Daily Times (Primos, PA)

Villanova christens new theatre with ‘Curtins: A Musical Whodunnit’

- By Peg DeGrassa pdegrassa@delconewsn­etwork.com

Villanova Theatre will present “Curtains: A Musical Whodunnit,” with music and lyrics by Kander and Ebb, directed by Villanova University President the Rev. Peter Donohue, OSA, PhD, March 31—April 10. This production will pull out all the stops as it christens the proscenium-style Topper Theatre in the new John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts. With its tuneful score, witty book and clever plot, “Curtains:” blends Agatha Christie-like mystery with the spectacula­r song and dance of Golden Age musicals while playing every theatrical bell and whistle.

This musical extravagan­za marks the first production in the new 400seat Topper Theatre since the completion of the Joan and John Mullen Center for the Performing Arts in 2019, as well as University president Father Peter Donohue’s return to directing for Villanova Theatre for the first time since 2012’s The Drowsy Chaperone. Eager to make use of all of the production and technologi­cal capabiliti­es in the $60 million performing arts center, Father Donohue has encouraged designers to employ the enhanced resources of the facility’s new scenery and costume shops, as well as its full fly and rigging system, in order to create the world of Curtains and its winking, Western-themed show-within-ashow. The John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts and its crown jewel, the Topper Theatre, were funded by six gifts of $1 million or more, including two gifts of $20 million.

A love letter to the Golden Age of musical theatre, “Curtains” takes place in 1959, and the mysterious death of a Broadwaybo­und show’s leading lady makes everyone—onstage and backstage—a potential suspect. Enter Detective Frank Cioffi, a stagestruc­k gumshoe who sniffs out clues while donning tap shoes. The Rev. David Cregan, OSA, PhD, associate dean of Academic Affairs and Strategic Initiative­s for the College of Profession­al Studies and longtime professor in the Department of Theatre, will shoulder the lead role of Cioffi, the resolute homicide detective determined to both solve the murder and rehabilita­te the show in time for its Broadway opening.

He is joined by a cast of current graduate and undergradu­ate students, alumni, faculty and staff, featuring campus minister Meghan Dietzler as starryeyed ingénue Niki, and current graduate students Erin Coffman and Brian Jacko as the composer-lyricist duo whose shared profession­al and married lives are both on the rocks.

Immediatel­y following the performanc­e on April 7, there will be a Q&A session with director Donohue, production dramaturg Nicholas Ecker and special guest speaker Theatre Department Chair and musical theatre scholar Valerie Joyce, PhD.

Villanova Theatre is located on the Villanova University campus in the John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts, Lancaster and Ithan avenues. Performanc­es will be held Thursdays—Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets run $26—$30, with discounts available for students, seniors, MA in Theatre alumni and groups. Tickets may be purchased online at http://www.villanovat­heatre.org or by calling the box office at 610519-7474.

Pa. DEP Secretary speaks at Penn State Brandywine

Pennsylvan­ia Department of Environmen­tal Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell will speak at Penn State Brandywine, noon to 1:20 p.m. Friday, April 1 on campus in the Student Union and by Zoom. He’ll discuss environmen­tal racism and justice.

The program is open to the public. Registrati­on is required to attend virtually. More details and the registrati­on link are available online at http://engage.bw.psu.edu/social-justicefai­r. McDonnell has served as DEP secretary since 2016. His career with DEP began in 1998 and he has served several roles with the Environmen­tal Council of the States. A native of Philadelph­ia, McDonnell received his master’s degree in political science from Lehigh University and his bachelor’s degree from DeSales University.

Environmen­tal racism and justice are the focus of this year’s social justice fair organized by Penn State Brandywine’s Center for Ethics and Civic Engagement and Student Affairs office. The weeklong series of events, held March 28-April 1, will explore the global and local aspects of environmen­tal racism and justice and includes interactiv­e sessions with activists, student leaders, storytelle­rs, Brandywine professors and public officials.

Many of the events are open to the public and details are available at http:// www.brandywine.psu.edu. Penn State Brandywine is located at 25 Yearsley Mill Road, Middletown.

DCCC continues Dialogues for Diversity discussion­s

The latest in Delaware County Community College’s free, online Dialogues for Diversity series of discussion­s will be held, 5 to 6:15 p.m., Tuesday, March 29 on the topic, “Equity & Civil Rights: Justice, Community and Historic Roots.”

Hosted by the College’s Center for Equity and Social Justice, this dialogue will feature University of Washington Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Megan Ming Francis, who also is an adjunct professor of Law, Societies & Justice at the Seattle-based university. Francis specialize­s in the study of American politics, social movements and the developmen­t of constituti­onal law. She is particular­ly interested in the constructi­on of rights and citizenshi­p, black political activism and the post-civil war South. She is the author of the awardwinni­ng, Civil Rights and the Making of the Modern American State (Cambridge University Press, 2014), a sweeping archival analysis of the National Associatio­n for the Advancemen­t of Colored People’s (NAACP) battle against lynching and mob violence in the early 1900s which raised public awareness, won over American presidents, secured the support of Congress and helped usher in the modern U.S. civil rights movement.

Francis will help provide a brief history of the U.S. legal system and the differing impacts it has had on specific groups and geographic locations. She also will help participan­ts in this Dialogues for Diversity event consider what changes people can make to foster a more equitable community. To register to attend the Equity & Civil Rights: Justice, Community and Historic Roots event, visit: http://dccc.edu/dialogue.

Chester Senior Center announces art classes

Senior Community Services’ Chester Senior Center will hold the following arts programs for people to find and develop their artistic side: Acrylic Arts Class, Monday, April 11 — 1-3 p.m., $5 for members and $10 for non-members which includes supplies; Jewelry Making — second Fridays of the month at 10 a.m., $6 with beginner supplies included; Ceramics, Thursdays, starting May 5, 11:30 a.m. — 1 p.m., $6 which includes supplies; Sewing Creations, Fridays, 10 a.m. — 2 p.m., $5 for non-members, participan­ts bring their own projects and materials; Diamond Painting, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m.; Class Demo, Thursday, April 7 at 11 a.m. with supplies included.

All classes are held at the Center, 721 Hayes St., Chester. The classes involve individual and group instructio­n and all are welcome. Attendees also will have the chance to display their created works in an annual summer art show. For more informatio­n, or to sign up, call 610-497-3550.

MADD honors Media attorney

Kevin Marciano, Esq. of Marciano and MacAvoy, P.C. in Media was recently recognized by MADD NY/ NJ/PA Regional for his continued sponsorshi­p of the annual Walk Like MADD event at the Philadelph­ia Zoo.The virtual recognitio­n event was held through Zoom. Marciano was also commended because he regularly requires drunk drivers, and the bars that serve them, to make a monetary payment to MADD in the victim’s name, as a part of the terms of the settlement­s.

The non-profit Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) seeks to stop drunk driving, support those affected by drunk driving, prevent underage drinking, and strive for stricter impaired driving policy. For more informatio­n, visit http://www. madd.org.

 ?? SUBMITTED PHOTO ?? The Villanova Theatre ensemble rehearses a scene in “Curtains: A Musical Whodunnit,” playing March 31-April 10 at Villanova’s Topper Theatre in the new John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts.
SUBMITTED PHOTO The Villanova Theatre ensemble rehearses a scene in “Curtains: A Musical Whodunnit,” playing March 31-April 10 at Villanova’s Topper Theatre in the new John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts.

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