5th Edition College of Arts & Media Magazine, Fall 2023
5th Edition College of Arts & Media Magazine, Fall 2023
Dr. Ronald E. Shields, Dean College of Arts & Media
THE CREATIVE TEAM Editor in Chief Weslie Gray Executive Editor Jackie Swan Contributing Writers Nifemi Bola Morgan Chesky Julia May Lisa Sevilla Jackie Swan Art Director Ashley Defrancis Layout & Design Ashley Defrancis Parker Marley Brianna Velazquez Kira Wygle Photography Angi Sosa Contributors noted in captions Videography Nicolas McKee
ON THE COVER Visit us online at www.shsu.edu/cam
Soar into a world of creativity with exhilarating events and performances each year. "Meridian's Sky" choreographed by Colette Kerwick was one of many works presented in last year's Dance Spectrum.
For questions or concerns, contact us at marketing@shsu.edu
View our 2023–2024 season calendar on page 5.
Board of Regents The Texas State University System Brian McCall, Chancellor, Austin Duke Austin, Chairman, Houston Alan L. Tinsley, Vice Chairman, Madisonville Charlie Amato, Regent, San Antonio Sheila Faske, Regent, Rose City Dionicio (Don) Flores, Regent, El Paso Russell Gordy, Regent, Houston Stephen Lee, Regent, Beaumont Tom Long, Regent, Frisco William F. Scott, Regent, Nederland Kelvin Elgar, Student Regent, Beaumont
Throughout this magazine, you will find interactive content. We invite you to explore and engage to learn more about our stories.
CAM STORIES
BE INSPIRED. 09
HEALING UVALDE
Painting a Voice for Those Without
13 ON AIR & OFF
News Professionals on the Other Side of the Interview
09
19 THE SHOWCASE
Unveiling the Future of Theatre
23 REACHING NEW HEIGHTS
Dance Earns Regional and National Recognition
29 REMEMBERING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MURRAY SMITHER
A Lasting Impact on Art Culture
37
31 ONWARD & UPWARD
The Everlasting Treasury of Peter Roussel
23
37 SERVICE AND SONG
Music Graduate Wins U.S. Army Band's National Collegiate Solo Competition
41 DESIGNING A PATH FORWARD
Graphic Design Senior Class Prevails from Setbacks to Success
47 UNSCRIPTED
Theatre Alums Break the Fourth Wall
53 THROUGH A DIFFERENT LENS
A Look Into "Hollywood Sports Movies and the American Dream"
31
47
2 | CAM Magazine, Fall 2023
A LETTER FROM THE DEAN During the past several months, the entire Sam Houston State University campus and alums, alongside our donors and engaged community partners, have engaged in focus group discussions to draft our renewed vision and mission as a service-focused institution of higher education. With the recent endorsement of this new Strategic Plan by our Board of Trustees, all academic units within the College of Arts & Media will put words into actions during the upcoming months as specific goals and priorities take shape. From academic excellence to a culture of excellence, from expanded community partnerships to elevated visibility and reputation — all investments and programmatic goals across the College of Arts & Media will focus on these strategic priorities. We have inspirational goals. The faculty and staff across the college prioritize student success and access. This issue of CAM Magazine illustrates how many of our students serve as exemplars for what the SHSU Strategic Plan will support going forward, a plan that supports our students who strive to embody a culture of excellence through academic and artistic accomplishment. From pride in the individual accomplishment of Mateo Seghezzo to the collective success of our student teams, casts, and ensembles in dance, theatre and musical theatre, film and broadcast production, and music, this issue shares recent student success as prologue to a future yet untold, a future inspired through our Strategic Plan, our goals and priorities. The issue also profiles the professional accomplishments of several graduates who have achieved outstanding recognition within their respective professional fields. As you read each profile, I urge you to consider how each alum continues to “pay it forward” and inspire our current students each time they return to campus to share their insights about building a career in the arts and/or media professions. By sharing their time and talents with our current students, they help us build the reputation of
3 | CAM Magazine, Fall 2023
our academic programs and share invaluable “real life” experience with our students eager to start careers. These personal stories inspire and celebrate CAM’s commitment to academic excellence and service to our campus, our communities, and beyond. To underscore one of our features as an example of how our graduates serve communities across America, we profile how two CAM alums, NBC correspondent Morgan Chesky and artist Gabi Magaly, contributed to the national conversations arising from the recent Uvalde tragedy and the process of healing that followed. Other graduates profiled in this issue continue to inspire our current students as well. Constance Jones and Randy McIlvoy, highly successful professionals in major media markets, provide a glimpse into what it takes to make it to the top of media markets today. Talented theatre performers Spencer Plachy and Dylan Godwin describe the journey from the SHSU theatre classroom onto regional and national stages. And finally, in this issue we celebrate the lives of Murray Smither and Peter Roussel, two late CAM Legacy Award recipients, who through impactful careers leave behind legacies that continue to support and inspire generations of future students at Sam Houston State University. Thank you for your support of the College of Arts & Media. We continue to offer an interactive publication and invite you to scan the various QR codes found throughout the pages of this issue. I urge you to take the time to hear the voices and see the faces of our CAM community, students, and graduates. Be inspired. My best,
Dr. Ronald E. Shields, Dean College of Arts & Media
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
PRIORITIZE STUDENT SUCCESS AND STUDENT ACCESS EMBODY A CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE
SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY
ELEVATE THE REPUTATION AND VISIBILITY OF SHSU EXPAND AND ELEVATE OUR SERVICE TO THE STATE AND BEYOND
COLLEGE OF
ARTS & MEDIA 2023 – 2024 SEASON SHSU.EDU/CAMEVENTS
5 | CAM Magazine, Fall 2023
FALL 2023 Art 64TH ANNUAL FACULTY EXHIBITION Sept. 5 – Oct. 7 University Gallery, ART Free Admission Music WIND ENSEMBLE CONCERT Sept. 21 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Theatre & Musical Theatre UNCLE VANYA By Anton Chekhov Translated by Annie Baker Sept. 28 – 30 | 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30 | Matinee | 2 p.m. Erica Starr Theatre, UTC Dance MASTERS OF DANCE Sept. 29 & 30 | 8 p.m. Dance Theater, GPAC Music CHORALE FALL CONCERT Sept. 30 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Art 64TH ANNUAL FACULTY EXHIBITION Sept. 5 – Oct. 7 University Gallery, ART Free Admission Music FESTIVAL OF STRINGS: SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT Oct. 6 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Music SYMPHONIC BAND CONCERT Oct. 10 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Theatre & Musical Theatre GALATEA, OR WHATEVER YOU BE By MJ Kaufman Oct. 12 – 14 | 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14 | Matinee | 2 p.m. Showcase Theatre, UTC Art GLOSSOLALIA EXHIBITION Oct. 16 – Nov. 24 University Gallery, ART Free Admission Music JAZZ BANDS CONCERT Oct. 19 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC
College of Arts & Media CAM ARTIST SERIES: SCOTT PLUGGE & FRIENDS Oct. 21 | 7:30 p.m. Recital Hall, GPAC Music ALL CHOIRS FALL CONCERT Oct. 24 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Music SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT Oct. 27 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Music WIND ENSEMBLE CONCERT Nov. 1 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Dance SENIOR STUDIO Nov. 2 – 4 | 8 p.m. Dance Theater, GPAC Music OPERA WORKSHOP SCENES PROGRAM Nov. 16 – 18 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Theatre & Musical Theatre SHE LOVES ME Book by Joe Masteroff Music by Jerry Bock Lyrics by Sheldon Hernick Nov. 16 – 18 | 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18 | Matinee | 2 p.m. Erica Starr Theatre, UTC Music JAZZ BANDS CONCERT Nov. 21 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC College of Arts & Media CAM ARTIST SERIES: HOLIDAY CONCERT Nov. 30 – Dec. 1 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Dance DANCE SPECTRUM IN CONCERT Nov. 30 – Dec. 2 | 8 p.m. Dance Theater, GPAC Art STUDIO ART, PHOTOGRAPHY, & ANIMATION SENIOR EXHIBITION Dec. 4 – 9 University Gallery, ART Free Admission
SPRING 2024 Art LAYER CAKE EXHIBITION Jan. 22 – Mar. 2 University Gallery, ART Free Admission College of Arts & Media CAM ARTIST SERIES: WINTERREISE FT. RICHARD RESCH & DIEGO CAETANO Feb. 5 | 7:30 p.m. Recital Hall, GPAC Music WIND ENSEMBLE CONCERT Feb. 20 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Music CONCERT & SYMPHONIC BANDS CONCERT Feb. 22 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Theatre & Musical Theatre ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD By Tom Stoppard Feb. 22 – 24 | 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24 | Matinee | 2 p.m. Erica Starr Theatre, UTC Music JAZZ BANDS CONCERT Feb. 29 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Dance MASTERS OF DANCE Mar. 1 & 2 | 8 p.m. Dance Theater, GPAC Music CHORALE & BELLES VOIX SPRING CONCERT Mar. 1 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Music SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT Mar. 7 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Theatre & Musical Theatre MATT & BEN By Mindy Kaling & Brenda Withers Mar. 19 & 21| 7:30 p.m. Mar. 23 | Matinee | 2 p.m. Showcase Theatre, UTC Theatre & Musical Theatre MR. WOLF By Rajiv Joseph Mar. 20, 22, & 23| 7:30 p.m. Showcase Theatre, UTC
Art 24TH ANNUAL JURIED STUDENT EXHIBITION Mar. 25 – Apr. 6 University Gallery, ART Free Admission Music BILL WATROUS JAZZ FESTIVAL Apr. 5 & 6 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Dance SENIOR STUDIO Apr. 11 – 13 | 8 p.m. Dance Theater, GPAC Art GRAPHIC DESIGN SENIOR EXHIBITION Apr. 15 – 27 University Gallery, ART Free Admission Music BURNING TO SING: A FIERY EVENING OF OPERETTA Apr. 20 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Music WIND ENSEMBLE CONCERT Apr. 20 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC College of Arts & Media CAM ARTIST SERIES: CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI: A CAECILIAN VESPERS Apr. 20 | 7:30 p.m. Recital Hall, GPAC Music CONCERT & SYMPHONIC BANDS CONCERT Apr. 23 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Theatre & Musical Theatre THE PROM Book & Lyrics by Chad Beguelin Book by Bob Martin Music by Matthew Sklar Apr. 25 – 27 | 7:30 p.m. Apr. 27 | Matinee | 2 p.m. Erica Starr Theatre, UTC Music SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT Apr. 26 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Music ALL CHOIRS SPRING CONCERT Apr. 27 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC
Music JAZZ BANDS CONCERT Apr. 30 | 7:30 p.m. Payne Concert Hall, GPAC Mass Communication HEATWAVE MEDIA & FILM FESTIVAL Apr. 30 – May 2 Locations Vary Free Admission Dance DANCE SPECTRUM IN CONCERT May 2 – 4 | 8 p.m. Dance Theater, GPAC Art STUDIO ART, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND ANIMATION SENIOR EXHIBITION May 6 – 11 University Gallery, ART Free Admission
SUMMER 2024 Theatre & Musical Theatre BUG By Tracy Letts Jun. 13 – 15 | 7:30 p.m. Showcase Theatre, UTC Theatre & Musical Theatre MARISOL By José Rivera Jun. 27 – 29 | 7:30 p.m. Jun. 29 | Matinee | 2 p.m. Erica Starr Theatre, UTC
COLLEGE OF ARTS & MEDIA NEWSFEED
#CAMArtistSeries Pianist Diego Caetano, joined by guest violinist Matt Lammers and guest cellist Caio Diniz, performing a fascinating soirée of piano trios.
