A scene from "Trouble in Mind"
Theatre Arts kicks off Mainstage production season
The Department of Theatre Arts kicked off its 2024-25 Mainstage Production season with two plays.
"Town Hall," directed by Theatre Arts alum niqo torrez ’22, ran Oct. 25-31 and Nov. 1-3 at Parker Theatre. Written by Caridad Svich, “Town Hall” tackles a slew of relevant, urgent questions about our relationship to our environment, to other humans, and to democracy. It focuses on a group of people living in the near future, in a world different from but very similar to ours. The Department of Theatre Arts’ interpretation of the play revolved around themes of student activism and community, and explores global challenges including climate change, poverty, and inequality.
"Trouble in Mind," directed by actor, director and former New Paltz faculty member Jammie Patton, ran at Parker Theatre Nov. 22-24 and Dec. 5-8. Written by the late, renowned playwright Alice Childress, the play tells the story of Wiletta Mayer, an African-American actress who has spent her career playing stereotypical characters trapped on a merry-go-round of mammies, maids and other menials.
The Mainstage season continues in the spring semester with a staged reading of "Spies are Forever," directed by Barclay Travis '25 (Theatre Arts), from Feb. 14-15; "New Pages," an undergraduate writing showcase, from April 21-22; and "Shrek the Musical," directed by Zach Gibson '19 (Theatre Arts) and music directed by Theatre Arts lecturer Brittany Proia, April 17-19 and April 24-27. All shows will be held in Parker Theatre.
A mycelium design workshop at New Paltz Design Week
New Paltz Design Week moves to fall
The ninth New Paltz Design Week was in November—marking the weeklong event's first time being held in the fall.
The week was jam-packed with lectures, workshops, and networking opportunities celebrating design across disciplines on campus and in the Hudson Valley region. Speakers included Theatre Arts' Dan Daly, who delivered a lecture and Q&A on the “immersive design” field; Dinah Fried and Joe Marianek of the NYC and Hudson Valley-based design studio Small Stuff; and Alethea Schaeffer, who boasts more than two decades of experience in the manufacturing field.
Design Week offered a wide array of hands-on workshops for participants to enjoy, including "mini me magnets" with 3D printing and scanning; 3D lettering; miniature books; mycelium design; LEGO printing; and more.
The crowd at Saturday Arts Lab's exhibition in November 2024. Photo provided.
Art Ed hosts successful Saturday Arts Lab exhibition and Maker Day event
The Saturday Arts Lab exhibition and Maker Day, each held on Nov. 16 in the Fine Arts Building and Smiley Art Building (respectively) were a success. "The artwork looked fabulous, our preservice teachers felt seen and accomplished, the young artists were excited, and their families were delighted," reports Assistant Professor of Art Education Cheri Ehrlich, who directed this semester's SAL programming.
SAL instructors utilized the Dorsky Museum and some of the lessons were based on artworks on view by Andrea Kantrowitz, Matthew Friday, and Emily Puthoff. "It was fun to see a continuation of the themes raised by the faculty exhibition," says Ehrlich.
Nearly 300 people attended the SAL exhibition, and approximately 55 people—about 15-20 families—participated in Maker Day afterwards, where young artists and their families engaged in hands-on creative activities.
Christiana Fortune-Reader and Ryan MacEvoy McCullough perform "Frondescence" concert in October 2024
Music Concert Series presents "Music Without Borders"
The fall 2024 Music Concert Series included mainstay performances—such as those by the College Youth Symphony, Symphonic Band, and Chamber Jazz ensemble—as well as some new additions to this longstanding semesterly series.
In October, Professor Christiana Fortune-Reader and Bard College Conservatory faculty member Ryan MacEvoy McCullough performed "Frondescence" on viola and piano (respectively). The program included pieces from a range of composers.
Professor Phyllis Chen's New Music Ensemble made its debut performance in November, which included performances of two iconic pieces: "In C" by Terry Riley and "Clapping Music" by Steve Reich. The concert also featured student compositions and a performance by the Experiments in Comp class.
