Theatre department celebrates 50 years

CU’s Theatre department celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Since the department became its own program in 1960, there have been many improvements and achievements for the department, as they continue to grow and succeed.

This milestone creates a great excuse for the department to revamp its image and change the overall dynamic. They are making many changes to not only the educational program, but also to the aesthetic nature of the department’s building—the original Guggenheim library, built in 1902.

“We’re branching out a little bit more today than we used to. And I think also part of that has to do with…the student body [that] has changed a little bit, the degree requirements have changed and…now we have our specific disciplines,” said Markas Henry, assistant director of costume design in the department of theatre and dance.

An exhibit has been created for the anniversary. The Heritage Center at Old Main is displaying pieces of the University’s theatrical past. These historic memoirs pay a tribute to the foundation and contributions of the department.

“We have photographs from a variety of shows, press photographs. We also have many of the original programs dated back to even before they became an official department…we’ve got backdrops…[and] marvelous costumes,” said Patty Kuster, assistant at the Heritage Center.

The theatre department will be working hard all year to energize the program in hopes of gaining popularity on campus and throughout the local community.

The exhibit will continue until the end of the semester and is open to the public. The Heritage Center hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday thru Friday. For more information, visit the Center’s website at cuheritage.org.