@shsucam
@shsu_cam
SHSU College of Arts & Media
#JuriedExhibition Congratulations to Victoria Guerra, who was awarded Best in Show in the 23rd Annual Juried Student Exhibition!
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#DanceSpectrum
#SymphonyOrchestra
“La Folia,” a high-energy, expressive quintet choreographed by Francisco Graciano and set to Vivaldi’s “Variations on La Folia.”
String musicians at an orchestra concert, weaving a timeless tapestry of symphonies for the audience.
#HeatwaveMediaAndFilmFestival
#Antigone
Media and filmmakers recognized for their work at the festival awards ceremony.
The cast of Greek tragedy “Antigone” evoke the catastrophic consequences of neither side of a conflict agreeing to yield.
9 | CAM Magazine, Fall 2023
healing
Photo courtesy of Gabi Magaly.
UVALDE On May 24, 2022, the community of Uvalde, Texas was devastated by the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. Following the unthinkable loss of 19 children and two teachers, a team of organizers dedicated the summer to working with the victims' families and painting the walls of Uvalde with 21 murals, a meaningful tribute to the innocent lives lost. Sam Houston State University art alumna Gabi Magaly (pictured) served as an assistant to artist Ana Hernandez on the mural of 10-year-old Maite Yuleana Rodriguez, who had dreams of one day becoming a marine biologist. Maite’s family also participated in the design, including Maite’s iconic green Converse shoes — her favorite and final pair she wore. NBC correspondent and Sam Houston State University mass communication alumnus Morgan Chesky shared his thoughts as a reporter during the Uvalde tragedy.
“
As a journalist, we pride ourselves on chasing down the facts to get things right. But on May 24, 2022 from the very first phone call mentioning Uvalde, I hoped and prayed we had it all wrong. I was in Austin when I heard the first shred of news, a shooting near a school had prompted a lockdown. I hit the highway immediately, knowing it was a scary situation, but also in the world we live in, reports of lockdowns have become all too common. Few end in injury, much less death. The first tears came when the Governor confirmed the rumor too horrific to be true. At least a dozen people, young students and teachers, were killed inside an elementary school. Officials said the death toll may rise and it did. I stood on a corner facing Robb Elementary, minutes from Nightly News and felt my eyes well up. What. Is. Happening. How? Why? And here? Following that first gut-wrenching report, what I remember most in the days and weeks that followed was the flood of feelings that swallowed a quiet Texas town. Shock and sadness led to bitterness, followed by a ferocious anger when facts finally emerged about law enforcement’s botched efforts to save the students and teachers inside. As I left Uvalde, I passed by the 21 white crosses filling the town square, each emblazoned with a name, most covered in pictures of young, smiling faces never to be hugged or kissed again. I thought of how some spoke of healing, how others fought to change laws to prevent another Uvalde, and the lingering questions over what happened on that dark day in May. 21 white crosses. I remember them all. And remember we should.
— Morgan Chesky
”
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by Hugh Wheeler from an Adaptation by Christopher Bond This musical thriller, put together and presented by the collaborative effort of faculty and students, took audience members on an eccentric, eventful, and exciting ride. The performance presented by the Department of Theatre and Musical Theatre, directed by Penelope Hasekoester, told a macabre story of a mysterious barber and his thirst for revenge.
ON AIR & OFF News Professionals on the Other Side of the Interview BY JULIA MAY
TUNE IN What's it like to be in front of the camera? Constance takes us behind the scenes at NBC 6 News Today, sharing a day in her life as a morning anchor in Miami. 13 | CAM Magazine, Fall 2023
CONSTANCE JONES
NBC 6 News Today Miami Anchor @ConstanceJonesTV
Constance Jones is a two-time Emmy Award-nominated journalist who anchors the 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. weekday newscasts for NBC 6 News Today in Miami. She has worked in several major television markets, including New York City, Miami, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta. After anchoring at WRIC-TV in Richmond, Va. for almost three years, she joined NBC 6 in February 2021. In addition to television, she has also worked alongside the Broward State Attorney as the communications director for the 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida. Jones also worked with veteran news journalist Dan Rather at CBS Evening News in New York City. In 2022, Jones was honored by
the Society of Professional Journalists and by the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists for breaking news coverage of the 2021 Surfside Condo Collapse. She has also been honored by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Texas Associated Press. She is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. In October 2022, she was honored with Sam Houston State University’s Outstanding Young Alumni Award. When most people have gone to bed, Jones’s day is just getting started.
Are you on a strict routine, or does your day allow for flexibility?
What is the most enjoyable feature of your job?
“Strict routine. Sleep is a top priority when you have to wake up every day at 2 a.m.”
“I get paid to learn new things every day!”
Once you have concluded your final broadcast for the day, do you go straight home?
Photo courtesy of Constance Jones.
Before you go to the studio, what are some of your activities at home? “Before I start my workday, I listen to podcasts or inspirational videos. It really affects the rest of my day. I also write in my gratitude journal. It helps me to pay attention to the good things in my life.”
Once you are at work, what are some of the first things you do? “At 3:15 a.m. I have my first news meeting of the morning with my writers, producers, and reporters.”
Is there ever any down time with work or does the nature of the business of anchoring a daily news broadcast keep you on your toes the whole time you are there? “NO DOWN TIME! Since I anchor multiple shows, we are always preparing for the next broadcast. Along with anchoring the morning and mid-day shows, I also solo anchor our morning Peacock-streaming new show. I’m also creating new content for our shows daily.”
“I typically go straight home.”
Through your work, you provide a valuable service to the community and beyond in keeping individuals informed about news events that directly impact them. How does this service provide benefits to people who live throughout Miami, and Florida, and beyond? “As we have seen over the past few years, accurate and localized information is important to our communities. So, I take my job very seriously. I want to make sure my neighbors know what’s happening in their city. I also take joy in highlighting the untold stories in my city, highlighting the local heroes who’ve made a difference.”
You have served as a mentor for young people seeking careers in journalism. Why is doing this so important to you? “As mentioned earlier, I am passionate about the role I have as a journalist. We are the gatekeepers — holding the powerful accountable. So, it is equally important to pass along this passion to the next generation of storytellers. I am actively involved with several organizations and local educational institutions which connect me with future journalists.”
Your job can be extremely demanding and stressful because of unexpected changes in news situations, fact-checking information, and last-minute details. How do you keep from getting burned out? How do you separate your personal and professional lives? “I try to limit my time on my work cell phone and social media after my workday. I also limit the amount of news I consume after my workday. I quickly shift into ‘sistermode/wife-mode/daughter-mode.’ I focus on my friends and family.”
What is the very last thing you do at night before you go to bed? “I try to read a few chapters or crochet.”
MORGAN CHESKY NBC News Correspondent @BreakingChesky
Morgan Chesky is an award-winning journalist and current NBC News correspondent, who prior to rising through the ranks of local news, spent his collegiate career at Sam Houston State University, where he graduated from the school's broadcast journalism program during a bygone era now known as the “early aughts.” He credits his four years at SHSU in preparing him for the profession that's sent him all over the world, interviewing everyone from superstar bull-riders in Texas to soldiers sacrificing everything to fight on the front lines in Ukraine. He credits his insatiable news curiosity to his grandparents,
who never missed a moment to share an international headline to broaden the mind of a small-town kid who grew up in the Texas hill country. No matter where the story takes him, his mission remains the same in triumph or tragedy, to share events accurately, fairly, and remind all of us the human spirit knows no bounds.
only took one trip from Los Angeles to Denver in March to remind me packing multiple layers isn’t convenient, but absolutely key.”
with a smile and a plate piled high with hot, crispy bacon. If you think we passed up a local’s offer of a pre-sunrise snack, you’re crazy.”
Once you are at work, what are some of the first things you do?
What is the most enjoyable feature of your job?
“Well, before you arrive at the scene, you’re mentally managing a constant back-and-forth between editorial and logistical needs. Technology has done wonders in putting a camera in nearly everyone’s hands, but there’s no substitute for sitting down face to face with someone for a good old-fashioned interview. Pulling that off, however, can be complicated by no less than a million different factors, which is why I’m so lucky to work with NBC crews who help manage the chaos on the craziest of days. With every story, we identify the most critical elements or interviews needed to accurately share what’s transpired and start building our day from there. I strive to be an optimist, but the realist in me knows something will likely not go according to plan, so it’s important to stay nimble mentally to be ready to go wherever the story takes you.”
“Can’t imagine a cooler place to be than on the front lines of history.”
Photos courtesy of Morgan Chesky.
