OU-C theater program to present encore performance of Barrymore

The Ohio University-Chillicothe theater program will present Barrymore, a play about great stage and film actor John Barrymore, at 8 p.m. on Feb. 18 and Feb. 19 in the Bennett Hall auditorium. This is an encore performance of the show from the 2010 summer season.

Actors Dan Jalbuena and Kathryn Aldridge

Tickets are $10 for adults, $9 for senior citizens, free for OU-C students. Tickets are available at the OU-C Box Office on the evenings of performances. Group rates of $8 per ticket are also available.

“The play focuses on Barrymore’s efforts to reignite his career on stage one last time, despite alcoholism and general extravagance,” said OU-C faculty member Ken Breidenbaugh, who directs the play. “It is set in 1942, the year preceding his death. It is a wildly entertaining and moving production, and it is full of theater history and lore.”

“The audiences this summer loved it. It is a play that is both funny and moving. It is fun in that there is much wry humor involved. It is a moving play in that we see Barrymore at the end of his life and desperately trying to reinvent Richard III,” Breidenbaugh said.

“Any time you have a play about the theater it promises to be especially intriguing. From my point of view, theater is the penultimate metaphor for life.”

Key roles include Barrymore and the prompter/manager, who attempts to keep the actor on task in the rehearsal process.

“This being the second time around, it allows an opportunity to develop the character more,” said Dan Jalbuena, who plays the lead role. “Barrymore is a man who is looking at the end of his life, which has had lots of successes and failures. It is challenging to play this role, as I can only imagine what it is like to look back at a life that has already been lived, and there are no second chances.”

“The prompter serves to remind Barrymore of the plot of the play he is rehearsing,” said Kathryn Aldridge, who plays the behind-the-scenes role. “The prompter wants Barrymore to have one final, great show. It is somewhat difficult to work behind the scenes since all of the acting is through use of voice.”

Dean's Message: The value of diversity on the Chillicothe Campus

Following is a message from Dean Donna Burgraff to the Chillicothe Campus Community

Feb. 10, 2011

Members of the Chillicothe Campus Community,

As we commemorate Black History Month during February, it seems an especially appropriate time to reflect on diversity and how it adds to the richness of the Chillicothe Campus.

At Ohio University-Chillicothe, diversity is an important part of the educational experience. We take pride in creating a true sense of a learning community on campus. Since the essence of diversity is the sharing of various perspectives and viewpoints, it is at the heart of the campus learning environment.

On our campus we have individuals of various backgrounds and an array of reasons for why they are part of our campus community. Each student has a fascinating story to share. This type of interaction adds to the fullness of the campus experience for all of us and helps to prepare our students for careers in an increasingly diverse society.

Further, diversity is found in various forms on campus. For example, our student population of both traditional and non-traditional students is a defining characteristic of the Chillicothe Campus. Having individuals of various stages in life adds much to classroom discussions and helps prepare students to thrive in communities that are similarly comprised.

Of course, diversity is found in other forms, among them ethnicity, nationality, gender, religious beliefs, lifestyle and economic status.

Again, the essence of diversity is the ability to see the same issue from a different perspective. Each day, we have that opportunity. We may not agree with each others’ viewpoints, but it is important that we respect each other and learn from those who see the world differently.

Further, as residents of Appalachia, we embody the values that make this region such a special place, such as the worth of family and friendship. As we go forward, we, too, add to the diversity of other settings.

At OU-C, a commitment to diversity should be a daily occurrence and not a missed opportunity.

Cordially,

Dr. Donna L. Burgraff, Dean
Ohio University-Chillicothe

Chillicothe Campus to host dinner-theater event

Ohio University-Chillicothe will host a dinner and theater event on Feb. 18. The evening includes at 6 p.m. dinner in Bennett Hall room prior to the 8 p.m. OU-C theater production of Barrymore.

Tickets are $25 per person and $40 per couple. Proceeds will be used by the OU-C Giving Circle to promote the arts and historical events for OU-C students. Reservations are due by Feb. 14.

