University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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The stage has long been one of man s favorite means of both expression and entertainment, for it provides the artist with a showcase for his talents, the actor with a vehicle for his, and the public with diversions to suit its mood. In the Lydia Mendlessohn Theatre, and the less restricted atmosphere of the Arena Theatre, the Speech Department presents an annual series of plays by distinguished authors, both classical and contemporary. Purple Dust, by the Irish playright, Sean O Casey, was one of the more lighthearted of this year s presentations. Creative arts flourish on the campus, producing noteworthy achievements from which the Speech Department can draw its material. A highlight of the series was Season of the Beast. Written by an undergraduate, Carl Oglesby, the play bears the stamp of quality which long has been a Michigan tradition. 26

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The Messiah takes on a special significance in Ann Arbor during Christmas time when it is magnificently performed by the University Musical Society. For this is no ordinary occasion. Parents, alumni, and friends come to the wintry campus, fusing memories of the past with the warm glow of today s college life. In another area, the Michigan Symphony Band delights the public with their own fine brand of music. Hailed the world over, the band made a triumphantly successful tour of the Soviet Union this year, again showing that American music is one of our best ambassadors. 25

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he drama can escape the limits of the conventional stage. Often a novel approach to the method of presentation brings renewed vitality to an old production. The Speech Department gave a new look to one of the oldest plays, Aristophanes classic comedy, The Frogs by putting it on in the Varsity Pool. Employing the talents of Michigan s fine array of swimmers and divers, the production utilized the new dimension of the water as well as more solid footing for the players. By the same token, dramatic expression is not bound to the spoken word. The acknowledged master of mime, Marcel Marceau, cast a spell over his audience without uttering a sound. Thus the yarns of the arts, in many shades and textures, are woven together, leaving a memorable impression as part of that nebulous but nonetheless real phenomenon, the process of learning.