Are you on a strict routine, or does your day allow for flexibility? “It all depends on what the big story is. Nothing beats a great routine, but if you can’t bend with the demands of breaking news, then you’re signing up for one tough slog. Between pre-dawn live shots for the Today Show, reporting for our streaming platform NBC News Now, updates for MSNBC on cable, then Nightly News with Lester Holt in the evening, the news needs of the day have a way of prioritizing everything else. A little quiet time for personal development and/or reflection goes a long way, but I don’t beat myself up if it doesn’t happen. Exercise, or at the very least moving the body is critical to keep a clear head and stress levels low. While on assignment, a workout can be anything from hitting a (typically lackluster) hotel gym to walking laps around a snow-covered parking lot (chilly but effective). Essentially, sneaking in whatever physical activity I can while giving myself some grace has made for a much more sustainable approach. After almost five years at the network level, perhaps the biggest key is simply acknowledging what you can and can’t control, then capitalizing on the windows of time that (you tell yourself ) belong to you.”
Before you go to an assignment, what are some of your activities at home? “It’s become such a buzzy term over the past few years, but self-care really is the name of the game when I’m not on the clock. A good night’s sleep is some of the best medicine there is, and if I’m coming off a story where gas station food was the only option, you can rest assured I’ll be eating or drinking all things green. If I know in advance I’m headed to a certain story, I’ll flag articles to read up on, then — as obvious as it sounds — check the forecast. It
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Is there ever any down time with your job, or does the nature of the business of reporting the news keep you on your toes the whole time you are on assignment? “If you’re awake, you’re always on your toes. That’s not to say there’s never any down time, but the definition of it has shifted more towards ‘down moments.’ One morning in 2020, while covering the aftermath of Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, La., we had just finished a live shot in a badly damaged neighborhood when a man walked up
Through your work, you provide a valuable service by informing people in our nation and across the world of events that directly impact them. When making a career choice, were you aware of how far-reaching you would be touching lives at this point in your life, or is this something you have gradually learned through the years? “Great question. I never looked at the job in terms of how many people’s lives I could impact, but rather how many stories I’d be fortunate enough to tell. Stepping back, there’s likely a little subconscious cause-and-effect at play. I remember after my first story aired in Tyler, Texas, I couldn’t believe my voice, my words, and my story were playing out in thousands of homes across East Texas. Today, the job’s exactly the same, albeit with a few more eyes watching.”
Do you ever have time to pursue personal interests? If so, what do you like to do when you are not on assignment? “I most definitely do! If I’m not on a plane or in a hotel, chances are very good I’m holed up at my place in Dallas, firing up the grill for the family — which as of this May, now includes a beautiful daughter. Little Eleanor Mae isn’t quite ready for Dad’s usual medium rare rib-eye just yet, but she and her mom Olivia sure make for the best dinner party ever.”
You recently visited SHSU for a Kat Chats event. How do you fit these types of activities into your schedule? “Very carefully! My news managers are fantastic in working with me to make sure I can race down I-45 and sneak in as many SHSU visits as I can. To walk across campus and reflect on my news journey, then share it with the next generation of journalists is more rewarding than I could’ve ever imagined.”
Are there any other activities you participate in away from the studio? Do you think your career-visibility helps or hinders what you do on your own personal time? How do you deal with stargazers? “Spending as much time as I can with my family is the primary outside of work ‘activity,’ and when time allows, we love to escape the city and hit a hiking trail. Big Bend National Park is a personal favorite and I was fortunate
enough to solo hike the Teton Crest Trail in Wyoming a few years back. Being in nature has a gentle way of resetting all the important internal stuff. Once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout, right? At the moment, I don’t believe career-visibility has helped or hurt any endeavors I’ve pursued on personal time. As for any stargazers out there, I sure hope they say hello! It’s almost always a pleasant surprise to meet someone who not only chooses to stay informed, but entrusts you with that critical task.”
Once you have concluded your final broadcast for the day, do you go straight home or to the hotel, or do you hang around for a while? “It’s a case-by-case basis, but I will say the first thought after the last broadcast is usually, ‘Where are we eating dinner?’ and if the story’s wrapped, ‘When is the last flight home?’”
Your job can be extremely demanding and stressful because of unexpected changes in news situations, fact-checking information, and traveling. How do you keep from getting burned out? How do you separate your personal and professional lives? “Burnout is real and can certainly sneak up on you. As a younger guy, I was more uncomfortable talking through feelings and processing emotions, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve found it’s not only cathartic, but crucial to stay sane. I’ve since learned before reaching a certain point to open up to friends, family, or sit down with a therapist to help sort through everything bouncing around in an often sleep
deprived head. As far as separation between a personal and professional life goes, everyone’s boundaries are different so figure out what works for you and stick with it.”
What is the very last thing you do at night before you go to bed? “You have to make peace with the fact no matter how horrible or glorious the day played out, there’s a brand new one just a few hours away, promising a new challenge, a fresh start, and if I haven’t already fallen asleep by then, the reminder I get a chance to live out a childhood dream all over again.”
RANDY McILVOY
KPRC-TV Houston Sports Director & Anchor @kprc2randymcilvoy
Television viewers in southeast Texas recognize Randy McIlvoy as the person who delivers Houston’s big sports news every night for KPRC-TV Houston. McIlvoy, who has been KPRC-TV’s sports director and anchor since 2004, is live three to four times daily from the studio or on location at venues like Minute Maid Park, NRG Stadium, and Toyota Center. Others know him as the play-by-play broadcaster for various sports organizations throughout Texas and the Southwest. McIlvoy has been covering college and professional sports in a play-by-play role for
the ESPN family of networks covering programs like Sam Houston, UH, Rice, and others along with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, the Triple A affiliate of the Houston Astros Major League Baseball Club. A four-time Emmy Award-winning sports anchor and reporter, McIlvoy has found ways to manage his hectic schedule so that he has an agreeable balance with his personal and professional life.
Are you on a strict routine, or does your day allow for flexibility?
What is the most enjoyable feature of your job?
“It’s a little of both because our show times are set, but our daily routine is different each day. Flexibility is the key to be able to be successful.”
“I love the fact that it is different every day!”
Once you have concluded your final broadcast for the day, do you go straight home, or do you stay at the studio for a while?
Photo courtesy of Randy McIlvoy.
Before you go to the studio, what are some of your activities at home? “Personally, I try to get some kind of workout completed which is important. I start early following up on our coverage plan, making calls to team contacts and setting up stories. I also often have meetings remotely or in person. The studio is the last stop usually after getting the day started and making stops around town for interviews.”
Once you are at work, what are some of the first things you do? “I like to check websites and see if anything regionally or nationally has made big news. Locally, we are always on top of things. Sometimes I will also go through interviews and log the quotes tied to any topics we may want to address on air or online.”
You are also known for your numerous volunteer activities, including serving on boards and coaching your daughters’ sports teams when they were young. Are you still involved? “I definitely try to stay involved and connected with the Houston community. It’s important to make time to give back and support worthy causes. I’ve served on boards, speak to many groups, emcee events, and also enjoyed being involved in my kids’ activities.”
In addition to your regular sports anchoring job, you provide color and play-by-play for individual sports broadcasts. You also emcee events in your community, and you are interviewed by media outlets because of your sports knowledge. How do you fit these types of activity into your schedule?
Is there ever any down time with work, or does the nature of the business of anchoring two daily sports broadcasts keep you busy the whole time you are there?
“It’s all about time management. I preach that to young broadcasters all the time. You have to learn how to balance your days and your time. You also have to be willing at times to say no when asked.”
“Not much down time once the day gets started. Sometimes I am in three or four shows a day, so time management is critical!”
Are there any other activities you participate in away from the studio? “I stay busy outside of station time for sure. It’s important to have hobbies and friends to spend time with along with family time. That’s a top priority.”
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“I am usually at the studio another hour or so after the 10:30 p.m. sign off on the late news. I use the time to catch up on emails, research stories, and plan our coverage.”
Your job can be extremely demanding and stressful because of unexpected game schedule changes, fact-checking information, and last-minute details. How do you keep from getting burned out? “It’s hard at times to separate, but you have to really force yourself to take a break or burnout will happen. I’ve now done broadcasting, radio, and writing for 34 years. A key to avoiding burnout is balancing your time and definitely enjoy what you are doing, which I do!”
What is the very last thing you do at night before you go to bed? “I usually enjoy quiet time on the drive home while prayer time is also vital on a daily basis. Clearing your mind after a long day, which we do a lot of, is important to stay mentally sharp and get refocused for the day and week ahead.”
"I TAKE JOY IN HIGHLIGHTING THE
UNTOLD STORIES
IN MY CITY AND THE
LOCAL HEROES
WHO'VE MADE A DIFFERENCE." — CONSTANCE JONES
Headshot photos by Natasha Niván Productions.
By Julia May 17 | CAM Magazine, Fall 2023 19
Musical theatre students perform in the New York City Showcase. Photo by Kyle Craig-Bogard.
“ When these industry professionals realize the strength and validity of the training received by our students, they become more interested in seeing what other SHSU students can do.” — PENELOPE HASEKOESTER
Acting and directing and musical theatre students perform in the Houston Showcase. Photos from videos by Đat . Video.
Each year, graduating seniors in the Department of Theatre & Musical Theatre have an exceptional opportunity to feature their performance skills in front of numerous professionals in their fields of study. Participation in the Houston Showcase and the New York City Showcase gives the students exposure before agents, casting directors, artistic directors, musical directors, representatives from stage, TV, film, and other industry professionals which opens the door for possible representation and invitations for auditions. “This isn’t simply a ‘rite of passage’ for our graduating seniors,” said Penelope Hasekoester, associate dean and professor of theatre in the College of Arts & Media. “While many of our students regularly audition for professional theatre companies before the Showcase events, this is an opportunity to be seen by numerous individuals in a controlled environment.” The New York City Showcase was created by SHSU students in 2011. Seniors in the musical theatre program submitted a proposal to have a way to perform in the city where so many artists launch their careers. The NYC Showcase has been in place for the BFA graduating seniors since that time, with the exception being during the pandemic. Originally, the NYC Showcase was an in-house production. Approximately five years ago, SHSU began working with The Growing Studio to organize the NYC Showcase for students. The organization’s College Content sector is
education-focused and works with universities to provide students with opportunities to feature their skills and abilities.