During the dinner, guests will have the opportunity to become engaged in discussions regarding the history of Ross County with OU-C theatre actors who will represent historical figures from the area. To name a few of the historical characters, stories will be shared about Rutherford B. Hayes, Duncan McArthur, the Rev. Robert G. Wilson, Clark W. Story, Frank Work as well as other prominent Ross County leaders.

For more information, contact Joyce Atwood at (740) 774-7732 or atwoodj@ohio.edu.

Current OU-C art exhibit features work of French artist

“CoExistence,” the current exhibit in the Patricia Scott Art Gallery in Ohio University-Chillicothe’s Bennett Hall, features the work of French artist Anne Boscher. She is represented I the United States by Park View Gallery of Chillicothe, which is partnering with OU-C for the exhibit, which includes approximately 30 items, many of mixed media.

“Anne Boscher has travelled in the Middle East and Africa. She has seen, first hand, the world where people do not peacefully coexist. Her art is a reflection of the world she sees and her hope for a better world,” said OU-C head librarian Allan Pollchik, a member of the campus’ Cultural Committee.

In the artist statement for the exhibit, Boscher notes, “I immerse myself in the materials I use to create these vignettes … I try to put into ‘visual words’ the things that touch me, the things I have seen, the things that challenge me and make me scream I anger.”

The art exhibit builds on the theme of the International Conference on Global Citizenship, Collective Identity and Tolerance that the campus hosted in the fall of 2010.

Part of the reason that Quinn Library sponsored the international conference was to show the world to Chillicothe. Part of the reason was to show Chillicothe to the world. This continues the library’s mission to increase cultural understanding, and we are proud to partner with one of our local art galleries in this endeavor,” Pollchik said.

Softball clinic slated at OU-C

The OU-C Hilltopper Softball Clinic will be held in the Shoemaker Center at Ohio University-Chillicothe on Feb. 19. Hitting and fielding sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to noon for students in grades 1 through 5 and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. for students in grades 6 through 12. A pitching session will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. for students of all grades. Cost is $35 per session. To register, or for more information, contact George Beck at (740) 779-9260.

Upcoming Campus Events

• Academic Council meets at noon in Bennett Hall room 105 on Feb. 22

• Administrative Council meets at 9 a.m. in Bennett Hall 105 on Feb. 10

• OU-C theater program presents Barrymore at 8 p.m. on Feb. 18 and Feb. 19 in the Bennett Hall auditorium

• Irish music singer Mossy Moran will present a concert from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 26 in the Bennett Hall auditorium

Area high school students get first-hand look at college experience

Approximately 35 students from Western High School in Pike County recently visited the Chillicothe Campus. The visit was coordinated by the Office of Student Services and included a campus tour and an opportunity to interact with current students and staff members.



Megan Carpenter explains the nursing simulation lab

 “These types of opportunities are invaluable in supporting the campus’ mission of serving as a gateway to higher education for area residents,” OU-C Manager of Recruitment and Admissions TJ Eveland said. “This allows students to experience first-hand a college campus and to gain useful insights. Some of these high-school students may find college somewhat intimidating, and these types of visits allow them to understand that a college education is accessible. Plus, we always welcome the opportunity for prospective students to see for themselves the small-college that exists at OU-C.”

“I appreciate the willingness of various members of the campus community to help make this visit a success,” Eveland said.

The trip was also beneficial from the visitors’ perspective.

“This really helped to expose the students to the college experience,” said Christy Hampton, a Western High School teacher who helped to coordinate the visit. “It gives them an opportunity to envision themselves on campus and an idea of what they can be involved with if they attend college. It exposes the students to things they did not know existed and introduces them to people on the OU-C campus.”

Fellow Western High School teacher Rhonda Schuler said, “As the senior class advisor, I want our students to visit schools nearby and show them what is out there. Within the first few minutes we were here, we saw some former Western High students who are now enrolled at OU-C. That helps for the current students to envision themselves being enrolled in college.”