Fall 2007 Semester, its Production of Thornton
Wilder’s classic “The Skin of our Teeth was singled out for critical
acclaim when Star Ledger theater critic Peter Filichia reviewed the
production noting that “the latest production of the Theater
Project doesn’t just survive by the skin of its teeth, it succeeds
with its entire body.”
■ Following in the Spring was their successful production of
“Open Admissions” by Shirley Lauro. The Project ended its
2007 season with “Valhalla” by Paul Rudnick.
■ Throughout the year, the Theater Project also offered staged
readings of original plays, classes for adults and children
through the Division of Continuing and Workforce
Development, and an annual Young Playwrights’ Competition
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