Faculty in the Department of Theatre & Musical Theatre begin thinking of ideas for the spring showcase productions in the fall semester.
The Houston Showcase is hosted by Stages Theatre, a theatre that has been long respected for its focus on advancing artists and practitioners. It has deep roots within the Houston community.
“The process involves considerable preparation in terms of monologues, scenes, vocal auditions, and dance auditions,” Hasekoester said.
“Our department has a long history with Stages Theatre, and artistic director Kenn McLaughlin was quick to open their doors for our seniors,” said Kevin Crouch, associate professor of theatre. “Artistic directors, associate producers, casting directors from local professional theatres like the Alley Theatre, Theatre Under The Stars, Stages, A.D. Players, Main Street Theatre, 4th Wall, and more are invited, along with regional talent agents from Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio.” Family and friends of students are also invited to attend this capstone event. “The Houston Showcase is filmed by one of our alums, Peter Ton,” said Crouch. “We build a showcase webpage for each program, which features videos from the showcase along with headshots, which are taken by local headshot photographer Natasha Niván Photography, and their resumes. This website is sent out to regional theatres and all those who couldn’t make the live showcase.”
Besides the Showcase events introducing the seniors to the professional world, the professional world is made more aware of Sam Houston State University. “It allows theatre and musical theatre professionals to see the training that our students receive,” said Hasekoester. “Every time a student is invited to talk with an agent or attend an audition, the work that we do within the Department of Theatre & Musical Theatre has a light shined on it. “It helps perpetuate the cycle of our seniors opening the doors for future SHSU students,” she said.
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CAM ARTIST SERIES: HOLIDAY CONCERT An evening of festive fun and sing-a-longs, the College of Arts & Media welcomed the community to this annual holiday performance, featuring the School of Music Symphony Orchestra, Choirs, and more.
REACHING NEW HEIGHTS 21 | CAM Magazine, Fall 2022 23 2023
DANCE EARNS REGIONAL AND NATIONAL RECOGNITION
by Julia May
“ WE LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER AND CONTINUALLY STRIVE TO EXEMPLIFY A CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE.” — Jennifer Pontius
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The Department of Dance continued to receive recognition for excellence this past year when the program was selected to host the American College Dance Association (ACDA) South-Central Regional Conference. Dance’s reputation was further enhanced when an ACDA panel selected two works from SHSU to be performed at the Gala concert. One of those works was selected to be featured at the National Dance Festival in Long Beach, Calif., while the other one was named an alternate. The department hosted 350 participants from 21 institutions, primarily from the South-Central Region with a few schools joining from beyond the region at Sam Houston State University. “The conference serves many functions and benefits,” said Jennifer Pontius, chair of the Department of Dance. “Although direct recruitment of students is not permitted, students from community colleges are often inspired to audition for the Bachelor of Fine Arts here, while others look at us for graduate studies,” she said. “It is not only the quality of the dancers’ performance on stage, nor the quality of the choreography, but the facilities at SHSU are exemplary, as are the faculty, students, and staff our visitors interact with.” The conference structure included 106 classes offered by faculty from all the attending schools; presentation of a dance for camera screening; panel discussion; faculty research presentations; a performance by a guest professional company; and four adjudication concerts in which 39 choreographic works were performed, and from which 12 were selected for the culminating Gala concert. From each of the 11 regions’ Gala works, three works were selected for the National Conference. The two works from SHSU were among the three selected, although only one work per school is eligible to be presented. “Only two works per school can be adjudicated at a conference, and only one per school can represent the region at the national festival,” she said. “So, since the adjudicators assessed 39 dances, selecting six for the national festival, of which two were ours, we were extremely proud.”
“Our dancers also received positive attention in classes they took as well as for the performance,” she said. “It is affirming to see that the quality of work we do at SHSU is recognized beyond our small sphere, that our hard work pays off, and that our faculty and students are truly exemplary.” The department has been known for the strength of its program for many years. It has a demanding curriculum but offers support to both students and faculty through collaborations, numerous performance opportunities, and ACDA membership. Students have an intensive schedule of technique, with three hours per day every semester, usually consisting of a ballet class followed by a modern technique class. In some semesters, jazz is substituted for ballet, or Pilates for modern dance. “We have bountiful performance opportunities, generally about 12 concert series per year — many more than most dance departments produce, partly because we have a designated dance theater in which to present our concerts, partly due to graduate thesis concerts, and partly because we have student-directed concerts through the student organizations XTE, a national dance honor society, and Masters of Dance, our graduate students’ group,” Pontius said. Another reason the dance program has been so successful is because of the effort that everyone associated with the program contributes. “We work really, really hard,” Pontius said. “Our faculty have distinguished careers as performers with major dance companies, as successful choreographers, and as effective teachers. “We are well networked in the profession as well as with the dance community at the high school level,” she said. “So, there’s a good match of our students’ expectations and our ability to deliver the training and experiences that will support their ambitions.” The interaction between students and guest artists also provides different ways for the students to learn.
Sam Houston State was among the 34 schools invited to present work at the national conference. Others included: the University of the Arts (Philadelphia), University of South Florida, University of Utah, University of TexasAustin, University of Minnesota, Webster University, George Mason University, The Ohio State University, Emory University, Montclair State University, University of North Carolina-Greensboro, and University of Oklahoma, among others.
“This can range from someone teaching a master class, to an extended residency that culminates in the creation of a new work to be performed by our students,” Pontius said.
“These universities are recognized for having strong dance departments,” said Pontius. “This is an opportunity for dancers from across the country to gather, take classes with one another, see one another’s performance, and socialize. For faculty, including dance administrators, it is another opportunity to see what is going on across the country in dance, and frankly, to take stock of their own programs.”
Understanding the Department of Dance’s identity or niche also goes a long way in establishing the reputation and prestige of the program at SHSU.
SHSU’s dance selection “Tower” received a standing ovation at the national festival. Andy Noble, choreographer and professor of dance, also received numerous requests to come to various schools and professional dance companies, either to set “Tower” on their dancers or to create a new work for them, according to Pontius.
“Working with guest artists exposes our students to other ways of working, trains them to think on their feet rather than rely on their understanding of the general way our faculty members construct movement phrases, and it begins the network building our dancers will need.”
“We are a Fine Arts program, and we know who we are,” Pontius said. “We attract and retain students who recognize that what we offer matches what they want and need. We have sufficient support financially to take them to ACDA, to hire guests, and to fully produce many concerts every year. “Our faculty are a talented, aspirational, but warm and congenial group who work together for the sake of our students and work individually for professional growth,” she said. “We learn from one another and continually strive to exemplify a culture of excellence.”
“I think this is an experience everyone feels at one point or another,” she said. “That is why I intentionally titled this work “Untitled”— to allow people to access the work through their own experiences rather than me imposing an idea onto them. The mask I wear in the performance symbolizes many ideas to me, but as a performer I wanted to also challenge myself to show expression through my body rather than my face.”
Recent graduate Lauren Serrano pursued her Master of Fine Arts degree in dance at SHSU to overcome her fear of choreography and feel more confident in herself as a choreographer. She obviously achieved her goal, as her solo work “Untitled,” which she choreographed and performed, was selected by the panel of ACDA adjudicators to be featured at the organization’s Gala concert during the spring semester.
Serrano’s dance is performed to the song “Ave Maria.” “I chose this piece of music because of its ceremonial undertones and connotations to motherhood,” she said.
Serrano’s introduction to dance was at a friend’s birthday party when she was five years old. She first started ballet recreationally along with participating in sports. She began focusing on dance more seriously when she was accepted into a performing arts middle/high school in her home state of California.
“For my independent study this past year, I wanted to create a horse mask to wear for this solo. The first time I performed it in composition class, I wore one of those cheap Halloween horse masks,” she said.
“I knew I wanted to dance from my first class,” Serrano said. “I was introduced to the option of dance as a career when I went to Orange County High School of the Performing Arts. The rigor, resources, and training opportunities helped me realize that dancing was a career choice. My parents made me promise to get a college degree before going professional, and I now have a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and two master’s degrees!” Her first master’s degree is in education. “I have a deep passion for teaching because it pushes me to be a life-long learner and keep up with new knowledge in our field,” she said. “I love learning from my students and providing ways for them to discover who they are as artists.”
She then worked with Barry Doss, resident costume designer and shop director for the Department of Dance, to conceive an artistic design that could be produced in a month. They completed the mask the week of Serrano’s performance. “I had to do some last-minute rehearsals figuring out how the movement worked with the mask, how much I could move, how much I could see, and how to make the mask look like it was a part of me,” she said. Serrano has let her intuition and heart guide her in creating and performing “Untitled.”
She has strengthened her choreography skills by creating dance works at studios for children between the ages of 10 and 18, as well as choreographing several pieces for the SHSU dance graduate shows and for junior colleges and college dance groups in California.
“I knew this work felt authentic to me, although I’m not sure I ever felt that it was special to perform for others,” she said. “I really strived to only choreograph movement that felt genuine to my expression rather than inserting ‘cool’ movement. I actually do not move a ton in the piece compared to how I normally dance, which I find kind of ironic.”
She created the first version of “Untitled” as her final exam for her first graduate composition class at SHSU. Serrano says that it has evolved a lot since then.
In addition to the ACDA Gala concert, Serrano was asked to perform the solo at Barnstorm, a professional dance festival in Houston.
“This is actually a deeply personal solo for myself and through the process became a way for me to understand myself better,” she said. “Without saying exactly what it is about for me, I will say that it involves expectations I have felt forced on my body as a 33-year-old female. It is a cathartic way for me to process feelings such as shame, guilt and trying to achieve impossible standards.
Serrano currently performs professionally in Houston with NobleMotion Dance and now teaches in the SHSU Department of Dance.
“ I INTENTIONALLY TITLED THIS WORK “UNTITLED” TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO ACCESS THE WORK THROUGH THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES.” — Lauren Serrano
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Photo by Angi Sosa, 2023 Award of Excellence Winner, University & College Designers Association Photography Competition.
