This page is no longer being updated and remains online for informational and historical purposes only. The information is accurate as of the last page update.
For questions about page contents, contact the Communications Division.
Eight young alumni revived College Theater memories as they performed scenes and songs from past Williams Center productions during Family Weekend.
The returning alumni were Tom DiGiovanni ’96, Jule Drendall ’00, Josh Oshinky ’00, Giann Locascio ’00, Sandra Veresink ’02, Suzanne Montgomery ’03, Rashada Norman ’03, and Josh Brodsky ’03. They performed pieces from Working (1999), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2000), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (2001), She Stoops to Conquer (2002), and The Real Inspector Hound (2003).
“From a musical standpoint, the most interesting part of the review was how many of the students’ voices sounded so much more mature,” says DiGiovanni, who remains active in College Theater as musical director for productions. “Most of the songs sounded better than when they were performed after a rigorous rehearsal schedule at the original performance.”
Also taking part in the event were students Ryon Clarke ’04, Toni Ahrens ’05, Jessica Lenza ’05, and Lisa Oliveri ’04, who previewed two songs from the upcoming production of Little Shop of Horrors.
“With the 20th anniversary of the Williams Center for the Arts, I realized that I had been a participant in shows for half of those 20 years,” notes DiGiovanni. “I did my first show with Michael O’Neill in 1993 as a sophomore, and since then he has asked me to be a part of anything musical in the theater department. There was a part of me that wanted to reunite with some of my peers, and another part that wanted to reunite with the ‘students’ with whom I have had an opportunity to work since graduation from Lafayette.”
About two dozen alumni took in the performances and joined a reception following the event. Approximately 30 people attended a dinner for theater alumni at Chateau Chavaniac afterward.
For a full summary of campus events during Family Weekend, see the preview article.