With restrictions on gathering in place due to the global pandemic, many performances came to a halt in the West Virginia University School of Theatre & Dance. The school teamed up with West Virginia Public Broadcasting to produce King Lear, which will be broadcast across the state later this year.

“Performing and production is an essential component of theatre curriculum,” said Jerry McGonigle, professor of acting and directing. “For our seniors, this is their capstone project, and for graduate students, it’s their thesis project, so it was important to be able to host this production.”

The West Virginia University College of Creative Arts welcomes Mary Esposito to the staff as assistant director of development.

Esposito brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team from her nine years of employment at the WVU Foundation, where she oversaw annual giving programs including WVU Day of Giving, Women of WVU and Gold Blue and You Faculty and Staff Campus Campaign. She also worked with units all across campus on their annual giving solicitations – including the College of Creative Arts.

In September, junior and senior BFA Musical Theatre students got the opportunity to speak to Emmy-Nominated Broadway actress Sarah Bolt about careers in the musical theatre industry. 

Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre Jeremiah Downes told us that she talked to them about “What it’s like to make theatre in COVID and post-COVID times, what the future looks like for the commercial Broadway, film and TV industries and how to remain true to one’s self as an artist and human. It was an excellent afternoon!”