REMEMBERING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF
MURRAY SMITHER BY JULIA MAY
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If not for Murray Smither’s innate ability to recognize valuable works of art, many of the artists that he championed and promoted would never have seen their careers come to fruition. Beloved by generations of artists, Smither has left an enduring mark on those whose lives he touched and those who will continue to benefit from his work for generations to come. A Huntsville native, Smither earned a bachelor’s degree with a major in business and minors in painting and journalism at Sam Houston State Teachers College in 1958. His father was the foreman of printing for The Huntsville Item newspaper before opening his own print shop, where young Smither learned the intricacies of the printing business. His first job after graduation was in Dallas working for a lifestyle magazine publisher. After the business ceased publication, Smither joined Texas Instruments as an editor in the publications department. While working at Texas Instruments, he joined the Texas National Guard and during training at Fort Polk, La., worked on the post newspaper. He reconnected with Dallas artist Chapman Kelley, whom he had written about early in his career. When they returned to Dallas, they established a studio to feature the work of contemporary artists. Several Texas artists who were discovered or first shown by Smither became internationally recognized. Among them is Frank Jones, who was in the Huntsville Unit of the Texas Penitentiary when Smither discovered his work in a prison art show. An untrained artist, Jones’s work is now recognized as some of the most significant “outsider” art in the world. Smither became a friend and patron of
Jones and introduced his work to collectors throughout the country. Throughout the rest of Jones’s life, Smither continued to visit him and supply art materials for him. Michael Henderson, professor of art and associate dean in the College of Arts & Media at Sam Houston State University, first learned about Smither when he was a young artist in graduate school studying painting at the University of North Texas. His professor was Vernon Fisher, a Dallas-Fort Worth area artist who sustained an internationally-recognized career throughout his life. Fisher credited Smither with giving him early exposure when he was just beginning. “Vernon told me Murray was someone I should meet,” Henderson said. “Murray included my work in my first exhibits in Dallas in 1984.” The early work of James Surls, the winner of the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award in Contemporary Sculpture and an SHSU art alumnus, was also first shown at Smither’s gallery. “Surls gives Murray credit for launching his career and for his early successes in the art world,” Henderson said. Even after his success as a gallerist, Smither never lost his affection for his hometown. In the 1980s, he showed the work of New York awardwinning artist Richard Haas, an American muralist best known for architectural murals and his use of the trompe l'oeil style. Some of his work has been featured on architecture in New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago, among other cities. When Haas was visiting Smither’s gallery, Smither took him on a driving tour of Texas, and they went through Huntsville. Later, when the City of Huntsville began work on a downtown beautification
Self portrait by Murray Smither. project, city leaders approached Haas about painting murals on buildings, and he accepted the work because he had been to Huntsville and knew it was Smither’s hometown. In his later years, Smither became closely involved with the Wynne Home Arts Center. He served on the gallery committee from 2006 when the Wynne Home Arts Center opened until 2021. He attended regular meetings in Huntsville and brought a wealth of knowledge of gallery and exhibition practices. Because of his lifelong engagement with art, his commitment to a life of service in support of the arts, and his impact on local and global culture, the SHSU College of Arts & Media honored Smither with the Legacy Award for 2022–2023. Sadly, he passed away shortly after the recognition. His legacy continues, particularly for students enrolled in SHSU’s art discipline. When the Dana G. Hoyt Fine Arts Building was built at SHSU in 2019, a gift from his cousin John Smither and the Smither family was made to name a drawing studio in Murray Smither’s honor. “Plans had been made for Murray to visit the building and see the studio that is named for him,” Henderson said. “He joked that he could sit on the platform and model for the drawing students in his room. “Unfortunately, his failing health prevented him from visiting,” Henderson said. “The Murray Smither Drawing Studio memorializes him and will make his name and legacy known to future SHSU students.”
"Untitled Devil House," a drawing by Frank Jones acquired for SHSU's Texas Art Collection in honor of Murray Smither.
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ONWARD UPWARD THE EVERLASTING TREASURY OF PETER ROUSSEL
To have known Peter Roussel was to have known an incredibly multifaceted individual.
BY JULIA MAY To have known Peter Roussel was to have known an incredibly multifaceted individual. Peter Roussel possessed many skills, talents, and interests, and was a master at telling stories—lots and lots of stories. His career included serving as a former White House spokesman, establishing and managing a public relations firm in Houston, and being an interesting and beloved professor at Sam Houston State University for more than 10 years at the end of his career and his life. He was a playwright, an author and was working on a musical at the time of his death in December 2022. He began his appointment as the Philip G. Warner Endowed Chair in the SHSU Department of Mass Communication in 2009, a role in which he taught courses on public relations and press-presidency interactions. After a decade of serving the student community, he was honored with the 2019 College of Arts & Media Legacy Award. Under his guidance, the student public relations firm Priority One was created, representing both on and off campus clients in much the same way as a professional public relations firm. His career included having served as special assistant and deputy press secretary to President Ronald Reagan, 1981–87. His first tour of duty in the White House was as staff assistant to President Gerald R. Ford, 1974–76. From 1969–74 he was press secretary to President George H. W. Bush. “He was also a collector,” said Derrick Birdsall, director of the Sam Houston Memorial Museum. “Throughout his life he saved the things that were most meaningful to him, some from his personal life and some from his career.” Roussel chose the museum to be the recipient of his massive collection of items. In addition to being a state entity since 1936, the museum was also designated as the Republic of Texas Presidential Library by the Texas Legislature in 2017.
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Mac Woodward, former museum director, went to Houston after Roussel’s death to collect the memorabilia that he had determined should go to the museum. Among the items in the boxes were baseball cards and football cards from the late 1940s and early 1950s. Museum curator Michael Sproat and registrar Rebecca Lewis are cataloging the collection. “Post-it notes that Mr. Roussel placed on everything have been helpful because they identify who gave him something, what the occasion was, and a bit about surrounding events — something the documents wouldn’t necessarily convey,” said Lewis. Carefully going through the boxes, photos, collection of sports cards, items of clothing, and documents has been a tedious process. “Some of the items were stored in Peter’s attic or garage and need cleaning before being put with other archived items,” said Birdsall. “We just ordered a ton of new acid-free containers for working with the collection,” he said. “The items will be transferred to proper conservation-grade folders and boxes. The big threat to paper is heat, moisture, and light. If you can remove the threat, you can do a pretty good job of keeping those things around for a long time.” Among the collection are former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev pullover sweatshirts; photos of the Roussel family; boxes of memorabilia from 1969–1987 when Roussel was press secretary for George H.W. Bush; documents from when he was deputy press secretary to Ronald Reagan; and his collection from when he served as special assistant to the president.
One especially poignant item is a box containing a Christmas gift that the Roussel family sent to Peter’s older brother, Hubert, in 1944. Hubert enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II, and as a member of a B-29 crew was lost on a mission in the Pacific on December 13, 1944, at the age of 20. Three Post-it notes in Peter’s handwriting are attached to the box, the first says: “IMPORTANT: This box is to go to the Peter Roussel Archive at the Sam Houston State University Memorial Museum. IMPORTANT: It is never to be opened.” The notes go on to explain that the Christmas present was intended for his brother and was returned to the family after he was lost. The final note concludes with: “Every year after that the Roussel family kept the box under the Christmas tree as a remembrance of him.” The museum has not determined when the collection will go on display. “Our focus is on Sam Houston, yet we now have all these fascinating items from a public servant in our possession,” said Birdsall. “We want to display Peter’s donation in a way that’s meaningful and appropriate but doesn’t distract from our original mission of Sam Houston.” Birdsall hopes that Roussel’s collection can be made available to students in the future. “This is a perfect PhD study for someone who is a Cold War specialist, or graduate student in history or political science,” he said. “When we are ready, we will determine how we will honor Peter and display his things in an appropriate manner so that they are publicly accessible.”
From the Peter Roussel Collection at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas.
MERIDIAN’S SKY BY COLETTE KERWICK Presented as part of Fall ‘22 Dance Spectrum, this work choreographed by faculty member Colette Kerwick took the audience on an atmospheric journey through sumptuous movement emulating the nuances and patterns of clouds.
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SERVICE AND
SONG
Music Graduate Wins U.S. Army Band’s National Collegiate Solo Competition By Julia May
U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Brittany Primavera.
SHSU graduate Mateo Seghezzo caught the eye of the U.S. Army Band when he was selected to perform in Washington, D.C. in June 2023 as the winner of the band’s National Collegiate Solo Competition. Seghezzo submitted his application at the suggestion of SHSU percussion director John Lane and orchestra conductor Kayoko Dan. The entry he sent was “Prism Rhapsody” for Marimba and Orchestra, by Japanese composer Keiko Abe. “This work has been a part of my life for a long time,” Seghezzo said. “My freshman year at SHSU I learned the earlier version of this piece for solo marimba, and with it I entered and won the Fisher Tull Scholarship Competition. During my junior year, I learned the full concerto version and entered the SHSU Concerto Competition.” He won, and the prize was the opportunity to perform the solo concerto with one of the large SHSU music ensembles. “After a great performance with the SHSU Wind Ensemble under Dr. Matthew McInturf ’s baton, I now had an impressive videorecording in my hands, which is what I used to audition for the U.S. Army Band competition,” he said. “I would say that winning the U.S. Army Band competition was a result of the past four years of intense music performing and learning.” Seghezzo never dreamed he would win, he said. “This was a nationwide competition open to anyone age 27 or younger in academia, including master’s students and doctoral students as well as undergraduates. Last year, the winner was a doctoral student,” he said. “I had almost forgotten about submitting my entry when I got the call.”
