By Taquana Stanford
With at least four theatrical productions for the University and surrounding communities per year that have raised more than $450,000 in scholarship funds for the University's performing arts students, the Gray Wigs, an alumni repertory theater group, announced at the end of their last show, "Oklahoma," in September that it would be their last performance ever.
According to Melissa Connolly, vice president of University Relations, and the provost, Herman Berliner, the group's fate has not been formally decided. The University will come to a decision by the end of November regarding the Gray Wigs' request to perform "West Side Story." In the meantime, plans for any performances are on hold.
Because the demand by the increasing number of students enrolled at the University calls for adequate facilities to train students, the drama department proposed the incorporation of a musical theater program into the curriculum.
"That's what we are here for. That's why facilities were built," Berliner said regarding his responsibility to put student's needs first.
The newly-elected president of the Gray Wigs, Janet Rosano, had a complaint posted on the group's Web site insinuating that the University is seeking to increase profits by the dismissal of the long-time fixture. She argues that the group replacing the Gray Wigs is no different than they are, and the shift is wholly based on profits.
"The university is pushing the Gray Wig out not because they want to free up the space for students and faculty, because they have replaced the Gray Wig with another theater group that they pay hefty salaries to, to do the same jobs that alumni volunteers do for the Gray Wig," Rosano wrote. "Whereas the profits from Gray Wig shows go directly to student scholarships, the profits from other performing groups (if there are any) go right back into the university coffers."
Richard Ginsburg, a member of the Gray Wigs for more than 20 years, argues that shows have been produced outside of the academic year for the past three decades in an effort to not interfere with the drama department shows and student requests for space.
The Gray Wigs' executive board's greatest concern is that many members do not know of the Gray Wigs possible disbanding. Chris Crosby, the newly-elected secretary, said, "They don't care whether we are here or not."
An executive board member, Grace Totten, is confused as to the University's position. "They never told us why," she said. "They're running us in circles."
Formed in 1974 by University alumni Al "Tank" Passuello, James Fellman, Madeline Dempster and Susan Jaffares as well as the Gray Wig Alumni Association, a charted repertory theater group, the Gray Wig have provided theatrical productions that include full orchestras, elaborate costumes and real life scenery for more than 30 years. It has traditionally served as a learning conduit for designers, directors, technicians, actors, dancers, musicians and even University students.
The dates and the University facilities that the group has traditionally occupied, and have requested again, have been given to the University performance group, Hofstra Entertainment. The group is a University enterprise that works to showcase students and conforms to the needs of the faculty, Berliner said. Accordingly, that type of production gets priority, he added.
The University does not consider the space and time concerns the only reason for disbanding the long-lived group. "We would like them to get a lot more alumni," Connolly said.
The high volume of non-students and non-alumni in the group is a large factor on the impending decision. It is required that the primary positions of the executive board of the group are occupied by alumni, which means possessing a minimum of 12 credits and not being currently enrolled as a student, but those requirements do not carry over to all members of the group. A majority of Gray Wigs' casts do not feature at least half of University alumni or current students. While Berliner agreed that he would not encourage an 18-year-old to be cast as an 80-year-old, he prefers shows chosen to showcase and promote the talents of current students.
Ginsburg feels the productions would hold no weight if students and alumni comprised the majority of the cast. "There is no way that the talent base would be there if it were just alumni," he said. "We couldn't do a musical to the scale and aesthetic as we do without some community involvement."
Ginsburg stressed that the experience and lessons students who are a part of productions receive from seasoned professionals and participating in shows that are a mix of age, style, and character is priceless. "There is a growth that you can't get with just working with a peer group and I think that's a big plus," he said. The group would cast more students if more were available to perform during the summer months, when the shows are rehearsed and performed.
The Gray Wig members who are aware of the University's decisions generally consider them unfair to the community. In a letter to Berliner, Stephen Oury, a long time Gray Wig member, wrote that "forcing the Gray Wigs to cease to exist will benefit no one." Oury feels the list of those who will suffer from a decision to not allow the Gray Wigs to continue to use the facilities would be endless, including generations of future University students.
Connolly considers any hit the University takes as a result of the decision about the group worthwhile if it benefits students in the long run. "We must protect the students," she said, adding that the University does not, however, intend to kick the group out and that "Oklahoma" was not their last performance.
Determined to stay in the facilities that have housed the group for over 30 years, the Gray Wigs are devoted to fulfilling the desires of the University. In a proposal submitted in October, the Gray Wigs suggested a performance of "West Side Story" for 2008, in which the Gray Wigs' executive board would act as an executive producer alongside the chair of the drama department or whomever she wishes to appoint. In the proposal the troupe stated that auditions for the production would be advertised to students and that they will be auditioned and given preference in casting provided they meet the talent and age requirements of the show. If additional talent is needed, the Gray Wigs will hold another set of auditions among Alumni first and then the general community pool."
Rosano feels that the University is brushing off the contributions the group has made over the years in even considering a decision to remove them from the campus. "The Gray Wig has donated thousands of dollars in grants, gifts, equipment and scholarships to the university over its 33 year history and this move on the part of the university is a slap in the face to all alumni volunteers and contributors," Rosano wrote.
In consideration of the proposal during the decision-making process, Berliner and Connolly insist the University has not forgotten the laudable contributions of the group. "We will always be grateful to the Gray Wigs for what they did," Connolly said.
Despite the assurances of the administration that the Gray Wigs remain a valuable and appreciated fixture in the University community, many members still feel slighted by the impending possibility of removal from the facilities that have housed them for so many years. "I'm ashamed to say that I graduated from a university that has so little regard for its alumni," Rosano wrote. "From my point of view, what the University is saying about this whole thing is propaganda."