Cal State Fullerton - Titan Yearbook (Fullerton, CA)

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F IS fctER J ony Bennett headlined the Front and Center annual gala at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim February 5, 2000. A student cast of 24 theatre and dance majors hit the stage to start off the evenmg. Front and Center is staged by a 66- member Blue Ribbbon Organizing Committee of community and civic leaders, as well as CSUF administrators. The evening paid tribute to actor John Lithgow and his wife Mary, a UCLA professor, and Orange Count) ' Couple of the Year Patti and jim Edwards of Eldwards Theatres Circuit, Inc. The optional black tie event raises funds for student scholarships. President Gordon greeted the audience, char- acterizing the evening as ' the single greatest gathering of our donors, trustees, alumni, parents and other supporters of Cal State Fullerton. ' Tony Bennett is surrounded by student performers (clockwise from bottom) Molly Prather, Ryan Sander, Kait Holbrook, Trevor Illingworth, Michael Baker, Monica Manarelli, Jonathon Bellows, (Inside row) Trade Franklin, Megan Gruble, Tammy Grimes, Emily Mitchell, Tony Bennett, Regan Tedder, Steve Parmenter, Chet Cole, Steven Janji. Top: Guest performers Tony Bennett and Debbie Allen joke backstage before the gala concert. Bottom: Tony Bennet and Debbie Allen are joined by honorees John and Mary Lithgow and Patti and Jim Edwards. Front and Center 5

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THE STAGE SIZZLES The student cast treated the honorees, special guest, Tony Bennett and an audience of CSUF alumni and supporters to a spectacular show. CSUF Alumna Dana Muller, Class of 96, (below) a member of the Broadway cast of Les Miserables was a featured performer. M ASTER OF CEREMONIES Debbie Allen kept the evening moving along and even joined the performers on stage to dance a number that she had choreographed. She told the audience ' the reason I ' ve been able to go forward in life is because of my education. ' 4 Front and Center

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Theatre Theatre AWESOME, AMAZING, AUDACIOUS The award-winning Program of Theatre has distinguished itself on a regional and national basis and is at the forefront of theatre education with the CSU system and throughout the nation. The department engages in the rigorous recruitment of top-notch faculty, provides challenging classroom and producdon experiences and promotes outreach activides to the community that have been hailed by professional adjudi- cators, government officials, corporate grandng agencies, media, alumni and the students themselves. The Department of Theatre and Dance encourages en- semble collaboradon among students and faculty and creates a sdmuladng, vital and exciting environment for artistic achievement. This year CSUF ' s production of the experi- mental theatre piece Deviant Craft directed by MFA Direct- ing Candidate, Terry Walcutt, was recognized by the Orange County Weekly as the College Production of the Year. Eliot Snow, MFA, played by Chet Cole attempts to negotiate with Deviant Craft inmates Janine Renae ChrisI as Frankie (left) and Tracie Franklin ' s Maggie. Once in a Lifetime Oklahoma! Deviant Craft The Fantasticks Six Degrees of Separation Top: Director James R. Taulli observes a dress rehearsal of the remount of The Fantasticks. Jason Lithgoe, standing, as El Gallo guides Matt played by Tim Espinosa and Louisa, Courtney Wagner as they search for the impossible dream. Bottom: Michael Baker as Curly and Regan Tedder as Laurey appreciate the beautiful morning in the fall musi- cal Oklahoma!. I b Theatre