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Seghezzo was in the marimba practice room in the SHSU School of Music Building when the call came through. He didn’t recognize the number, and almost didn’t answer because he thought it was a scam call. However, since the call was coming from Washington, D.C., he decided to answer, more out of curiosity than anything else. It was Master Sergeant Eric Seay, who plays string bass in the U.S. Army Band, notifying Seghezzo that he had been selected as the winner of the competition. The band made all the accommodation arrangements, and Seghezzo traveled from Texas to Washington for an all-expenses-paid, week-long trip. It was the first time the native Argentinian had visited the city or been that far north in the United States. “When I wasn’t rehearsing for the performance, I was able to visit and learn from so many museums and monuments, my favorite one being the National Gallery of Art, where I got to contemplate Rembrandt, Botticelli, Cézanne, Picasso, Pollock, among so many other geniuses,” he said. A highlight for Seghezzo was having the Ambassador of Argentina Dr. Jorge Argüello (pictured bottom right) assist the concert, as well as personally welcome him to Washington. “It certainly felt weird to sit in his office where the Argentine president, among other very important dignitaries, sat,” he said. During the week, Seghezzo rehearsed with the band’s wind ensemble and participated in a recording session prior to the performance at the Lincoln Memorial. “Everyone was highly prepared, and from the first rehearsal I could tell that I was playing with one of the best wind ensembles in the world,” he said. “The conductor, Col.
Bruce Pulver, met with me privately to discuss the interpretation of the concerto and was extremely clear with his conducting, for which I was very thankful.” Performing with Seghezzo at the concert was SHSU alumnus Irving Ray, a euphonium player with the U.S. Army Band. The two met at Sam Houston when Seghezzo was a freshman and Ray was at the university to premiere his “Lamentation for Euphonium and Wind Ensemble,” a song written as a tribute to his brother, Isaiah, which they later performed at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention. Isaiah was also an SHSU graduate who tragically died just as he was beginning his music career in public education as an assistant band director. “Whenever I heard that Mateo had won the competition and would be performing in Washington with the U.S. Army Concert Band, I jumped at the opportunity to play in that concert,” he said. The two have stayed in contact through the years and both respect each other as people as well as musicians. After his performance at the Lincoln Memorial and a performance earlier in the summer in Argentina with the Salta Symphony Orchestra of his province, Seghezzo has returned to Texas and is preparing to begin his master’s degree in early keyboard performance (harpsichord/organ) at SHSU under the direction of Professor Mario Aschauer. “I decided to stay at Sam with the goal of understanding baroque music from a historically informed perspective, which would open the door for me to translate this musical knowledge insightfully to the marimba, and also because I feel extremely supported here to follow my dreams and artistic aspirations,” he said. “I plan to pursue a career as a professional musician in early music, performing in both Europe and the U.S.”
“I decided to stay at Sam because I feel extremely supported here to follow my dreams and artistic aspirations.”
U.S. Army photos by Staff Sgt. Brittany Primavera.
— MATEO SEGHEZZO
DESIGNING A PATH
FORWARD From Setbacks to Success By Julia May
With each year, the graphic design program at Sam Houston State University expands its outreach and receives broader recognition for the remarkable achievements of its students. This year was the best year ever for the program, with several senior graphic design students receiving individual awards in a variety of categories in national competitions. 10 SHSU projects were included in the 2023 Dallas Society of Visual Communications National Student and Conference juried exhibition. Work from Eliot Castanon, Samantha Devora and Regan Truong was selected, with jurors additionally awarding Truong Best Illustration and Castanon Best Motion Design. Senior graphic design students Quan Chung, Truong and Castanon also submitted work to SALUTE, a national juried graphic design student competition hosted by the University of Central Oklahoma’s School of Design. The students received three Merit Awards, two Honorable Mentions, and a Best in Interactive/Video/Motion Award. “I think our program has been successful, and increasingly so, because we embrace this competition,” said Anthony Watkins, professor of graphic design. “Our students know that design practice is demanding — fun and satisfying, but demanding. Every year the work produced by our students is better,” he said. “Each class sets a new bar for subsequent classes to surpass. There’s a seriousness and professionalism combined with creative enthusiasm.” Each year’s senior graphic design class produces an exhibition to showcase their work. The 2023 exhibition was entitled “WANTED,” a name selected by the students. Assistant professor Sherman Finch directed the 2023 spring senior studio class and explained how the title came about.
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“Exhibition ideas typically begin with asking the entire senior class to come up with a possible message or theme. We begin by talking about meaningful events that helped to shape their creative, professional and educational experiences throughout the four years at SHSU,” he said. “All the seniors try and look for common denominators that resonate with the entire senior group.” The class was focused on conveying how even with living through hard times with the pandemic, disruptions with remote learning, financial constraints, and the challenges with coming back to the studio environment, they were still able to persevere and focus on what was important to their professional career, according to Finch. “Considering this, they also wanted to convey a contemporary approach to a Western theme,” he said. Preparations for the senior exhibition begin at the start of the spring semester. Finch provides the syllabus and is responsible for overall course grading, but when it comes to what direction the show goes and how the seniors envision their exhibition, Finch’s role is that of a moderator or advisor, stepping in whenever they need or ask for assistance. Once the seniors have established a theme for the show, they separately develop their ideas visually and return to the senior studio to present their design concepts to each other for a vote. “This is led by the Brand/Identity Committee which happens early to effectively convey a distinct message which establishes a tone that resonates with the seniors for the entire semester,” Finch said. “Seniors then develop and incorporate a brand style that aims to support their message while authentically representing the creative vision. It is a lot of fun to see come to life.” In addition to coming up with a message, the students develop the brand identity and design all marketing
“ Over the past few years, we have navigated setbacks and challenges to emerge as even more talented and passionate designers than before. Finally, we are ready to tell the world why we are WANTED.” — 2023 Senior Graphic Design Class
“The ability to react to unfamiliar circumstances and client expectations is one benefit. Different approaches to the creative processes— research, ideation, production— is another.” — Anthony Watkins
materials including posters, postcards, and the senior website, as well as content for social media. They form committees that address specific aspects of the show. “This helps to distribute responsibility so not to put too much on the entire group,” Finch said. “My involvement is to assist with forming these committees and keep everyone on target.” Also during this time of preparation for the exhibition, students are meeting with industry professionals, submitting work to National Competition, and visiting with the exhibition’s outside juror for portfolio reviews.
goals and expectations, introducing them to the University Gallery, arranging meetings with Frank Graham, the art department’s gallery coordinator, and discussing how they might best display their work.
For 2023, the outside juror was Rachel Outlaw Rothberg, an art director and graphic designer with extensive experience in brand systems and brand strategy at MWM, an interdisciplinary brand experience firm in Houston specializing in visual storytelling through design. The seniors were also able to utilize the expertise of Chris McKnight, a graphic designer and SHSU alumnus at Tribu Creative, a full-service brand agency in San Antonio. They also visited with Spencer Luna, partner and designer at Luna Creative, a design agency also in San Antonio that specializes in branding and advertising.
“At one point in the semester, we converted the classroom into a pseudo gallery space and utilized the walls while the seniors practiced displaying their work to previsualize and plan,” said Finch. “Then we discussed and deliberated about ways to improve until the student felt they had what they needed. The process is very organic and works to address each senior individually.”
“It is important for students to meet with design industry leaders who offer invaluable networking opportunities, industry insights, success stories, knowledge of industry expectations, mentorship possibilities, exposure to different perspectives, and motivation,” Finch said. “My role is to help organize and foster these connections so seniors can get a real-world industry perspective.” Finch’s guidance includes helping the seniors set clear
“With that said, there was also a lot of diversity and a wide range of skills,” he said. “We had seniors who were strong in brand identity/product design and others who were leaders in motion/interactive design. This allowed different students to bring their unique perspectives and abilities to the table, enabling the overall class to tackle complex design challenges effectively. These factors, when combined, helped to contribute to a great show.”
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While each year’s senior class has its own strengths as a group, Finch said that this year’s class was able to capitalize on their good communication and collaboration assets.
The growth of the students’ confidence through the semester, both individually and collectively, is rewarding to Finch. “Typically at the beginning, seniors can have a lot of feelings of uncertainty, anxiety about their future prospects, questions about where life will take them and whether they have the skills to succeed. This can then lead to apprehension about entering the ‘real world’,” he said. “Once seniors get past the mid-semester, have a final portfolio, and can see their work displayed in the gallery, they start seeing how their effort and hard work come together,” he said. “Their feelings then turn into relief and accomplishment. It’s a mixture of highs and lows, but it’s ultimately a time for great reflection and celebration.” Emily Taehee Kim, professor of graphic design in the Department of Art, has taught the students in other classes throughout their collegiate years and observed how they grow and mature as graphic artists while in the program. “Our senior students have put in tremendous effort in developing their portfolios,” she said. “They have demonstrated originality in their concept development,
professionalism in their process and production, and have thrived in our healthy and competitive classroom environment. All of these elements have contributed to their successful learning experience during their undergraduate studies.” Watkins, who has been with the graphic design program for 15 years, says that SHSU’s program offers students a variety of experiences that help make them attractive in the job market. “Over the course of their studies, students complete projects that include product packaging, interactive design and menu design, develop branding for businesses and organizations, and create style guides to explain and demonstrate recommended branding applications,” Watkins said. “More recently, we’ve incorporated computer numeric control and laser engraving tools in the production of physical projects, most specifically, tap handles.” “There are several excellent design programs in Texas, and the profession itself is very competitive,” he said. “Our program exposes students to a wide range of creative challenges—traditional print and layout, three-dimensional
packaging, user interface design, motion graphics, and even the use of advanced production tools. “In addition, students benefit from the differing interests and emphases of our faculty,” he said. “The ability to react to unfamiliar circumstances and client expectations is one benefit. Different approaches to the creative processes— research, ideation, production—is another.” SHSU design alums have found success within their careers by landing jobs with the Houston Texans National Football League team; Sonos; HEB Creative; Design by Principle, Houston; GM Financial; Pappas Restaurants; Drift Creative; Dick’s Sporting Goods; Pennebaker, Houston; and CallisonRTKL Architecture, among other businesses and organization.
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HEATWAVE MEDIA & FILM FESTIVAL The work of students, faculty, and independent Texas filmmakers was celebrated and recognized at this annual film festival presented by the Department of Mass Communication.
