By Lori Putnam
When Dr. Catherine Scott Burriss arrived at California State University Channel Islands in the fall of 2006, the University’s Performing Arts program existed only on paper. She would be part of a team responsible for turning words on paper into reality for the University’s first semester of Performing Arts students.
With a guiding principle of developing a program that was truly interdisciplinary and collaborative, the Performing Arts faculty looked to restore an integration among the disciplines of dance, music, and theatre that had been lost in the modern century. “Often times you see programs that combine dance and theatre, but not music. Other times there’s theatre and a separate dance program,” explained Burriss. “That separation was not common before the 20th century in the history of performing arts. However, we chose to bring them all together.”
Enter Stage Right
Burriss is an Assistant Professor of Performing Arts and served as the creative force behind the University’s first two spring productions. Last year’s inaugural stage production of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream, held outdoors in the Library Courtyard, attracted more than 600 students, faculty, family, and friends during its brief run. It also showcased the talents of 42 CSUCI students representing seven different majors. In describing the popularity of the performances, Burriss observed, “It was a joyous surprise. The campus and local community are hungry for performing arts.” Associate Professor, Luda Popenhagen, will direct next spring’s performances.
Both last year’s and this year’s productions were made possible in part with support from the University’s Instructionally Related Activities fund and the Martin V. Smith School of Business & Economics, yet another example of the interdisciplinary nature of the program and the University itself. In fact, a core class entitled Business and the Performing Arts is co-taught by Dr. William P. Cordeiro, Senior Associate Dean and Director of the School of Business & Economics and Dr. Luda Popenhagen, Associate Professor of Performing Arts.
This season, Burriss planned a departure from the Bard and collaborated with students on what she called “a witty and whacky satire of Hollywood in the early 30s.” Commonly known as a precursor to the popular Gene Kelly musical, Singin’ in the Rain, Once in a Lifetime is considered the most successful collaboration of Depression-era playwrights Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman. It follows the journey of three vaudevillian stage actors as they seek fame and fortune in Hollywood during the transition from silent films to “talkies”.
This year the Performing Arts program added a second week of performances in response to last year’s resounding interest. Opening night was held on Friday, April 17 with performances running through Saturday, April 25.
Exit Stage Left
Although the program might be considered small at 23 majors, Burriss sees the innate value of the size to allow every student to shine. “This program will always be a place where students can gain lots of experience and personal attention. Most performing classes now have a limit on enrollment to keep a low student/teacher ratio.”
According to Burriss, the performing arts offer practical, transferable skills as well. “Regardless of whether you are in the arts world or not, people who can work well together in a group and think creatively will be in demand. That’s what we train people to do,” said Burriss. “That’s what I see in the program as a real potential for success of our students.”