The Department of Drama and Dance
Spotlight on… Holly Christ Kearney (’91) by Anne Noonan “this was the big time” - nothing like her little high school drama club’s one play per year. Almost immediately, she took a job as an usher at the John Cranford Adams Playhouse, made friends, settled into the rigors of academia, and took an active role in the Drama Department.
By her junior year in high school HOLLY CHRIST KEARNEY (‘91) knew that she wanted to pursue a college career as a drama major. The only question was, “Where?” She wanted to stay in New York where she was born and raised and not be too far from home. After visiting many campuses, she fell in love with Hofstra. It was springtime and tulips were everywhere! She toured the drama department and the then-new dorms at Colonial Square. She could definitely picture making Hofstra her home for the next four years. She remembers getting her acceptance
Drama 55 was, for her, a great way to get immersed into the life of the department. One of her first big responsibilities was as props crew chief for the Shakespeare Festival. It was also Professor Peter Sander’s first year as department chair. Getting to know this new administrator and getting to know her way around the humongous prop room at the playhouse was “nothing compared to getting the money to buy fresh fish every week”, (a key prop in The Merchant of Venice), from Mrs. Noonan. “She was the most important person in that office (as far as I was concerned) and I didn’t want to make a mistake.” Holly had no idea how much fish cost or her way around Hempstead to buy them – and she worried abut asking “Mrs. Noonan who was always so busy”. But it turned out not too busy to tell her where to buy the fish in Hempstead. Eventully, in that office, Holly said “I would find my home
“This was the big time.” letter and going to the Drama and Dance Department before her first semester was to start. Prof. Van Wart was chairman at the time and was interviewing Holly and several of her soon-to-be new classmates. “I was so intimidated by him”. She remembers thinking
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away from home” and – (as her own mother still refers to Mrs. Noonan) – my “second mother”. She soon became a student aide in the Department of Drama and Dance, took many dance classes and was a member of “Danceworks” club (she grew up
dancing at her mother’s studio on Long Island), was treasurer of Alpha Psi Omega , had minor roles in plays along the way but became more involved in the behind the scenes roles including stage managing Hamlet her senior year. “I loved it. It was hard work but tons of fun.” Peter Sander directed the play and “I had an amazing cast and crew to work with.” She says she learned so much that year, not only on the set but from wonderful teachers like Peter, Dr. Mason, and Dr. Kolb.
After graduation, Holly decided to give it a go in New York City with her friend, Rita McCaffrey (‘91). They shared an apartment and knew so many recent graduates who had moved into New York around the same time – close friend Jef Hall (‘91), Theresa Basani (‘91), Michael Surabian (‘90), Sarah Hartman (‘90), and Richard Omar (‘89). She had managed to work in retail by day and work as a stage manager by night in several shows during the time she lived in NYC. Her neighbor was a then