R C S UN 47 | CAM Magazine, Fall 2023
D E T P I t what ewed abou i v r e t n i re ights. savants a the spotl e r r e t d a n e u h t r r tour rme Two SHSU three-yea nal perfo o a i s d s e e t f e SYNOPSIS: o l r actor omp to be a p resident HY just c C a A s L i P R N E I it’s like C W N GOD rviewer actor SPE nd DYLAN wer inte a s n , a g n i y Broadway K e h n T es, in n The Lio Houston. their liv n n i i e y r a as Scar i t d a e Alley Th a typical for the ns about o i t s e u q ’s JULIA MAY words. n w o their
Photo (left) courtesy of Dylan Godwin. Photo (right) courtesy of Spencer Plachy.
Broadway Actor Spencer Plachy Act One 49 | CAM Magazine, Fall 2023
Photo by Dean van Meer. Courtesy of Spencer Plachy.
Scene One:
Daily Dive JULIA: What time of day do the actors rehearse? Is it similar to an 8-to-5 schedule, or are the hours flexible according to what scenes are being rehearsed? SPENCER: This varies. In my theatre experience, I work on jobs that comply with guidelines set by the Actor’s Equity Association, so rehearsal hours are capped on a daily and weekly basis. Those hours also vary, depending on the tier of contract we are working on. Work hours will also depend on what is specifically being rehearsed. If it’s a scene or a group of scenes that I do not appear in, then I may just have the afternoon free. Typically, the time of day does line up with an 8-to-5 schedule. Though, the Theatre day will rarely begin before 10 a.m., and that would be an EARLY start! JULIA: Before you go in for rehearsal, what are some of your activities at home? SPENCER: Everyone has their own routines and processes. For me, nothing too unusual, I’d say. Eat something. Stay hydrated. Some vocal warm-ups can certainly happen, especially when working on a musical. JULIA: Once at the theatre, what is the first thing you do prior to rehearsal? SPENCER: I usually seek out wherever the coffee is. JULIA: Is there ever any down time between rehearsals?
SPENCER: There will always be a five or 10-minute break every one to two hours of rehearsing. This time is usually spent catching up with personal phone calls, social media, refreshments, and grabbing a snack.
is all put together, it weighs approximately 40 lbs. To get into it all requires the assistance of no fewer than four individuals. Each person represents a different department involved in the production:
JULIA: Once rehearsals have concluded and performances begin, how is your day different?
One, Wardrobe — Scar’s personally assigned dresser. This position is invaluable!
SPENCER: This varies from job to job. Mostly, prior to call-times for a performance, the day is mine to make use of how I see fit. It’s great to use that time to maintain physical health, maintain a workout routine, stuff like that. Exercise one’s singing voice with some proper vocal coaching to keep that ‘instrument’ in shape. Depending on where the job is, as this line of work can come with a lot of traveling, it can be a great time to experience new places, cities, activities, dining, et cetera.
Two, Sound — to place, secure, and test the microphone, which, in Scar’s case, is woven through the mechanical headgear part of the costume.
JULIA: It took quite a while for your makeup, hair, and costume fitting to take place while you were performing in The Lion King, didn’t it? SPENCER: To get into the complete costume and makeup for Scar in The Lion King takes about an hour, really. Again, this time would vary based on personnel. For example, there are several makeup artists within the Disney Theatre Company and The Lion King family, that know how to apply Scar’s makeup. One may go on vacation, so another will be brought in to cover that time. Additionally, each individual artist implements their own technique while applying the makeup. My time in the makeup chair is going to depend on the artist working with me. The costume is the second step. First, when it
Three, Hair and Makeup — typically, the same artist who applied the face makeup will maintain and secure Scar’s wig, which is worn on top of the headgear. And four, Puppets — The Lion King has an incredible Puppet Department that maintains the massive amounts of puppet elements in the show. The maintenance of Scar’s headgear, which is mounted with his beautifully crafted mask, is one of a long list of charges, artistically and technically. JULIA: Once you have concluded your final performance for the day, do you go straight home, or do you stay at the theatre for a while? SPENCER: These days, more often than not, I call it a night and make my way back ‘home’ — wherever that may be, depending on where the job is. Goin’ out afterward can be a great time. I did that a lot more in my 20s and early 30s. Now, I’m pretty good with a quiet evening in.
Scene Two:
Personal Reflections JULIA: What is the most enjoyable feature of your job? SPENCER: I really enjoy the variety. By that, I mean completing one project and then shifting gears to approach the next project. In that regard, the ‘job’ is always changing and creatively fresh. JULIA: You provide a valuable entertainment service to the public, in that, for many, viewing the performing arts is a tremendous stress relief. Do you think about how you help audience members in this and other ways? SPENCER: I do. I’ve been pursuing this kind of work for about 20 years now. It never gets old to hear how audience members respond. Either in real-time during a performance or in discussing the show afterward. Sometimes, somebody in the house, who didn’t realize what they sat down for, just finds themselves in the right place at the right time personally, and their mind/heart is really challenged and fulfilled. Audience members will make observations that I never have. It’s also fun, after the show, to ask them if they noticed ‘this,’ or ‘that’ particular thing that I feel is a great detail about the show. Of course, I might also admit, ‘well, I messed up some dialogue this evening. Sorry.’ To which they will always respond, ‘Huh? I certainly didn’t notice anything off at all. Seemed great to me!’ JULIA: How do you keep from getting burned out? How do you separate your professional and personal lives?
SPENCER: ‘Burnout’ comes in the time when I’m in-between jobs. When I find myself wondering how the rent is gonna get paid. That time can be stressful, tiring, and frustrating. That’s always a challenge. Hobbies are good to have. Reading. I’ll find time to draw. Mentally checkout with a video game, movies, TV series. There’s certainly plenty of ‘escape’ in our culture... for better or for worse... Separate my professional and personal lives? I think what I try to do mentally is just that. Separate them. The profession is simply not personal. I think one has to embrace that somehow if they’re gonna continue to do this. If it’s personal to you, you’re going to be faced with a mountain of pressure, all the time! This career choice is a roller coaster. Emotionally, financially, relationship...ly. Your identity and personal validation have got to rest on something else. Something constant. JULIA: Your wife, Laura Kaldis, is also an actor. Have you ever worked together in the same production? If so, how does that work? Do you go to rehearsals together, or do you completely separate yourselves from each other as individual actors? SPENCER: Yeah. She’s also an SHSU alum. That’s where we met! We have worked together on the same production a few times. Twice at Mainstreet Theater in Houston. We’ve also participated together in several readings while living and pursuing work in New York. Yes, we do our best to coordinate getting to and from rehearsals together. So far, when working on the same production, I can’t think of a time that we didn’t get to and from rehearsal together.
We don’t ‘completely separate’ ourselves from each other, no. Obviously, we have our own individual characters to work on, but theatre is an incredibly collaborative art form. JULIA: Are there times when one of you is working and the other is not? How do you support and encourage each other during those times? SPENCER: Oh yes. That’s happened many times! We’re always one another’s biggest fan, in the audience, when we’re there to take in the other’s performance, for sure! We’re both in the same profession with all its challenges and rewards. There’s a lot of support, given and received, simply in knowing that we are venturing in the same, tough business. There’s a lot of rejection to experience, audition after audition. That weighs on a person. We definitely each want to experience creative and artistic fulfillment in our work! And those downtimes, in between shows, when we’re trying to book the next thing, are the hardest times to find that fulfillment. BUT, we both know that experience, and we are there for each other, job or no job, with a mutual intimate understanding of the ups and downs of this crazy acting career choice. One’s success is the other’s. One’s pain is the other’s. We’re together. JULIA: What is the very last thing you do mentally at night before you go to bed? SPENCER: Generally, solving the meaning of life. It’s quite a thing to tackle, mentally, at bed time, I know. But I’m pretty sure I’m getting close, so I keep circling back to it a lot!
Resident Actor Dylan Godwin Act Two 51 | CAM Magazine, Fall 2023
Photo by Lynn Lane. Courtesy of Alley Theatre.
Scene One:
Daily Dive JULIA: How long have you been performing at the Alley Theatre in Houston? DYLAN: I’ve been at the Alley for 14 years and part of the Acting Company for five.
Saturday in six- or eight-hour blocks. When we approach tech — the addition of scenery, lighting, properties, costuming, and sound — our span of day lengthens to eight or 10 hours, and we add rehearsal on Sunday, effectively making Monday our only day off.
JULIA: What do you do as a member of the Alley Theatre Resident Acting Company?
JULIA: Once at the theatre, what is the first thing you do prior to rehearsal?
DYLAN: As a member of the Acting Company, my position is unique in that I have full time employment all year round at the same institution. What this breaks down to is that when the Alley is planning their season, they are doing it with our group in mind. For the first 15 years of my career, I worked as a freelance artist at many venues around the state and country. This was exciting, but it made it difficult to ever focus on the show fully I was working with because I was diverting my energy to finding my next job. It’s also a wonderful thing to have a connection to an audience that I have regular interactions with. At many theatres, people subscribe or buy single tickets for the programming alone, because the Resident Acting Company is at the center of our mission statement, and we have a very tangible connection with our audiences. The Alley subscribers have literally watched me grow up!
DYLAN: Always the gym. And because we are often overlapping shows — rehearsing a different show in the day than one we are performing at night — I spend the morning hours in my script!
JULIA: What time of day do the actors rehearse? Is it similar to an 8-to-5 schedule, or are the hours flexible according to what scenes are being rehearsed? DYLAN: We generally rehearse Monday through
JULIA: Once you are at the Alley, what are some of the first things you do prior to rehearsal? DYLAN: Sometimes I’ll have a fitting before rehearsal, wig, or costume. I often arrive early to warm up or run through anything I feel needs the space to inform it. JULIA: What does a day of rehearsals look like? DYLAN: Rehearsals begin with a week at the table. Script analysis and sharing discussions help to put everyone in the same world. We then begin blocking in our studios on the 16th floor. It’s not until we are in tech that we even see the set. Once the footprint of the show is in place, we focus on specific scene work gearing toward stitching it together and figuring out what it feels like to run the whole thing. There are parts of a character’s journey you can never understand until you have felt the show in its
entirety. It’s helpful to have a very clear picture of what it should feel like before you ever head into tech, because it is very easy to lose a show in the sea of events that are added in those two weeks. JULIA: Is there ever any down time between rehearsals? DYLAN: Very little down time between rehearsals. Our time is precious and carefully planned to get the most out of it we can. JULIA: Is your day different once rehearsals have concluded and performances begin? DYLAN: Yes, once rehearsals give way to performances, we have more freedom in our days leading up to the show. Often, however, we are in an overlap situation rehearsing a different script during the day. It’s an interesting skill keeping those two plays separate! JULIA: Once you have concluded your final performance for the day, do you go straight home, or do you stay at the theatre for a while? DYLAN: I generally go straight home. It’s funny, I LOVE large groups of people; I love being social. However, after a night of performing, my social batteries are completely drained, and I just need quiet time with my dog and my partner!
