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The
Play’s the Thing
By Ray
Bonis ’88BS/MC, Cabell Library, VCU Special Collections
A
large collection of materials documenting the history of
RPI'’s (and later VCU’s) Department of
Theatre are available to researchers at the Special Collections and
Archives Department at the James Branch Cabell Library. The collection
includes photographs and programs for almost every Theatre Department
production from 1940 through the 1990s. We’re hoping these photos jog
your theatrical memories of
RPI, so email
your stories and memories to
memercer@vcu.edu
.
Several years
ago, the late Lucille “Andy”
Anderson Baber ’39BS/AH recalled that in the earliest productions,
women played the men’s roles—being tall, she was often a leading
“man.” “I had long hair, and one braid down my back,” she said.
“The drama teacher said, ‘Don’t turn around.’”
In 1940
Raymond Hodges (1909-1984) founded the Theatre Department and oversaw it
through his retirement in 1969. VCU recognized his 30 years of service
in 1985, naming the Raymond Hodges Theatre in the
Singleton
Center
for Performing Arts in his honor.
Here's
just a
sample of stills and playbills from the collection. Even the ads document RPI
history, and note the "College of William &Mary" on the
first program cover.
Papa
Is All
For
a larger view of the program click on it.
Patterson
Greene’s “Papa Is All,” performed January 26-27, 1945 “staged”
by Raymond Hodges, included a cast made up of two
RPI
Department of Dramatic Art majors, two
young players from the Richmond community, and Early Massey Wood, then a
sophomore in the School of Social Work and one of
RPI
’s first returning GIs. The play was
originally a Broadway production produced in 1942.
The
Tragedy of Othello
“The
Tragedy of Othello” by Shakespeare, directed by Raymond Hodges,
was performed
February 7-9, 1956
. Stars were Jess J. Dipboye ’59BFA as Othello and the late Claudine Carew ’57BFA as Desdemona. The elaborate customs were
designed by Elizabeth Birbari who would later write Dress in Italian Painting, 1460-1500, published in 1975.
The
Lady's Not For Burning
For
a larger view of the program click on it.
Christopher
Fry’s “The Lady’s Not for Burning” performed April 19-22, 1967,
also directed by Raymond Hodges, starred Samuel Cotton, Ginger
Montague ’71BFA and Frederick
Harm ’70BFA.
Send
your memories and requests to memercer@vcu.edu.
Check the latest on
RPI
Reunion 2007 at http://www.alumni.vcu.edu/RPI2007/RPIREUNION.htm
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