December saw the final Choral Concert of the semester, which was held at St. Joseph's Church in New Paltz. The program featured not just musical performances by the Concert Choir and Community Choir, but also readings by New Paltz community members, including Fine & Performing Arts Dean Jeni Mokren.
View all the programs from the fall ’24 Music Concert Series, and stay tuned to the Department of Music website for the Music Concert Series calendar for spring ’25.
Photo by Robin Weinstein
LaChanze visits Theatre Arts
At the beginning of the fall ’24 semester, Theatre Arts students gathered in Parker Theatre for a visit from Tony Award-winning actor and producer LaChanze, whose career has spanned 38 Broadway seasons. She was interviewed by director, writer, and actor Jammie Patton—a great full-circle moment, as Patton directed Theatre Arts’ production of “Trouble in Mind” this semester, and LaChanze was nominated for a Tony for her performance in the same play on Broadway in 2021.
Photo by Orphenus Burger
Symphonic Band concert features award-winning composer
The Symphonic Band concert on Oct. 8, 2024, featured an award-winning composer, an adjunct faculty soloist, and a guest high school band. The program included a side-by-side performance between the Symphonic Band and the Highland High School Concert Band (directed by Dan Shaut). Master Sgt. Joshua Economy from the West Point Band, and our instructor of classical trumpet, played the solo on guest composer Peter Meechan’s "Song of Hope."
From Marlboro Central School District Music Department on Facebook
Music Major for a Day Returns
The Department of Music's fall 2024 edition of Music Major for a Day was its most successful and well-attended MMFAD yet, with more than 100 students participating. Students were treated to a full schedule of activities, including lunch with a music major, attending classes and rehearsals, a tour of College Hall, and a Q&A session with faculty and admissions staff.
This free event is geared toward high school juniors and seniors, as well as transfer students, who are considering studying music at SUNY New Paltz. We look forward to opening our doors to even more potential SUNY New Paltz music majors next fall!
From left: Joy Pollard '75g, Alexa Marie Fini ’21g, and Xiyu Zhang ’14g
Music Therapy hosts Alumni Showcase
The Music Therapy program's third annual Alumni Showcase was held on Oct. 19, 2024. Presenters included Alexa Marie Fini ’21g, Xiyu Zhang ’14g, and Joy Pollard ’75g, who was one of the first people to study music therapy at New Paltz and spent many years supervising our music therapy students.
BFA/MFA Thesis Exhibitions
Congratulations to our newest BFA alumni: Beanie Bienish, Sophia Bon, Wylie Daole Baglieri, Benjamin Bryant, Raphiel O'Connor, Sean O'Neill, Risa Oshinsky, Natalya Parrotta, and Jordan Yarusso. Two MFA students, Daniel Loxton and Jana Astanov, also graduated this semester. We wish you all the best of luck in your future artistic endeavors.
BS/BA in Visual Arts hosts Mosaic of Minds exhibit
Graduating seniors from the BS/BA in Visual Arts program hosted the exhibition "Mosaic of Minds" in the Fine Arts Building at the end of the fall 2024 semester, with an opening reception held on Dec. 7. Congratulations to participants Grace Berardi ’24, Jaidyn Haywood ’24, Mack Ingraham ’24, Montana Kowalczik ’24, Jacob Park ’24, Angela Pepe ’24, and Grace Van Pelt ’24.
From @nparthistory on Instagram
Art History hosts several events in Fall ’24
The Department of Art History hosted a slew of lectures and networking events throughout the course of the fall ’24 semester, including but not limited to:
- A Networking Soiree on Sept. 30
- An Internship Workshop on Oct. 10
- A film screening of the award-winning documentary "Manufactured Landscapes" on Nov. 7
- "Illuminating Grad School" on Nov. 11, geared toward students considering pursuing graduate studies in art history
- "All-Women Exhibitions: An Emerging Method of Art Historical Research," a talk with Daniel Belasco, executive director of the Al Held Foundation and former curator at the Dorsky Museum, on Nov. 12
- "Phantom Limbs: Frida Kahlo, Disability, and Art,” a virtual talk by Gannit Akori of Brandeis University on Nov. 18
EAP Committee hosts Digital Fabrication workshop