Scene Two:
Personal Reflections JULIA: What is the most enjoyable feature of your job? DYLAN: I love the people I work with. I am fortunate to work with some of the most talented and creative actors, directors, designers, and stage managers in the country. I always say that the Alley was my graduate program. Working with the greats like James Black, Jeff Bean, Charles Krohn, and too many more to name taught me so much about what it is that I do well on stage and in a process. Watching professionals of this caliber helped me set goals for myself that I’m not sure I ever could have pinpointed otherwise. The truth is, the ins and outs of this job require a real commitment to craft and a willingness to always continue learning. JULIA: You provide a valuable entertainment service to the public, in that, for many, viewing the performing arts is a tremendous stress relief. Do you think about how you help audience members in this and other ways?
DYLAN: I am FOREVER grateful for our audiences and the venue they provide me. It is an honor to perform for them and perhaps shine a light on their own lives, which, when the stars align, allow us to see ourselves in each other. And draw us closer together. Great art asks you to first examine yourself, and our audiences allow me to do that every day. JULIA: How do you keep from getting burned out? How do you separate your professional and personal lives? DYLAN: I always try and approach each performance and rehearsal with the attitude that this time through could yield something completely different than the last. There is always more to be mined and discovered. This keeps everything feeling new and staves off the burnout. Separating work and home can be difficult, and I often have to give myself boundaries about how much I allow myself to work when I’m home. It’s my impulse to
constantly run scenes in my head, try new line readings, and dissect the work. Sometimes, the time we spend not thinking about it is as valuable as the time spent working on it. Our brains and our hearts need space and time to digest and understand the processes we place ourselves in, and it’s always important for me to remember that. JULIA: What is the very last thing you do mentally at night before you go to bed? DYLAN: The very last thing I do before bed is a gratefulness practice. I check in with all the things that happened that day, good and bad. I take stock of what made me feel good and what didn’t. And reset my head and heart for the day ahead, always focusing on how proud I am of where I am.
Through a Different Lens A LOOK INTO "HOLLYWOOD SPORTS MOVIES AND THE AMERICAN DREAM"
Grant Wiedenfeld, associate professor of media and culture in the Department of Mass Communication, grew up as a big fan of both sports and movies. “However, I didn’t think too much at the time about what they meant and what their politics were,” he said. In his latest book, “Hollywood Sports Movies and the American Dream,” Wiedenfeld explores how six wellknown films produced in the late 20th century reflect society during that time and what role popular culture plays in civic life. The six movies featured are “Rocky,” “Slap Shot,” “The Natural,” “White Men Can’t Jump,” “A League of Their Own,” and “Ali.” “They’re great films, each in their own way, that cover a variety of sports across three decades,” Wiedenfeld said. “But my goal was not to make a list of the top five or six best movies; there are certainly others out there that merit attention, too. These were ones to which I had something new to contribute, different from what previous critics and scholars have said. Together, they also allow me to discuss key themes: the representation of class, race, and gender, and the nature of sports, politics, and the hero.”
53 | CAM Magazine, Fall 2023
The book covers films produced in the last quarter of the 20th century. Chapters devoted to each of the movies are arranged chronologically. Wiedenfeld started with “Rocky,” which is fittingly set in Philadelphia during the bicentennial.
“I introduce several — Hannah Arendt, Jeffrey Alexander, and Philip Gorski — who have not been considered by other scholars in the field,” he said. “Their ideas paint a different picture of what politics is all about, that is not based on legislation or legislators.”
“The period began as a patriotic moment to celebrate the country,” he said, “but the early 1970s had some shameful events: a violent retreat from Vietnam, the cynical corruption of the Watergate scandal, and a struggling economy.
“Rocky” and “Slap Shot” relate loosely to some actual events, but Wiedenfeld says they are really works of fiction set in contemporary North America.
“The book covers the period from 1976 to 2001, which could be described as a revitalization of the United States,” he said. “Previous scholars focused on the rise of Ronald Reagan and the New Right, but there was also a current of liberal politics that flourished in the 1990s. I wanted to see if the movies had politics on the Left or the Right, and I found that they had both, with a stronger embrace of multiculturalism than one might expect.” Wiedenfeld’s research involved a careful examination of each film to see how all the aspects of its political meaning add up. Then, he read philosophers and sociologists who have developed different theories on how popular culture plays into civic life.
“The Natural” and “White Men Can’t Jump” have fantasy elements and little relationship to history, whereas “A League of Their Own” and “Ali” set out to tell important history in a popular form,” he said. “‘Ali,’ as a biographical picture, is the most devoted to telling the histo'ry of actual events; however, their filmmakers are trying to understand one complex person most of all. Their goal isn’t to summarize American history.” The main theme of the book is politics, according to Wiedenfeld, and asks how can we relate to a leader who is different from us. “For instance, how do I admire Muhammad Ali when I am neither Muslim, a boxer, nor a Black man? Part of leadership is to represent aspects of one’s identity,
meet the author Sit down with Grant Wiedenfeld as he delves beyond the pages and into the bigger picture.
EXPLORE THE BOOK Available through Oxford University Press, Amazon, and other booksellers.
especially for minorities who were rarely represented among leaders,” he said, “but there is more to leadership than that. Ali is a great American and a great person, which makes him a special icon for everyone. To have a hero that’s different from you is important to belonging to a people who accept differences, at least many of them, if not all differences.” Wiedenfeld grew up in the Midwest. His world expanded greatly when he entered academia. He studied abroad in France several times, competed his PhD in New England, and he now lives in Houston. “In a way, this book brought things full circle for me,” he said. “I grew up in a family of athletes. My grandfather played college basketball and coached high school basketball in Iowa for his entire career, and my father also played college basketball. I took a different path into arts and intellectual life, so it was natural to return to sports as a subject.” Wiedenfeld enjoys playing ultimate frisbee because “it carries on the amateur tradition of playing sport for the love of it and of one another,” he said.
However, as a spectator, he began following women’s soccer while he was working on the book, and he continues even now. “Houston’s professional team, the Dash, made the playoffs last year and are world class,” he said. “I had not followed a women’s sport before that, and there’s no good reason not to do so. “It’s different in the way that lightweight boxers are different than heavyweight boxers, that’s all. The drama on the field is the same,” he said. “If the Dash won the championship, would there be any good reason to celebrate them any less than the Astros?” At SHSU, Wiedenfeld coordinates the minor program in film studies in addition to teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses. His teaching specialties include film appreciation, film theory, film history, stars and popular culture, select film genres, and sports movies. He often shows foreign films in his classes to get his students to think about culture. “Having students watch foreign films often forces them to think about culture because the entertainment isn’t so easy if you have to read subtitles and relate to characters who are quite different in manner,” he said.
"I think Hollywood’s happy endings represent both people’s actual contentment and their dream of the future they desire, even if they aren’t content at present.” — GRANT WIEDENFELD
23RD ANNUAL JURIED STUDENT EXHIBITION Over 90 pieces of student artwork were displayed in the University Gallery and juried by Houston artist Mary Magsamen as part of this exhibition.
TO OUR DONORS January through Decemeber 2022 donors listed below.
Mr. and Mrs. Randal L. Adams Dr. I. Robert Adams and Dr. Helena Halmari Adams Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Allen Ms. Jane A. Alvizo Mr. Josef C. Anderson Ms. Darlene K. Andrews Ms. Jamie D. Arlt Mr. Herb P. Armstrong Ms. Martha J. Arnold Mrs. Holly D. Arnold Mr. Kenneth Avery and Dr. Laura S. Avery Ms. Gini Bailey Mr. and Mrs. Charles Baker Ms. Karen Baker Ms. Amy Baker Mrs. Martha A. Balusek Dr. Maria Barker Ms. Jennifer E. Barnett Mr. William A. Bartlett Mr. and Mrs. Shane Batt Ms. B. Jean Bawden Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Beal Ms. Rhonda V. Beassie Mr. and Mrs. John A. Becker Mr. and Mrs. Dale L. Benke Mr. and Mrs. Stephen M. Blank Mr. and Mrs. Gregory A. Blase Ms. Coralie Blount Mr. William K. Boe Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bolden, Jr. Mr. Steven L. Boone Ms. M. Kate Borcherding Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Boyd Mr. and Mrs. T. Brian Boyd Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Brian Boyd Mr. and Mrs. D. Bruce Boyd Mr. and Mrs. Justin Brasell Ms. Lois Bronfman Mr. and Mrs. Craig T. Brossman Mr. and Dr. Patrick E. Brown Mr. and Mrs. Delon Brown Mr. Samuel R. Burnes Mr. Larry A. Calhoun Mr. Justin D. Calvert Dr. and Mrs. Rodney M. Cannon Mr. Scott Card and Dr. Patricia P. Card Dr. and Mrs. Jimmy A. Cargill Ms. Patricia A. Cargill Ms. Karin A. Carlson Ms. Taylor J. Carter Mr. Christopher F. Cascio Mr. and Mrs. Michael Castilla Mr. Michael A. Cevasco Mr. Tongfang Chen Ms. Sandra Cherry Ms. Natalie A. Cherry Mrs. Rebecca B. Chin
57 | CAM Magazine, Fall 2023
Because of the incredible generosity of our donors, the College of Arts & Media is able to provide exceptional opportunities that prepare and educate students for professional success and keep academic units within the College at the forefront of innovation through scholarships, an inspirational and talented faculty, and beautiful state-of-the-art facilities. The faculty, staff, and students are deeply grateful for the support we receive from our benefactors and the partnership we have with each individual. “Thank You” to the following for your contributions.
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